thinking*through*design

a thought on HAND STITCHING

Welcome! What a blessing to have each of you here and making the launch of t*t*d such a success!  Thank you!  This week we have a great thought for you, it is a thought on hand stitching the very popular trend that is popping up on so many layouts, and why not, it is beautiful, adds gorgeous texture and an inexpensive way to make your layouts exceptional!

Hand stitching has become prevalent in the paper crafts industry, seen often in scrapbooking and card making. It has been embraced in the paper craft community and is where we would like to direct our thoughts today.

Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. Sewing is the fundamental process underlying a variety of textile arts and crafts, including embroidery, tapestry, quilting, appliqué and patchwork.
For thousands of years, all sewing was done by hand. The invention of the sewing machine in the 19th century and the rise of computerization in the later 20th century led to mass production of sewn objects, but hand sewing is still practiced around the world. Fine hand sewing is pursued by both textile artists and hobbyists as a means of creative expression.  
(source:  Wikipedia)

There are several ways to create designs for your stitches:  

• Pre-made templates that have designs you follow to pierce your holes   
• Anything you can use as a template: a die-cut, brass or masking template, a plate or even a child’s hand.
• Tools that create pierced patterns
• Freehand --- no pattern, just go for it and stitch, OR--

--draw your pattern directly on your paper lightly in pencil, then pierce & erase the marks.   

--print or draw on vellum and then use that as a guide and pierce through it onto your paper.

 Sample by Joni Parker

Sample by Steffanie Seiler

The most commonly used stitch in scrapbooking is a backstitch:

 

Photo credit: Sublime Stitching

However there are many other fun stitches you could try.

There are several “mediums” that you can use to create your stitches
Floss, thread, twine, ribbon, jute or even fun crazy stuff...like shoelaces!

So why would you use hand stitching on your scrapbook layout?  

• As an accent
• To add texture
• To outline
• To adhere things (ribbon, clear items, title letters, etc.)
• As a border, (whole page or around smaller items such as a photo, journal block, etc.)
• To create words on your page ( title, subtitle)
• To convey feelings

In addition, speaking of feelings, just what kind of feelings could stitching convey?  

• homespun, warmth, comfort, like your grandmother’s well-worn quilt
• whimsy and fun (pattern & color used)
 

Looking for video on how to make some of the speciality stitches?

Check out Needles 'n Thread's video collection

**********************************************************************************************
Here are a few more thoughts on hand stitching from our Thoughtful Girls

                                                              

Colleen’s thought:  I love Hand-stitching on a layout, even if it is just a small bit since it adds so much detail and texture.  After I had paper and pictures down, I wanted to bring something similar to the red vertical strip over to the left page, so I added the red stitching just inside the die-cut.  I love to stitch over lines already on
the paper, so I used a combination of metallic and cream thread to stitch over the ornament string.  Finally, I generally write my journaling on strips, but I did not want to cover that much of the background paper, so I stitched my journal lines instead. This did not take away as much white space, giving the eye more space to rest.

 **********************************************************************************************************
 

Jennifer's Thought:  When I thought of stitching, I thought of a quote from the author E.M. Forster: "Woven into the Robe of God". The quote comes from an essay that warns of the burdens of property, so this inspired a page about my boys' love of Legos, specifically new Legos. I pictured a robe weaving across the page, so I hand drew some lines, punched holes, and backstitched. I added embellishments/paper punches to each wave of the robe and stitched them together with different stitches. I think the result looks richly quilted, which was my intention. 

*********************************************************************************************************************

Devra’s thought:  I love that stitching can add texture, that it can be subtle or bold and that it can very simply, change the whole look of my layout.  Since I stitch on my layouts regularly, I wanted to do something different this time.  One thought I got from an idea book was to stitch around die cut letters in a title. I thought about it a long time and came up with the idea of the rainbow, followed by the supporting words, and finally the photos to support the rest of the design.  The title came out bigger than I had anticipated, but it is supposed to be a focal point. I wound up over thinking everything else on this page, trying to get it perfect. I reminded myself that there is no such thing as perfect, and it all fell into place. I even found embellishments with stitching printed on them to play off the title. Lastly, I added the two buttons with thread to tie it all together. 

