September 09 card sketch

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Designer: Kendra McCracken

It's National Sewing Month! I can't even begin to tell you all how excited I am be creating projects that encourage other crafters to put their sewing machines to work this month. I discovered long ago that I'm most pleased when I have some fabric, some sewing, or better yet, a little of both included in my papercrafting projects. Fabric adds both texture and a softness to paper projects. Sewing can help balance out a design or add bursts of interesting shape, color, or patterns.

For this month's card, I decided to use both fabric and sewing to create this fabulously quick and easy puffy flower for the texture and softness and added some stitching to balance the design as I had a large empty space once I'd completed my flower.

Difficulty rating

Instructions (Print version)

1. To create the flower petals, I started with the Bubbles Shape Template. Fiskars makes a template of ovals but I needed a more elongated oval for my petal shape so I improvised with the Bubbles Template. Using a double layer of fabric, right sides pinned together, I traced "petals" on 5 different fabrics.

2. After cutting the petals out with the No. 8 Razor-Edged Scissors, I stitched the 2 layers together, leaving the bottom of each petal open for turning.

3. The leaves for the flower were made using a paper pattern created using the Large Mint Condition Squeeze Punch.
4. Next I turned the petals right side out and handstitched them all together into a flower shape, adding a button to the center. Using fusible web, I adhered a stem, the Mint Condition leaves, and fabric ground layers to a 12" x 12" piece of muslin (on the right-hand side of the fabric) and stitched the flower in place. To fill the void at the top of the canvas, I stitched a grid using turquoise thread and added a few buttons.

5. I adhered the layer of muslin to a 12" x 12" sheet of cardstock using fusible web and folded it in half.

6. Using a border punch and some patterned paper, I created the last ground layer.

7. I completed the card by printing out my sentiments and adhering them.
So the next time you want to let someone know just how much you love them, grab some fabric scraps and the Bubbles Shape Template and wow them with this lovely flower that is suprisingly quick and easy to make.

Supplies:
Fiskars ShapeTemplate™ Tool - Bubbles-1 w/Wave Border Item # 48607097 http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_shapetemplate-tool-bubbles-1-wwave.aspx
Fiskars No. 8 Razor-Edged™ Scissors Item # 94547097 http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_no-8-razor-edged-scissors.aspx
Fiskars Mint Condition - Large Item # 12-73137097 http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_large-squeeze-punch-mint-condition.aspx
other- 12" x 12" sheet tan cardstock, 12" x 12" piece of muslin, (5) 5" x 5" scraps of fabric for petals, green scraps of fabric for foliage, 1 large button, turquoise thread, 6 turquoise buttons, printed sentiments, fusible web