Simply Handmade

This "Simply Handmade" card was created for the "Mojo Motivator", Technique Challenge #307 at Splitcoast Stampers. Guidelines for the challenge are to pick a technique from any of the Technique Challenges from last year. Then pick a color combo from any of the Color Combination Challenges from the last six months. And finally, pick a sketch from any of the last 100 sketches of the Sketch Challenge. I chose TLC 306 (Sewing) for the technique and SC240 for my sketch. For my color combination I chose CC298 (Ruby Red Chocolate Chip and Craft). I substituted green for red as a main color and used the red as well as mustard for accent colors. 

I love this idea to boost creativity and will start keeping a book of my favorite card sketches, techniques and color combos to help motivate me when I’m unmotivated. For motivation I usually browse magazines and websites until I find one idea, sketch, color, theme or technique that inspires me. And then – I’m off!

Here are the details of how I made this "Simply Handmade" card.

Stamp Set
CL429 Simply Handmade (Hero Arts)

Ink
Walnut Stain Distress Ink

Tools
Cottage Cutz Rick Rack Die
Cuttlebug
Cuttlebug Polka Dots Embossing Folder
EK Success Dotted Scallop Edge Punch
Nestabilities Circle & Scallop Circle Dies
Scor-Buddy
Sewing Machine
Stampin’ Up! Double Rectangle Punch
Stampin’ Up! Scallop Circle Punch

Embellishments
Buttons
Ribbon

Paper Dimensions
Paper & Cardstock are from My Mind’s Eye, K & Company and Stampin’ Up!

Kraft Card – 10” X 7” folded to a 5” X 7” card.
(A) Brown Cardstock Large Mat– 4 ¾” X 6 ¾”
(B) Brown Cardstock Small Mat – 3 1/8” X 4 1/8”
(C) Brown Cardstock Strip – 1 1/4” X 2 1/8”
(D) 2 Brown Rick Rack Cardstock Strips
(E) Green Cardstock Design Panel – 4 ½” X 6 ½”
(F) Cream Cardstock – 3 1/8” X 4 1/8” (Trim after stamping)
(G) Cream Cardstock Strip – 3/8” X 1 7/8”
(H) Red Gingham Strip – 1 3/8” X 6 ½”
(I) Kraft Paper Scallop Circle – 3 1/8”
(J) Brown Polka Dot Cardstock Circle – 2 3/8”

Card Construction

Step 1 – Attach the brown mat (A) to the kraft card front. Set aside.

Step 2 – Use the Polka Dots embossing folder to emboss the front of the green design panel (E). Attach crocheted trim to lower portion of the green design panel. Wrap the trim around to the back and secure.

Step 1 & Step 2

Step 3 –Attach the embossed, green design panel (E) to brown mat (A). Set aside.

Step 4 – Use Walnut Stain Distress Ink to age the red gingham paper strip (H). Sew the brown strips of rick rack (D) to the top and bottom edges of the gingham strip (H). Attach the sewn strip to the green design panel (E), covering the top edge of the crocheted trim. If you don’t sew, just glue the rick rack strips onto the gingham strip and use a white pen to make faux stitching lines.

Step 3 & Step 4

 

Detail of the scored paper strip


Gypsy Tip
How I created texture. After inking the gingham strip I decided that it still needed something more. And that little something was – texture! So, before attaching the rick rack strips I scored the gingham strip using the Scor-Buddy. I scored the lines following the print of the paper on the printed side because the print was not visible on the backside of the paper. By scoring on the front of the paper my scored lines were indented, but I wanted the scored lines to be raised. So, I flipped the paper over and scored again on the back of the paper, scoring over the same lines. (I used the previously scored lines as a visual guide for scoring on the back of the paper.) Now, my lines were raised and in line with the print of the gingham on the front of my strip.

Gypsy Tip - Scoring the printed side first

Gypsy Tip - Flip and score again

Step 5 –Cut a scallop circle (I) from Kraft paper using the Nestabilities die and emboss after cutting. Distress the edges of the scallop circle with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. Cut a circle (J) from polka dot cardstock and distress along the edges. Place the polka dot circle onto the scallop circle and stitch around the edges of the circle to secure.

Step 6 – Attach the completed scallop circle section to the top of the card as shown.

Step 5 & Step 6

Step 7 - Stamp the “Handmade” image onto the cream strip (G) with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and set aside.

Step 8 - Use the Dotted Scallop Edge Punch along the top and bottom edges of the brown strip (C) to create the decorative edges.

Step 9 - Attach the “Handmade” strip (G) to the brown strip (C). Punch one slot at each end of the G/C strip and set aside.

Step 10 - Stamp the “back of pattern” image onto cream cardstock (F) with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. Trim the cardstock, leaving a 1/8” border around the image.

Step 11 – Cut a piece of 1/8” ribbon and a piece of ¼” ribbon approximately 5” long. Layer the 1/8” piece of ribbon onto the ¼” piece of ribbon and feed through the slots of the “Handmade” (G/C) strip as pictured. Attach the (G/C) strip on top of the stamped, “back of pattern” piece and wrap the ends of the ribbon around to the back of the panel. Secure the ribbon to the back of the stamped cardstock and attach to the small brown mat (B).

Step 12 - Attach the completed section to the card front as shown.




Step 7 through Step 12



Step 13 – Attach buttons, small bow and a paper flower to embellish.

I hope you enjoy this project and please check back again soon because I am going to show you how I made the flower embellishment on this “Simply Handmade” card. – Jane, the Polka Dot gypsy