Just Relax w/Whimsy Stamps

As you stop by today, I hope that you are happy and blessed.  Things have been a struggle for me lately, but God is good and I keep pushing through it all.  I'm always grateful when I have time to get into my craft room and create something pretty.  As I started making this card, I realized that I wanted to do some stitching on those sweet little frames.  Everything I used on today's card can be found at Whimsy Stamps.

I used basic white cardstock for layers one and three.  For layer two, I used a striped patterned paper from the Mix & Match 2 6x6 Paper Pad.  For layer three, I used Spun Sugar Oxide Ink and the Twinkle Stencil.  I also embossed a portion of the white piece using the Daisy Embossing Folder.  You can see the wonderful texture in my close-up photo below.

I used the Slimline Scallop Die to cut the two sweet little frames.  These sweet dies leave tiny little pierced holes that I used to stitch around the edge with Cotton Candy Baker's Twine.  I tied a bow at the top of the upper frame.  How sweet!  That adorable little bunny as well as the super sweet sentiment are found in the Bunny Balloons Stamp Set.  Isn't that sweet?

I also used the Twinkle Stencil on the sentiment strip.  Some Pink Seam Binding was the finishing touch.  You can find all these wonderful products at Whimsy Stamps.  Thanks again for visiting me today and please stop by again soon.

Blessings,

Karen

Here's where I'll be sharing this sweet card:

The Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge - June is Favorite Shaped Dies - I just LOVE circles and ovals, and these dies are stitchable which I also LOVE.

Can You Handle the Pressure Challenge - June: Use Embossing Folder (I used a woven embossing folder on my white background paper.  Optional Twist of Fruits/Vegies.

Stencil Fun Challenge - June: Anything Goes with Stencil (I used a star twilight stencil in pink that's from Whimsy Stamps) Optional Birthday Twist (which I didn't use this time).

Inspiration Station Challenge - June: Photo Inspiration.  Just look at this gorgeous inspiration photo.  I was drawn to the PINK and the BALLOONS in the picture.  I also added pink ribbons and pink baker's twine which were inspired by the lovely photo as well.

Some Good Old Hand Stitching

Hello, and welcome by today.  I don't know about all of you, but I just LOVE to cross stitch and do hand stitching projects.  I was taught as a very young girl, and I took lessons over the years to improve my craft and learn different varieties of stitches.  It was a fond memory for me with particular women in my family including my dear Aunt Betty and my sweet Great Aunt Chlorence.  I'm so grateful for their influences, and also for my Jr. High School Home Economics Teacher, Miss Karen Harper, who taught me to sew and to love sewing.  I took further classes in sewing as well as the stitching; so I guess I've always been a crafty kind of girl.

I miss doing this type of handiwork, and when I saw the new challenge over at Double D Challenge Blog calling for stitching (real or faux) I just knew I had to play along.  What a perfect opportunity to create something involving stitching.  I used one of my favorite sets from Papertrey Ink, and cut my hearts (2) from ivory wool felt.  I stuffed the hearts and hand stitched them together using ivory DMC floss.  I added some French knots, and did some straight stitches here and there.

I've made these very same little hearts in the past.  They're fun to make and they don't take terribly long to put together.  I enjoy the hand stitching part.  It's relaxing for me, and I usually do it while watching a tv show.  I have jars and jars full of buttons, so this is also a great way for  me to use up some of my button stash.  The scalloped border is from Paper Sweeties and the flower dies are from Frantic Stamper.

If you haven't seen the FUN challenges over at Darlene & Diane's Double D Challenge Blog, you will definitely want to put this one on your challenge "list" if you have one of those.  I just know that I like to play along there whenever I'm able.  This particular challenge really spoke to me.  Thanks for stopping by to take a peek.

Blessings,
Karen

I'm playing along in the Double D Challenge: Stitches - Any Kind (Real or Faux)