Thursday 8 November 2012

Craft Barn Challenge #5


I'm a little late with this challenge due to being away and then being a little unwell and too busy! My apologies for not visiting much during the last week but now you know why! Luckily, the Craft Barn Callendar challenges are open until the final week so you can enter at any time.

Challenge #5 is to use paper tape either bought or self made. I opted to use some Tim tissue tape which I love but don't use that often. I'm still just playing with whatever takes my fancy to complete the challenges rather than being specific to any particular season or month. I might make my December entry the exception to the rule!

A little bird (who shall be nameless Buttons!) told me that the challenge for Sunday Stampers this week is to use Blue on your project so I thought I'd link my calendar page there too. Thanks Buttons!

Here's what I made using a die cut, some tissue tape, some stamps, some embossing and my trusty sewing machine:
The finished calendar page - looks a little washed out but for once it was sunny! I've used my sewing machine quite a lot for this piece - I really enjoy sewing anyway and I like the look of the edges finished with ink and stitches.
The background was inked with weathered wood, some script was stamped in the same colour and a little gold shimmer spray was applied which isn't evident at all.Versamark was used for the stamped images in the background followed by embossing with walnut stain distress powder. The edges of the background layer were stitched to finish the look.
The die cut was covered in Tim tissue and then stamped with coffee archival ink using a diamond stamp. To cover the tape joins, I machined over some jute twine with zig-zag stitch. It's not perfectly straight but I'm not perfect! Finally, before attaching, the die cut was inked around the edge.
The calendar was inked very lightly with weathered wood and walnut stain. The top edge was covered with tissue tape and then zig-zagged to cover the perforations. The other three edges were edged with straight stitch to complete the look.
The little flowers were made using a punch. Some were cut from the same card as the background and randomly stamped and embossed to match. The small white flowers were cut from card covered with tissue tape and both layers were inked around the edges. A small pearl was added to the centre of each flower. I was going to colour the pearls but decided they looked better left well alone!
Close up to show the tissue tape and stitching in detail.
Hope you like my inky offering and over the next few days, I hope to catch up with you all.

26 comments:

  1. What a great calendar Julia! I love all the little details and the colours go so well together (my weathered wood never looks that blue). What a great idea to use the string and zig zag sewing on the joins!!

    I hope you are feeling better now - have missed you!

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  2. This is gorgeous Julia. Love the inky background and the tissue tape on the die cut looks fab stamped up and stitched.
    Sorry to hear you've been under the weather and hope you feel better now.
    Managed to miss your last gorgeous creation too and really love the shabby vintage look.
    Hugs, Fliss xx

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  3. Hi Julia, hope you're feeling better. The stitching does really set the whole page off well, and what a great way to hide tape edges. Love the embossed swirls and the flowers look as if they're growing on a vine.... very effective.Great colour scheme. If I was the one stitching it certainly wouldn't look as straight as yours! Have a great rest of the week. Cheers, Di

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  4. Totally ourstanding and gorgeous Julia!!!!!!! So much work involved with this ! xxx

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  5. Blues and browns two of my favourite colours together, the calendar page is beautiful, so much detail, love the tape and the sewing over the string. Hope you are much better now.

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  6. Oh this is yummy - yes, the blue and brown, and I love the twine and stitching - what a fantastic textural, dimensional detail! Sorry to hear you've been unwell - hope recovery is swift and smooth. Have missed you, but I've been slack on the blog-visiting myself... some catching up over the next few days, I hope!
    Alison xx

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  7. Love what you have done with the fleur, great use of the tim tape and great colout combo, blue n brown always work in my book.

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  8. That's a wonderful calendar page, love the sewing on it.

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  9. Another stunner Julia. I love the colours and the couched twine is fab-u-lous! xx

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  10. Lots of lovely details and the stitching itself is a work of art and patience !

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  11. Ooh Julia this is gorgeous, the brown and blue work so beautifully together. Superbly crafted and explained as always, thank-you sweetie.
    Huge hugs x x x x

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  12. What a magnificent calendar, design and color combination is delightful.

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  13. Top of the class for this one Julia absolutely gorgeous - kept finding something else to look at and envy :-D as I scrolled down!x

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  14. So much gorgeous texture - just what you excel at Julia. This feels so Parisian boutique and expensive, especially with that beautiful blue. Are you entering it for Sunday Stampers - Blue challenge this week? Hugs, Buttons x

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  15. A fab calendar, so many interesting techniques on this.

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  16. Love this Julia, gorgeous muted colours, great stamps and I love the sewing.
    Hope you are feeling better - missed you.
    Enjoy the weekend.
    hugs {brenda} xox

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  17. How gorgeous, Julia! Love the colors, stitching, and beautiful stamping.

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  18. Totes gorgeous, love that stitching, looks amazing... Thanks for joining in with the Sunday Stamper x

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  19. Wowwwwwwwwwww Julia what a great calender page .
    love the stitching and colors.
    Greetings Janny

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  20. Oooh this is my favourite month up to now.

    I hope you are fully recovered now and feel much better Julia.

    Sam xxx

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  21. So regal looking Julia :)
    Have a fab weekend and hope your feeling better now
    Von ♥

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  22. That stitching is awesome, Julia!

    Love the whole design though ;)

    Wishes,
    Claudia xx

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  23. That is lovely, and I'd not thought about calendars... what a great idea; might add it to my list!

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  24. A great page one time again, really wonderful Julia !!! Have a fab week. Coco xx

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  25. Gorgeous! The stitching and embossing are fabulous on this!

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  26. This is a beautiful calendar page Julia, love the colour and stamping. The stitching is the perfect embellishment.
    Avril x

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