 

 ******************************************************************************************************

Steffanie'sthought: I love hand-stitching on my scrapbook pages.  I usually do simple straight lines or maybe a zig-zag or a cross-stitch.   This time I got this idea to do some lines of grass using a template.  Before long, clouds and a kite popped into my head...and suddenly I was stitching the entire scene!  I don't think I have stitched many shapes before this.   My original plan was for some patterned paper strips beneath the photos.  But as I got going, I challenged myself to create my page without patterned paper.  Could I support the theme and look I wanted with just stitching?  I think I did!  It just goes to show, you can let hand-stitching do as little or as much as you want for your project!



*************************************************************************************************************************

 
Carolyn’s thought: I must say this "thought" was a challenge for me. Hand stitching on a layout, this is a challenge for me as an artist. I have seen it done many times. I like the look, but the thought of stitching on paper really took me out of my comfort zone.  I chose to draw my title directly on white cardstock, piercing the holes by hand, and then stitching with black floss using a simple backstitch.  I have to say I was not pleased with the result and would have been happier had I made the title larger, it would have been easier to stitch.  After finding the green frame, I noticed the small circles and decided to add French Knots to add texture and mimic the black center of the flowers in the green pattern paper.  Although I chose to keep my stitching to a minimum on this layout, I will use this technique again. 

***********************************************************************************************************************

 
Joni’s thought:  I approached this *thought with the intention to combine hand stitching with machine stitching.  I wanted to have a muted background so I began with canvas and using a 5x7 frame as a mask, misted the canvas.  I then machine stitched a clean simple border accent.  I created my scroll and title patterns with templates and hand stitched in the un-misted areas so the bright colors would really stand out.  I found the balloon transparency and thought that looked fun above the airy scroll pattern.   I was pleased at how the contrast of muted and bright colors along with the contrast of the machine and hand stitching helps convey the message of laughter and fun.

 

 

 ******************************************************************************************************

 

We thought you might like to try some hand stitching on your next work of

He{art}.  If you do, we would love to see what you create.  Please share your work and thoughts with us using the Mr. Linky button.

 Be sure to join us on our facebook page. 

 

WELCOME!

GOOD Morning!

There has been a lot of  work going in to creating this blog, and now we are finally underway.  Hopefully, you will be encouraged to read through the first section or the "thought" and the second section of the post "the process" of working with our challenges.  We are excited to get right down to business... Please enjoy the very first t*t*d thought.

Analogous Color

 We were thinking the other day that color can be a powerful way to convey emotion.  Color can reach out and grab you, demanding attention or color can be calming, feeling like a place to snuggle up and take a snooze.  Analogous colors are like a hammock beckoning your name; working well together because these colors are so close to each other on the color wheel. Due to the close proximity they share, analogous colors create a feeling of harmony and peace.  Think of it as a warm blanket and soft pillow, they are peas in a pod, best friends, and cut from the same cloth.

image credit: http://www.tigercolor.com

Nature is a great place to look for inspiration for using analogous colors.  Look at a sunset; the colors are right there, all snug tight on the color wheel; yellows, oranges, and pinks; working well together.   If you were to look at an island from the boat, all the wonderful blues of the sky and sea blend right into the greens of the trees.

Choosing 3-5 colors that are neighbors on the color wheel is an easy way to begin your next work of he{ART}.  Look for analogous colors in your photos and papers.

*******************************************************************

The next section of every post will have a few TG's thought on working with Analogous colors.. read them all or only read the ones you want. Here is were we discuss our process. I find often that reading HOW or WHY helps us to get the courage to stretch ourselves, and that is a BIG part of the purpose of t*t*d

 Here are a few more thoughts on how analogous color schemes worked from the TG’s:

                                     -----------------------------------------------------------------------               

Amanda's Thoughts: I do not use color to reflect emotion.  Do not get me wrong, I love color as color, but I do not over-analyze it.  I struggled to use a palette that was analogous.  It felt monochromatic, and, while I do not usually use color to convey emotion, it was too calm.  I could not think of a story I wanted to tell that worked in a mellow color scheme.  Finally had to take a step back from a detailed color wheel with a spectrum of 16+ shades and instead use to the basic primary color wheel, where blue and yellow would be next to each other blending together to create green.  Using these colors provided me enough contrast tell my story effectively. 

