You'll Be My Friend Forever ~ Reveal for The Stamping Scrapper

It's reveal day for the Shannon's gorgeous sketch at the Scrapping Stamper.

This photo of Elizabeth and Maria hugging is so precious on a beautiful spring day back when we lived in North Carolina. The Bo Bunny Country Garden collection was perfect to scrap this photo. 

 Here is Shannon's fabulous sketch:

Be sure to head on over to The Scrapping Stamper to see what her design team did with this fab sketch. 

Here are some technique details:

Layered Twine Flower ~ You can find the tutorial for my twine flower here. Underneath the twine flower, I used the tattered floral die to cut fabric and netting. I also used a daisy die to cut a paper flower from blue paper which I inked the edges. The fabric was cut from a white shear fabric which I dabbed with blue distress ink to color. I topped it off with an adhesive flower center by Petaloo. 

Crocheted Flowers - I crocheted the little white flowers, inked the edges and added a rhinestone to the center of each. 

Leaves ~ I used the Spellbinder Foliage Shapeablilities Die to cut the leaves, then folded and crimped the leaves and inked for added dimension. 

Prima Build-a-Frame Stamps ~ My friend, Mandy, helped me locate these fabulous stamps that I used to frame the corners of this layout. The image in the bottom corner includes the words that I used for my journaling. "I love you and I like you and you'll be my friend forever."

Banners ~ I was thinking about buying the Tim Holtz Banner strip, but when I looked at it, I realized it was just paper strips with cut ends and I figured it wouldn't take any longer to fussy cut them with my Honey Bee Scissors (the best scissors I've found for fussy cutting) than running the die through my Bigshot. So, cut I did. I then folded and inked to get the shabby banner effect. 

Bead Dangles ~ I found this fabulous earring finding on clearance at my favorite craft store, Pat Catan's, and added the yellow shaped beads to the ends of the chain and if you look closely - very closely indeed, you'll see a tiny yellow bead in the bottom loop of each as well. 

Stick Pin ~ I created this stick pin from a pearl topped floral pin and some beads left over from my jewelry making days. I simply placed the beads on the pin and glued the bottom bead to hold it in place. 

If you keep looking, you'll see other techniques I've done before like the dictionary page ~ of course with the word sister, painted metal, stitched and distressed photo edges, real chicken wire, fussy cut and stickled butterflies, lace, painted resin, inked paper edges . . .

I'm entering this layout in:

City Crafter Challenge Blog CCCB#102 ~ use the spring color pallet Pinks, Yellow, Blue, Green (April 2)

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

Love Letter and Twine Flower Tutorial

Update March 2016: I now have a video tutorial for Girlie Grunge Twine Flowers showing how to create the loom and twine flower using Donna Salazar's new bakers twine for Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L. The process is exactly the same for jute twine or hemp cording. Only the size of the loom you use would change. A chart for suggested loom sizes and twine lengths can be found HERE. (scroll to the bottom of that post for the chart) My VIDEO TUTORIAL can be viewed HERE.

Our son, Joseph, wrote a love letter to his bride, Rachel, and sent it to her with a rose while she was waiting for the wedding ceremony to start. This photo is of her reading his letter. The list are some of her responses to his love letter.

I have seen some fabulous twine flowers on Pinterest, but have not been able to locate a detailed tutorial to create them. After some experimenting, I've come up with these lovely gems and have written a step by step tutorial for you to recreate them as well. 

Twine Flower Tutorial

*** A video tutorial for my twine flowers can be viewed HERE.***

***An updated version of my tutorial can be found HERE.***

Now I'd like to share a tutorial on how to make these beautiful twine flowers. I got the idea from a tutorial at The Bug Bytes. I made several changes to her flowers, so I'm posting a tutorial here for my version of her twine flowers. 

Please don't be intimidated by the number of steps. I wanted to make sure the directions are clear, so I would rather err on the side of giving you more information than you might need. The tutorial I learned from had fewer steps, and I found myself doing some trial and error, that hopefully will be avoided for you. 

