Challenge #71 - Stitches...Real or Faux PLUS Top Tip Week!

Good Top Tip Morning to you all.

Did you all enjoy our Mystical, Magical, Fantasy Challenge last week along with the fab card tutorial from Elaine - wasn't it great?

We had another batch of gorgeous projects - thanks to all 86 of you who joined us, have a look top right to see if YOU'RE one of our lucky winners :)

I'll start with a bit of 'housekeeping' (just don't tell my hubby - he'll expect me to do some at home too!)

Please make sure you are familiar with our rules - We'd hate you to miss out on a prize because you weren't aware of them :(

Can I please remind you all that when you leave a Top Tip on your post for us to make sure you add (TIP) after your name on Mr Linky. Don't forget to mention in your post that your Tip is for Top Tip Tuesday and add a live link back to this blog. Only Top Tips posted and linked [(TIP)] will be entered for the Top Tipper Prize so make sure you add one to your post! Don't forget you can enter JUST a Top Tip - you don't have to enter a project too. That's 3 Top Tips AND 3 projects you can enter in total!

Please bear in mind you don't HAVE to use an image for your project in our challenges - we totally understand that there are lots of crafters out there who don't like colouring or who just prefer to not use an image - Have a look at our DT samples, there's always a project or 2 without an image.

Our Challenge host for this fortnight is Janette and she's giving us a Sewing Tutorial.

Firstly our sponsors.....

Saturated Canary

1st Prize is 2 Digi images from her lovely Etsy Shop.

Hello! My name is Krista Smith.

I have been drawing and doodling my whole life...as far back as I can remember! Over the last year and a half, I have been selling it on Etsy. I was approached to draw stamps for Sugar Nellie, a stamp company based in Scotland. After designing only rubber for a year, I decided to branch out a bit into the digital world:). As an artist, I appreciate the versatility of digi's for the stamper. I also like releasing stamps that are a little more obscure or unique. Monsters, nerds with big glasses...even a mermaid:). Those ones are really fun for me to draw! After opening up my digi shop in the beginning of September, I've been busy filling orders:). I am really thrilled and very humbled that ladies are so receptive to my designs and seem to enjoy coloring them a lot! I am so inspired by these amazing colorists!! I have met so many wonderful, talented ladies through this business and look forward to building new friendships, too! My personal blog, Saturated Canary, is filled with bits of my family life, artwork, and a slight obsession with fashion;). I also run a new challenge/ inspiration blog, Saturated Canary Challenge with my amazing design team. I'd love to meet you and be inspired by your own creations! Do stop by and say hello!:)

and

The Crafty Pad

Prize 2 is 2 Digi Images from Debbie's lovely online shop.

Debbie at The Crafty Pad Stamp Designs says:
The Crafty Pad Stamp Designs is proud to sponsor Top Tip Tuesday. I own and run The Crafty Pad Stamp Designs. We offer a variety of both polymer stamps and digi stamps. Weekly challenges are held at The Crafty Pad Blog

On to our Sewing tutorial from Janette.....

Hi All - Janette here, 

I will start by telling you that I am a beginner at sewing and have mainly used my sewing machine on paper crafts so as you can see my sewing is not perfect. I need more practice and if you have tips for me they are welcomed!

I started by reading my machine's manual cover to cover. So get to know your machine by reading first then by trying it out on scraps. This is my machine; which was a birthday gift from my Mother.

Once you have figured out how to thread your machine (which for me took some time) then you are ready to try! I like to start my sewing in a place where I think will be covered by something on my project. In this case it is at the top where I will add ribbon for my tag. Lift the pressure foot pedal and insert your project. I use the markings on the foot pedal to try and keep my sewing aligned around the way.

When I get close to a corner I use the hand wheel (handle on the side) to do the sewing. That way I don't feel pressured to going too fast. When I get to the point where I would turn I stop; ever so slightly lift the pressure foot pedal and shift my project. Then continue going all the way around until you have reached your starting point.

