Filigree Friday Free Quilled BookmarkTutorial

Another Fabulous Filigree Friday!

I hope that today finds you well.  I am excited because here in the US we have a long weekend.  Monday is a holiday and the office is closed - Yeah!!

This is a Quilled Bookmark that I made last year as a teacher's gift.  I love the papers and the bright flowers!

Bookmark:
I cut 2 pieces of cardstock 2.5 in (6.35 cm)  x 5.5 in (14 cm) (patterned and black)
I also punched a circle of coordinating cardstock
I glued them together - placing the circle near the top for just a little more texture and, as luck would have it, a guide for placing my flowers
I then used a ribbon spool to trace a half circle at the top
Cut the top to make it round
I am going to skip the next part - As you can see, I attempted to cut a flap however, I don't think I needed to do that.

I also cut a strip of black cardstock and stamped Thank You in silver
I love angles, so I attached it at an angle across the front

Red and Yellow Quilled Flower:
Petals

• 4 in  (10.2 cm) Yellow 
• 6 in (15.2 cm) Red
• To make 2-colored petals you can either glue the red strip to the end of the yellow strip or roll first the yellow strip and then the red strip (gluing them is easier)
• Starting with the Yellow end, roll the Yellow and Red strips and shape them into a Teardrop shape (click here for instructions)
• Make 5 of these teardrops and glue them so that the point is in the center
• Add a red gem to the center (gotta have bling!)

For the Stem,

• I took a strip of green and used a technique called alternate side looping.
• Basically, I created a loop, then came around and created a larger loop, and came around one more time to create a 3rd loop and glued it at the bottom and then pulled it thin so that you can barely see the loops.  
• I did it for extra sturdiness because I am hoping this will get regular use :-)

For the Leaves

• 2 shades of green, one 4 in (10.2 cm) and 6 in (15.2 cm)
• I rolled them the same as the petals, I started with the lighter green

Yellow Flowers
These are a little smaller than the Red/Yellow flowers

• 2 shades of Yellow, both 4 in (10.2 cm)
• Roll the lighter then darker Yellow and shape into a Teardrop
• Make 5 for each flower
• Glue with the tips in the center
• Add a pretty gem in the center

For the leaves

• 3 shades of green this time, 3 in (7.6 cm), 3 in (7.6 cm) and 6 in (15.2 cm)
• I rolled lightest to darkest, shaped into teardrop and then glued between 2 of the petals

Some thoughts/tips:

• You could add more petals to the Yellow flowers if you wanted, I would not have more than 2 per flower.
• I like rolling my coils with a lighter color in the center, but it looks pretty if you do the darker color in the center too - that is the fun part about quilling! The more you play, the more fun you will have!

I am Linking here:

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Bookworm - http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/

Have a great Friday and if you decide to create something, let me know!

Enjoy! Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

Wacky Wednesday - Hug Card

Welcome back to Wacky Wednesday! 
Oops... forgot my definition:  wassail - means toast to someone's health

I don't know if this is the official name of this type of card, but I call them "HUG Cards" - can't say why exactly, but they remind me of a hug.  I made my first card like this in January, and have been making many variations of them ever since because I think they are so versatile and they are perfect for gift cards.

This is how I made this card:
The HUG:
Cut 5" x 12" decorative paper
Score at 4" and 8"
Now you will notice that if you fold the sides in, you cannot see into the center of the card.  So now we need to do a bit of cutting so we can get the HUG :-)
You want to cut a diagonal line beginning at the crease down to the corner
Do this on both sides
Now when you fold the card onto itself you have a hug

To make the Pocket Insert:
Cut 3-3/4" x 9" (just under 4" so that it slides in and out easier)
Border punched both ends
Score at 4" and fold up - the folded height is approx 5" so that it peaks above the base card
I punched a scallop in the middle of the shorter side(so you can see the gift card or tag)
Note: I used double sided paper so that there was a pattern on all the visible pieces)
I then took a coordinating paper and cut it at 3-3/4" x 3"
For this one, I adhered it to the inside of the shorter side so that it was visible when folded up and then punched a scallop in the same place.  This way I didn't have to measure, and the coordinating paper created a contrast so that you could more easily see that something was back there.
I then decided what I was going to put into the pocket and glued the pocket so that the item fit.

