This is the 20th hand-stitched card of approximately 50 that I made in about an 18-month period. I had been searching for several years to find a way of incorporating true stitching onto my cards for my Mom, who is a very talented cross-stitcher. When I watched a YouTube tutorial by the wonderful Jennifer McGuire introducing both a hand-stitching die by Paper Smooches as well as the technique of hand-stitching on cardstock using this specialized die, I knew that I had found my answer.
Although I only did this technique to create cards for my mother, I discovered that I really enjoyed stitching, which was quite a surprise to me. It's very relaxing to stitch while watching a movie or while visiting with a friend. I have also enjoyed creating the patterns for these stitched pieces. I would really love to learn more stitches and as well learn much more on how to create especially geometric hand-stitched patterns, and I keep hoping that Jennifer McGuire will do some tutorials on creating new geometric stitch combinations that I will hopefully be able to incorporate into my own new patterns.
My hand-stitched cards are a combination of A2 and A7 in size, this card is an A7. I struggled to find the same beautiful colored envelopes in the A7 size that I easily found for my A2 cards. If you have any suggestions for sources for quality colored A7 envelopes at a reasonable price, I would be extremely grateful.
The die that I used to create A2 hand-stitched cards is no longer available, as Paper Smooches is no longer in business. There are a number of these dies now on the market, and one consideration when choosing such a die other than the size, is whether or not you wish to have an outside cut on this die. If there is an outside cutting edge, as there is on the die I used for this A7 card, the Pegboard die by Altenew, then there is a definite edge and size of the mat in the same cardstock around the edge of the hand-stitched image. The Paper Smooches A2, hand-stitching die does NOT have an outside die edge, so you have to cut it yourself, although you do have more options regarding how it will look. The decision is up to you, but make sure that you are getting what you would like to have.
I know of hand-stitching dies by My Favorite Things, Frantic Stamper, and Simon Says Stamp has just introduced one without a cutting edge to their die. I think that the MFT hand-stitched die has a cutting edge, I am not familiar with the Frantic Stamper die except that I saw that they had one at one point. Likely there are more hand-stitching dies out there. As well, Altenew has a Cross-Stitch die, but beware that this is an extremely detailed die, the holes are MUCH closer together, and the yarn you use will need to be much thinner, and it will take much longer to complete a project. I have this die but I have not played with it yet.
Thank you for taking a closer look at my card, I appreciate it! When you leave a comment for my card or for someone else's card, know that you are showing support and you are giving encouragement to a fellow card-making artist. I know how much I appreciate receiving a comment on one of my cards, it absolutely makes my day. I try now to leave comments because I understand how much I value receiving comments, and I hope that my comments are an encouragement to the artist when I leave one.
Please take good care and be safe in this very unusual and challenging time.
Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 GMT Views: 294
Favorited:2
Paper: Gina K Designs Apple mint, 110-pound white cs, Scrapbooking Made Simple Simply Defined Distinctions A7 bright white heavyweight card base and envelope
Registered: June 4, 2009 Location: Deatsville, Alabama Posts: 83790
Mon, Dec 07, 2020 @ 3:43 AM
So pretty, such lovely colors, and some great additions as embellishments Fabulous work and I know it was a lot of work. I can see you smiling now while doing them knowing how much she would love them. You are correct about how much more our cards mean when we add in our love!
Hugz
------------------------------ Nancy Williams - Hope your day is Spirit-filled and ink-filled (in that order)!DRS Designs-DT, Punchkateerforever, Dirty Dozen Alumni