Thursday, May 31, 2018

Thoughtful Thinking Thursday #139~~ Graduation Card Time

It's that time of the year
when you receive graduation invitations from
loved ones and those that are special to you.

I pull out my master copy I store in a drawer
where it's easy to grab,
because I make this card over and over.

 While I'm at it, I trace multiple copies to have on hand,
and tuck them away inside the master copy.

 I have a sandwich size zip lock bag used for
storing black scraps just for this card.
 Just a dab of glue stick
holds the center of the fabric stable
where I don't stitch.
 Large paper clips to use on the outside edge of the card are close by as well.
 Before I start stitching,
I hold up to the light for one last check to make sure the area is covered.
And that I don't have the picture upside down.
Ask me how I know to check.
After the hat is sewn and trimmed,  


I've started using a picture from a magazine to cover the back side.
This idea came to me when I dabbled a bit in junk journaling last month.
A picture is chosen that covers the entire area.

 Wasn't crazy about how the edge stitching turned out.
Can we call it the folksy look?
I'll keep the card to use in an emergency.

 So the second one had a zig zag trim.




 The back side was again a section from a magazine ad.
At first glance it has a leather look.
So off this card will go to add to this special person's life memories.
I love projects like this that puts a special person in my thoughts.
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What projects do you do to cause you think about special people?
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"THINK about it."
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Related Posts:

Paper Guided Stitched Graduation Card 

Fabric Cards & Tags



Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Junk Journal ~ Making the Fabric Cover

    Somehow I got hooked into watching videos about making junk journals.  I decided this would be a nice graduation gift for my grand daughter.  I would make it from my scrap fabrics and laces. However, I was a bit concerned about giving her some of my junk mail?  I wanted to give her something to keep special memories of her college days and her upcoming new career.  
    Although this is another way to use some of my scraps, I'm not sure I want to go down this road.  Doing this journal literally took over my sewing room with more stuff which was junk mail, magazines and journal making tools such as stamps, ink pads, pens & glue.  There is literally no more space in my house to store anything.





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Tuesday Tutorial 
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 I spent about a month watching videos for ideas,
then going through my stash
and collecting junk mail.
 I spent time online looking for clip art that looked a bit like stamps
and printing them out.
Then I coffee dyed the papers to give them an "old look" & interesting texture.
 Then I got to work.
Curlz font



Cotton batting scrap & cereal box cardboard.




Leaving 1 inch
Zig Zag edge


 Don't make the same mistake I did.
Leave at least 1/4 inch from corner.


 Cardboard from side of cereal box.
 Pin to seam allowance of front & stitch and then back.
 Seams were stitched about 1/4 inch from cardboard.
Needle position is moved to the left so the foot edge along cardboard is used as sewing guide.
 
  Notice why the fabric does not need to be cut along the corner of the card board.
Not neat at all.
 Cut cover lining to fit allowing fabric edges to turn under.
 Hand stitched.
The needle picks up the white fabric in each stitch.
Needles goes back in next to where it last came out.
 This stitch creates a nice hidden stitch.
Stitches are less than 1/4 inch apart which makes a tight stitch.

Pockets were machine stitched before the lining was hand stitched to cover.


Next post will show how some of the pages and pieces were made.
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Related Posts:

Junk Journal ~ The Innards- Bookmarks, Sq Sheet Envelope

Junk Journaling ~ The Innards~ A Flip Through Signature 1

 Junk Journaling ~ The Innards~ A Flip Through Signature 2

Junk Journaling ~ The Innards~ A Flip Through Signature 2, Part 2

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