Perhaps people are getting tired of only seeing hand-stitched cards on my gallery, but I have made a number and I will be making more--but I will also be making some other types of cards. But right now, I'm really enjoying making hand-stitched cards, and my energy is very limited due to chronic health issues.
This is the 33rd hand-stitched card I am uploading of a group of about 50 I made over an 18-month period, and I gave 44 of these in a large set to my Mom, as she was completely the reason I had been looking for years to find a way to incorporate cross-stitch or hand-stitching somehow into cards for her. Until I watched a YouTube video by Jennifer McGuire, I hadn't been satisfied with what I had ordered or tried, but then I was really thrilled to find these hand-stitching dies!!!
This card uses the Altenew Pegboard stitching die. It is larger than the Paper Smooches stitching die I have used for the A2 cards, this has been placed on an A7 white card base. I absolutely LOVE the Scrapbooking Made Simple Simply Defined Distinctions heavyweight bright white card bases with matching envelopes in A2 and A7 sizes (they have also had the A6 size). The cardstock comes from the UK and is 200-pound, and I like these heavier-weighted card bases to hold the hand-stitched backgrounds well. My only complaint is that I wish that the envelopes were a little heavier in weight and that the flap was an elegant rectangle, but you can't have everything, and I have been so pleased with these and the price is very reasonable, $8.99 for the A2 and A6 sets of 25 bright white card bases plus envelopes and the A7 size is $9.99. I cannot recommend shopping at SMS more highly. They are a small store in California and they have had a lot of tragedies including very serious illness for the co-owner, Stacey's husband, but she is so strong and she just keeps on. They also lost their home in a huge CA fire and their insurance company wouldn't rebuild their home as it was and they were fighting it until her husband became so ill after surgery. She is definitely the kind of person you want to do business with, just be patient for your orders to come, and know that you will get your orders and have no expectations time-wise when they have their amazing sales on. I can't order now with the pandemic on because shipping is too expensive, but I will be ordering as soon as it's again safe for me to go into the US and pick up orders I've shipped to a US address. Stacey is a wonderful teacher, she's especially great teaching beginners and those starting out in card-making, and I have learned a great deal from her.
This card uses fun-foam, I've used lots of fun-foam especially for my sentiments, but this time, I used a Sara Signatures balloon die set from Crafter's Companion that I really like, and I attached some twine to those. I also added some glossy accents on top of the balloons, it's not too easy to see, but you can see a difference in the fun foam balloons and the Happy Birthday sentiment which does not have any glossy accents.
Thank you so much for taking a closer look at my hand-stitched card. When you leave a comment on my card, know that you absolutely make my day!!!
Please take good care, be safe and healthy during this difficult and unusual time.
Date: Friday, February 5, 2021 GMT Views: 732
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Paper: Gina K Designs Turquoise Sea heavyweight cardstock, fun foam, Scrapbooking Made Simple Simply Defined Distinctions heavyweight bright white A7 card base and envelope
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni My Pinkie is Inkie in Boxertown
Registered: April 4, 2006 Location: Boxertown USA, IL Posts: 67333
Sat, Feb 20, 2021 @ 6:54 AM
Your card is gorgeous. Love the colors. It is always a pleasure to see your wonderful stitching on your cards. Sorry to hear you have chronic health issues which affect your energy levels. Thank you, for the sweet words you left on my card. It made my day.
Registered: March 13, 2011 Location: Langley, B.C. Canada Posts: 32131
Mon, Mar 15, 2021 @ 2:16 PM
Joanne, your colors are wonderful on this. I love the little pop of lime color! The heart balloon in the middle is so cute. Interesting reading about this Cal. business. I have a U.S. postal outlet as well and sure miss having things sent there during all of this.