Once you have made your loom and have a couple flowers under your belt, these little beauties only take about 10 to 15 minutes each to create.

*** A video tutorial for my twine flowers can be viewed HERE.***

SUPPLIES:

a) Twine - any kind of thin hemp, jute, or baker's twine will work nicely ~ about 7 feet of twine for a 2 inch loom.

b) Two same size chipboard circles ~ I used 2 inch circles. 

c) Glue ~ any kind of glue that will hold the two chipboard circles together will work. I used Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive. 

d) 12 Straight pins ~ Mine have plastic balls on the ends, but any pins you have will work or even small finishing nails if you don't have straight pins. 

e) Large eye tapestry or yarn needle The needle doesn't have to be flat on the end with a curve like mine, as long as the eye is large enough to thread the twine and a rounded rather than sharp pointed end, it will work. 

f) A pencil or pen and ruler (not pictured) are needed to draw lines on the top circle. 

MAKING THE LOOM:

Step 1. Cut two identical chipboard circles ~ I used 2 inch circles cut on the AccuCut machine at my LSS. They could also be traced and cut with scissors. Don't worry if your circles aren't exactly perfect. The petals aren't going to be exactly the same even with perfect circles. St

Step 2. Draw 6 lines evenly spaced on the front of one circle ~ This will give spacing like the numbers on a clock. 

Step 3. Spread glue on the back of the circle you drew lines on and adhere to the other chipboard circle. 

Step 4. Once the glue is dry, push your pins between the cardboard pieces in line with your pencil lines. If you don't let your glue dry first, a pair of pliers will be needed to pull your pins out the first time. (Go ahead, ask me how I know!!)

If you turn the chipboard on its side, it will look like this:

***Note*** My loom has held up well. I've made over 20 flowers, and the pins are still nice and tight. 

MAKING THE TWINE FLOWERS:

*** A video tutorial for my twine flowers can be viewed HERE.***

Step 1. At first you will be working from your spool of twine. Don't cut anything yet. Think of your loom like a clock. Leaving about a 4 inch tail, hold the twine at 7:00. Wrap the twine up to the left side of the pin at 12:00 and wrap over and behind the 12:00 pin, moving from left to right, then wrap straight down to the right side of the pin at 6:00. Wrap the twine behind the 6:00 pin from right to left. 

Step 2. Now wrap your twine back up to the left side of the 11:00 pin, wrapping over/behind the pin from left to right and straight down to the right side of the 5:00 pin, wrapping behind the 5:00 pin from right to left.

Step 3. Continue this pattern until you have one loop around each pin. 

Step 4. Continue wrapping around the pins in the same pattern until you have two loops around each pin. 

Step 5. This was the confusing part for me, so I changed out the twine to a contrasting color to help illustrate the remaining steps. Your final wrap will be back around the 7:00 pin where you started. My loom is rotated in the photo, so it is no longer in the 7:00 position, but this last wrap goes around the pin that was in the 7:00 position when you started wrapping.

You will leave the starting tail at the 7:00 pin. On the working end of your twine, cut about a 20 inch length of twine. That's 20 inches from the last wrap on the loom. The amount of twine needed will depend on the thickness of the twine you are using. A thicker twine will require more and a thinner twine would require less. The twine I used is about the thickness of bakers twine. I also made a flower with a thicker jute which you can see in the photo at the end of this tutorial. That twine required about 24 inches to do the center weaving in the flower. When it doubt, cut a longer piece that you think you might need and then you will know how much to cut for your next flower. 

Thread the twine onto your large needle. 

Step 6. Now you are going to start weaving around the center of the flower. This will secure the flower petals in place and give the decorative stitching around the flower center. You are working from the back of the flower, so you won't see the pretty decorative stitching until the end when you remove your flower from the loom and turn it over. 

