Sunday – and a little Therapy.
Hi there.
Thanks for popping in. Was tidying away all the prep boxes from Friday’s TV show earlier, and came across the Dandelion card I had cut out, that was on offer in the Super Saver. CLICK HERE
I LOVE this design. Many of you may already have it because it was a previous Fresh Cut Die Club Die. A really, really superb one, illustrated by our friend Mel Turner.
Anyway, I went off at a tangent, and decided to have a play – just to calm this old washing machine head of mine. Why is your head like a washing machine? I hear you ask. Well, it’s never just one thing, is it? There’s always loads going on, but it builds up if you’re not careful, it gathers momentum, and starts to snowball, doesn’t it? The trick is to wipe the slate clean and defrag as you go, so that things aren’t allowed to start piling up and getting overwhelming.
I’m getting quite adept at this actually. At letting go of things that aren’t going as I‘d like them to, and just accepting things as they present themselves. I used to get my knickers in a twist over pretty much everything that wasn’t going according to plan. Until I realised that my knickers were in a twist more than they weren’t! I think when I watched our Dad die last year, I finally understood what is important – and what isn’t. Since then, I am not anywhere near as intense about things as I used to be. And if I feel myself getting anxious about stuff, then I know what to do. Having a little chat with Dad in my head – that always helps. As does losing myself in pottery, or some sort of artwork.
So this little hour of play was not just a bloggy step by step. No, no, no. It was a hour of free therapy, a free meditation, a calming period. It helps to keep balance, and not let the head start drafting long lists of everything that needs doing.
NITI. Nothing Is That Important. In fact, I had intended to prepare what we’re doing in the SHAC tomorrow morning. Instead, I switched off, emptied my head of work and obligation, and spent a pleasant hour constructing a card. Tomorrow morning I’ll get up bright and early, and get the bus out of the depot. It will be fine.
Now for the step by step though. I’m really pleased with it.
I’ve got a box full of paper offcuts. Design papers, companion papers. You probably do too! Pick your background colours. Not just one piece. Pick 3. I went with a piece of bright Rainbow River designer paper, then a couple of plain Companion papers.
Now to attach the scraps to the inside of the card. Arrange the pieces behind the aperture, only focussing on the opening. It’s handy if some of the paper is sticking out above and/or below, for fastening together with low-tack tape.
Once you got the paper where you want it, it’s time to attach. I was focussed on using the stalk of the lefthand dandelion as the divider. See?
Secure the pieces together with low-tack masking tape. Flip over to the back and use masking tape on the back now too.
Time to trim. Just make pencil marks on the front, so you know where to cut the scraps, so that they fit within the 5×5 inch card.
Time to attach on the inside. Leave the masking tape in place. Make a hinge along the fold while you aplly Pergaglue to the inside of the aperture cutout. Lower the cutout down onto the sticky side. Bingo.
We must tidy up the inside with a black cover. Use a black cardblank cut in two and trimmed to just smaller than 5×5. The Tape runner is best for this.
I’ve still got some offcuts of the offcuts, to spruce up the front. Again, use a pencil mark to ensure the colour lines team up. Cut panels. I just made it up as I went along from here!
Panel underneath, to take a sentiment.
Typically, we’d add one at the top too. But it looked too symmetrical for me. So…
Very simple actually. And in the same vein as yesterday’s card, with the two colours…
Yep. A very enjoyable little exercise for the mind. And these dies are excellent.
It’s just occurred to me! D for Dandelion. Now THAT makes me smile…
See you in the SHAC at 10 tomorrow. Guess what we’ll be drawing…
Love always
Barb x x x
17 thoughts on “Sunday – and a little Therapy.”
lovely project and glad you managed to clear your head even if only for a little while! take care of you and hope Dave is feeling a little better xx
I used this die yesterday with gilding flakes, did a cream card and then wished I’d done a black ! Great idea for using up the left overs so will give it a go, I have so many like everyone ! Hope your head is better now and Dave is improving. See you tomorrow for a Dandelion – unless it’s a Dave of course ! X
love this,yes sometimes you really do need to declutter the head ,love these colour ways bright cheerful make you feel good colours.
Wonderful! Glad the washing machine head stopped!xx
Ah ha we are doing Dandelions! beautiful card idea and colours on the black card us beautiful xx
love both cards. looking forward to tomorrow now I have caught up.
usually busy in morning so will have to wait till evening to join in.
thanks for all your inspiration
Oh I know that washing machine or tumble dryer head only too well.
I have so many things going around im my head right now but crafting always Switches those machines off.
I find writing a to do list also helps, I love ticking things off- makes me feel in control. The list is just too long right now.
Anyway I love the card and I’m looking forward to the SHAC tomorrow. Grateful for the time you share with us ! That will stop another spin cycle 🥰
Love this idea must dig out my old die haven’t done much die cutting recently .
That’s brilliant! I’m always looking for ways to make some inroads into my pile of scrap papers (sorry – ‘offcuts’. They’re too precious to be called ‘scraps’!) 🤣
Another good idea for using off cuts.
I make a list of tasks for the week and tick them off as they are completed in no particular order, this way I don’t get frazzled. It all gets done in the end.
Take care of yourselves.
Love the vibrant colours against the black card & yes like many others I have lots of offcuts. I also have the die so no excuse not to give this a go along with the card from yesterday.
Looking forward to tomorrow to see what is the final decision on the subject for the letter D is – will it be dandelion or something else.
Hope the card making process cleared your head & Dave is feeling better as well.
Not sure where today has gone to – did manage to get a few household jobs done but then got side tracked doing some family history research so no crafting today as planned. Oh well there is always tomorrow !!
Love that card, especially the colours on the black. Will have to catch up on the SHAC tomorrow as it is craft group in the morning. Wishing you a happier head!. Xx
Very clever idea to use up scraps! I really need to make my March cards soon, so this is a great idea. Thanks x
What a lovely way to use up the scraps we never throw away ‘just in case’. I hope Dave is feeling a bit better and am looking forward to the Shac in the morning.
Hello Barb, what a really inspiring Step by Step this is, and the colours you have chosen are just superb. I think I need some arty therapy to stop my washing machine head. So much going on, and just not enough hours in the day. Wish I could join in the Shac today, but the pesky day job has me on the go early this morning. Will catch up on YouTube. Take care all. Bx
What a good idea. Yes I too have off cuts – one drawer of white and another drawer of coloured card then a bag of Clarity off cuts. Why you may ask. Having run a Kindergarten I am used to saving everything. When I retired I had so many cardboard toilet roll inners (can’t use them now unless they are microwaved but that might have changed) and yogurt pots to get rid of. Enjoyed SHAC on Monday. More practice needed !! Take care.
this is a lovely card, i have bags full of scraps that are too good to throw away and who knows when they might come in handy …… just caught up with the shac on letter D, take care, hugs xxx