Hello my scrappy friends.  I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of layouts and cards by now with machine or hand stitching on them.  I’ve been drooling over them for-ever now!  I’ve had a little portable sewing machine in storage for a few years and finally dusted it off last month.  I couldn’t be happier that I did!  I’m not sewing clothes for our girls, although that might be next against my husband’s will (apparently I need another hobby like a hole in the head lol!) Nope, I’m sewing right onto my scrapbook pages. 

Intimidating, heck yes!!  But this girl loves a good challenge & was willing to try it.  I went on YouTube and a few blogs to find tips & tricks.  It really is way easier that you think.  No special settings or training required.  Just a basic knowledge of a simple sewing machine.  My biggest hangup was winding that darn bobbin, but my Mom helped with that!  I found a lot of sites out there, but here is one I used:

Paper Lovers Studio: Techinque Tuesday Sewing on Paper Challenge 

I used Dear Lizzy 5th and Frolic, Amy Tangerine Yes Please, My Minds Eye Remarkable papers, all from Memory Works and 20% OFF NOW!  wood veneers from Freckled Fawn, Studio Calico Atlantic Hearts & Tabs (in my Etsy Shop), Gold Chevron Washi Tape & Gold Doilies from my Etsy Shop. 

Here are some close ups of my layout.  You can see I stitched around the layered patterned papers about 4 times.  I used a light gold thread for the stitching.  I also saved a big 8×8″ piece of the yellow hearts Dear Lizzy paper. Since nobody sees the center of that paper, I cut out an 8×8″ square from the middle, leaving me with a nice wide frame for the rest of my layout!  I layered the blue dot My Minds Eye paper right on top and stitched them together after adhering the cream cardstock on top to matt my Instagram photos.  Try it out next time you’re layering a few pieces of patterned paper. 

I wished I could have done this layout a few weeks ago, as there were some great challenges to link up to!   Next time!!  I hope you’ll dust off your sewing machine or even pick one up at a rummage sale this Fall.  There’s so much texture and fun added with stitching on paper!  And who knows, maybe I’ll even learn how to sew something our girls can wear 🙂

Don’t forget, now’s a great time to stock up on some scrappy supplies with our littles starting school again!  I have lots of new washi tapes & sequins in my Etsy shop along with a new coupon code that’s in the Chicagoland Scrapbooker Magazine!  Check it out and shop with me!

Happy scrappin’!