GinaK Sneak Peek - Day 3 - using stamps for embroidery

I like to think outside the box and I'm in love with working with felt these days. As I sat down to create a card for each of the two sets that the design team is sneak-peeking today, I started thinking about how I could do something entirely different than just stamping and coloring. I thought about how I could use felt on my card and then it dawned on me.

GinaK stamps make for perfect embroidery patterns! Why didn't I think of this before???

I cut a piece of felt and then inked up my stamps from Asela Hopkins' new set, Dream Birds, with black Staz-On ink. I stamped off on a piece of paper to take most of the ink off and then stamped it onto a piece of felt (I like to use a blended felt - 70% rayon and 30% wool). I used the Staz-On ink so that it wouldn't bleed into the fibers of the felt and I stamped off so that I would get a very faint image that wouldn't show as I stitched over it. It was just dark enough that I could see where I was going, but light enough that the floss covered it and you can't even tell I stamped the felt.

I then used embroidery flossed and did a lot of back stitching to complete the images. It really didn't take long at all since the designs from Asela's new set, "Dream Birds," are very simplistic, but fun, line art drawings. I started thinking that this type of project would be great for my daughter to practice her embroidery!

I adhered the felt to a piece of Sweet Corn cardstock and then used a thumb tack to punch staggered holes through the felt and cardstock. I used some green floss to create a zig-zag stitch. I then mounted it all on a card base of Fresh Asparagus cardstock. 

The sentiment was stamped with black ink and also comes in the Dream Birds set.

I added some sweet little green buttons (from the new Spring Collection) to the card with mini glue dots. I threaded some green floss through them to look like they'd been stitched onto the card. 

So....after this card, I was totally hooked on using stamps like this.

I just couldn't get enough, so I used the new GinaK set, "Spring Florals," on the next card. 

This set has more detailed line art images and I wasn't quite sure how it was going to turn out, but I don't usually turn down a challenge, especially one issued to me by myself....so I went for it!

I stamped this image on a piece of coral felt with Staz-On ink and started stitching. I used the shading of the design to guide where to put my stitches.

Because there was more detail to this image, I set the image sheet from the set next to me as I stitched to make sure I was following the basic lines to get the effect I was going for.

I mounted the finished felt piece of a piece of Fresh Asparagus cardstock and used my thumbtack to poke holes through the felt and cardstock then stitched a running stitch through it all.

I wrapped a piece of pink gingham ribbon (from the Spring Collection) around a piece of Innocent Pink cardstock and layered that onto a base card of Fresh Asparagus cardstock. I mounted the felt piece on the card with pop-dots. 

I stamped the sentiment (from the Spring Florals set) on Innocent Pink with Hunter ink and cut a small flag from the cardstock, layered it onto Fresh Asparagus and trimmed it to match the pink flag. I curled it a bit with the barrel of a pen and mounted it on the card with a pop-dot underneath the left side and adhered the right side with a bit of double sided adhesive. I threaded a pink button (from the Spring Collection) and added that to the flag with a mini glue dot.

For a limited time, a free Card Kit will automatically be included with each purchase of the Spring Florals stamp set. The entire kit includes the stamp set, a binder sheet, the instructions and materials to make 3 complete cards for $19.95. For more details on the cards, please visit Jessica Fick's blog. Then, check in with each of these GinaK designers to see all the beautiful projects they've made with the two stamp sets previewed tonight!

Dream Birds Illustrator: Asela Hopkins Spring Florals Illustrator: Gina Krupksy Theresa Momber Melanie Muenchinger Nina Brackett Carolyn King Tami Mayberry Cathy Tidwell Lee Murphy Lynn Mercurio Kurtis Amundson Donna Baker Emily Giovanni Erika Martin Sankari Wegman Valerie Stangle

Comments

[Donna]

WOW, Erika! How incredibly FUN are those cards?! I used to love to embroider!!TFS!

[Sankari]

What a great idea to embroider and do it on felt!! So super cute and such an unique look!

[Tina Gilliland]

WOW... you really outdid yourself her lady!! BEAUTIFUL cards and WONDERFUL stitching. GREAT cards!

[LuvLee]

Oh they certainly did turn out FABULOUSLY!!!! I love how made the designs into cute cards!!!!

[Rebekka]

How creative, these are fabulous.

[Valerie]

Totally out of the box and so original! Fabulous!

[Mary C. Anderson]

Wow! Your cards must have taken a bit of time to make. They both came out awesome Erika.

Mary

[NinaB]

These are so creative, Erika. I love the texture of felt - will have to get some to try this with. Brilliant.

[cathy tidwell]

Oh so awesome Erika! LOVE using these as patterns too and yours would look beautiful framed!

[Sharri]

Erika, Very creative! They are beautiful!

[melanie]

those flowers turned out GREAT!

[Carla Suto]

These are so amazing, Erika! Super creative idea! The embroidered images are beautiful!

[Suzanne]

WOW what a fantastic technique. I do have felt and lots of embroidery floss. This is a must try thing for me. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[Jessica Fick]

What a great idea, Erika!! I LOVE both of your cards - especially the floral one... what a cool look!

[Carolyn King]

awesome. all your hard work paid off--they are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!
I used the stamps to embroider on vellum...but not felt--LOVE the look!

[Elaine]

Very lovely! The stamping combined with the stitching looks great!

[acekard ds]

Hello
I also like embroidery and that little bird looks so cute..
I will try to create just like this as it looks pretty.Thanks for giving me this idea..