Quilling, Art and Expression

Quilling, Paper Filigree or Filigrana. Tons of free instructions and patterns for quilling, card making, tea bag folding, and paper crafts can be found here. Silhouette cut files too. Quilling is an art form that dates back to the Renaissance and involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to make intricate designs. Come join us for an adventure and meet some talented artists too! Love Unconditionally, Laugh Uncontrollably, Live Unexpectedly Free!

Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Deepest Sympathy Card

Deepest Sympathy Card - All White

I created this Sympathy card for a friend who lost her father. I did a bit of research before creating this, and ultimately decided to create an all white card. In India, the color for death is white, and that is the reason I selected white. I embellished the card with pearls, glossy accents, and glitter. I find that I often get lost in my research when trying to come up with ideas for my cards. Do you also research your cards before you create them? I'd love to hear about some of the things you research or do as part of your creative process when you make your cards.

Antonella Deepest Sympathy - close up

You may be wondering why the little card peeking out in the photo above. I was challenged in creating a card that was so monochromatic that I decided I would add a little color by creating a mini card. In the end, I could not mar the card in the inside and created a cut file with the words "Deepest Sympathy" that I placed inside. I never did write inside of this card, instead writing inside the mini card. I layered the sentiment on a doily that I had on hand.

Deepest Sympathy Studio Cut File

~~If you join me on Friday~~, Click here where I share the silhouette cut file that I used to create the "Deepest Sympathy" sentiment. I love the delicate flow of the font, don't you?

I may have gone a bit overboard on this card, I used many different die cuts including a few of my Memory Box dies. I think I like adding multiple die cuts on my cards. I used the following Memory Box dies: Floral Circle and Quinn Fourish dies. The Floral Circle is on both the main card and my little mini card!

I am or will be sharing this at the following link parties (buttons are in my link party tab above):

Make It Monday - http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/
The Happy Housie - http://thehappyhousie.com/
The Answer is Chocolate - http://www.answerischoco.com
Craft Frenzy Friday - http://www.craftdictator.com
Made to be a Momma - Homemade by You - http://www.madetobeamomma.com/
Whipperberry - Friday Flair Link Party - http://whipperberry.com
Practically Functional Link Party - http://practicallyfunctional.com
A Marvelous Mess Link Party - http://www.marvelouslymessy.com/
Alderberry Hill - Make the Scene Monday - http://www.alderberryhill.com/

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Monday, September 02, 2013

Have an Enjoyable Labor Day

Happy Labor Day

Monday, September 2, 2013 is Labor Day in the states. As the holiday approached, I realized that I don't know much about Labor Day, other than it is celebrated on the first Monday in September, it celebrates workers, and (most importantly) I get a day off from work (lol)...

I read on the US Dept of Labor website that:

Labor Day celebrates the "contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country"
The first labor day was celebrated in 1882

For me, and many others, it symbolizes the last hurrah before the end of summer, how many of you will take that final family vacation? Take a trip to "the shore" (the beach for those of you not living in New Jersey)

Although some schools have already started, for us this is the last holiday before school starts for our middle schooler although the high school began classes last week.

On a sillier note, a friend of mine reminded me that Labor is the last day you are allowed to wear white, shoes in particular... Alas, I fear that these life long traditions are slowly slipping away and find that this isn't as true today as it was when I was younger (lol, it is funny how traditions change)

I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy your day in a restful way and have the added pleasure of spending this time with your family. Our day will most certainly include a BBQ, weather permitting!

Happy Labor Day

Have a wonderful day!

Friday, August 30, 2013

Freebie Friday Quilled School Bus Pattern

Free Quilled School Bus Pattern

This project is a throwback to a pattern I have posted in the past, but it is perfect for the beginning of the school year. I love this sweet school bus because he really has a personality. Can't you see the face within the coils?

Do you have children going to school, or do you have pictures from the first day of school that screaming at you to please put them in your scrapbook? Well, here is the perfect embellishment for you!

This is my Safety First School Bus pattern - as always, I try to keep these patterns simple. They use only the basic shapes so even beginners can create them.

