That's Debatable

Our daughter, Elizabeth, really enjoyed her time debating. This layout is of her and her third debate partner, Samuel, prepping for the next speech in the round. As soon as I saw this Bo Bunny Liberty paper I knew it would be perfect for this page.

When I saw the challenge for Bo Bunny's Layout Friday Challenge, to draw 

inspiration from an advertisement, I found this gem:

Adding some bling and stickles to the chipboard stickles really made them pop:

The Fireworks paper painted with stickles sparkles just like the mat in the ad. 

The stardust stickles picked up the bit of red and reflect them along with

the white and blue. I pierced the holes before hand stitching this border:

Techniques:

I drew the stitching line using a templet of a square piece of paper punched with the same corner punch, then used a ruler to evenly space the holes for stitching. I actually pencil marked where I wanted the stitches before piercing, but if you're brave you can pierce along the drawn line using your ruler as a guide. Embroidery thread comes in 6 strand hanks. I like delicate stitching and rarely use all six threads. Often I pull out one thread and double it. I don't like lumpy knots behind my stitching, so here is a technique to start your stitching securely without a knot or tape. Using one length of thread (I like using about a yard or so at a time.) put both ends through your needle. You will have two threads coming out one side and a loop at the end of the other. Stitch from the back to the top, leaving the tail with the loop underneath the page, stitch back down again and then pull your needle through the loop and pull your thread to take up all the slack and your thread is secure and you can keep on stitching. When you are getting close to the end of the thread, go to the back of your page, stitch through several through several stitches from side to side and then back again, then trim off your tail. No knot and no tape.  I'll be posting some photos later tonight if this doesn't make sense. 

Hand stitching needles ~ The needles that usually come with scrapbook stitching templates are large - too large for most of my stitching unless I am using all 6 threads which I rarely do. A good needle to use is a tapestry needle, which is the kind used for cross stitching. Tapestry needles have large eyes for easy threading and a blunt tip which makes it easy to stitch through pre-pierced holes. They come in a large variety of sizes and can be found in the notions department of the fabric store.

I love to use stickles, but not directly out of the tip. I squirt a small glob of stickles on a piece of scrap paper or plastic, and use a paint brush to brush a thin layer onto the desired areas of my project. You can get some great detail using a very fine tip brush, like the stars on the banner.

Found items ~ I enjoy finding and using found items on my layouts. I found this flag/heart pin in a grab bag sale last fall, and knew it would be beautiful on a patriotic themed page. I removed the back and had an instant embellishment for pennies.

Supplies used:

Paper:

Bo Bunny Liberty ~ United

Bo Bunny Liberty ~ Old Glory

Bo Bunny Liberty ~ Fireworks

 Bo Bunny Liberty ~ Stripe

Bo Bunny ~ Almond Dot

Embellishments:

Bo Bunny ~ 12x12 Chipboard Stickers - Liberty

Bo Bunny ~ Clear Stamps - Liberty

Bo Bunny ~ Jewels - Liberty

Bo Bunny ~ Jewels - Zoology

Bo Bunny ~ Buttons - Liberty

Ranger Stickles ~ Stardust

Ranger Distress Ink ~ Pumice Stone

Tombo ABT Markers ~ 969, 528

In Stitch'z Thread ~ Red

Flag/heart pin ~ Stash

Ink Jet Transparency Paper ~ Stash

Tools:

Creative Memories ~ Corner Rounder

Gazelle ~ Scalloped Mat - Penny Duncan Designs SVG File

Gazelle ~ Title - Font: Booter Zero Zero

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Blessings ~