Tag: Tutorial

Cardmaking Kit

Spellbinders | Stitching Die of the Month | April 2024

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Spellbinders April 2024 Stitching Die of the Month handmade card.

It’s that time of the month again….time for Spellbinders April Club Kit releases. Today, I am sharing my floral stitched card. I know I always say this, but the April Stitching kit is a real beauty.

One of the things I like about stitching is that the project is transportable. I stitched my flowers in a doctor’s waiting room and I completed the leaves in my backyard on a beautiful Spring day (see photo below).

The Deluxe Caboodle

I also wanted to mention what a wonderful deal the Deluxe Caboodle Kit is. You save 60% off all TEN kits for the month + you get a bonus gift. So, if you are thinking about multiple kits, consider the Caboodle. The current cost is $160 but the kit value is $315.

Spellbinders Stitched Wall Hanging Kit

Spellbinders Hand Stitched Card using Die of the Month Stitching Club Kit.

My Stitching Process:

  • The kit has 18 dies and I started by cutting all my pieces with my Platinum 6 die cutting machine.
  • Spellbinders has a nice selection of stitching accessories in their shop that you can find HERE. I used DMC Gold Thread, #818 Soft Pink, #772 Light Yellow Green and #922 Light Copper for this project.
  • When I started stitching, I took two strands of floss, separated them one at a time, brought them together and then stroked and lengthened them until they seemed tame and ready to use.
  • I usually stitch with size 22 Tapestry needles.
  • I like to use 1/8th inch double sided liner tape to attach my floss to the die cut.
  • Remember to keep your floss taught as you stitch.
  • When I move from one area to the next, I run the floss through the just finished stitched area to keep the thread secure. This gives a nice look on the finished project.
  • Don’t stitch with threads that are too long or they are likely to knot. 
  • When I was done, I added a bit of Bearly Glue to the ends so that they would stay in place.
  • To finish my project I embossed white cardstock with the my longtime favorite embossing folder: Intertwined Lattice.
  • I used the Press and Seal method to keep my elements together after I arranged them. Place Press and Seal over arrangement, flip them over, apply glue, flip back over and adhere to card.

Other Supplies and Products Used:

Isn’t this a great place to stitch?

Handmade stitching card showing you can work on your stitching card anywhere including vacation or your backyard.

A Few Notes About Spellbinders Club Kits

  • Clubs Preview on the 1st of each month.
  • Club members can cancel, upgrade or change clubs from the 1st-5th of each month. Popular Clubs frequently sell out during this period so club members get first dibs on everything.
  • NEW for 2024: Club Members get EARLY access to new releases on the 6th!
  • On the 6th, Clubs become available to non-members.
  • On the 27th, Club registration closes for the current month.
  • If a club did not sell out, you can buy under “Shop Past Clubs”. Past kits are available on the 10th of the FOLLOWING month.

Helpful Links:

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Cardmaking Kit · stitching · Tutorial

Spellbinders | Stitching Die of the Month | February 2024

Karen Brown1 Comment
Spellbinders Stitching Die of the Month Club Card - February 2024

Stitched Floral Focal Card Front

I am so excited about today’s share, Spellbinder’s Stitched Floral Card Front. I used the February Stitching Club Kit, which is beautiful, and I think the finished card is so very special. This card is going to one of my closest friends for her upcoming birthday.

This Floral Focal Stitched Kit is now available for puchase without a membership.

New members can sign up for clubs today!

Floral stitched card

My Stitching Process:

  • The kit has 5 dies and I started by cutting all my pieces. The flower center is pink, the flower is papaya, the background is waterfall and the overlay is blue. There is a lot of stitching this month, so I die cut all the elements twice and then glued them together for a sturdy substantial panel. This die cutting didn’t take long, but I think the extra effort was worth it. I recently purchased a Platinum 6 die cutting machine, and I have to say, I pull it out instead of my Gemini Junior. I wish I had bought one earlier.
  • Spellbinders has a nice selection of stitching accessories in their shop that you can find HERE.
  • When I started stitching, I took two strands of floss, separated them one at a time, brought them together and then stroked and lengthened them until they seemed tame and ready to use. I used DMC Aqua 598, Orange 741 and Pink 818.
  • I like to use 1/8th inch double sided liner tape to attach my floss to the die cut.
  • Remember to keep your floss taught as you stitch.
  • When I move from one area to the next, I run the floss through the just finished stitched area to keep the thread secure. This gives a nice look on the finished project.
  • Don’t stitch with threads that are too long or they are likely to knot. 
  • When I was done, I added a bit of Bearly Glue to the ends so that they would stay in place.
Stitched card in aqua, blue, orange, yellow and pink.

