Polka Dot Gypsy - Guest Designer Day 2

Happy Tuesday everyone and welcome to my second day as Guest Designer! Today at Peachy Keen Stamps it's time for another Sketch Challenge. This one was definitely a tough one for me. The overall card was tall and thin. I chose to keep it that way because it was the one element that was a real challenge for me to overcome. It was a very long process with many changes before I came up with this amazing card. I say it is amazing because with all the changes I made to this card it is amazing that it did not get pitched in the trash! "Patched" Pumpkins" is truly a labor of love.

Patched Pumpkins Card

The finished card size is 4" X 9 1/4". The design theme for this card is patchwork. With the arrival of fall weather I am in a quilting mood. So, I created my challenge card with the feel of an old fashioned quilt. And I think that this card does that with it's earthy tones and hints of patchwork.

Stamp Sets

PK-620 Halloween Pumpkins

PK-646 Faceless Fall Fun 2

Cardstock Cutting Dimensions

8" X 9 1/4" - Solid Brown for Card (4" X 9 1/4" folded)

3 3/4" X 9" - Solid Rust for Card Mat

3 1/2" X 8 3/4" - Brown & Orange Polka Dot for Design Panel

2 3/4" X 8 1/8" - Solid Tan (Cut to a point) for Card Design Element

4" Solid Brown Circle for Mat

3 3/4" Yellow Print Circle

Scrap - Solid Rust for Pumpkin Mat

Scrap - Brown Check for Pumpkin

Scrap - Tan Print for Patchwork Pumpkin

Scrap - Rust Print for Patchwork Pumpkin

Scrap - Yellow Print for Patchwork Pumpkin

Scrap - Real Wood Thin Cherry Paper for Sign

Tools, Supplies & Embellishments

Cricut

Cuttlebug

Nestabilities Pumpkins Die

Studio g Bat Punch

Crimper

Beads

Buttons

Twine

Felt Flower

Plaid Paper Nut Cups

Creating the Look of Applique

To create the look of applique on this card I paper pieced the small pumpkins. Using the Halloween Pumpkins from Peachy Keen Stamps, I stamped the image onto the checked pumpkin. I also stamped the same image onto each of the three scraps of print cardstock: tan, rust, and yellow.

Each of the small pumpkins were cut out from the scrap pieces and attached to the checked pumpkin background, covering the stamped image on the background.

I faux stitched along the edges of the circle and large pumpkin. Faux stitching is simply fake stitching. I used a marker to achieve the look of stitching. And to make the stitched circle more uniform I cut a smaller circle and used it as a template to follow while inking the stitches.

I love how paper piecing resembles the applique that I use for quilting. It really is a simple technique with a powerful impact on a card.

Keeping with the patchwork theme I added a plaid flower. I love to make flowers of all kinds. And I've shared some of those on Polka Dot Gypsy. I hope you'll check them out. But for this card I am trying out another flower technique. I found these paper nut cups at a craft store and new immediately what I was going to do with them. The flower is made from two of these nut cups and is really simple to make.

To make this flower you will need two small paper nut cups and 1 punched circle of any size as the base. Cut the center out from one of the paper cups. Keep the outer ring and throw away the center. You won't need it. I'll refer to this piece as the donut.

Glue the nut cup to the punched circle, scrunching up the center of the cup.

Next, attach the donut piece to the center, scrunching it up as well. Gently gather in the center edges of the donut so that it fits nicely inside the first nut cup layer.

Add a button or two for the center. Once the glue has dried, shape your flower as desired.

Air Brushing verses Coloring

For the flower I wanted a brown button for the center. I didn't have one. So, I used the brush end of my Copic marker to brush on the color, It didn't cover as well as I wanted it to. I used my airbrush and the same marker to color another button. Below is the result. Before on the left and After on the right. Who would have thought that it would make such a big difference.

Rolodex Cards

My second project is a decorative Rolodex card. It can be used the traditional way, keeping important information such as addresses, cell numbers and website information or it can be made into pages for a Rolodex mini album. I'm going to make the mini album to set on my desk.

For this project I cut the Rolodex Cards with my Cricut and faux stitched around the edges. I used double sided cardstock for the card so that I can decorate both sides. I stamped the flower image onto two coordinating prints of cardstock. A 1" circle punch was used to punch out the center of the flower. It was then attached to the center of the coordinating flower. The flower stamp is the Faceless Fall Fun 2 set from Peachy Keen Stamps.

For the back of the card I used the same flower stamp and the same cardstock with the flower and center papers switched for a different look.

This is the perfect stamp to add a face to. This sweet little face is from the In Stitches Face Assortment that I will be drawing for this Saturday. Isn't she just adorable?

Fall Gift Card Holder

For my final project I made this fun little fall gift card holder featuring Halloween Pumpkins, Faceless Fall Fun 2 and the In Stitches Face Assortment stamp sets from Peachy Keen Stamps. The card is made from a small paper bag folded to form a pocket, sewn and decorative panels added. For the front of the card I used the same paper pieced pumpkins that I used for my "Patched Pumpkins" card.

On the back I used the same happy flower from the Rolodex card. 

The card opens up and inside is a pocket to hold a gift card. Please note that the pocket is under the design panel. This photo is misleading. It looks like the pocket is in the flap.

I used a paper bag measuring 4 3/4" X 8 1/2". Folded up the gift card holder measures 3 1/4" X 4 3/4". To make the pocket. just fold the bottom up and stitch along the sides using a sewing machine. Be sure to stitch so that the decorative panels will cover your stitching. Decorate three panels and attach them to the front, back and flap. Secure the ribbon to the bag before attaching the front panel to the bag. Sandwiching the ribbon between the front panel and the bag will hold the ribbon in place and conceal it. On the back I attached the happy flower with pop dots along the upper portion of the flower. This allowed enough room to slide the ribbon up under it before tying. Below is a better photo of the actual pocket. You can see the stitching along the pocket edges.

Wow! I didn't realize I had so much to talk about today. Now, don't forget that on Saturday I'll be drawing a name for the set I've been using today, the In Stitches Face Assortment. Peachy Keen Stamps has so generously donated this stamp set and some lucky winner will get it on Saturday. Will it be you? To win, leave a comment here and on my Patched Pumpkins post at the Polka Dot Gypsy.

I hope you enjoyed today's projects. Again it has been a privilege to share my paper crafting with all of you. Have a wonderful day!

Jane - the Polka Dot Gypsy