Monday 7 October 2013

Unstampabelles and Challenge 28 - Stitching




Unstampabelles Challenge #28 - Stitching


This is something that I find difficult for a variety of reasons. I do have a sewing machine (and so does hubby; he uses his more than I use mine!) but the tension is always going on it and I get very frustrated. I have had it for about 40 years and it is a small Elna. Not many people know how to repair them either, I have discovered.

I used to cross-stitch and embroider, and would love to go back to this but my hands are not up to the work. I tend to get a bit obsessive and would stitch for hours and then not be able to walk or use my hands for the next 24 hours!! I have much stuff just sitting and one piece wound around a wooden embroidering frame, waiting to be completed (it's about 50%) ......... not sure if it will in my lifetime. I used to knit a lot as well.  Not sure how I fitted it all in now I think about it. 

I found papercraft too and time had to be divided (or not); the pressure on my hands was less as well. So, mending something occasionally or sewing on a button is about it now......so this challenge was a challenge for me indeed!

I decided to do just a little bit of hand sewing.  


No, not on this bit


The prize for this challenge at Unstampabelles comes to us from Blue Edge Crafts.   Look at all that stash!




I took a piece of card from a 6 x 6 pack called Simple Stories - Vintage Bliss and marked a swag onto the back freehand with a pencil. I used a piercer and foam pad and pierced along the line to enable me to hand stitch easily.  I make two holes quite close together and did six sets altogether. 


I then used buttons and twine and stitched the buttons down at each set, stringing the twine between each button.  I then used an SU 1" circle punch to get five circles from the paper pad scraps. I folded each circle in half and slipped them over the twine, gluing down the flap of the circle when in place. I also added a car charm while sewing. That was enough stitching for me!


The car charm has been in the stash for a while.......


I was going to smear ink around everything but at the last minute I decided to keep it a bit cleaner, so didn't go for the full vintage look.  However, I did add a small paper doily which was sitting around on the workstation. Now I had found various bits of ephemera and put them together...........the car from a vintage pack of chipboard (no name on pack), the yellow flag and the sentiment flag (Kaiser) from two different sources, as were the buttons and the bling. It seems to all work together.


Up close at the car


The letters for DAD were die cut from a Hero Arts alph die in scrap black card. I now have a packet of alph letters which contains no D but  two of everything else except A! More scraps!


I folded a piece of SU Kraft to make a base card and put the DP onto this.  Hubby told me it was a good one - male eyes are so different, are they not!! It is not so much vintage as rustic. This is a good Birthday card for Dad, or even keep it until Father's Day!!

Now, your turn to make a card - remember: NO STAMPS, either digital or rubber (although you can use a small sentiment of one or two words occasionally if there is no other alternative available)

I will enter this in the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody:  Anything Goes
A Gem of a Challenge: Lets Hear it for the Boys




12 comments:

KarinsArtScrap said...

beautiful card Susan.

greetings karin

CathyC said...

very clever ;-) great card for a Dad ;-)

frommycraftroom said...

Funny I have a cross stitch sitting here half done older than at least one of my children! I don't know what I do with my time now, when the kiddos were smaller I use to sew most of their clothes & knit more jumpers.
Great card - My sewing machine is always out should use it for making cards.
Your card is great love the button banner.

JanR said...

Great card! I love the banner.

Sarah C said...

This is such a cute card, and love for a dad! your stitching turned out fabulously :-) great job!

Ina G said...

Love this card Susan especially your stitching. Lovely colours and fabulous layout.

fiona mctiernan walker said...

Lovely card and a great layout thankyou for joining us at our challenge at challenges 4 everybody. Good luck fiona dt. x

Merry said...

Such a clever way to add the banner to your card Susan. Thanks for doing the little bit of stitching for us. :-) Great card.

Christine said...

Perfect Male creation clever take on the One For the Boys chall theme.

Thanks for sharing with us at AGOAC this time.

smiles Christine x

Unknown said...

Hi Susan, thanks for your lovely comment...I went to join as a member here but hey I am already...sorry for being in the cupboard and not commenting then....
love this card and your sewing is super fab/. keeping in touch...luv aNNIe x

Michele said...

this is beautiful! it is good you made the extra effort as your results are wonderful. xo

Jasleen Kaur said...

Amazing card Susan. A perfect man-card. :) Love the rustic background and the stitching.