A Few Notes About Spellbinders Club Kits

  • Clubs Preview on the 1st of each month.
  • Club members can cancel, upgrade or change clubs from the 1st-5th of each month. Popular Clubs frequently sell out during this period so club members get first dibs on everything.
  • NEW for 2024: Club Members get EARLY access to new releases on the 6th!
  • On the 6th, Clubs become available to non-members.
  • On the 27th, Club registration closes for the current month.
  • If a club did not sell out, you can buy under “Shop Past Clubs”. Past kits are available on the 10th of the FOLLOWING month.

Helpful Links:

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

cardmaking · Mixed Media · papercrafting

Spellbinders | House Mouse Candy Hearts Vintage Look Valentine Card

Karen Brown3 Comments

There’s something undeniably captivating about a vintage valentine, where every delicate stroke of ink and carefully chosen sentiment carries a timeless charm. This new House Mouse Candy Hearts rubber stamp had a very retro look to me, so I went with an old-timey mixed media vibe.

Spellibinders House Mouse Candy Hearts (RSC-022) handmade Mixed Media Valentine Card.

Easy One Layer Vintage Look Mixed Media Valentine Tutorial:

  • I started by creating my background. I masked off a border and then used two shades of tan Distress Ink to ink blend my background. (Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap)
  • With the masking tape still on the cardstock, I then used the same tan inks to stencil and stamp bits and pieces on the background. Most of the stamping was “second generation” where I stamped first on a scrap and then onto my background so that the pattern would be subtle. I also added light stenciling to the background. Cathe Holden has some great stamps and stencils that I added here and there. I also used a bit of stamping with white pigment ink, but it is hard to see in the photograph. To finish I added a touch of Gold Wax to a few places around the border.
  • Carefully remove your masking tape. I used Post It Tape, which is the best!
  • After my background was dry, I stamped the Valentine Mouse with Versafine Black Pigment Ink.
  • PRO TIP: For a crisp look, keep the stamp in your Misti stamping platform and restamp the image after you are done coloring. You won’t believe how much this one step will elevate your project!
  • I used Faber Castell Polychromo Colored Pencils to color the mouse and candy hearts.
  • Remember to restamp the image and let dry.
  • The cute sentiment is included with the stamp set and finishes off my one layer valentine.

House Mouse Products:

One layer mixed media valentine featuring a cute mouse laying in a pile of candy hearts.

If you like this card, you might also want to visit my blog post on House Mouse Designs 3 Ways.

Thanks for stopping by!

Interested in more…You can also find me at these spots too:

@karens_mini on Instagram

Pinterest: @karenabrown

FaceBook: Karens_Mini

YouTube: Karen Brown

cardmaking · Video

Video | Quick and Easy Monogram Gift Tags

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Quick and Easy DIY die-cut monogram Gift Tags

Hi everyone, Karen Brown here!  I am one of the new members of Hero Art’s Creative Team and I am excited to share my new video (see below).  I am loving the new Hero Arts Alphabet Letter Dies  and I thought they would be fun and festive on my gift tags.  

Watch below or on The Hero Arts YouTube Channel:

These tags combine some favorites of mine:

  • Die Cutting
  • Bright Bold Colors
  • Rub-On Hero Transfers
  • Interesting Die Cut Accents
Aqua Red and White gift tags featuring die cut Upper Case Die Cut letters that are personalized monograms for gifts.

Using the the Nesting Tag dies, I die cut  5 tags from Paradise, Cherry and Dove White Cardstock.  My first card I call “Joy to the World” and I chose to use the “J” die from DF167.  I cut the “J” three times from Cherry Cardstock and glued them together for a nice substantial element.  For a quick sentiment, I trimmed “Joy to the World” from the White Holiday Collage Hero Transfers kit and then rubbed onto the bottom of my tag.  I think it is the kid in me, but I just love doing this!

R is for Robert and I used DF168 to die cut the R.  For interest, I also die cut two linear accent strips using The Hole Punch Edge Fancy Die.

B is for Brown (my last name) and since I love rub-ons so much, I covered the top tag with a Hero Transfer with text from A Christmas Carol.  The “B” die is included in Letter Die set DF165.

Products Used:

If you like this color combo, you might want to see this post too.

I hope you enjoyed my blog post and video!

 Interested in more? Recent Instagram Posts for @Karens_mini