Stuck on You!

I'm stuck on craft challenges lately. They help to launch my creativity with an idea or a sketch. This card is the result of 2 challenges this week. The first is a sketch challenge found on Freshly Made Sketches. It's pretty straight forward resulting in a clean and easy card. The other challenge comes from Heart 2 Heart Challenges which is a stitching theme. I chose to go faux!

I love the bright whimsical colors of the Prickly Pear papers, but I wanted to create more authentic looking cactus. For this I reached for an older stamp set called, Stuck on You. This is one of those sets that came with coordinating Thin Cuts making it all too easy. The more difficult part is coloring in the cactus, however I find this to be relaxing. The faux stitching is made by using some wavy Lawn Fawn Die Cuts.

Pretty clean, simple and cute! Be sure to check out these blogs for some challenges and inspiration!

Buzzing with Best Wishes Grad!

I have never created so many graduation cards until this year! I suppose it's because my own kids are close to graduation and all of their friends are too! Also, many of my friends all had children around the same time as me!! Regardless the reason, I have lots of creating to do.

My card today features the lovely Buzz & Bumble papers and embellishments. I am submitting this card for a couple of challenges. The first challenge uses the sketch this week on The Paper Players. I love the graphic blocks of patterned paper and that scroll feature!

The second challenge is for Heart 2 Heart. Their Nip & Tuck theme this week challenges us to use real or faux stitching. I chose faux, because I love how quick and easy the technique. It gives the project the same effect as real stitching without the extra work of dragging a sewing machine out of the closet!

This is certainly not a "typical" graduation card, but neither is the recipient! I wanted a gorgeous, classy card, because the young lady receiving is just that!

Relax with some Faux Stitching

Hello and happy Monday to you all! I've got a great layout to share with you today. I've used the Dotty For You papers to create this layout, which is available to order tomorrow! The page on the left side is from the artwork inspiration insert that you will receive with this kit. On the insert it is indicated that the design is from the Magic how-to book. So I pulled the book from the shelf and looked at the design so I would be able to create a companion page. Funny thing is that the page in the insert is shown to be the right side of the layout. I just felt like it needed to be on the left though and switched them up. I also rotated the right page, because it looked better to me with the pattern of the Dotty paper.

I also wanted to incorporate some stitching on my page as that is the challenge on Heart 2 Heart Blog this week. I enjoy all types of stitching on my projects, but like to do Faux stitching more often. I figure that I'm not very good with my little sewing machine and by the time I get it out, set it up and thread my needle, I could have my pages faux stitched already!

To achieve this type of faux stitching, I started by stamping in Grey Wool with the Simple Stitches stamp set. When you get to a corner you can simply mask the edge with a post-it-note.

Once all the stamping is done, I lay a foam pad under my base page and poke holes along the stitched line with the piercing tool.

You can see here that the stamp I used already has little dots indicating where I would poke my hole. If you were working with a straight line you would want to use something like Close To My Hearts ruler with piercing holes in it to guide you.

A couple of years ago I did a wreath for my home that shows a couple more ways you can stitch your projects. You can see it here.

As always for even more inspiration, please visit the Heart 2 Heart Blog. If you have other clever ideas, share them with us at Heart 2 Heart and enter your artwork. You could be eligible for our monthly top 10!

Sooo Faux!

The challenge this week on RCC is to use stitching on your project. I chose to use some faux stitching on these little Thank You notes. I like to give these to my customers with their orders to show my appreciation.

You can see here that I've used some matching twine to tie them to the order bag.

Be sure to see the other creations on the Ribbon Carousel Challenge Blog.

Home Wreath

We have lived in our home now for over 5 years and I am still creating little items of decor to display here and there. I feel that home made crafts really make a house a home!

This week on H2H we were challenged to create something with either faux or real stitching. Why not both, or maybe 3 types of stitching!

To make the pennants I cut pieces of B&T paper that measured 3 x 8 inches. I folded them in half and then cut on an angle to create the triangle, leaving the folded edge at the top. I then used a stamp to create the look of stitching and pierced holes through the paper at the dotted sections. This is the first type of faux stitching I did.

Then I got out my little handy dandy sewing machine to do some real stitching.

I strung some twine through the middle of each pennant and glued the triangles together. I then glued some colonial white organdy ribbon to the tops of the pennants in a pleated fashion and then used a creme brulee grosgrain ribbon on the tops of that. Now comes the sewing and lots of patience. This was a lot of layers for my little machine to go through, but after awhile I got it all stitched together. By using real stitching on this section it created a stronger bond for the banner. It was finished with some threaded buttons on each corner.

The final stitching technique is also a faux stitch. This one is super easy and fun. It also gives that perfect finishing touch to my letters. After tracing chipboard letters onto card stock I cut them out, sponged the edges and then used the fine tip of the marker making small dash marks around the edges. This gives a colorful stitched look.

The letters were finished off with some brads and ribbons. I used a thin hemp to tie the letters to the wreath to make them more secure.