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This is intended to be mainly about my crafting stories, as a personal record of what I do. However, I interpret crafting quite widely, not just paper crafting but other things too. I have a butterfly mind and like to change from one thing to another depending on what I feel like on a given day - knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, cards, baking and several others, including my favourite right now, parchment, both traditional skills and Groovi, very relaxing and calming to do.

I have decided to put some structure into my blog so that each day will have something of a theme.
Monday- for Mindfulness; Tuesday - Tidy Up Day; Wednesday - What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday; Thursday - Technique and Tips; Friday - Finish Off Day; Saturday - Start Something New; Sunday - Anything Goes
These themes are not hard and fast and will be changed if I feel the need.

Wednesday 12 January 2011

WOYWW - 84

I managed it on the right day today.  I will try to get round more of your entries this week.  The ones I saw last week were stunning, so I am looking forward to a treat again tonight.

My desk this week is a constantly changing place.  I have been very busy scanning old family photos onto the hard disc before the originals get given to other members of the family to take their pick.  So far I have just scanned them all without really sorting or screening what I have, but the real rubbish can be dumped later when I have time.  However, right at the end of the ones that had to be done fast, I came up with a small envelope of treasure trove - old birthday and birth cards - not many but definitely a possibility for reuse and adapting.
I scanned them all in and then had a little play with one of them, the one I thought was the prettiest.  I took it into Roxio 2010 and change the tint to get rid of a little of the yellowing, not too much as that is part of its charm, in my humble opinion.  I also used the clone tool to remove any handwriting  on each cards, and also any really bad marks, due to age and ill treatment.  Then I simply printed it out through My Craft Studio Professional on the professional quality print, and highlighted the flourishes with a gold pen, just to lift it a little.

Here you can see the two cards, the original on the right and my "improvement" on the left.  Yes, the printing of the outline does not match the colouring in, but these cards are over 60 years old, from a time when colour printing was not as sharp as we expect these days.  I have another box, somewhere, with some of my old cards in, some from me and some going back to my mother yeas before.  I intend to dig them out, scan then and see what I can get from them, so you might see a few more gems appearing - watch this space.  I would value any input from all of you out there, ideas from those who have done something similar, or other ideas on what we can rescue from our family documents and treasures for reuse.

36 comments:

Chelle said...

Beautiful cards. #127

Elizabeth said...

Absolutely fascinating - these old cards are just so lovely. They are the sort of thing I would want to preserve in a scrapbook. I believe that there is an archival spray which can be used to spray over items like these cards so that if used in, say, a scrapbook layout, damage to photographs used is prevented. Sorry, I know the spray is available in The States but have no idea where you would find it here. You have made a great job with the scanned card and we can see how the original must have looked when new. Thanks for sharing this with us. Elizabeth #87

Helen said...

The cards are great - hope you have fun with them!

Chrissie said...

This was a real interesting post. The difference between the two cards is amazing.
I'm impressed!
Chrissie

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

oooo Maggie what a clever idea, I have some of them and could do the same if I had time well done!!this is my first go at WOYWW and it is fun! Shaz in Oz.x

katemade designs said...

they have a whole new life now bravo to you

jude said...

These are absolutely lovely hun.Sorry didnt get round to you yesterday .so pleased i didnt as today have some news for you on my blog...???
hugs judex

Zue said...

What a lovely idea. My first thought when I saw the cards ws that they were of my childhood and then I read how you did it.

Just lovely!!!
Sue xx 67

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Marg- these look gorgeous.I love what you did with them. I only had time to post my WOYWW yesterday, and only getting round most of the entries today.

Annie said...

How beautiful. :-)
Thanks for dropping by my blog. I have thankfully finished the cushion covers and they have already been collected by a very satisfied customer :-)
A x

JoZart Designs said...

That is really interesting and the cards are lovely.
JoZarty x

Marjo said...

What a great idea! Love all the pics. Thanks so much for the peek and sharing. Hug, Marjo #22. Happy WOYWW

minnie_mac said...

