Monday, November 24, 2014

All Sewn Up

Hello, everybody!  I'm so happy to be able to join up with A Vintage Journey "All Sewn Up" Challenge 19 since just getting an old sewing machine at a yard sale this weekend.  It doesn't do the best job, but can pretty much do in a pinch.

This is a card I made for my sister.  It's been a while since I've made her a card, and I thought it better be special.  I was inspired by Tim's grungy style in choosing my colors, and I've used his inks to stand in as water colors. One bit of Idea-ology in the form of a Trinket pin and a Paula Cheney bow make this a Tim Holtz inspired card with a natural twist.

This is not the sewing machine I used!

 I found a Pinterest post for water coloring using leaves as a stencil and a stamp that inspired me to pick up a few leaves on a walk one day and put them to use on this card.


 To start, I stamped and heat embossed a Stampin' Up cheesecloth image in white onto a brown card stock card.

Then I placed several leaves on a piece of water color paper, swiped Distress Ink Minis on my craft mat and spritzed with water.  I patted a silk sponge into the puddle and dabbed it over the leaves using them as a stencil.  I removed the leaves, cleaned them off, and swiped various Distress Inks directly on the back of the leaves. I spritzed them with water and placed them ink side down on the water color paper, pressing them down with my fingers to get a good impression. Once removed I dried the paper with a heat gun. I repeated this several times with different leaves. Once completely dried, I blended Weathered Wood DI over the piece. I cut my paper to size and inked the edges with Weathered Wood.

 Next I used Mini Ferns stencil by TCW and three green Distress Inks, and using an ink blending tool, blended the inks through the stencil.(Tim: here's a new ink color for you--"Fern"!)  I stamped a sentiment from Tim's Nature's Elements set in Archival Ink.  Because of the roughness of the watercolor paper, where there was little or no ink on the paper, I made a poor impression. I used a marker to touch up the sentiment.

I sewed  around the perimeter of the inked card, and used adhesive foam to attach  this to the card blank. (Call me cowardly for not sewing it onto the card!)


I squeezed out some Distress Stain (Antiqued Bronze, Peeled Paint and Tarnished Brass) on my craft mat, spritzed with water, and dragged my vintage brown seam binding  through the puddle.  I lightly crinkled it and allowed it to dry.


Lastly, I swiped some Rusty Hinge Distress Paint on an Idea-ology Trinket pin, allowed it to set up, then wiped it off to leave it in the indentations. I made a Paula bow, attached the pin, and glued the bow to the card.

I hope Kim enjoys her fall card, and I hope you all have a lovely Thanksgiving if you are celebrating it in your neck of the woods. Thank you for all your inspiring and encouraging comments!

I would like to enter this into the following inspiring challenges:

A Vintage Journey Challenge 19 "All Sewn Up"
It's All About the Vintage and Beauty Homemade Embellishments I think I could call the leaves embellishments to my paper and the bow is hand dyed and twisted from seam binding.
Artist Trading Post Exchange "Stencil Mania" I used leaves as stencils, but also used Mini Ferns stencil.
Stamplorations Stamps and Layers (My first entry here)
Frilly and Funkie A Gift From the Heart My friends always tell me that getting a homemade card is like getting a gift!

.Why not give each of these blogs a visit and consider linking up a project of your own!

28 comments:

  1. I was just taking a break and felt that I needed to know WHAT YOU WERE DOING???? so I can see that you are making MORE WONDERFUL visions... these leaf inkings are really GREAT Sara... I love the one you sent to me.... and feel honored to say I have one... Trying to get caught up around here... talk soon... hopefully prior to your 'vacation' from all... Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie

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    1. Hi Bonnie! So glad you stopped by! Yes, I've been busy in my Closet! I had a great time with the paper I made...everyone in my family, my Capon family and my neighbor family received some variation of a card using this technique! Will be writing soon! Thinking of you! Love!

