'ABC' Challenges - Anything Goes, 4CCC #131 "Stitching", PPA135 - In Stitches

Hello everyone and Happy Monday to you! The challenge this week at 'ABC' Challenges is the ever popular "Anything Goes" - whoot whoot!  That's right, any theme, any sketch, any color combo, any technique - ANYTHING... as long as it's a card because after all that's what ABC stands for All Beautiful Cards. 

Inn addition to the Anything Goes purpose for which I have made this card, I am also entering it in the following challenges:

The Paper Players #135 - "In Stitches"

and

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #131 - You've Got me in {Stitches}

 



My card uses both real (cross-stitching) and faux stitching.  This is my very first attempt at cross-stitching.  When I bought this little template kit the catalog description didn't say that you should already know how to cross stitch - well, I found out that it's harder than it looks and mine didn't turn out anything at all like the photo on the package (even after two other failed-ripped out attempts).
I added the large die-cut heart and put some faux-stitching around the edge to bring in the cross-stitching.  Was going great until I got distracted by the t.v. and starting putting my stitches too close together - oops!  I thought it still needed something to complete it so I added the gorgeous lace ribbon (helps to distract a bit from my un-even stitching around the heart too I think -lol).  I'm not sure what you would describe this style as - it's not really vintage, it's kind of shabby chic with a country charm to it, hmmm still not sure.  All said and done - I'm not in love with this card - but for a first attempt at cross stitching it's really not too bad and it does have sort of an imperfect charm to it. Hope you like it!

I do hope you will decide to join the challenge this week at 'ABC' Challenges.  The other lovely ladies on the DT have prepared some great cards to share with you so please pop on over and visit them. Start your crafting engines and get to work so you can share your beautiful cards with us this week :o) Check the challenge rules please though as we do limit the number of challenges you can enter to 10 (that is 9 plus ours).   Til next time... hugs and happy crafting!

All Stitched Up at 'ABC' Challenges {Mine's Faux}

Supplies (all from Stampin' Up): Cardstock - Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla.

Embossing folders - Needlepoint border (SU Spring mini catalog)

Stamps - Oh Hello (SU Spring mini catalog)

Inks - Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery

 

Hello dear blog friends!  Some of you have the day off for President's Day - how very wonderful :o)  I'm lucky to be one of those too this time and am hoping to do something fun with my daughter and my son who is home from college for another day before he heads back. 

The delightful Ger got to pick our challenge this week at 'ABC' Challenges and she has chosen "All Stitched Up - Faux or Real".  Oh gosh - this one kind of struck fear in my heart as I thought of the "D" I got on a wrap around skirt in home economics some 30+ years ago.  I am impressed with myself if I sew on a button and can "marginally" hem my pants, but only if absolutely necessary.  So... I guess you can figure out that I definitely went for the faux stitching this week - LOL.  I had purchased the textured embossing folders recently from Stampin' Up (whew) or I would have been sunk on this one.  I added a bit of saharah sand ink across the raised stitching so that it would stand out a bit more. There is also some faux stitching on each quilt piece courtesy of a stamp.  I had lots of fun coloring the stamp with my markers and it is an easy shape to snip out.  I think the patterns on the strip are so gorgeous. 

I really do love when a challenge pushes me to try something new - or think about something differently - thanks Ger! And, I really do like how this card turned out.  It reminds me of the old-fashioned quilt that I have on my bed (a hand-me down from my Grandma).  

Hope you like this too and will consider joining us this week at 'ABC' Challenges.  To see the rules and the great cards the rest of the DT have prepared for you, all you have to do is click here.  Hope to be visiting you soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by - til next time... hugs and happy crafting! D

Try Stampin' on Tuesday -Challenge #86

Hello Dear Blog Friends!  This card represents something I know absolutely nothing about, but is on my bucket list - sewing!  To give you an example of my sewing ability, I got a D on a wrap around skirt in high school home economics (just that term along really dates me).  I can manage to sew a button on if needed, but it ain't pretty - lol!  When I saw the sketch this week though at Try Stampin' on Tuesday (Challenge #86) the first thing I thought of for the 3 strips on the sketch was a ruler or tape measure.  So I hunted around in my stamp stash to see what I could come up with to match that idea.  Here's the sketch that inspired by card:

I was trying to keep it as clean and simple as the sketch portrays but ending up adding more embellishments and layers - a slight interpretation, but still the main sketch is visible.  How do you like my faux stitching around the edge?  I have to laugh because it is very crooked - but that is exactly how my stitching looks when I try to do it in real life.  I already had the Thank You banner cut out from another project idea that went awry, so I thought I just add a fun pop of color by using it here.  I think I do like this card - it's definitely not perfect and breaks some of the rules of card making (it seems) but I think it has a fun, artsy-fartsy, eclectic feel to it - and that is very unlike me usually so I'm embracing it fully :o).  I love how this sketch inspired me and kind of took me in a new direction.  Hope you have enjoyed it too. Thanks so much for stopping by - til next time... Hugs and happy crafting!!