 

*********************************************************************************************************************

Laura's Thoughts:  I do not think I have ever begun a page with color as the starting point.  I usually decide which photos I want to use and then pick the design, colors and supplies that go with them.  Fortunately, I had these photos of the amazing sunset on Christmas morning.  As I was scrolling through my photos I decided my sunset photos were so nice and already analogous, so I printed a couple off and hit my scraproom.  I really loved the pinks and oranges of the photos, so I began to look for papers that would draw this pallet out.  I went with a glittery pink background and then added oranges and yellows in my decorative strips and embellishments.  I really wanted to keep the embellishments to a minimum so the photos could be the star.  Finally, I added great letters that I had in my stash for my title.

*****************************************************************************************************************
 

Andrea's Thoughts: The analogous color assignment scared me a little because I have never used the color wheel much. I thought the best way to do it would be to put some of the colors in a wheel form on my layout and utilized the ever so trendy star burst pattern. In the star burst pattern and throughout the layout I added dark blues, royal blues, light blues, and turquoises to span the "blue" portion of the color wheel. To top it off and add one more analogous color, I added the bright green behind the photos and a few pieces of bright green washi tape.

 

 

************************************************************************************************************

Sally's Thoughts:I chose to stick with just three colors for this challenge - blue/green to yellow/green on the color wheel. One thing I loved about this challenge is it took me out of my comfort zone of just picking up a kit and using all the same line (of paper and embellishments).  I enjoyed the process of looking through different paper and finding what worked well together for my photos. In the end, I would use paper from three different lines.  I chose white as my background so that my "cool" (blues, greens and purples) color tones would pop a little more.  Once I started designing I felt a little bit more of the turquoise would be beneficial, therefore I used glimmer mist to add that punch of color especially to the top of my layout, though I did add a little to the bottom as well.  I enjoyed working with analogous colors, as it is always fun to be challenged in new ways.

**************************************************************************************

Heather's Thoughts: I began by choosing the colors pink- blue on the color wheel for my analogous color scheme. This was a very different color combination for me to work with because I hardly ever use these colors. In my mind’s eye, my layout began very differently; but in the end, I was satisfied with the result. Originally, I wanted to have blue patterned paper behind the circles, however; I felt it too closely followed a previously seen sketch. I still wanted to use the large circle element on my page and because I had two polka-dotted patterned papers, I decided to use the newspaper print to divide the different dot patterns. I felt I wanted to add blue on my layout, so I used a cluster of different shades of blue to complement the blue title stickers and photo matte. I then added ribbon under the circle elements to create visual texture. For my "fun" effect, I twirled twine swirls to connect the circles to the base page, along with pearls. 

  ********************************************************************************************************************

 

Beth's Thoughts: I chose pink, red, reddish orange and orange for my analogous color scheme. A perfect example of analogous colors in nature is the flowers in my photos. The bright colors make the neutral tones pop off the page! Colors can also convey emotion. Red can represent love and joy, while orange represents friendliness and comfort. These are the perfect emotions to convey how we feel about this new addition to our family!

 

 

 

  ************************************************************************************************************************** Erika's My Thoughts: As I experimented with the multitude of possibilities I landed at blue and carried that through to a tiny bit of purple. One thing I would like to add is, when working with a large number of colors it is important to not try to balance them. For example, I used small touches of green and yellow-green by adding the circles of paper that I used as a grounding element. I also added the more yellow blue in my journaling.  I think it is important to play with the colors and create what inspires you. I do know that using an analogous color scheme will almost always be harmonious.

 

 

FINALLY: we want to see your work.. Your challenge is to create a layout using the analogous approach.  Please use good ole MR. LINKY to share with us.  OR leave a link in the comment section to your work so we can be inspired by you.

                                                             ***************************

 Blessings

e

 

What to expect...

Tomorrow we are going to be posting our very first "thought".  We all look forward to seeing your work with each challenge.

How it works

on the second and fourth Thursday's of each month we will be posting a "thought" with Mr. Linky for you to share your work.  (Which I know we are all excited to see)

OH and on the 5th week we will try to post "fleeting" thoughts which will not have a challenge associated with it and will be primarly for educational purposes.