What a lovely idea. Look forward to seeing the others you plan to do.

Marilyn

Tertia said...

Whay a treasure you found! Love what you did with it.
Tertia 99

BrossArtAddiction said...

Fabulous cards...I absolutely love coming across vintage cards, so beautiful! And I'm always running late to post, but at least I do...lol.

Thanks for the peek! :D

♥Tracey♥...ƸӜƷ

Bluefairy4U said...

Hi Maggie, thanks for popping over. Lovely ideas you have, I must get round to scanning in my photos too. The cookie cutters on my desk are little rabbit and I think the other one looks like a fish! I am going to make some friendly plastic rabbits for my grandchildren at Easter time to put on a card and put money in- instead of Chocolate:). The Hearts are from a Martha Stewart punch for Valentines day. Hugs JO.xx **19**

Anonymous said...

Excellent post Maggie, really enjoyed it, the cards are beautiful in both their guises. I still have all of my 1st birthday cards, my mam found them and gave them too my when I was home last May!

Hugs
Brenda 94

Kirsty.A said...

Those cards are a real find. I would scrapook the originals
xKirsty #47

Spyder said...

What a fabulous idea, and you've done a brilliant job on those cards, they are just sooo pretty, thanks for the snoop, sorry sooo late, I'm a very slow reader! HappY WoYww!
((Lyn))

Nicky said...

Wow this is brilliant, what a great idea as the images of the olders cards are often so stunning love both old and new - thanks for sharing ~ Nicky 45

Jingle said...

These look very pretty!

Sue Althouse said...

Wow - your cards are works of art! Thanks for stopping by my blog! Sue #94

Mrs A. said...

Never thought of scanning old cards. I have a couple of 50yrs plus birthday cards which are quite quaint by todays standards. Must dig them out from the loft and see if they are suitable. Your cards have worked a jem.
I have just been sent a cd onto which my cousin has copied an old 1937 cine film . It shows my G. Grandmother born 1867, my Grandparents born 1900/1901 and my Dad and his brother born 1924/1926. Vintage footage.

okienurse said...

Awesome cards. I tried to see the difference in the cards but couldn't You do such good work! Thanks for sharing

Jana said...

That's a wonderful surprise treasure you ran into. It's great that you are scanning them. It's so interesting to see all of the different projects on everyone's workdesks. Thanks for sharing yours.

MadeByKarla said...

Wow! That card looks great! I never thought of doing something like that. You're so creative!

Karla
http://madebykarla10.blogspot.com/

Maarit at Violets Corner said...

They are absolutely lovely! Something to treasure, what a great idea to give them new life.

What kind of lamp do you use when taking photos of your projects, is it a day light lamp?

Hugs
Maarit

Sunshine Girl said...

Those cards are fabulous. Thanks for sharing. No. 29

karen said...

What a great idea to give an old card a new lease on life! And you have done a wonderful job restoring it!
Thanks for visiting me!
xoxo Karen

voodoo vixen said...

You clever wotsit... the cards are lovely and now you get to create with them again and again! I have some very old ones from my Grandmother that were war time but they are back in Scotland - so I guess that little exercise will have to wait a while!! Annette #18

Kezzy said...

Wow what a brilliant idea. I've never seen anybody do this before. They are so unique.

Morti said...

Hi Maggie - thanks for swinging by! Love the work you've done on the vintage card. You have far more patience than I!

Ali said...

Thanks for sharing your workdesk... what a fantastic idea for recycling old cards and you've done such a good job of touching up the image.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and taking the time to comment.

Ali #77

Julia Dunnit said...

Oh those are treasures! How marvellos that you canscan and save - and my word what a great job!

Susanne said...

Vintage cards are so much fun to see how styles have changed for the years - great for using on scrapbook layouts. Enjoy your treasures and thanks for stopping by my blog. See you Wednesday.

Neet said...

I do like your cards and what a fabulous idea. Thanks for sharing.