You can adjust your stitching by using the controls; each machine is different so see where yours would be. I can make my stitches be farther apart by adding to the top button.

Here is a comparison on the first stitch it is at 2.5, the second is at 3.0 the third is at 4.0 and the last is a Faux stitch.

Here is how I do a Faux STITCH:

I have used my Scor-Pal, Cutter Bee Bugs Piercing tool, and a white gel pen.

I align my paper to the 6 1/2 inch line and use the line to the left of it. This gives me 1/8th distance from the edge.

I then take my piercing tool and run it in that 6 3/8ths mark. This is super fast and keeps my pierced lines nice and straight!

Then KEEPING the paper in this position I use a pen and connect the pierced dots.

I do this to all sides and VIOALA! It is so fast and easy! Here is a comparison on the two tags. The one on the left has been done on my sewing machine and the one on the right is done with the Faux Stitching technique used above. I have used a combination of pens as my white gel were not working so well.

Closer view of the front.

Closer view of the back.

Thanks for joining me for my Sewing Tutorial - I hope you found it interesting :)

Janette x

Our Designers plus their Top Tips...


A huge thank you to Krista from Saturated Canary for sending gorgeous images for the team to design with :0)

Annette using Whispy a fairy

Top Tip: To get a good corner when using your sewing machine, leave the needle in the 'down' position, and carefully use the needle as a pivot point. Be careful not to pull the card / fabric though, as you may bend the needle if you're too heavy handed !! A light touch is key ;0)

Bettina using Dorothy

Top Tip 1: When you are going to use a sewing machine make sure you try on a piece of cardstock that you can toss afterwards and sew in slow motion.
Top Tip 2: When making a shaped oval card (or another form) make sure you keep just a bit of the die outside the folded paper when cutting in your die cut machine.

Carol using Zorana

Top Tip 1: You can buy VERY cheap little sewing machines ideal for your papercrafts - they look just like a full size machine just MUCH smaller and cost about £10 (my daughter bought mine in Home Bargains)


Top Tip 2: If you don't have a sewing machine and would like to add some faux stitching to your cards use one of these......

...a sewing tracing wheel!
It's what I used on my card above!

Deneen using Nevaeh

Top Tip: When printing your digital images, copy and paste at least 2 of them, that way if you make a mistake colouring you don't have to waste time running back to your computer to try and figure out the size etc. to print it again.

Elaine using Copica

Top Tip: When hand stitching small areas, first making holes to enable the needle to go through easier. Make sure there is no sticky tape or glue behind, this makes the needle stick.

Heike using Whispy a Fairy

Top Tip: Stand up when punching to gain more leverage, and always punch down on a hard
surface rather than "in the air".

Janette using Let it rain

Top Tip: Add blue to your black hair to give it that extra shine. I have used Copic T9, T7 and B24 for her hair.

Katrina using Thank you

Top Tip: When you don't have a sewing machine or a needle or thread, you can always draw in stitching with a pen... You can even co-ordinate your colours more! 

Lisa using Copica

Top Tip: Check out this amazing website for sewing tutorials. She will show you every kind of stitch from line stitches to embroidery techniques to patterns and each one includes a fantastic how to video, free!
Mary Corbet's Needle n' Thread
I followed her video to make the French Knots on this card.

Samantha using Copica
(I have also created my own Graffiti)

Top Tip 1 : Keep yourself a separate needle for sewing paper
as the paper blunts your needles and will cause damage to your material when you sew material with it, kinda like drag.
Top Tip 2 : When you have finished sewing pull your ends through.
Turn your image over and pull the 2 threads you will see a loop appear...





...with a needle pull the loop, tape down the loose ends.
Here is a view from the front all the ends are pulled through.






Tammy Louise using Party Hardy

Top Tip: When stitching from a dark stock color to a light, the stitching will show up much better if you use a zig zag stitch

How much do we love sharing our Top Tips - some of us couldn't stop at one!!!

Now get those sewing machines dusted off, needles sharpened or pokey tools poised - we want to see LOTS of stitches.....