ONE more thought before tomorrow.....

WE at thinking*through*design WANT  to hear from you. We are striving to make this a place where your thoughts can be shared as well. If there is a technique or product you would like to see us give a little thought to, PLEASE click the email me button at the top or at thinkingthroughdesign@hotmail.com

Please "like" us on facebook

We are trying to get the "follower" function to work however... we seem to be having technical difficulties... hang in there I hope to have it fixed soon!

Blessings

e

Be Blessed! I am excited to see you tomorrow!

Three more TG's to introduce

First up...Ms Carolyn

I am married to my high school sweetheart and have two grown daughters, one granddaughter, and a son-in-law.  I am a scrapper that scraps to not only preserve the photos that I take of our family and friends, but to preserve our family history through a creative medium.  I started scrapping for my daughters' and love scrapping for my DGD (darling granddaughter). 

I live in SW Kansas and have worked as a dental assistant for many years, hoping retirement is in the near future.  I also love to read, walk, and work in my flower beds. 

Next please meet... Andrea

Hi! My name is Andrea (many know me as Andrea Joy) and I am from Minnesota, near the Twin Cities. I am a registered nurse on a general medical/surgical floor and I love what I do. I live with my fiance Ryan in our beautiful house and we are currently busy planning a September 22, 2012 wedding. When I am not working or spending time with my family and friends, I love to be scrapbooking! I started scrapbooking when I was 13 years old and now twelve years later I love it even more! I am excited to begin this journey with these exceptional ladies and inspire others to grow in this wonderful hobby!

 

 

 

and Ms. Colleen...

I live in Nebraska with my wonderful husband of 8 years and our two rambunctious kiddos.  I am a special education teacher and enjoy playing in the bell choir at church, playing softball, cooking, reading, and of course, scrapping.  I began scrapping shortly after we got married, and I told my husband we couldn’t have kids until I finished our album. Thank goodness he didn’t listen, because it’s still not done.  I didn’t really like the design process; where to put the pictures on the pages was stressful for me.  But then our son was born, and I really wanted to scrap everything he was accomplishing.  I was determined to make it work. And it did finally work, when I discovered how to use sketches and other layouts for inspiration.  In the past two years (during which we had a daughter), scrapping has really taken off and I find myself thinking of scrapping and actually scrapping more now than ever before.  

Warm aloha for two more....

Please meet Beth...

Hi, my name is Beth Hallgren and I live for sunny days and chocolate! My friends tell me I have an infectious laugh and a mind like an encyclopedia :) An awesome friend of mine introduced me to scrapbooking in 2006 and I've been obsessed ever since. My husband Eric and I live in Southwest Michigan with our two teens, Matthew(15) and Mariel(13). When I'm not working as a labor & delivery nurse you can find me at one of my kids' many extracurricular activities, gardening or scrapbooking. I'm so excited to be a part of the Thoughtful Girl Team!

 

 

and Heather...

I am a 17-year-old scrapper who has been scrapping for almost 3 years. One of my huge scrappy achievements is that I was a 2011 Creatng Keepsakes Teen Talent Finalist! I love making both cards and layouts, and you'll find that I like using a lot of color on my projects. You will also discover that I love creating layouts about my little sister who is 13 years old-- we are really close. Besides scrapping, my hobbies include sewing, photography, cooking, swimming, and taking family vacations. I also like to go shopping with my little sister. My huge dream is to one day be published and/or design for scrapbook companies! We'll see how that works out! I am very excited to have been chosen to be on the Thoughtful Girls Design Team, and I cannot wait to get started!

Pleased to introduce Joni and Sally

First let me introduce Joni....

I live in sunny Phoenix Arizona with my husband and 8 yr old son (the subject of most of my projects).

 

I started scrapbooking in late 2001 when I was trying to preserve a memory of a recently lost pet.   One thing led to another and I’ve been addicted ever since.  I work full-time and also help my husband with his business, but I try to fit in a little scrapping time every night. 

