Saturday, November 30, 2013

Dreamtime Designs Craft Challenge -- My Techniques

I'm so excited to tell you all about the brand new challenge at
Not only because the theme this month is outstanding but also because I'm thrilled with the results of my own project.  Add in the fact that we have a FANTASTIC sponsor this month and you've got a complete package!

The winner chosen by the Design Team will receive
a one year subscription to
Through the Craft Room Door!!!
 TTCRD is an online paper craft magazine which can be downloaded to your personal computer and is filled with tutorials, inspirations and articles for the subscribers to read.  Your subscription also allows you access to over 80 free digital images to create cards, scrapbook layouts and other projects.

Would you love to be published and have a chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate to the store of your choice?
You can do this by submitting a paper craft creation to the magazine - details for submissions are located on the web site which you can join for free.
Pretty great, right?

Now on to this month's theme:
My Techniques - Christmas:
A Technique I've Never Tried Before
This challenge revolves around the theme of Christmas & expanding your skills with a brand new technique you have never done before but have always wanted to give a go.

There are 2 questions that need to be included and answered in your post about your project.  They are:
1) Why did you want to try this technique?
2) What has been your experience with it?
>>You can see my answers a bit further down in the post.<<

Here's a little sneak peek of the new technique I tried:
Okay, so it's not really much of a peek of the actual technique.
If I showed too much the cat would be entirely out of the bag.

My choice for this challenge was completely inspired by my lovely Design Team sister, Cindy.  She and her Mom, Corrie, have started a new challenge blog all about embroidery on cards....What?  Hand embroidery on cards?!  It is some of the most beautiful stuff I have ever seen!  From what I understand it's very popular in the Netherlands (where Cindy and Corrie live.)   You can take a look at their challenges here.  The artistry displayed on the cards is phenomenal!!

Since I had never embroidered anything in my life I was a bit apprehensive at trying it.  Then I figured: what the heck.  It's only a bit of cardstock and thread.  If it fails I'll just try, try again.  My first attempt is what you see here!

This adorable image is Eleanor Santa's Helper
from
Lacy Sunshine.
I love everything Heather does at Lacy Sunshine
but Eleanor is my favorite!
She was cropped quite a bit so I could really
spotlight that incredible face of hers.

I have to admit that the embroidery did take me hours to do.
Keep in mind that I'm not a sewer.
~~I truly believe safety pins were invented so I wouldn't have to sew.~~
As I slowly stitched away, I watched a "Leverage" marathon on Netflix.
It was a cold, gray and rainy day so the time was well spent in my opinion.

These are the 2 supply items I used for the embroidery
in addition to the pattern.  You can see the thread is variegated.
That's what gave the great color changes in my swirls without
having to switch threads.
The only really small needle I had was in a sewing kit I carry
in my purse...for the safety pin only, of course.
It was from a hotel room several years ago.
Being a pack-rat pays off sometimes.

The pattern that I found on Etsy looks so intricate but is really quite simple.  It's just a series of short stitches going along several swirls.  You can find this and loads of other patterns at Darsie's Etsy shop here.

I just had to make this one into an easel card.
Hopefully the recipient will feel it's worthy of display.

Eleanor was colored using my ProMarkers.
While I was attaching her to the embroidered cardstock,
a glop of glue squeezed out next to the holly leaves.
To save my hours of stitching,
I paper pieced another leaf and berries over the glop.
~~Yes, glop is a very technical term.~~ 

Other items used in making this card were:
Cardstock:  Bazzill Basics
Pattern paper:  Mary Englebreit from the Michaels $ bin
Rhinestone stickers and chipboard frame:  My stash

I cannot thank Cindy and Corrie enough for
inspiring me to try this new technique!!
This is something that I will absolutely be doing again.
Perhaps not all at once next time.
Breaking it down to small increments will make it
much more manageable for me at least until
I get a bit faster.

Now back to those questions that I mentioned above:
1) Why did you want to try this technique?
I had never seen this until recently and became instantly enthralled with it.  Trying new techniques for both card making and other crafts is something that really excites me.  The fact that I'm not a sewer did frighten me a bit but the cards I've seen with embroidery on them are so gorgeous that I quickly overcame my apprehension.

2) What has been your experience with it?
I loved doing this more than I can say!  It did take quite a lot of time this first try.  Future projects should go much more quickly.  I have a feel for what is needed and can see how getting into a rhythm will happen easily.


Now, what technique have you wanted to try?
This is a perfect time to do it!
If you have any questions about the challenge,
please hop over to our Facebook page.
We'd love to meet you and offer any help you may need.

You can find this card in the following challenges:

Cindy and Corrie's Challenge -- Challenge #1
Lacy Sunshine -- Anything goes
Jellypark Friends -- Christmas
Pattie's Creations -- Christmas CARD
Stamp Sun Challenges -- Merry Christmas
Totally Paper Crafts -- Ho, ho, holidays
Crafty Little Fairies -- Classic Christmas: red, green & gold
Crafting by Designs -- Christmas/winter
I Love ProMarkers -- Anything goes

Thank you so much for letting me show off my new technique today!
I'm just a tad bit proud...if you couldn't tell.