You may wonder, how did I keep the pocket from sliding out of my card?
Well, I cut a scrap piece of cardstock, 3" x 3" and folded it in half
I glued one side to the bottom of the inside of my hug
This is then covered by the sides when they are folded in, and you slide the Pocket right in

The Scallop Flowers
I punched 6 scallops
Folded and bent them to create dimension
Snipped along either side of the scallop (see the detailed picture)
Put a brad in the center
I used the brads to adhere it to my card - but you don't have to, you can use a glue dot just as easily

Finishing touch:
I cut a 1" x 9" strip of coordinating paper
Take a Ribbon and tie it to the strip

Slide the pocket into the hug
Fold up the flap at the bottom of the hug so the Pocket doesn't slide out
Fold in the sides (arms) of the hug
Take your 1" wide strip, wrap it around the card and glue it to the back - make sure your ribbon is positioned in a nice place in the front of the card - you can move it around until you like it and then glue everything.

That's it!  Would love to see what you do!

Note: I have included a template with dimensions, it is not drawn to scale, but shows the dimensions (click on it for a bigger picture)

Update - 6/24 Linkup:  Top Tip Tuesday - http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/2011/06/ttt-39-cross-it-challenge.html   (this challenge is to make the exact type of card I have posted - YEAH!! How cool is that?)

Update - 5/25 - Link Parties:

I Heart Naptime - Sundae Scoop Link Party - http://www.iheartnaptime.net/2011/05/sundae-scoop-link-party-8.html

Make It Monday #38 - Anything Goes - http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/

A Marvelous Mess #14 - http://marvelouslymessy.blogspot.com/2011/05/marvelous-mess-14-and-features.html

Update - 6/4 - Link Parties

Sundae Scoop Link Party - http://www.iheartnaptime.net/2011/05/sundae-scoop-link-to-party.html
One Stop Craft Challenge - Texture - http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/

Enjoy! Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

Simply Sunday

Hopefully this week will be much nicer than last week (we had rain EVERY day) but I'm not holding my breath - it is raining right now - oh well! I hope these brighten your day as much as they brighten mine :-)

I hope you like my Shadow Shot Sunday picture.  I LOVE echinacea and this picture makes me smile as I look at the pretty flowers and then if you look closely you can see the little bee hanging out on the flower in the back.  I know, there are many, including family members, who don't get it... but it is those little things - lol!  UPDATED:  I found another fantastic place to post my echinacea:  Macro Flower Saturday check them out too - especially for those who love flowers!

Skywatch Friday this is my pic of the skies outside my bedroom window.  I have always loved trees and this is one of those traditional looking up through the trees shots - I must have 100s of these pictures.  Each time there is something special that I want to capture (and then there are the re-takes because it was blurry or something - lol).

Hopefully we will see the sun sometime this week! Here is hoping that you have sunny days in your future!!

Enjoy! Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

Filigree Friday Free Tutorial

Fabulous Filigree Friday!

I hope all of you are having an excellent week.  I don't know about you, but I am so glad it is Friday!!!

Since this is the time of year for Communions, I am sharing with you a card I made recently for Communion.  The card base that I started with is actually from a set of $1 cards I bought at Michaels.  I picked it because I loved the little window, and then while I was working on laying out the card I had this moment of inspiration and as you can see I used it so that the recipient's name would peak through.  I was inspired :-)

For my quilling I chose to create a cross, as I felt that would be fitting this event.  Since this was for a boy, I used blue quilling paper.  I used the Spreuer, or onion holder, technique.  Follow this link for more detailed instructions regarding using this technique.  This cross is another of my non-traditional designs, I really love this look, can't explain why but I am drawn to it :-)

For the cross you will need to do the following:

• Start at 7, then go up to 9-Right and 9-Left
• Yeah, I went up 2 instead of the usual 1 - I was feeling adventurous - lol

For the final part of the cross you will need to do the following:

• Start at 11, then go up to 13-Right and 13-Left

 Glue all 4 together making the cross shape.  I added crystals because I really love the way they look.  Believe it or not, the dove is not a punch, I hand drew the bird and cut it out (I know I have a dove punch somewhere in my house, but simply could not find it - you know the saying, necessity is the mother of invention).  Under the dove I used a Martha Stewart punch, and then punched the Angels (I've included a photo of the punches I used).

For the inside of the card I printed out a sentiment that I thought was appropriate, besides, it gave me the opportunity to play with fonts (I love all those cool fonts)!

