Happy Birthday in Stitches

I just finished this card and figured I would take the picture and get it loaded on the website before I started another card (I have a habit of putting it off and then I'm left holding a stack full of cards that I have to load and document). 

The carnation used on this card is home made.  Click here for my tutorial for making these flowers.  They are simple to do and look quite real when they are finished.

The background is some patchwork quilting I did, at least I think that's what it is.  Anyway, I had a bunch of scraps of Stampin' Up!'s designer paper and because it's so beautiful AND I hate to waste even the tiniest bit of paper I figured this would be a perfect time to use it.  Once the whole sheet of cardstock was full with the pieces fitting together, I ran it through the Big Shot with the Bigz Top Note die.  Once I had the patchwork shape of the top note, I ran it through the Big Shot again in the Square Lattice Embossing Folder this time.  There, that definitely gave it a unique look & texture.

I had some misc clear stamps I used for the Postal H in the upper right hand corner and the Cross Stitched Happy Birthday sentiment in the lower right hand corner.  Once I stamped the sentiment I took about four different colors:  Concord Crush, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, & Wild Wasabi and their matching sponge daubers and did some pouncing, which gave it a cool effect. 

Another step, not sure why I did it, but I guess it doesn't look too bad is a button with silver DMC floss strung through holding an apple shaped charm. 

So, with the name of this post, were you expecting a funny card?  Not quite, but it is fitting considering the sentiment is to look like it was cross stitched & embroidered, hence the "stitch" in the title.  I don't usually use stamp set's from other manufacturers but with the quilt theme, I wanted the sentiment to blend smoothly with everything else - yeah?

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God Bless you and thanks for stopping by!!

Inky Hugs

~Shawnie Bartron

Remember, if you’re not covered in ink, you’re not stampin'!

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