Embroidered Butterfly Card

Hi everyone my air brush no longer worked right. It would work and a minute later just up and quit. I decided to replace it and it finally came yesterday. Alas my embroidery thread I ordered is lost somewhere so I was happy to get my eBrush. Especially since the metallic embroidery thread I bought at Walmart was too frustrating as the thread kept breaking. I should have remembered about the thread from years ago when I used it for sewing by hand.

I tried to embroider on paper and all went well until it got to the butterfly's antennae. :-( When the paper ripped. I bought at a thrift store black Sateen material so decided to use that.  Now that I've tried it I know if I embroider on it for pillows I will need to do adjustment so the fabric doesn't pucker. Being the frugal person I am I went ahead and cut the butterfly out.

Without further ado here is my finished card.

I used my airbrush with markers to color the butterfly and card base. I also colored the body of the butterfly by hand. I sewed  sheer fabric from a curtain sample book I bought at a thrift store. Then used glue dots for the butterfly.

The weather has warmed up to triple digits so I'll be staying inside working on my sewing area and craft area as well as doing some playing. :-) I've missed my play time.

Wishing you Happy Frugal Crafting till we meet again!

Embroidery Card Hello

Hi everyone I have today an embroidery card to share with you. I bit the bullet and bought myself a sewing/embroidery machine. It has been decades since I have done any sewing. My old "demon" sewing machine just could not be exorcised. I was just going to buy a replacement sewing machine but have always wanted an embroidery machine. Anyway it came Friday and I had to play over the weekend.

After getting down the basics and watching a YouTube video after the installation CD was the wrong file format I tried my first embroidery design. Since I only had white embroidery thread which came with the machine I dug through my scrap pile. I decided to use a coffee filter since this was practice for the stabilizer.

I love the way it turned out. Although it is on a scrap  I think I will find a way to use it.

As some of you know I like to experiment. My next endeavor was to see about doing embroidery on card stock. After realizing that I needed to cut the card stock I started to play.

Here the card stock is still in the hoop. I first did the frame and then the center.

Here is my card. Drum roll please!

I decided to see if I could sew designer paper onto card stock. The pattern is really subtle.  My sewing is not perfect but this was my first time sewing on a card.

I love the heart embroidery panel. Just wish I would have left a little more room on the sides when I cut it down. I printed the Hello out and glued it down. I was going to stitch it down but changed my mind after I had adhered it to the card stock embroidered panel.

If you are going to embroider or sew on paper or card stock you will want to use a fine needle and you will want to go slow so you don't rip the paper. Also you will need to change the needle more often as stitching on paper will dull it sooner.

That is all for now. Wishing you Happy Frugal Crafting till we meet again.

Snailing Along In My Garden

Hi everyone my apologies for being missing in action.  The house and yard is taking all my time and energy. Plus alas I have not yet organized and unpacked things. :-(

Blaze a bareroot rose I planted this Spring. Eventually it will climb the fence.

When I moved in I noticed a snail on a stake in one of the flower beds. It looked like someone had tried to spray paint it but either not successfully or the weather did some changes. Although I threw out a  lot of stuff found inside and out I kept the snail thinking he could be given new life.

This is how it looked in the flower bed.  I scrubbed it good and then used liquid sandpaper before starting the transformation.

After it was dry the fun began. I first used a Sharpie on the antenna. Later I went back and used a brown black paint. The snail was painted with copper paint. The flower I used turquoise glitter paint. Which is still wet in the picture..

After the paint was dry I went ahead and used antique gold paint just on the shell part using a stencil brush and a circular motion. I did a light coat allowing the copper to show through.

With a toothpick I added white glitter paint for the eye.

I used purple glitter paint on the edges of the flower. Added turquoise paint in the middle and stuck a gem in the center while the paint was still wet.

Here it is in the flower bed.  I probably need to seal it with a sealer with UV protection. I love how it turned out and it gives a little bit of whimsy.

Off to go start work in the "playroom".where it is cool My granddaughters are planning on coming over and spending some time with me in August during another school break. They go to year around school.

Wishing you Happy Frugal Crafting till we meet again!