Lets Get Trendy Now!3 - Day 4 (Stitching)

Hello friends,


Are you enjoying cool projects @ Lets Get Trendy Now!3 ?? Amazing tips & artwork to admire, aren't they??.

Today is Day 4: Stitching.

It's my turn to share a few tips on stitching!. 

How do you like making a rustic love note, tucked in a tiny, clear envelope?. {Sweet enough as a gift}.

Just get comfy, grab a drink and enjoy this tutorial :).

Here's what I made: a secret note & an altered envelope.

Or rather, a stitched scroll :).

I used old plastic folder, linen scraps, velcros & thread.

I ripped a piece of linen measuring 2.5" X 22", and lightly wrote a quote on it in pencil.

Back-stitching, very closely to the letters.

Add a couple of eyelets & tie a string to one end.

It reads; " I love you to the stars and back".

I added a metal charm, tied up with a fiber for closure. Then, loosely folded linen into accordion folds. [You may fold into a tight roll, then display it in a jar].

Done. LOVE how tattered it looks!.

 Since I love altering so much, I didn't stop here :). Here's how to make the clear, altered envelope;

Cut out a piece of old plastic folder, measuring 3.5" X 9" long and stamp all over it with gesso. 

Stamping with 'very dry' gesso, allows sharp images on plastic.

Stamp lightly on newspapers prior onto plastic to thin out gesso and avoid smudges. You'd feel the gesso 'sticking' to the plastic when pulling off the stamp. If accidents happen, quickly clean with baby wipes, dry and start anew :).

Make a few simple folds like so, and the envelope is ready for stitching.

Then, stitch along seams.

Tips: Sewing on plastic sleeves are trickier than on fabrics because they are tough and transparent. 

1. Plan for minimal stitching, yet strong AND beautiful at the same time. [Any messy threads will show].

2. Select needles specialized for denim or leather if you're hand-stitching thick plastics together, like I did in this project.

3. It helps to pierce holes along the seams with sharp tools (i.e stylus) prior to hand-stitching. [a standard needle & thread will work if sewing on thin plastics like grocery bags].

4. Thread your needle with double strand of strong threads.

5. Secure plastic sheets together with metal binder clips while you stitch, for easy and neat stitches.

Add a sticker to hide velcros on the front.

Done. Clear packages are twice the fun!.

That's all to it. A tiny note to make someone smiles today. Good thing indeed comes in small packages :). Happy stitching!.

For more stitching tips, do visit Let's Get Trendy Now!3 Day 4. And, join in the fun for a chance at winning cool prizes everyday!. HUGS.

Let's Get Trendy Now!3 online workshop!

Dear friends,
This week, a group of amazing ladies over at Let's Get Trendy Now!3 will be showing 5 hottest trends; Neon, Sequins, Handmade Embellishments, Stitching and Textured Layers, to spice up your creative endeavors even more :). I'm excited to join them this year, sharing yet another fun way to use Stitching in altered art projects.

Day 1: Neon (Monday 3rd June)

Day 2: Sequins (Tuesday 4th June)

Day 3: Handmade embellishments (Wednesday 5th June)

Day 4: Stitching (Thursday 6th June)

Day 5: Textured layers (Friday 7th June)

Not only will you be inspired by 32 never-been-seen projects, you will also get a chance to win some prizes if you play along with our challenges.

Signups start today, Wednesday 29th May at 12 a.m EST. You can sign up by adding your name to the linky tool at the bottom of this post or, join us at Let’s Get Trendy Now!3 site from 3 - 7 June. 

My project will be revealed on June 6th (Day 4: Stitching) and the detailed tutorial will be shared here too. Do come visit again on Thursday!. Here's a peek of what I made;

So, see you at Let's Get Trendy Now!3 for a week-long, awe-spiring ideas next week!. Most of all, have fun and good luck playing along!. HUGS.

inspiration : tattered prettiness

Dearest friends,
how is your week so far?. I see blue sky and wispy clouds all morning today, hope you're having a beautiful day too. It's been a while since my last post, I've been playing with bits of fabrics at home and I thought I'd share some sweetness inspiration; the imperfect, perfection :). I LOVE visiting each links, I hope you do too. HUGS.

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DIY junk journal, Guest blogger, a Challenge & a Giveaway!

Hello friends!
I've been out for a while, I hope you don't missed me too much :). Today, I'm a guest blogger at my friend Yvonne's blog,  Do More With Less. She has great eyes for colors, texture and blings and I'm forever loving her bold, happy artwork!. 

So for this fun assignment, I made a  junk journal, out of mostly ... junk :). Well, treasures actually. And, I'm hosting a challenge there as well. Come take a peek HERE and have a chance at winning my little give away!. 

Here's what I made;

My small junk journal, measures only 6" X 4" in size.

Front cover, with pressed flowers.

I 'trapped' flowers by stitching around a plastic folder to keep them in-place.

Delicate nature.

I LOVE using different textures and materials in my projects. Read more on how I used up papers & fabric scraps, making this junk journal at Do More With Less. Time to rid off that junk mails and unwanted flyers, don't you think? :).

The back cover. Botanical specimens are beautiful against any printed pages.

Stitching specimens is the funnest part of making this journal, really :).

I picked up various leaves & flowers while out walking. Pressed them underneath heavy books (or better, bricks) for about two weeks. The heavier, the shorter it takes :). 

I LOVE junk journals. Why?. There are NO RULES!. Mismatch everything. Go wild :). Tear & distress. It's raw and fun. Endless list of embellishments; store bought, hand-made, re-cycled things, your children's precious artwork, your little doodles, secret love notes etc. 

Lets see some of the pages inside this junk journal;

Ripped pretty prints from magazines as embellishment.

Stitching on frayed fabrics make your journal looks organic.

Plastic inserts with embedded pretty things. You may add buttons or pictures in it too.

Pencil doodling on fabric.

Mini herbarium, don't you think?.

More 'trapped' plants.

I added a pen holder, salvaged from an old diary :). Handy to take notes later.

 Simple embellishments: tags, postage stamps and washi tapes.

Embossed scraps :).

Are you ready for a challenge??. You are welcome to create ANY projects, but you MUST include some stitching in them. Whether it hand-stitching, or machine-stitching ... anyway that strikes your fancy :). Link your projects to the guest blogger post and I'll let Yvonne choose a winner :). 

I'll send one lucky winner, a junk journal kit. So you can make one yourself :). 

Would you like to win this junk journal kit? [I'll mail to anywhere in the world:)].

Come, put your creative hats on and play along!. Good Luck!. And thank you for reading my post today. Hope you'll join my challenge :). Once again, hop on to Do More With Less, link up your creations there. Can't wait to see what you make!. HUGS.