Kitchen Sink Stamp Challenge 21_Entry 3

We are having a heatwave here in Western Australia.   All the flowers are burnt around the edges, dry dead grass and leaves are certainly a bit depressing to look at.   What's a girl to do....well,stamp of course.!!!

So here is my final entry to the Kitchen Sink Stamp Challenge 21

Now the contest is all about stitching AND using  Kitchen Sink Stamps  

For this card I uses 3 sets.  The 3 Step Butterflies, 3 Step Pansy and the words from the Multi Step Berries

I did have some limitations for this card as I don't have very many ink colours.  I found this lovely sheet of paper for  behind the pansy's that just matched perfectly.

For the stitching, I stitched the line up to the butterfly then unpicked it and used a glittery marker to draw faux stitching.    The green lace  leaves I've used are also stitched by me on my Janome MC10001 Embroidery Machine.   I purchased the embroidery designs from Embroidery Library and used the 3 leaf design stitched in a multicoloured green thread.

Because the card has a texture, stamping directly ontop would have resulted in a patchy inking.   I stamped the side facing butterfly on a separate piece of paper,  cutting around the wings and body only.   I stamped the legs onto the card and embossed in a shiny black and mounted the wings in over the embossed area.

Kitchen Sink Stamp Challenge 21_Entry 2

I enjoyed playing with the idea of stitching on cards so much I made another one for the Kitchen Sink Stamp Challenge 21.  I have a fashion & textile design background so it was fun to play with the paper instead of fabric.  For the stitching, I went with a geometric faux quilt look.  This would be a great way to use scrap paper or small stamps especially in a more crazy quilt pattern.   A crazy quilt pattern has no really structured pattern, just peices of all shapes, sizes and colours.    The stamps are both Kitchen Sink Stamps.

The process I used to make the quilt background is as follows:

 

• Cut 2.5cm squares of 3 coodinating papers.
• Used a white piece of paper as a foundation sheet. Cut to the size I  wanted the finished faux quilt.
• Placed a strip of double sided tape down on the paper (around the centre of where each row will be placed) and press the  first row of squares along the edge of the foundation paper.  Repeat until you have the correct size alternating colours.
• When sewing stitches, use greaseproof paper or tearaway at the edges and start and finish your stitches off onto the scrap paper so as not to miss stitches at the end of your design.   (if stickytape gums up the needle use alcohol wipes to clean needle)
  
• Tear scrap paper away and pull extra stitch threads to the backside and secure with a dob of glue.   You can also put a dob of glue on the backside close to the edge and cut extra threads when dry.
• I placed a thin strip of double sided tape all around the edge and sprinkled glitter for the faux sashing.   

I sparkled for the rest of the day after making this one.   Glitter gets everywhere but it is a lovely effect.

I used a thick paper for both the butterfly and word note, both are curled & shaped.






TIP:  Curl paper from the back using strokes from the outer edge inwards.  A rounded  item works best. Cake decorators have a special double sided tool that has a small ball on one end and large ball on the other. It is used to shape icing for flowers but works well for paper too.  Support you item on a folded towel or firm foam.  

Kitchen Sink Stamp Crew Challenge 21

In my webtravels I came across these fun stamps from Kitchen Sink Stamps .    This is my first ever entry to the  Kitchen Sink Crew Challenge #21  involving the KSS stamp and stitching.

Here is a close up of the stitched elements and the Kitchen Sink strawberry stamp.   The strawberry is stamped in 4 colours, layering from the lightest shade to the darkest.   This is the magical thing about KS stamps.  They are designed to be stamped to form a 3D image.  Brilliant.!  I used a fabric background which is zig zag stitched on a rectangle card punched with the Fiskars boarder punch.   I used an applique stitch to sew the strawberry circle on (see tip).

For those new to Kitchen Sink Stamps, particularly Aussie & New Zealand stampers, I'll be doing a review shortly on products, postage and customer service.

TIP:  To sew a circle, go slow and lift the foot to move your position frequently.  Pivoting when the needle is down on the outer edge.

Here we go.   First post ever.   "Why now ?" I here you all shout...oh no that's just an echo of me shouting in this empty room !!!   Bare with me as I stumble though this new art of blogging.

Well, I guess at some point we all have to get on the bandwagon .  I suppose I'd like to think I have something to offer this big wide world.    I dabble in all things creative from sewing, stamping all the way to fusing glass and metal clay.   I've had to stumble along alot of the way as there isn't much in the way of classes where I am.  So I hope some of you will stumble along with me. !