Saturday, 10 November 2012

Craft Barn Calendar Challenge #6

The theme for the Craft Barn Calendar Challenge this week is felt or feutrine. I love working with fabric but this gave me a real dilemna. All I could think of was a Christmas inspired calendar page but IT'S ONLY NOVEMBER AND CHRISTMAS IS IN DECEMBER!!  

Finally, I gave in and made an unashamedly Christmas piece. This page also breaks my rule for not doing seasonal or festival related themes but I always knew that December would be the exception!

I die cut the red and white felt for the stocking. The background is a piece of calico. Unfortunately, the December calendar tab has a huge bar code across the back but it was impossible to hide so please just pretend it's not there!
The calendar (and bar code!) with inked edges a  little Tim glitter applied across the top. Tiny red gems were added for more Christmas sparkle.
The white section was adorned with some machine embroidery using a gold lurex thread. 
The red section of the stocking also had machine embroidery applied and I chose to accentuate the toe and heel just for added interest.
The calico was stamped repeatedly with the same image using Stazon ink. It did bleed slightly at the top which hasn't happened before but I decided it was minimal so opted not to scrap it - too much work anyway! Little red gems were used again to match with those on the calendar tab.
The calico was adhered to card and the raw edges were turned under and secured with ds tape. To give a completed look, ink and stitching was applied around the edges.


I know it's a very traditional Christmas look but to be honest I felt (teehee!) that it covered the theme well and I didn't want to use felt for an alternative month. Now I just hope that the next theme isn't Christmas based otherwise I'm going to be completely stuck aren't I??

Let me know what you think. I'd like to say a big welcome to my new followers and hi to all my lovely 'regulars' too.

22 comments:

  1. Fabulous Julia. I have this die but haven't used it yet! I love the gold stitching and the stamped calico background. Your page certainly makes me feel Christmassy! xx

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  2. This is lovely. The gold stitching on the stocking is beautiful. I can't see the bar code at all so I wouldn't worry about it. If it bothers you, you could mount the whole piece on black and then it won't show. It's a perfect festive page for December. Thanks for your kind comments on my blog.

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  3. Oh Julia! This is absolutely STUNNING! xxx

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  4. I think it is gorgeous, you are a real dab hand with the machine stitching, it looks wonderful and the stamped calico background is just perfect. Love it. Crafty hugs, Anne x

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  5. Your stitching detail is beautiful. Very christmassy

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  6. What a super calendar page, love the use of the felt and the fabric background, the machine embroidery is perfect for the stocking.

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  7. Love the stitching and the addition of the little beads :)
    Von ♥

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  8. Another gorgeous calendar page Julia. I just love the stitching (I wish mine would look as good as that!) and your stamped background is lovely and clear on the calico. All just perfect for December!

    PS Thank you for your lovely comment the other day x

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  9. Well I think it fits the bill perfectly and talking of perfect, that stitching is fabulous, so need and tidy, nothing like mine at all - lol

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  10. Love your page: it's got fabric, felt, glitter... I am just too envious of your embroidery ! My machine may be able to do that but not with me at the pedal !

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  11. Such festive fun and look at the beads and stitching on the stocking, how stunning and I adore the stamping on the calico.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  12. It's a beautiful pice and I probably wouldn't have noticed the bar code if you hadn't pointed it out...it does make me wonder if painting the back would have covered it. Not sure :) waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)

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  13. Wonderfully festive calendar entry - love the sparkly stitching on your lovely stocking! And I don't mind the barcode (which I probably wouldn't have noticed either had you not mentioned it) - adds extra texture!
    Alison x

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  14. This is great - love the background and the felt stocking is gorgeous with it's gold stitching!!

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  15. Hi Julia, Christmas has well and truly hit this area and I just know I will be heartily sick of that piped music by the 25th! However, I never tire of Christmas projects - I've been busy making cards since January ... sad, I know - and so your piece is just the thing to keep me in the mood. Love all the different textures, calico, felt and glitter, you've incorporated and the gold stitching on the felt stocking is beautiful. Elizabeth xx

    PS: you had me diving to the dictionary to find out what feutrine is :))

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  16. Wow this looks great never seen the barcode even with my glasses on! and absolutely LOVED your backing, stamps on the calico - brilliant job!( and pretty sure your 'inkiness' is rubbing off on me it always looks fab!:-) x

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  17. A lovely creation Julia...but I had never guessed that it would be yours if your name wasn't on it ....so different from your other artwork! :-)

    Have a nice Sunday, Alie

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  18. Love this Julia. The stitching really makes the stocking extra special. You've done a fabulous job with this calendar. Hugs, Buttons x

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  19. It's so beautiful... perfect like that ! I really love this page !! Coco xx

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  20. Such a beautiful calender page, great use of the felt.

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  21. Beautiful!! The embroidery looks amazing !
    Don't forget to get in touch with me so I can send you your 15% discount code.
    Thanks for playing with us at the Craft Barn
    Izzy

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  22. It may be very 'traditional' Christmas, but it is fantastic all the same! Love the gold embroidery on the stocking and your stamped fabric looks terrific!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Juliax