What's Not To Love About Gingham

Yes, I will confess that I love gingham and now I am wondering why I don't use it in my crafting. That is until now when Moxie Fab World is having a gingham challenge.

I figured this would also be the time to go ahead and make up a Sunbonnet Sue card which has been on the back burner. I have a quilting friend and we had talked about this pattern as she restores quilts. It is a special pattern to me because when I visited my Great Aunt I would sleep under a quilt with Sunbonnet Sue on it. It was like sleeping with a friend.

Here is my card. (Click on image for closer look at the details) What do you think? I hope my quilting friend likes her

The digital gingham was designed by June Lily and is a free download from her site. The bonnet is my own graphic design. I don't remember where I found the quilting template of Sue.  I traced the template and after playing in Studio I was able to fill in the pieces with pattern. I then went and turned off the cutting line of the individual pieces grouped them and traced again. This time using the trace outer edge. I didn't feel like paper piecing so turned her into a print and cut. I did an offset and filled that with purple. The grass,sun,flower,and rickrack border are all Studio free files. I duplicated the rickrack border and with the knife tool cut off a piece for the flower stem. Decided to cover the card front with burlap,added lace from my stash and then pop dotted the panel on. 

I was trying for a country/cottage look. Did I succeed?

To play along enter at http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2012/05/card-creations-week-gingham-challenge.html There is also close to 200 entries so if you are looking for inspiration and love the crisp clean look of gingham go on over and check it out.

My frugal crafting tip is you can often find free quilt patterns and use them in your crafting. Also don't forget that many needlework templates are available too and many of them will add to your project. LOL! Of course if you are like me a couple of hours may go by while you are looking and your hard drive gets fuller from all the delectable things you find.

I have had fun with the different Moxie Fab World challenges. What I like about them is I can stretch and try new things without having to use a certain product. I encourage you even if you don't want to enter a particular challenge to see what you can do with the challenge. Also doing a challenge even if you make it your own personal challenge just may get those creative juices flowing.

I just bought ink cartridges for my printer so I could do Sun Bonnet Sue and so now I am working on the postal challenge over at Moxie Fab World. It is still in the design stage and may end up being a personal challenge.

Thank you for stopping by and do come back. Happy Frugal crafting till we meet again.