Good morning! I hope you’re having a fabulous day! I have lots to tell you about today so bear with me, I promise it will be worth it. 🙂 Today I’m excited to have a Craft Critique review on well, Craft Critique. lol I had the fabulous opportunity to review a really cool Photobook Creator product that allows you to create your own Photobooks. Not only that, but you can bind just about anything you wish in it. I love cool tools. Here’s a peek and you can read about it here.
Another note: I’m still missing all my e-mail files, contacts and anything that was sent to me last Thursday morning. Sigh. If there’s something I should have responded to, please resend. 🙂 I’m still pulling my hair out here.
I also have a card design to share with you today. I’ve mentioned before that I came from a sewing and needlework crafting background and this is one idea that I’ve had spinning in my head for months. Actually, it was one that I had wanted to submit to the Paper Crafts stitching call months ago and there just wasn’t enough hours in my day. Hmmm…I’m still singing that same tune. Anyhow…last week when I noticed Cath’s Moxie Fab Stitch in Time challenge, I just had to create something for it. I’m glad I did as it was so much fun and one of the most relaxing parts of my birthday.This card uses a new image from Cornish Heritage Farms, Tree Swallows, which is also April’s Stamp of the Month. It also comes with the beautiful sentiment, with gratitude.
 Spring Buds Gratitude
This little bird stamp just seemed perfect for embellishing. To add in bird and branch colors, I inked the rubber up with markers, “huffed”, and then stamped. I then scrounged through my old stash of silk ribbon by Bucilla and went to work. The stitches are just simple French knots, Lazy Daisies and straight stitches. By not pulling the ribbon tight, it adds dimension and highlights the beauty of the silk. You can purchase silk ribbon at sewing or craft stores. I love the wider 7mm size…sorry I’m not sure of the imperial equivalent…maybe 1/2″? if you’re looking for silk ribbon, spend the little extra money and buy real silk. The silk”like” ribbon just is not as soft, flexible, as pretty and is not as easy to work with. I just kind of worked freehand on this, embellishing the branches as I went along. I actually started with the French Knot flowers first and then added the leaves. I think I would like to try it with the leaves first and then the flowers next time around as some of the ribbon caught as I worked on the leaves, pulling out a few of my prettiest knots.
Quick Tips!: Ribbon embroidery on paper is the same concept as on fabric but you need to be a little more careful. Fabric is MUCH more forgiving than paper. I found that it works best if you place your french knots down in a different hole than the one you came out of. Keep holes enough of a distance apart so that the paper doesn’t tear and pierce holes first before trying to stitch through the paper.
Supply List:
Stamps: Tree Swallows SOTM set by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Black Memento Ink by Tsukineko, dye based markers
Paper: Natural Smooth Cardstock by Prism, patterned paper by My Mind’s Eye
Other: silk ribbon by Bucilla, buttons by Autumn Leaves, sewing machine
Still with me?! Here’s the fun part…. I hope a little giveaway makes it worth your while! Simply leave a comment on this post between now and Friday April 17th, 9 am EST and I’ll randomly choose a number to win some fun goodies. Winner will be announced on Friday so I hope it will start someone’s weekend off on a good note. 🙂
The goodies: My new Ornamental Borders Scrapblock & a package of Scrapblock layers papers. If you’re not sure what a Scrapblock is, they are 6×6″ rubber stamps that are perfect for so many things. I use mine without an acrylic block so don’t worry if you don’t have one that big!
Good luck and have a fabulous day!
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