love...The Crafter's Workshop Stencils & Hand Stitching

Hi there friends!  This is a project I shared on The Crafter's Workshop recently.

I love Fall and very anxious for the changing season, although since I live in the South, it still feels like summer, though starting to change!   I have a stack of photos to be documented and this is one of the special ones waiting for a memorable layout.  I am a bit obsessed with hand stitching at the moment, so I used a stencil to create a border for this page.

{  To keep a little anonymity for this sweet boy, I covered his face with a heart!  }

The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project.  The opinions I share are solely my own.

Using the stencils shown below, I used one as a template for hand stitching and the other for a large inked title.

                      

 

I took this wavy water stencil and drew pencil lines following the curves.  I actually ended up simplifying the wavy lines after I realized there would be stitches too close together, threatening to tear the paper.

After the waves were sketched in, I used this punch to add holes along the pencil lines.  I used two different embroidery threads, both in multi-colored ombre patterns of blue.

I used some washi tape to secure a few of the looser threads at the back of the cardstock.  I wanted to create a loose watercolor background for the photo.  I used a couple Distress Ink colors and an acetate sheet to “smush” the diluted paint onto the background.

I added more paint to make it darker in places and add some splotches around the edges.

Wanting to keep the page clean and simple, I decided to ink the stencil below with a dauber and this “love” paint splattered pattern.

I used a couple different inks in the end, but the title was still a dark navy.  I adhered the photo with dimensional adhesive onto a couple layers of torn tracing paper.

I am so pleased with the way this layout turned out.  I wanted it to be whimsical, yet simple and powerful and not overly embellished.

I have been sifting through all my stencils for the ones that will be perfect stitching templates.  I hope this inspires you to explore this possibility too!

Thanks so much for stopping by the Blog today!

STENCILS Used:

TCW2149 – 6x9 The Sea

TCW567 – 12×12 Complicated Hearts