Bus Body (this is the base of the project and the most work comes from this step)

30 Yellow (3 in, 7.6 cm) Loose Coil, cut to 1/16 inch, .15 cm wide
6 Yellow (6 in, 15.2 cm) Loose Coil, cut to 1/16 inch, .15 cm wide
1 Yellow (3 in, 7.6 cm) Teardrop (for Front Bumper), cut to 1/16 inch, .15 cm wide

Free Quilled School Bus - Window Detail

Windows

2 White (6 in, 15.2 cm) Loose Coil, cut to 1/16 inch, .15 cm wide
2 White (6 in, 15.2 cm) Half Moon (place over windows), cut to 1/16 inch, .15 cm wide

Free Quilled School Bus - Door Detail

Door

6 White (3 in, 7.6 cm) Loose Coil, cut to 1/16 inch, .15 cm wide
1 White (6 in, 15.2 cm) Half Moon (place over door), cut to 1/16 inch, .15 cm wide

Free Quilled School Bus - Wheel Detail

Wheels

1 White (3 in, 7.6 cm) + 1 Black (12 in, 30.4 cm) Loose Coil (make 2),cut to 1/16 inch, .15 cm wide
1 Yellow (3 in, 7.6 cm) Tight Coil (for Tail pipe), cut to 1/16 inch, .15 cm wide - place by rear wheel
2 Yellow (6 in, 15.2 cm) Half Moon (place over wheel), cut to 1/16 inch, .15 cm wide

If you use this pattern, or it inspires you in some way to create a similar project, please send me a note! I love to hear what you are working on and am blessed when something I have done inspires you!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

I am sharing this at the following link parties:

The Answer is Chocolate - http://www.answerischoco.com/2013/08/bff-open-house-link-party-119.html

Craft Frenzy Friday - http://www.craftdictator.com/2013/08/craft-frenzy-friday-2.html

Made to be a Momma - Homemade by You - http://www.madetobeamomma.com/

Whipperberry - Friday Flair Link Party - http://whipperberry.com/2013/08/friday-flair-link-party-back-to-school-edition.html

Practically Functional Link Party - http://practicallyfunctional.com/fun-functional-link-party-61/

A Marvelous Mess Link Party - http://www.marvelouslymessy.com/

Alderberry Hill - Make the Scene Monday - http://www.alderberryhill.com/

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Free Printable Keep Calm and Teach On

Free Keep Calm and Teach On printable

It is almost the beginning of a new school year, and the beginning of a renewed focus on my blog. I appreciate your patience as I work over the next few months to make some changes to the appearance of the blog and add lots of fun posts and printables and cut files.

To jump start my return, I am offering this fun freebie! I absolutely LOVE these "Keep Calm" printables, don't you? I have been planning this one for a while. I was visiting with a friend, who is a teacher. Since it was before Christmas, her daughter was looking through a magazine, found one and said "Mom, I want to get this for you." Well, she never did, and I didn't forget that she wanted to get one for her mom, so...

I need your advice, I am relatively certain that she won't be able to arrange to get it herself (she is only 11), and I haven't heard about nor has it arrived at their home. So, being a bit on the crafty side, I said to myself, "I can do that" and am wondering if it is ok to offer to give her this one to give to her mom? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

If you are interested in downloading this in a 4x6 for yourself, please click this link and download the PDF.

As always, I am happy to share my tutorials, freebies / printables (and now cut files) with you, I only ask that you do the following:

Please leave a comment if you download a freebie / printable / digi, etc, because I would love to hear from you

If you enjoy the things I share with you, please become a follower so that you will see all the new stuff when it is posted (no pressure, join only if you want)

Please do not share any of my digital images, printables, or tutorials directly with others, but please do send them on over to me so that they can peruse and collect the images themselves.

I would be thrilled and honored if you would send me links to any images or posts that you've done using something that I have shared with you. If you say it is ok, I will even feature your work here!

If you want to recolor the images, feel free!

If you have a special request, please let me know and I will see what I can do.

Most importantly be Fantastically Creative You!