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  2. Such a beautiful background you have made Sara... I am no good with inks...I make a mess! Love the bow you added...it matches so perfectly!!
    Cheers
    Dr Sonia
    Cards Crafts Kids Projects

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    1. Oh, Dr. Sonia, I don't think you give yourself enough credit! Just play! It will all turn out, mess and all! Thank you for your very sweet comment! I love that you visited!

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    1. Valerie, I'm so happy you visited, and thank you for your kind words!

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  4. I love how you've used those leaves as your stencil for that lovely background Sara. My eye is also caught by that wonderful cloth stamp - I thought it was the real thing!! A gorgeous, soft toned piece.
    Thanks so much for joining us at ATP Exchange for my challenge.
    Julia x

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    1. Julia, Oh, and what a fun challenge it is! I love to use my stencils! But had to "branch out"! Ha! Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment!

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  5. What a lovely sewn card Sarah! The cheese cloth embossing looks wonderful behind your beautiful leaf stampings - how wonderful to do it with real leaves!! Thank you so much for joining us at the AVJ All Sewn Up challenge!

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    1. Thank you, Julia! I love that cheese cloth stamp, and just don't use it enough!
      I'm sad that I will have to wait 'til next year to make anymore leaf paper; all of our greenish leaves and dried up and blown away! These make the best impressions.
      So happy for the challenge; I would have never tried sewing on paper without the encouragement! Love it!

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  6. Sarah, this is so beautiful! I just love, love, love your attention to detail. The stenciling is awesome. I love the warm rich colors! WOW...I wish I could sew. Love it! Thanks for joining and sharing over at Frilly and Funkie!

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  7. Hi, Nicole, I wish I could sew, too! Your comment warms my heart. I have been enjoying all the creations and SNOW on your blog! You are a technical guru in addition to being a crafty maven!

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  8. Beautiful card Sara. I can see exactly why your friends are so pleased to receive the gift of a perfectly hand crafted card from you. LOVE those leaf patterns Thank you so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie and at A Vintage Journey. Jenny x

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    1. Thank you, Brenda, for such generous praise! I'm thankful for the sewing challenge at A Vintage Journey. I've always wanted to try sewing on paper, and this gave me the encouragement I needed!

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  9. Love the watercolour effect you've created and using leaves as stencils, lovely tones. The cheesecloth background stamp is so effective, I too thought it was real! Lovely card. Ruth x

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    1. Ruth, thank you for your lovely comment! I love that cheese cloth stamp, especially with the embossing. And the paper was so much fun to make.

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  10. This is stunning, Wonderful colours.
    Thank you for joining us at It's All About the Vintage & Beauty!
    Hugs Merkku

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    1. Thank you, Merkku! I really enjoyed the challenge at It's All About the Vintage and Beauty--love all the home made embellishments I saw there!

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  11. I adore this Sara, the wonderful blended colours and watercolour effects are stunning. You did a great job using your new old sewing machine too.
    Thanks for linking to 'All Sewn Up' at A Vintage Journey.
    hugs Brenda xxx

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    1. Than you, Brenda, for your kind comment--and for the encouragement to sew on a card by your challenge! It is something I've seen quite often, and wanted to try. Perfect opportunity to get a machine and actually give it a whirll I think I'm hooked!

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  12. Completely stunning - the leaf stamping is utterly beautiful, and I love the effect of the simple layering with the cheesecloth and stitching detail. Fabulous! Thanks so much for joining us on A Vintage Journey.
    Alison xx

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    1. Wow, Alison, what a way to make my day! Your words made me smile from ear to ear! I had such a great time entering this challenge!

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  13. I sure do wish you lived a little closer Sara, I would love to learn from you face to face. This is just amazing, I love the water colour effect of your leaves! A gorgeous autumn collage! love it! hugs :)

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  14. Awe, Pamellia, I'm sure we would have a lot of crafting fun! And I could learn SO much from YOU! Thank you for your sweet compliment! I hope you have a wonderful week!

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  15. Wonderful technique. Wonderful finishing touches. And I love it that you were so inspired by nature. Thanks for joining us at STAMPlorations this month.

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  16. What a beautiful background! Thanks for joining in with STAMPlorations!

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Thank you for leaving your comments...they mean so much to me.