As an added bonus I am also including a free printable (this is a PDF document for those of you who simply want to print the sentiments) and I am also providing "PNG" files with each of the individual sentiments for those of you who want to use them as digital stamps.  If you download one of these freebies, I ask that you do the following:

1. Become a follower
2. Leave a message letting me know you liked them
3. I'd love to see what you make, so please link back with a picture of the project you make :-)

Oh yeah, these are the punches I used :-)

Updated: I am Linking Up to the following:
Make It Monday - Anything Goes - http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/
Stamp Fairy - 3 Embellishments (cross, bird, angel) - http://stampfairychallenge.blogspot.com/
One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes - http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/
Update (5/22): Thrifty Nifty:  http://niftythriftythings.blogspot.com/2011/05/nifty-thrifty-sunday-6.html




Enjoy! Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

Wacky Wednesday and Free Cute Purse Template

Woohoo!!! My first Wacky Wednesday post...

I was thinking it would be a little fun to find other words that start with "W" to try out some other options

Our word this week is:  welaway it means alas... appropriate for today, as I begin anew :-)

I thought it would be fun to share my son's Mother's Day card.  Isn't this adorable? I love the shape and the jewels on the handle, but my favorite is the pictures he drew, LOVE the picture of us hanging out together.  I love the little details that were added just for us - the pool party with the "splash" - I LOVE IT!!!  In fact, I am entering this as one of my projects for the "May Artful Bag Challenge" maybe you will feel inspired to give it a try :-)

For those of you who would like to try your hands at a project of your own, I am sharing this purse template (pdf) that you can print out to make your own purse.  Cathy, if you are reading this, please skip over this next part... I am going to use this template to create a purse card for my niece's birthday... No matter the age, that love of purse's is strong, I am thinking paper with glitter and lots and lots of bling - what do you think? I need to get on that, I don't have a lot of time to pull this together (well, sleep is overrated!)

Purse Template

I promise to take pictures of my journey in creating the girly-girl purse, but some quick notes... I will print out the template, cut and fold it on a scrap piece of paper.  I usually start with printer / copy paper.  I do this because I don't want to have lines on my project, so when I am ready to make my project, this becomes what I use to create my purse.  I will line it up on the paper I am going to cut and cut around it (tape can be used to hold it in place).  I have a bunch of ideas floating around my head right now, they will probably continue to float there for a while as my project builds up in my head and then I attempt to create it :-)

Oops, gotta get the little one to bed.  If you make this project, please link up to this post and leave me a comment so that every one can see your creations!

Have a WONDERFUL day!

Enjoy! Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

Something New for Quilling Art and Expression

Hello Again!

Boy, life certainly has a way of getting away from me... but I enjoy a challenge, so I am going to try something new.... I am in the process of creating some projects and themes to help keep me "focused" posting... (yeah, I love the "dot dot dot"  don't you? They let me jump from topic to topic - lol)

My plans (and yes, we know how that quote goes... the best laid plans and all, but what the heck, let's go for it) are to post at least 3 times a week.  To accomplish that I am going to pick specific days of the week and create themes to keep me posting...

On Wednesday I will post a "Wacky Wednesday" post - this will be something crafty, and I am planning on creating printables when possible so look for those... Not sure I am in love with "Wacky Wednesday" but I was shooting for the alliteration, maybe you can help with that :-)

On Friday I will post a "Filigree Friday" post - this will have something to do with quilling... My high goals are to create a new project that contains some quilling and I will also seek out other quilling friends who have posted instructions and point them out to you 

I will try to post one other day of the week, probably Sunday and share a photograph or two... yes, many of my pictures have flowers and trees (what can I say? I am drawn to them and just cannot help myself)

Wish me luck!!!  I'm gonna go create my first "Wacky Wednesday" post now  :-)

Enjoy! Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mother's Day !!!

I received this poem from a friend of mine and thought I would share it with all of you Moms out there.

MOTHERS

Real Mothers don't eat quiche;
They don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
Are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
Filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough
Doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what
The vacuum just sucked up...

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'
And get their answer when a little
Voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth
Is not measured by height or years or grade...
It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother.....

The Images of Mother

4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!

8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't know everything!

14 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother? She wouldn't have a clue.

16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's so five minutes ago.

18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!

25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!

35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.

45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?

65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart,
The place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul
It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she
shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

I hope that all of you MOMS out there have a beautiful day!

And to my Mom - I miss you so much!

Antonella :-)