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Thursday, September 3, 2009

Sew Fantastic

Congrats to SHERYL who is the winner of the Simply Sewn 6 cards. Please email me, Sheryl, so we can make arrangements to get the cards mailed to you.  Please contact me before September 14 or another name must be drawn.  
Thanks to each of you who left a sweet comment.

Each Thursday we designers talk about topics that cover some of the trends in the card or scrapbooking worlds.  I am constantly bouncing about to make sure they haven't developed something I haven't seen.  I know that I have wandered about my local craft shops and spied a new product displayed.  I've picked them up, studied them, and put them back because I had no idea what they did. And then along comes a tutorial or a card that utilizes this new spiffy tool and I am galloping off  to get it.  That happened to me with the Crop O Dial.  I picked up that heavy tool at a local craft shop and shrugged my shoulders and put it back. I could not believe the functionality of this wonderful tool when it was presented on a TV show.  I had always used a lot of brads and eyelets and I was pounding away on cement or counters to get the eyelet set.  I was waking up neighbors with the loud pounding and my hand hurt from the force I was using to get that eyelet set properly.  And I can't tell you how many things were ruined because the eyelet did not set properly.  This new tool revolutionized eyelet setting....and I could not order one fast enough.

I like to think that I am the Sewing Machine Queen.  After all I have seven really nifty sewing machines and I use each one.  I have 2 embroidery machines, two highly computerized sewing machines, a serger, a much older machine that still sews, bless its heart,  and a very inexpensive Walmart sewing machine that I keep in my studio to sew on paper.  (I didn't count the 1949 Kenmore cabinet machine that my father bought my mother from Sears, and although it is covered with tons of my frog collections, I bet if I lifted it up from the cabinet, it would still sew..)... My Walmart buddy cost me $68 and it is a sturdy machine that sews wonderfully on paper and cardstock. 
I don't use regular sewing thread on this machine.  Actually I buy those threads at Walgreens.  They come in a small pack with bright colors, and it's a thicker twisted thread that really shows up on the papers.  Sometimes I sew all around the edges of a layer, sometimes I sew only on one side, but whatever I elect to do, I love the result of the stitching on the card. 
The card I display here is a card I did for a challenge at Cutting Cafe with one of the printable images....which happens to be the flowers and the flower center.  That little bit of yellow thread on the tag just seems to make it a completed project.  I hope you like it. And I hope you sew on cards or a scrapbook page.  If you haven't tried it, do so.  I think that you will like the results.  I might just add here that I use a specific sewing machine for my paper so that my other machines don't get loaded with paper dust or particles that might harm my expensive machines...and paper will dull the needle so I change that often. 

Now, here is a giveaway.  Leave a comment and on September 10 I will do a draw and the winner will receive 6 cards that I have created which features stitching.  
Happy Stitching....

12 comments:

Cara said...

Carole, how I wish we were neighbors so I could stop by for "sewing on cards" class! This is one technigue I have yet to try.
Cara DCRU DT

Sandi said...

okay dearie you know you deserve this,lol, "just don't be sewing on that precious puppy". I love this sharing, I do sew on my cards, just not enough. Hugs

1CardCreator said...

Excellent post Carole, so informative, and I love your card! And the pretty yellow stitching does add so much character to the card. I'm with Cara, I too wish we were neighbors so I could drop by for lessons. Sewing machines intimidate me, but I might try some hand stitching. I like how you cruise the stores to see the latest trends, that's a great way to keep your work fresh. Thanks for sharing, ~Diane

Elizabeth said...

I love the card and the colors! I have never used my sewing machine to sew on paper, but will have to give it a try. Thanks for the information!

connie said...

That's alot of sewing machines! Thanks for the post. I have sewed once or twice on a card but need to try sewing on a LO.

- - Sheryl - - said...

Wow - I love t osew - but have not tried it on cards. As far as the C-A-D I bought it when it first came out ... was it almost 2 or 3 years ago.... I saw it a CKC in New Hampshire and just had to have it. Little did I know Michael's would have it months later and I could have saved with a coup! But it is a weekly tool I use and it is also handy punching little accent holes here and there. And you are right - when i used to bang my eyelets, I would hit it once... wait to see if I woke up the house and then hit it again - lol.

Judy said...

I like to sew on cards...I just don't do it as much as I should. 7 sewing machines!!!!I'm not quite up there with you for quantity.

Gwen's Busy Little Hands said...

Carole,

Your card sample is really gorgeous. Stitching is one of my favorite things to see on crafts right now. I do a lot of hand stitching on my scrapbooks. I only have one machine...reserve it for clothing I make, etc. I'd love to have another to use strictly for papers. It just adds so much to the look and feel of the projects.
Thanks for your great mini.

Smiles!
Gwen

Linda said...

I think sewing on cards is lots of fun and it really is a great look.
WOW 7 sewing machines...that is impressive!! I have two. 8)

DonnaMundinger said...

Oh I so love this effect but am just too chicken to try. I think I may have an old crummy small machine that would probably work on paper. Maybe if I dig that out. Thanks for the encouragement Carole. xxD

dj1952 said...

I've never sewn on cards or paper, I do sew and make quilts, but I just never thought of using it on cards. Of course, I would have to buy a cheap machine, because I know it would mess up an expensive machine. Maybe I'll look on Craig's List or Ebay and see what I could find. Your cards are truly beautiful.

TFS,

dj

Nana Donna said...

Wow Carol that is cute. I have been thinking of sewing on cards but haven't tried it yet. I am going to have to look into a sewing machine just for my cards.

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