Monday, April 25, 2011

Crafty Secrets Design Team Challenge: Paper Piecing

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Hello, my friends!

Well, here we are…another month…another fun Crafty Secrets Design Team Challenge!  This time, we were to focus on one of my favorite paper-crafting techniques: paper piecing.

Not being the most accomplished “colorer”…(is that a word?!), I quickly found, early in my paper crafting days, that I could achieve the look, texture & layering I wanted by doing paper piecing with my stamped images…like this one:

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Isn’t she fabulous?!  This beautiful vintage girl comes from Crafty Secrets’ brand spankin’-new “Love & Support” stamp set:

Love and Support Clear Art Samp picture

{Proceeds from the profit of this set goes to the Young Survival Coalition, a wonderful organization dedicated to helping young women affected with breast cancer—isn’t that wonderful?!}

Having had breast cancer touch my family—as I know it has with so many of our families—I find this a wonderful stamp set to send messages with beauty and just a bit of humor in times of need to those we love…or just for a friendly reminder that it’s time to get “the girls” checked!

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Here’s a close-up of the paper piecing…

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I just love cutting detailed pieces…call me crazy, but I do!  I find it really relaxing, and most of all, I love the end result! 

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One of the small stamps in the set was perfect to use as a background on the pale pink cardstock behind the image…

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I kept the embellishments to a minimum on this card—it felt like there was plenty going on—so just a layering of black lace, a bit of pretty gingham ribbon, and some framing with Platinum Stickles, and that’s about it!

Next—one of my very favorite Crafty Secrets stamp sets of all:

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I mean, just look at that house—isn’t it dreamy???  I’ve been in love with Craftsman & Storybook style houses for as long as I can remember, and the “Home Sweet Home” set captures them perfectly…

Home Sweet Home  Clear Art Stamp picture

So much vintage goodness in this set!

Here’s some more detail…lots of popping-up on this card!

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I don’t always love shadows on my projects, but I DO love them on this one!

I used another set from “Frame It” for the scrolled pieces at the top and bottom of my house image…here’s the set:

Frame it Clear Art Stamp picture

Lots of beautiful elements to play with in this one!

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I decided to keep the flowers more monotone (there’s a LITTLE variation in color!) because of a beautiful image I love from the ‘30’s…a very common way to portray flowers in that period…

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A bit of the side view where you can see the layering a bit more…love that yummy crinkled seam binding! (tinted with “Crushed Shells” Glimmer Mist).

And the finished product:

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Again…not a lot of embellishing done on this card.  I wanted the paper-pieced image to be the focal point—not buttons, etc.

Thanks so much for your visit today!  I hope you’ll also stop by and visit the other girls on the Design Team—I know they’ll have lots of beautiful things to share with you!

Crafty Secrets Design Team:

Vicki Chrisman--Team Leader

Pam Hooten

Linda Duke

Michele Kovack

Melissa Phillips

Flo Teixeira from France

Julie Campbell—me!

Mary Hamer

See you soon with something new…

Julie

21 comments:

  1. Fab paper piecing on both cards - so much cutting out on the house one though, you must have the patience of a saint! Love what you did with the scrolls from the Frame It set there, too!

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  2. Hi Julie, I think all that paper piecing would drive me crazy. I certainly don't have the patience for so much detail. Your cards are always lovely whatever techniques you use. Have a wonderful week ahead. Tammy :)

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  3. Gorgeous Cards Julie! Love the choice of colors also.. esp that house card... those color are SO appealing to me right now! Beautiful work as always. Hope you had a wonderful Easter.

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  4. Beautiful cards. Love all the detailed cutting you have on them. I think I have to check out the 'Home Sweet Home' set a bit closer now after seeing what you created with it.

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  5. Julie this is fabulous and I too find it soothing to sit and cut out things. I do it when I want to relax. I have that cute cottage stamp in my Amazon wish list. You did such gorgeous jobs with both of these.

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  6. Gorgeous cards Julie!
    Amazing details!

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  7. Wow Julie, you rocked both of these cards. I love the way you used the mini stamp design to create a background on your Love & Support card and her ruffled camisole. The the layers on the card you created with our Home Sweet Home set are amazing!

    Thanks so much
    Sandy

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  8. Julie,
    Those are both fantastic. And I think you are a good colorer. Truly!
    I started reading this and was dreaming about the house stamps! There is a place by us that carries Crafty Secrets but not that one. I thought I had ordered it but, I guess not, because it never came (I am forever putting things in cards and thinking about it, which really means"forgetting" about it So I was thrilled to see this!!! I think this is a sign that I need to go right now and buy them, right? I want to live in the house you colored :-)

    Jud is doing pretty well after second round of chemo. Some side effects but nothing severe. We are praying!

    Big hugs,
    Suz

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  9. Oh my goodness...this is so lovely. I want to give it a try..I love it! You are amazing....I need to come visit you for a day or two..you can show me how to do this. Now what fun would that be...hugs to you my dear sweet friend. xoxoxxox

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  10. Oh my, that house card is a STUNNER!! I love all the layers. I don't know if I have the patience for it, but I should at least try it once, right? :-)
    I think ol' "Home Sweet Home" is now on my shopping list...sigh.
    Beautiful, beautiful!

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  11. Julie I always have some fun coming to see what you create! Your work is so beautiful. Such detail and love put into each piece!

    Have a wonderful week my friend!
    Hugs,
    Maryjane

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  12. Purely gorgeous, Julie!!! And Crafty Secrets has beautiful graphics...You make the most exquisite creations with them--beyond amazing!!!
    XO
    Cindy

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  13. Two more beautiful creations Julie, gorgeous as always! I love everything you do! Exquisite as Cindy says! I am glad to read that you had a lovely weekend away for Easter. A change of scenery is as good as a holiday they say! I send lots of love and hopes for a great week ahead for you. Will you be tuning in to the Royal Wedding??? I will for sure!! I know it's going to be amazing! Love and hugs from chilly, but dry, UK this morning. Rain in the forecast though! Boo Hoo! xxoo

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  14. Hi Julie, I hope you and your family had a lovely Easter. You have been very creative again. I especially love the "girls" card. The colors are so pretty and it really doesn't need any more embellishments. It's perfect.
    Have a great day :-)!
    Hugs to you,
    Julia

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  15. Thanks for showing close ups of your adorable cards. The layers created from this set are so cute. Had to take second looks.

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  16. Julie, I'd love
    to see where you
    create so I can
    imagine you, deep
    in thought, working
    away! I was especially
    drawn to the second
    piece with the 1930's
    inspired house. Reminds
    me of the McDuff series ~
    remember reading those
    with your kids?
    Happy Tuesday!
    xx Suzanne

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  17. Oh that cottage paper project is spectacular! I am going to look more into that brand of stamps. Thanks for sharing these two projects, and thanks for your comment about my mother's hat! Have a lovely day!

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  18. I think you are a great colorer! Love all the dimensions on your cards!

    Hope you are enjoying your week.

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  19. I love the little house in the piece you did. It sort of looks like a Cotswold Cottage. My favorite!!
    You are sooo talented.
    Hugs,
    Karen
    Ladybug Creek

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  20. Adorable Julie! I'm getting a mammogram next week. Kind of puts me in the mood. I'd love to have one for the mammogram ladies. Mimi

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  21. Great cards - love what you did with the Home Sweet Home set! Well worth all the work : )

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