Thursday, May 5, 2016

A Vintage Journey - May Challenge - Sew Special

The May challenge is up at A Vintage Journey.  Jenny is our hostess this month and this is her challenge: Sew Special  "Add fabric to your entry in some way, be it felt, burlap, ribbon or cloth and if you're really being brave maybe include a touch of real or faux stitching!  We are looking forward to seeing what ideas you have to incorporate this sew special theme in your vintage; shabby; mixed media; art journaling; industrial or steampunk projects."  
 I decided to make my project in an actual sewing theme.  I made a Needle Book.
I used ribbon, lace, felt and I hand sewed a stitch to adhere the button! 
I die cut the inside page piece of Eileen Hull's Sizzix Passport Die (the section on the left of the die), once out of  the new Sizzix Black Paper Leather and once out of tan felt for the inside page.
I embossed the Paper Leather piece with Tim's Springtime Background embossing folder.  Embossing the front and the back of the cover.  Then I sponged over the embossing to highlight it with Ranger Distress Paint in Picket Fence and Cracked Pistachio. I took a photo with one side not sponged yet so you could see how the embossing looks before I added the paint.
To decorate the cover of the Needle Book, I stamped a sentiment from Quilter's Sampler set by PTI onto a Pocket Card that I trimmed down to fit the sentiment.  I sponged the edges with Ranger Distress Ground Espresso.  I cut a piece of Lace Trimmings to fit along the top of the cover and sponged that in Ground Espresso as well.  I wanted to make a tab of some sort to close my Needle Book and thought this Half and Half die from PTI would work well (I've hardly used it until now!).  I cut it out of the Paper Leather and left it plain to contrast with the cover.  I found a sweet little dragonfly button in my button box that I thought would look perfect on the tab.
 I found this little scissors charm in my stash and embossed it using Wendy Vecchi Archival Tree Branch Ink and Watering Can Embossing Powder.
Here's a close up of the scissors on the Needle Book.  I tied a piece of wrinkled seam tape through the loop on the scissors and glued it to the Pocket Card.  I added a strip of Sketch Book Tissue Tape behind the Pocket Card.
I trimmed down the length of the tab, measuring how much I wanted to fold up onto the front -  and stapled the straight edge onto the back of the Needle Book to be sure it would be held on nice and strong.  I stamped TO: and FROM: on a Vial Label and stuck it onto the tab.
I put sticky backed Velcro on the tab and Needle Book to hold it closed. 
Here's how the tab looks closed.  I stitched the button onto the Paper Leather to hold it in place securely through openings and closing of the Needle Book!
 And finally -  here is the felt piece bound inside the cover with a piece of wrinkled seam tape tied in a bow along the outside seam - holding some safety pins, a threaded needle and some hemming pins with lots of space for more items!  The felt nicely hides the staples I used on the back of the tab too!
This is the first time I've used the new Sizzix Paper Leather - I purchased a sample back of black, white and tan to try it out - and it really worked well for this project.  It makes my little Needle Book feel soft and supple - it would have been quite stiff with plain cardstock.  And it took the embossing quite nicely! The book measures 4 3/4" x 3 1/4"
So - what inspires you with our Sew Special theme this month??  I can't wait to see what you link up over at the A Vintage Journey blog.  You also must check out what the rest of the Creative Guides have 'sewn up' for your inspiration as well!

I'm also linking my project to:
Anything But Cute - Celebrate Your Style
Stamps:  Quilter's sampler - Papertrey Ink, To and From: from Season of Love - Tags - Waltzingmouse.
Paper:  Black Paper Leather Sheet - Sizzix
Ink:  Ranger Distress Ground Espresso, Wendy Vecchi Archival Tree Branch, True Black - PTI
Accessories:  Springtime Background and Borders Embossing Folder - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, tan felt - Joann, Ranger Distress Paint Picket Fence and Cracked Pistachio, Idea-ology Pocket Cards, Trimmings-Lace, Sketchbook Tissue Tape, Vial Labels,  Small Attacher - Ranger, Book/Passport Die - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Half and Half Die - PTI, scissors charm - Karen Foster, Velcro - Scotch,  Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive, heat tool, sponge, wrinkled seam tape - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy shop.

21 comments:

Annette Allen said...

totally fabulous and so creative..

Sharli Schaitberger said...

Wowie! Paper leather?! This looks amazing, Julia! I love it!

Tracey McNeely said...

Wow your project is so creative Julia, the time and effort you must have spent on it!

Brenda Brown said...

Wow Julia this is utterly gorgeous. I love the colours and details and the fact that it is a beautifully created and useful work of art. Xxx

Almo said...

This is a beautiful little sewing book Julia and a useful gift that would fit in your handbag nicely. Mo x

Redanne said...

Such a fantastic idea to use the Passport die for a needle book, how very clever Julia! I love the colours, the embossing looks incredible on the leather paper too. Beautiful! Hugs, Anne xx

LeAnne said...

This is adorable! I love the embossing and how you used the die! And it's BLUE! I was just lying in bed this morning, thinking that I hadn't made anything vintage/sewing-related for a long time, and tada!, I found your post! Hopefully the creative juices will flow and help me come up with something!!

A Pink said...

This is fabulous! Julia and just the ideal project for this months Challenge theme . Love the colour tones, the embossing . Such a practical piece of crafting that you could carry around in your handbag and be proud to get it out to use .
hugs x

Astrid Maclean said...

Oh Julia, what a brilliant idea to use the passport die like that! Absolutely gorgeous details on this, love that wonderful blue cover, so pretty with additional elements, - useful too, so fantastic all round, love it!

Jennie Atkinson said...

Julia, what a wonderful way to use that die! Fabulous use of colour and texture too. Love it! Have a great weekend. Jennie x

S@ndy Diller said...

Such a great project, I love the color you used and the embossed cover is just lovely. So nice. S@ndy xx

Kim Heggins said...

You are simply amazing. What a fabulous project! Just love it.

Words and Pictures said...

So charming - I love the embossed texture on the paper leather - I bet it feels lovely. Gorgeous vintage work.
Alison x

Pawsitively Creative said...

Beautiful brilliance meets form and function with this fantabulous Needle Book! The closeup tab with the button and the Velcro has to be my favorite part! Genius idea and it seems very durable. Wonderful idea to use the gel on the inside, it holds all of the goodies nicely. Looks like the paper leather is really leather! It did take the embossing beautifully. Wowzers and wowzers!

Thanks for joining in our "Celebrate Your Style" challenge at Anything But Cute and celebrating our Anniversary! Hugz. ~Niki DT

Juliz Design Post said...

I am so in love with this sweet crafty project, it's an utter delight to look at.
Julie x

Jenny Marples said...

Oh my this is delightful! I love the embossed paper leather aged with that paint in particular and how sweet to find the pins and things inside too xx

SewPaperPaint said...

This is absolutely beautiful, Julia! I love how you've used this awesome die. Gorgeous color scheme and texture. Hugs, Autumn

Deepti said...

Superb! The textured vintage look is incredible, I am so happy to catch up with your creations after such a long time :)

SewPaperPaint said...

Julia, I'm here admiring this fantastic project again and to say thanks so much for entering with us at Anything But Cute!!!

Suzanne C said...

Fantastic sewing kit! Love the patina on the cover and your very clever design!

jdmommy - Anne Harmon said...

Saw this on Pinterest, and just knew it was yours!! Fabulous with the leather-look stuff!!