Altenew - Sewing & Watercolors

 Hello!

I'm stopping by with a project  - not a card - Shocking, I know!!! Hehe! Altenew has a sewing contest and I knew I had to try a few things! You have find all the info here, if you want to play along, but hurry it ends the 31st!!

So for a while I've been wanting to try watercoloring on my cross stitch fabric. I've been cross stitching longer then I've been card making!! I had some 28 ct white evenweave that I cut up to experiment with. 

I found that using a lot water with the watercolors was the best way to add color to the fabric. First I would add the watercolor to the fabric, then add water and work it into the fabric. To make the color darker and brighter I would add more watercolor (with lots of water). If the watercolor is more intense (more pigment, then water) then it was splotching on the fabric and didn't move through the fabric . But lots of water with a little pigment, would spread much easier.

After doing my watercoloring I let the fabric dry over night. The next day I came back and used the butterfly from the Ori Kami stamp set. I just used regular memento black ink, stamping lightly. 

Then I started stitching! I used three threads of black floss and did long stitches over the stamped butterflies. A little tip for you, there is no need to use knots to start or finish your stitching. Just leave a tail when you start and as you stitch, your stitches will hold the tail. When you are done stitching, just thread your needle through your stitching on the back, then trim the extra. 

To finish the stitching I used iron interfacing on the back, this helps strengthen your fabric,  holds your wrong side stitching in place and and lessons the chance for edge fraying. From the craft store I found a simple black frame for my stitching!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I'll be back in a day or two with my second project for the contest!!

Dana

MFT - Innovative Master

Hello!!

This is my second card for My Favorite Things SuperStar Challenge. It's for the Innovative Master challenge! Basically, I stamped two MFT images and cross stitched them! I've been a cross stitcher for about 20 years, about 5 years more then I've been paper crafting! I've been wanting to try this for awhile, some might not think its innovative, but I think at least is unique!!

Because the design is a stamp (MFT's Cat-itude) and not a design made for cross stitch I used 28 count white Evenweave, this makes half cross stitches easier. This also helped with the actual stitching, because there were lines that fell in between stitches, so I had to decide whether to stop the image or go outside the line. And of course, curves are always a challenge even if you are making a design specifically for cross stitch!

But, anyway I used DMC thread (colors used at the end) and I picked the colors from a current cross stitch project. I stitched it over the weekend. When I was done I used My Favorite Thing Stitched Oval die to cut the fabric.

Then I created a frame with the same die and one smaller. I cut it from Kraft cards stock and I inked the edges with Papertrey Ink's Classic Kraft ink. From gray cardstock, I freehand cut the metal pieces at the top of an embroidery hoop.

I also cut some cardstock with the largest oval and adhered it to the back of the stitching. That way it has some support. Then I adhered the kraft 'hoop' and metal pieces.

While that all dried, I worked on my card base. I was going for a wallpaper like look. First I used a watermark pen and ruler to add the lines. Then from the Cat-itude set, I stamped the little flower three times each with watermark ink. I wanted subtle stamping but still wanted to see it.

When my hoop was dry I added it to the card with foam tape. Last I rounded the corners. I decided not to add a sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Dana

Supplies
Stamps: My Favorite Things - Cat-itude
Dies: My Favorite Things - Stitched Ovals
Watermark Pen and Ink
DMC thread: 977, 3826, 223, 224, 221, 975, 433, 938, 310
28ct White Evenweave fabric