Polka Dot Gypsy - Guest Designer Day 3

Good Morning! This week is certainly flying by. Thanks to everyone at Peachy Keen Stamps for giving me this opportunity. And to all of you who have left such wonderful comments, thank you so much. I am enjoying every second of my fifteen minutes of fame. Speaking of fame and stardom. Please give a wonderful welcome to the one and only, Miss Patty Cake!!! Today is all about her.

My first project is a visit to the "Great Pumpkin" exhibit at the fair with Patty. She's all dressed up in a yellow and green polka dot dress with an orange bow in her hair. I used colors in my layout to coordinate with her dress on a black 12" X 12" page. The black cardstock makes those colors really pop. I feel that the matting of photos is really important. Without a mat a photo can get lost on the page. So, if you're ever struggling with a layout, try a mat. It just may change the whole feel of the page. The color of the mat is usually a color pulled from the photo, a complimentary color or one with the same temperature. My main photo is one I took at the Canfield fair. I enlarged it and cropped it in a way that forms a page banner with room for my title. I always use my computer for journaling. I have really nice handwriting and have a background in calligraphy. But I prefer computer generated journaling. I used punches and die cuts to add a bit of interest to my layout. My style of scrapbooking is clean and simple.

The rosette is made using the Tim Holtz mini paper rosette die. The image on the front is a photograph of the sign over the pumpkin exhibit at the fair. I resized my photo and cut out the image with a circle punch. Then attached it to the rosette. I think this is a real prize winner!

And now, I'd like to introduce you to the bewitching Patty. She's all dressed up for Halloween. Her witches hat was made using the witch hat die from Sizzix. Miss Patty's beautiful dress is a "Copic" creation.

Patty's life is not always glamorous. Alas she has fallen upon some rough times. Please welcome Patty, the bag lady. I wanted to try a little stamping on fabric. I've been doing a lot of paper piecing, but now it's time for some fabric applique using the Patty Cake Jr stamp. For the applique pieces I stamped the Patty image onto three pieces of fabric. I used a fusible web to attach the fabric to the front of the bag. The scallop circle was cut with the Nestabilities scallop circle die. I ironed on the fusible web to the back of the fabric before cutting. I colored parts of Patty's body with Prismacolor pencils and added some ribbon and embellishments.

I used a circle template cut from cardstock to make the faux stitching around the inside of the scallop circle.

And here's a close up of Miss Patty in fabric.

Oh yes, tough times. I was quickly reminded of the importance of testing fabrics before applying heat for applique. Need I say more?

Most of the cards that I create have a lot of detail and take some time to complete. So, for my final project today I have created a a couple of small cards measuring 2 3/4" X 4". They are very simple and go together very quickly. For the card on the left I simply sponged on Vintage Photo Distress ink and dressed Miss Patty in polka dots. This was a very quick way to color this adorable ginger. For the card on the right I stamped Miss Patty onto printed cardstock, cut the image out and attached her to the card. Both cards use the same layout with ribbon along the bottom and both images were attached with pop dots. These cards are super quick and simple to make.

I'd like to take this opportunity to share with you some of the many faces of Patty. I've shared them before, but never together.

The name of the stamp that I have been using is Patty Cake Jr available at Peachy Keen Stamps. She is my all time favorite go to stamp. If I am struggling with a card she can usually break the creative block. You've just got to love her. She's so darn cute!

As I end my third day as Guest Designer, I want to remind you that Peachy Keen Stamps has generously donated the In Stitches Face Assortment to be given away on Saturday to one lucky winner.

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment here at the end of this post. Then hop on over to Polka Dot Gypsy and leave me a comment about your favorite stamp. I know you all have a favorite go to stamp. And you know what mine is. So come on over. I can't wait to find out what stamps you all like!

Wishing you all a very special day! Jane - the Polka Dot Gypsy