Adding Artistic Details with Tools

Project Inspiration: Tools for Tasteful Pages gives us tips for using CTMH tools to add details that will help us create gorgeous artwork. The layout where some of these tips were used is shown in the video is features on page 105 of the CTMH Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book.



Today's video is Project Inspiration: Tools for Tasteful Pages. The CTMH Corp. description is "Close To My Heart's stitch guide helps you quickly and easily add a little "oomph" to your projects. Watch the video to see how we've added the popular hand-sewn effect to the stamped images in the My Acrylix™ Windy Day set using just three tools."

Products used in the video:

• My Creations™ Windy Day Stamp Set (D1579)
• Baker's Twine Neutral Assortment (Z1701); unfortunately this assortment is no longer available, you could substitute Bake's Twine Neutral Metallic Assortment (Z1921) or embroidery floss for your stitching
• Stitch Guide (Z1852)
• Foam Mat (Z1859)

Not listed, but I think should be, is the Piercing Tool Kit (Z1114). The piercing tool has a wooden handle which makes it much easier to grip than a needle when piercing holes. The kit also includes a smaller push pad and two different needles.

Some of the tips mentioned in the video:

• two different stamps from the Windy Day set were combined to appear as one embellishment; the kite was stamped and cut out and placed on the layout; the girl was stamped directly on the layout and colored in; the two images were connected with stitching
• Alcohol markers were used to color in the stamped images; they were also used on the edges of the clouds and title to add dimension
• a back stitch was used to create the kite "string" and "join" the kite and girl into one embellishment, lightly pencil in a line to follow while stitching (stitching will cover the line)
• get ready to stitch by piercing along the line in equal increments then thread a needle with the floss or baker's twine and put a knot in the end
• backstitch - with this stitch a continuous line is created and you see thread between every hold that you created (see the diagram below if you have trouble visualizing how to backstitch)
• skip (or running) stitch - with this stitch a continuous line is not created, you only see thread between every other hole you pierced
• the flourish that gives movement to the kite is from the stitch guide
  

This quick drawing I created shows how I was taught to backstitch:

The numbers across the top correspond to the pierced holes and the red squiggly line is the paper; what appear above the red line is what you will see on the front of your layout. From the back of the layout bring your needle through pierced hole 2. Then put your needle through hole 1. Bring your needle up through pierced hole 3 and put it down through hold 2. Continue until you reach the end of your line. Your needle will only pass through the first and last hole one time. To secure your stitching at the end weave your needle through the thread on the back of your paper. If this is on a card, you may want to secure with some tape of a very small dot of Liquid Glass.

I hope today's video inspires you to add some hand stitching to your next layout or card. If you have decided to order any of these tools, the Shop Now button will take you to my Online Business Address.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.