I don’t really have one technique that I’d call my favorite, I like to try lots of things, but not spend “too much” time on a project either.  If I had to pinpoint something that I think I do a lot, I’d say that I tend to be simple, practical and deliberate.  I’m currently the Co-DT coordinator at Memorable Seasons, a staffer at Scrapbook News & Review Magazine as well as DT’s at Frosted Designs and Sketches in Thyme.I’m crazy with excitement to be part of the awesome team at *Thinking *Through *Design!!   What a great way to share our wonderful hobby/addiction with each other!!

 and of course the lovely Sally...

My name is Sally Cranney and I live in Meridian, Idaho which is in the Boise area. My husband, Micah, and I have been married 20 years and we have 3 fabulous kids! Our oldest, Skye, is away at her first year of college. Then we have two boys, Davis(14) and Carsen (almost 12). I am mostly a SAHM but do work very part time as an energy healer as well as the bookwork for our own Real Estate Appraisal company. In the past I've worked at a few different local scrapbook stores as well, something I loved!

I've been scrapbooking for over 17 years.  I got started because I wanted to document the life of my daugther. Little did I know how long and how far this hobby would take me! I love to scrap the everyday memories as capturing that glimpse in time means so much and can so easily be forgotten. I scrap both single and double layouts, though I just enjoy the single so much more. Some of my favorite manufacturers right now would include Echo Park, My Mind's Eye, October Afternoon, Crate Paper and more recently JilliBean Soup. You'll see me scrap mostly about my family but every once in awhile I'll throw in some vacation photos, extended family photos or even a few of when I was young.  I am thrilled to be a part of TTD and look forward to sharing my "thoughts" with each of you!

Please meet Devra and Jennifer

Pleased to introduce Devra....

I'm Devra, (and I am a recent transplant to the Pacific Northwest). I've been scrapbooking for about 15 years.  I like how the hobby has changed and grown through the years. The more artsy it is, the more creative I can be.  For me, scrapping is not just about the photos, memories, moments and stories. It's my therapy, my stress release, my creative outlet, my happy place.  The main topics in my scrapbooks are my family. My husband, our two boys and our dog, Snickers.  They give me more than enough material to keep me going.   When I'm not scrapping, I'm caring for my family, reading a good book, watching a baseball game, and always thinking about the beach.  (Oh, and when I retire, I want to be Snow White in the Disneyland Parade.) I'm excited to be a part of Thinking*Through*Design and looking forward to sharing our *thoughts* with you.

Visit Devra's Blog: My Creative View

 

and Jennifer...

Jennifer Larson is a high school English teacher, Maine native and current Minnesotan, wife to the biggest Star Wars fan in history, slightly tired mother to two boys (the second and third biggest Star Wars fans), and a fan of mysteries and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Jennifer started making cards in 1999 but became enamored with scrapbooking after attending a class at a local scrapbook store. She describes her style as linear but whimsical. Jennifer designs for Sketch Support. Her blog is Midwest Scrapgarden and she is on Twitter and Pinterest as Buffyfanlarson. 

Visit Jennifer's Blog: MidwestScrapGarden

Introducing Steffanie

Hi!  My name is Steffanie and I'm proud to be one of the editors here at thinking*through*design.  I started scrapbooking 13 years ago and quickly became obsessed.  I love this hobby and spend time each day either actively scrapbooking or thinking about scrapbooking!  I LOVE patterned paper---if I could only use it as fast as I seem to collect it!  I think of myself as a clean and simple scrapper with lots of depth, texture and dimension.  But it still needs to fit into a page protector!

My husband and I have been married for nearly 16 years.  We have 2 incredible boys who supply the bulk of my scrapbook inspiration.  I live in the beautiful Pacific NW where the beach and the mountains are easily within reach.  Summer is my favorite season.  My only complaint is that summers here are not long enough!  I like picnics, outdoor concerts, dark chocolate and a steaming cup of coffee in the mornings.  I enjoy running and hiking and am slightly addicted to several TV shows.  My primary job is SAHM but I also have a very part-time dream job of postpartum nurse.  I enjoy volunteering at school and just being available for my family when they need me. 

I'm looking forward to this journey at thinking*through*design and sharing my thoughts with all of you!

