I was commissioned to make this amazing card for a friend's wife for the big 4-0!! He has quite the sense of humor and appreciates that I do too. Let's just say, he was on board with all of my suggestions and let me take over the design. He wanted to make sure there was plenty of space to write inside the card (way to go, man!) so I suggested a stitched card booklet. And he loved it!
I used the hipster girl and coffee cup from Some Odd Girl - Hipster Mae and various sentiments from Paper Smooches, Simon Says Stamp, My Favorite Things, and the beloved pickup line from Jaded Blossom. The pickup line was stamped in VersaMark and embossed in gold. The little note with clip on the card front is from Mama Elephant - Sticky Notes. I used second generation stamping for the coffee rings (Paper Smooches) on the note so they would look more muted. The "Happy Birthday" sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp.
I used a heavier weight cardstock for the card base and layered on a slightly darker kraft stock with foiled gold hearts (DCWV Kraft & Gold). I cut a small triangle from a scrap of brown cardstock to tuck beneath the hipster girl for a little interest and embossed it with a super fun coffee drinks background (Tim Holtz On the Go embossing folder: http://amzn.to/2wKIjOo). I made a fun clip using the coffee cup from the Some Odd Girl set to help hold this little card book together. (I will blog about how I made the clip next.)
Next, I cut down a piece of lighter weight cardstock for the card insert--8.25" x 5.25"--and folded in half. Then I stitched the card insert to the card base along the center crease. Since this wasn't my first rodeo binding a card, I hand cranked the sewing machine dial to keep my stitches even and (mostly) straight. It took no more than 5 minutes and is well worth the small time investment. (I have let the machine help pull a card through before, but had needle issues and uneven spacing. So, now I hand crank without complaint.)
Then.. I stamped fun sentiments throughout the booklet. Card DONE! And I LOVE it!
The "This Book Belongs To:" and "Once upon a time" (in very light grey) are from October Afternoon. The other sentiment is from Paper Smooches.
Sentiment on left from Paper Smooches, the "I Love You" selection is from MFT Stamps.
Sentiment on left from Paper Smooches (the three little hearts just below in very light grey are from a Simon Says Stamp set). Sentiment on right from MFT Stamps.
I kept the stitching just off-center so it laid nicely along the back center of the card. After stitching, I pulled the top thread through to the inside of the card, added a dab of multi matte medium to help secure, then snipped the threads.
Those that follow me know I try to work outside the box a bit. I try to push my own creative limits sometimes and love the challenge. I hope you loved this fun card book, as I will call it, and find a reason to give it a try! Think how perfect this card book would be from a group (plenty of space)! Leave me some love below if you enjoyed this card, and let me know what you want to see next! ..xo
Class xx