Move your 7:00 pin so it is now at 12:00. You will start weaving behing the "petal" to the right of your final wrap. So, take your needle and go underneath the 4 strands of twine wrapped around the 1:00 pin and push the needle all the way behind the 5 strands at the 12:00 pin, (the 4 petal strands and your starting strand of twine - this is the only place there will be 5 strands of twine.)  As you can see on the photo, your needle will be under a total of 9 strands of twine. 

Step 7. Pull your needle through. For this weaving stitch only leave a little slack in the end of your twine. Notice what the yellow twine is doing. 

The last wrap around the pin is now at the 12:00 position only goes to the center of the flower, so when you take your next weaving stitch with your needle you will secure that half thread in place. Moving to your left, push the needle under all 4 strands of the 12:00 petal plus starting tail and keep pushing it under the 4 strands of the 11:00 petal.

Step 8. Pull your woven stitches tight, pushing them towards the center of the flower with the tip of your needle. This is the only place where you may need to work with your stitches a little bit to get them nice and tight. Sometimes after I pull the stitches tight, the first stitch is too loose, if that is the case, I use my fingers to pull on the second stitch to take the slack out of the first stitch. Your stitching  should look like the stitches in the photo below. 

Step 9. Continue weaving by stitching under the petals, moving to the left in a counter clockwise direction. Please note, now that you are past the starting tail at the 12:00 petal, you will continue going behind two petals each time, but now for a total of 8 strands of twine. 

Step 10. Continue this pattern until you have 2 stitches around each petal, coming back around to where you started. Your last weaving stitch will still go behind 2 petals ~ 8 strands of twine. Pull the working twine on your needle down between the petals and between the stitches to the center of the flower. 

Notice how the yellow twine in the photo is pulled to the center of the flower between the 12:00 and

1:00 pins.

Step 11. Use your needle to weave the end of the thread under the top layer on the center stitches until it seems secure. I take two to three stitches to secure, usually going under about 10 or so threads all together. I start the needle under a thread that is right where I am pulling the thread between the petals and stitching so I don't distort the woven design on the back side of the stitching, which will actually be the front of the flower. After weaving the end of the twine to secure, cut it close to where it is exiting the flower center. 

Step 12. Pull the starting twine to the center and secure it in the same way.

Step 13. To release the flower from the loom, pull the pins out one at a time to release each petal, then put the pin back in place to be ready to create your next flower.

Turn your flower over to admire the beautifully stitched border around your center. 

I created a 2-inch loom. You can change the size of your flowers by using different size circles, but keep in mind that the center of your flower will be determined by the thickness of your twine, and will stay the same regardless of what size circle you use. You can see that my jute flower has a much larger center than the twine flowers. If I make another jute flower, I will probably use a larger loom so it will look more daisy-like. Because this jute was thicker than the twine, the center turned out larger, giving more of a sunflower appearance. 

You can also dress your flowers up with a button or other bling like I did for my layout or even layer them with other flowers. 

*** A video tutorial for my twine flowers can be viewed HERE.***

I hope you give these flowers a try.

Here are a few more examples of how I've used these flowers in my projects: 

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments. 

~ Blessings ~

March Happenings at ScrapFIT

We have two new challenges posted over at ScrapFIT. Let's see what's happening. 

First Missy posted our fab new Weekend Warm-Up on Friday.  Are you ready to get messy?

Weekend Warm-up #25 ~ Splattering/Dripping

This month's Warm-Up is all about getting messy. We want you to created a project that involves splattering or dripping something. You can use paint, mist, watercolors . . . if you can be messy with it, then it will work. You need to do more than just spray a little mist, though . . . get creative with it!

Then this morning, Sheila posted our March Step Class, the new technique challenge, and I have to say this is one I'll be playing along with. 

Step Class #2 ~ Make Your Own Decorative "Pins"

I hope you'll come on over and play along, then link up your project.

I can't wait to see what you come up with!! 