You can see more of my work by visiting my blog: Steffanies Blog

Meet Amanda

I am pleased to introduce Amanda a very caring and thoughtful woman that brings a lot to t*t*d.  I am so excited to have her a part of this group.

My name is Amanda.  More than likely, you’ll find me with either a cup of coffee, pretty piece of paper or camera in my hands (not necessarily in that order).  I’m a blessed SAHM with a list of creative projects longer than hours in the day, but there’s no better way to live!  Creating my way through a laughter filled, blessed life – with pretty projects to show for it!  I’m so thankful to be a part of a team that focuses on encouragement and the thought behind the actions!!  What an exciting journey – even better with a few buttons, bling and twine.

Check out some of Amanda's work at her blog  Love,Joy,Paper

Meet the girls!

I would like to take the next few days and meet some of the girls that are taking great care to share thoughts on design.  Without further adieu or in any particular order please meet

Laura

Hi, I'm Laura.  I live with my husband of 25 years.  We have two kids; the oldest, our daughter, is married and on her own and our son is still at home.  I have been scrapping pretty much since its birth.  I did not really like the sticker sneeze that existed then, so I made my own patterned paper using my stamps.  I had been a card maker even before I was a scrapper.  I really jumped, fully on board when I starting getting Creating Keepsakes magazine and have never looked back.  I love photography, love creating, love stamping and scrapping includes them all!

Please check out Laura's Blog here: Happiness = Creation

I want to share that I am so grateful to everyone that has given us support and I am thankful that you are all sharing with friends and family about this new concept. We are thankful for any and all suggestions on what you would like to see here at t*t*d. 

Stop by tomorrow to meet another Thoughtful Girl (TG)

A new thought for t*t*d -- ANNOUNCING A NEW IDEA FOR PAPER ARTIST

The name of this blog tells a lot of what will be happening here.  Several months ago I had a moment that redefined who I am as a person. I spend a great deal of time in the scrapbooking/paper crafting world. I have seen many scrapbooker come and go... sadly one reason people go is they are not ENCOURAGED to continue and often fail to find the once rich enjoyment of the craft.  I came to scrapbooking by accident, fell in love with the craft...but more, I fell in love with the people, the amazing stories EACH of you have to share... SO after putting it off for many years, I have decided that this industry needs a little shaking up. I have put together several scrapbookers from all over the spectrum to help me to investigate all things scrappy...

It is a unique site because we have a very serious mission statement :

 Encouraging designers to become strong thoughtful artist with a purpose.  Lifting up others before self and making efforts to enjoy and verbalize the beauty of work presented by ALL artist in a kind thoughtful way. To create a safe place where all designs are appreciated and welcome.

What does this mean for you.. our reader?

1. We want to encourage you.. YOUR story is important, your work is beautiful and we appreciate the hard work and time that goes into creating each of your layouts, cards and projects. 

2.We want to excite you about paper art

3. We appreciate your work.. ALL OF IT

4. We want to help you learn about how to improve your skill as an artist.

Each person that is a part of t*t*d is called a "thoughtful girl" or TG's

we will be sharing ideas, tips, how-to's and opportunities for you to participate and think through your design.  When I say "think through design" We want you to dig deep and stretch yourself. Yes we will have challenges for you-- YES we want and VALUE your input. We WANT to hear from you. We want to encourage and support you! 

HERE is how it will work:

On the second and fourth THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY, we will post a "thought" on a scrappy technique, concept or product.  We will add a challenge for you to take part in. We will encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas on your layout... WE REALLY WANT TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR PROCESS!

We will also on months with five weeks add a fleeting thought that will incorporate a information only post. 

As we develop our site we would love to hear from you. Simply click the "email me" on the blog and let us know what you like, don't like, want to learn about-- you may also be asked to be a guest blogger. 

I want to introduce the group of ladies that have come together to support you.. over the next several day, we will post a "getting to know you" post of each of the ladies that are hopefully your new support sysyem.

I encourage you to stick with us over the next few weeks and learn how you can THINK*THROUGH*DESIGN and improve your scrapbooking and hopefully feel love and support.  We are hear to listen to you! so please leave any thoughts on the comments below and SHARE on facebook or whereever so your friends and family can join along in our quest to become the best paper artist and support for one another!