Sunday 7 May 2017

Walkies - FTLOPP Blog Hop



This post is part of the National Scrapbook Day Blog Hop hosted by
 the Facebook Group “For The Love Of Pretty Paper”

If you are following the hop you should have arrived here from UK Scrap AddictsTo be in with a chance of winning the Blog Hop prize you will need to comment on this post (and on all the blogs in the hop) and, when you have completed the hop, return to the Blog Hop thread on “For The Love Of Pretty Paper” and leave a comment to let us know you have been all the way around the hop. Visitors who leave the same (or seen to be the same by the Organisers) comment on all the blogs will not be eligible for the prize. The closing date for Blog Hop entries is Monday 8th May at 10pm. Only UK addresses are eligible for the prize due to postage costs. Good Luck!

After your visit here please hop on to Gemma Steele. If you lose your way or you want to start at the beginning of the hop you can find the complete list on the Facebook page here or at the start on Fiona’s Blog. 

The theme for the Blog Hop is “Favourite Technique” and I chose machine stitching. I do love a hand-stitched circle on a scrapbook page, but it can be really time-consuming to mark out a shape, prick all the stitching holes and then do the sewing itself. Machine-stitching is a quick and effective substitute, but for me it has two drawbacks - firstly I can't stitch an even circle with a machine, it always goes wobbly, and secondly the thread is finer than embroidery floss and doesn't have the same impact. My solution to both of these issues is simple - go round the circle three times, any wobblyness on the first pass can be evened up on the second and third, and those three lines of stitching have greater visual impact than just one.

For this page, I laid out my papers and photo, then placed a circle template over them to get their position right before sticking them down. I used a pencil with the template to mark out my circle, stitched round it three times and rubbed out the line.



Then I finished the page with title, embellishments and journalling:



My photo is one of some friends and their dogs on the beach in Northumberland last month. I wanted to use the shell paper and tried various other papers with it before I chose the triangles for the large panel. That's actually two pieces from a 6x6 pad, and I used the same pad for the rest of the paper layers. I fussy cut two cameras from a Maggie Holmes paper, in pink and grey, and the pink one looked better, so I went with pink, black and white in the embellishment clusters with washi tape, enamel dots and word stickers. 

Supplies
Cardstock - Bazzill
Paper - We R Memory Keepers Love Notes 6x6, Carta Bella Ahoy There, Crate Paper/Maggie Holmes Chasing Dreams
Letters - Making Memories
Tag - American Crafts
Stickers - My Mind's Eye
Washi Tape - Ebay
Enamel Dots - Teresa Collins
Mist - Docrafts

Tools
Sewing Machine
Fiskars Shape Cutter & Circles Templates


44 comments:

  1. I always machine stitch twice, will try 3 times next time. Certainly gives your page impact

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  2. I haven't got a machine so I'm very jealous! But I do use hand stitching!😊

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  3. Note to self, dust off the sewing machine, change the needle, check the tension and away you go! Thanks for the inspiring reminder xx

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  4. Machine stitching is my favourite technique, have to be in the right mood to do it though otherwise the sewing machine gets sworn at a lot....

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  5. I have yet to try machine stitching even though i love sewing! i must try this technique soon!

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  6. Great layout and description of technique.

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  7. I am like Alison love sewing but haven't tried it on a layout yet

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  8. I would love to try this. The effects always look so good but I worry that having never done stitching it would ruin my layout beyond repair. Is there an easy beginners way to get started on this?

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    1. You could try stitching round the edge of each paper piece before you layer them and stick them down. Then it matters less if you ruin one.

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  9. Love the page design but I don't have a sewing machine to play with but I too like adding hand stitched shapes to my pages.

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  10. What a lovely page. Tempted to get my sewing machine out, but never really tried. Maybe I should.

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    1. You definitely should Sally. Just keep one needle for paper and one for fabric.

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  11. Ooh I love that page, Amanda. The stitching is very effective.
    Susan x

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  12. I go to a crop where we do lots of hand stitching, really should drag the machine with me :)

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  13. Great page and layout. Thanks for reminding me I have a very dusty sewing machine in the loft. Just asked hubby to get it lol TFS. X.

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  14. Not been brave enough to use my sewing machine on a layout yet - frightened I might break it and not be able to use it for sewing material again. Need to be bold I think! Gorgeous effect.

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    1. Be bold! You might break a needle but you're unlikely to do lasting damage.

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  16. Just asked hubby to get my sewing machine out of the loft lol. Thankyou for the ideas. X.

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  17. Love the look of stitching on a page, wish I had the space for a sewing machine.

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  18. I bought a cheap sewing machine for stitching on layouts but have never used it...so want to give it a go after seeing your fabulous stitched circles xxx

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    1. Go for it! Mine's only a cheap one, which I got specifically for papercrafting.

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  19. I need to do this on my layouts but think I'll try straight lines first xx

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  20. Lovely layout, the circles are very effective. Ive never been into sewing in any form, so its faux stitches for me ... lol.

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  21. A great idea - one I had forgotten about. Years ago I learned how to use an upturned drawing on on a sewing machine to create circles... sounds scary, and potentially lethal - but was great fun! Well done.
    Take care. God bless.
    Margaret

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  22. I really want to try out sewing onto my photos, i love the effect it has.

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  23. I have done a tester on my sewing page to try it out, but I have never been brave enough to do it for an actual real life layout!!

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  24. I've never thought to do three rows rather than one - I must give this a try as I am pretty wobbly on the sewing machine too!

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  25. Super stitching, my problem with stitching is actually getting the machine out but I really ought to, thanks for the inspiration. BJ

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  26. You're so right about the visual impact, it looks marvellous. Love too your explanation of how you arrived at colour and embelishment choices...it's fascinating!

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  27. love the 'doodled'effect you get by going around three times,it's fab xx

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  28. I love the machine stitched look - but don't own a sewing machine. Every now and again I will do some hand stitching.

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  29. Lovely looking layout. I'm not a 'stitcher' but I suppose you can never say never, maybe something I can try in the future, Thanks for sharing!!

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  30. Lovely page! Sewing machines scare me - I need to be brace! 😂

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  31. I'm not going to lie I can't sew with or without a sewing machine but it always looks fab on a layout. Great page x

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  32. Even in nature circles are never perfect, or at least that's my excuse.

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  33. I love the look if machine and hand stitching on layouts. I mostly do hand stitching as it's more controlable but occasionally I drag my machine out and love the different effect. TFS. X

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  34. Love the look of machine stitching but the mini machine I have is rubbish. I will try with my proper machine - always been a bit nervous of using it for paper - don't know why!

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  35. I love this layout and plan to scraplift it soon!

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  36. Love the stitched circles they look fab

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  37. I would chose machine stitching over hand stitching any day... and I do find wonky shapes more natural. I love your circles on this layout, might just have to try this on my next page!

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  38. I have a sewing machine but I haven't really used it on a layout before. Might try hand stitching first and once I'm brave enough I might try using a machine. Loving the circles!

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