24 comments:

  1. LOL Roberta, the first thing I saw was the embroidery!!
    And I thought, WOW, an embroiderycard form America?? How's that possible :-)
    Then I saw it was for a Dutch challenge site.
    The card is really beautiful and your embroidery is fabulous!
    I use to make a lot of cards with embroidery, it is very popular in the Netherlands.
    But then I discovered copics :-)

    Hugs,Sandra

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  2. Wow Roberta this looks fantastic! I love your embroidery, and It is something else that I would love to try! Thank you for sharing your gorgeous card! Hugs Julie xox

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  3. Roberta, this is lovely! Your stitching is gorgeous and you would never know you are not a sewer! I love the variegated thread, very, very nice! I am a cross stitcher and love to sew! This technique will have to be added to my ever growing list! Super project and it looks so professional. Awesome job! xxx

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  4. Pretty card, Roberta!! One of the technique I ever want to try! :D
    Eleanor really looks great placed there :D hehe
    Hugs, Mikha

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  5. Love this card! Great job using this image! I really like the sewing.

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  6. Eine grossartige Karte ist das geworden die Kombination Stempel und Fadengrafik wunderschön Danke für deine Teilnahme bei SsC Maria

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  7. Wow Roberta, This is amazing, I really fell of my chair. You have done such a great job and I really love it! Your embroidery is gorgeous! I hope you will do more embroidery in near future! You almost make me cry for your nice words, thanks so much. And of course thank you very much for joining our first challenge! Big hugs, Cindy

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  8. Hello Roberta, I am in shock, what a beautyful embroidery card you have made.
    it is really amazing and adorable.
    Thank you so much for joining our firtst challenge.
    Big hugs Corrie

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  9. Wow wow wow! Ok, firstly. Perfect image! I love the colouring but she really just hits you with her cute face... The papers are great too! Once again really simple and doesn't detract from the image yet holds it's own as far as being pretty and deserving to be on the card lol so anyway, onto the main point. The technique! I'd be way too scared to try it myself but can't believe how effect it is against the paper and image especially! You've made it sound and look easy! Great work Roberta, off to go buy that image for a start lol

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  10. Gorgeous!! I love that image she is adorable and your coloring is fantastic.

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  11. Wow! Ich bin begeistert von deiner Karte. Die Kombination von Fadengrafik und Stempel finde ich großartig.
    Danke daß du bei der SsC mitmachst.
    LG Dreja

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  12. Ohhh ist die süße geworden. Einfach zauberhaft Weihnachtlich.
    Hab herzlichen Dank für Deine Teilnahme bei der Stempelsonne
    Liebe Adventsgrüße
    Tamesis

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  13. I can't believe this is the first time you've done this, Roberta. Had to come over and take a closer look. It's so perfect I thought it was done by machine! Love,, love, LOOVE how it turned out and thanks for the link to the pattern. I've just GOT to try this. Will be on the lookout for varigated thread. sooo GORGEOUS! xxD

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  14. Incredibly perfect, love the embroidery, image is so nicely color and paper choices just plain rock...awesome job!

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  15. Super cute, Roberta! I love how your stitching turned out - definite WOW factor!

    Hugs,
    Lori
    Guest DT

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  16. I always think embroidery on cards is gorgeous and yours is just beautiful! I love the image and how you've used threads to co-ordinate with the colours that you've used :) lovely job! Gem xx

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  17. Beautiful card, Roberta! I love the gorgeous embroidery! Isn't it fun to do on paper? I also love the bright blue eyes on that wonderful image! Thanks for joining us at Jellypark Friends! :o)

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  18. This is perfect for our current challenge “Christmas Card” at Pattie’s Creations. What a cute image too! Thanks for joining us!
    Hugs
    Pattie ♥
    Artist
    at Pattie's Creations Design Challenge!

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  19. Fabulous card I love the colourful stitching.
    Thank you for playing along with us over at Crafty Little Fairies, hope you will join us again hun.

    Lotsa hugs Vicky xxx

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  20. What a stunning card, absolutely love this, thanks for joining our challenge at Jellypark, Gaynor xx

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  21. Stunning card, the stitching looks amazing, thanks for joining us at I Love Promarkers xx

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  22. Stunning Roberta!!!!
    I saw your card on the Lacy Sunshine challenge ;) and had to check it out as I do embroidery on cards myself. As Corrie and Cindy I live in the Netherlands - it is very big here ;).

    Greetings,
    Misseke

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  23. Wowie this is just gorgeous, great image, great colouring and wow not only is the embroidery fantastic, but it looks amazing in the alternating colours, which I did wonder how you had achieved it, can't believe you can by the thread like that. I keep wanting to give this a go, but never sure it will go with my style of cards, but after seeing how you've used it as a frame I think it will move up my list quicker than expected. Now I just need to go and find some if that thread xx

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  24. Congratulations on your win over at jellypark - this card is amazing, love the stitched frame!

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