~ Blessings ~

Sisters and My Very Own First Sketch

I created this layout for the Scrap-Friendzy January Sketch-A-Thon, but for some reason never got it posted. This one was a quickie for me, created in a couple hours one afternoon using this gorgeous g.c.d. studios paper, a Martha Stewart punch, Kaisercraft butterfly, and Petaloo flowers, with lace and a doily from my stash. What wonderful memories are captured here with our two oldest daughters back when we lived in North Carolina! Don't they look happy together? They are still good friends and share an apartment together. 

Pin It

For the Sketch-A-Thon, I created my first ever sketch. I'm not sure I'm cut out to be a sketch artist, but had fun creating this one, which I used as the basis for this page. 

Pin It

I would be honored if you use this sketch for inspiration. Let me know if you do. 

Techniques:

To put this together so quickly I used mostly premade items like this flower cluster using flowers from several of Petaloo's collections.

Wood Butterfly: I used this wonderful Kaisercraft wood cut-out. I painted it with black acrylic, then dry brushed on some brown metallic acrylic for some shimmer and added dimension. 

Don't forget, at Scrap-Friendzy we're celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday with a month of Seuss inspired challenges. I hope you'll join us!! 

Thanks for dropping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

Reflections ~ DT reveal ScrapFIT Workout #63 Sketch

For Workout #63 at ScrapFIT, we had the privilege to work with a fabulous sketch by the oh so talented Diana Fisher. 

Workout #62 ~ Sketch Workout with our Creative Trainer

As our in house Creative Trainer, Diana, has drawn out this workout with your best fitness results in mind! She knows the importance of inspiration when it comes to working out, and that was her goal when she created this sketch for you! Join in the fun with us by creating a layout based on this sketch!

I scrapped this wonderful older photo of our daughter, Elizabeth, back when we lived in North Carolina. I enjoyed using these wonderful papers by g.c.d. studios from the Antiquities line.

Diana's Fab Sketch:

As you can see, I rotated the sketch.

I hope you're inspired to join us in this Workout at ScrapFIT by creating and linking a paper project based on Diana's lovely sketch for a chance to win this fabulous prize sponsored by Paper Quirks! Be sure to stop by her Etsy shop to see her stunning flowers and die cuts!! 

I'm looking forward to seeing the projects you create with this sketch. Be sure to link your project at ScrapFIT. 

Techniques:

Background Gesso/Stamping/Misting ~ I dry brush painted spots of gesso on my focal paper then stamped and misted in two colors. I was so thrilled to find that my stash held this perfect sentiment for my title.

Vintage Handkerchief Mat ~ As I was working on this page, I discovered a basket of vintage handkerchiefs at a thrift store. I quickly bought up several lace edged hankies and cut the corner out of this one to mat my photo. I added adhesive backed pearls to each flower center in the lace edge. 

Hand Crafted Flowers ~ created with the Donna Salazar Rose Creations die set and more g.c.d. studios Antiquities paper inked with Ranger Distress Ink to add color and dimension. I finished them off with a pearl brad center. 

Blinged Jewelry Finding ~ I found this jewelry focal piece in the clearance bin and added clear crystal beads which I alcohol inked pink to coordinate with my flowers and focal paper. 

Lace ~ I found a gorgeous length of beaded, sequined bridal lace fabric at JoAnn's (of course marked down in the remnant bin) around Christmas. I fussy cut this section which fit perfectly into the corner of my layout. 

Grungy Punched Border ~ I use a variety of small detailed punches randomly around the edge of my focal paper, then tore between the punched images. I used dark ink against the white doilies and lace, then used white ink on the edges against the blue background paper.

Paper Doilies ~ I cut up a small circle and heart doilies to place behind my grungy punched edges and the half heart that was left is tucked under my flower cluster. 

Stitching ~ I stitched a double wave border around the edge of my focal paper inside the punched edge. 

Mat Strips ~ I used a couple different techniques here. I tore/inked some of the strips, while fussy cutting the blue "lace" strip.

Bling ~ I used mini glue dots to adhere the rhinestone bling around the clock image. 

Thanks for dropping by. I treasure your comments!

~ Blessings ~