Handicrafts by Kate Perry and other ramblings

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Butterfly Challenge #38; Y is for Yarn

With the very hot summer we have had, time away visiting family, and visitors here, I have not managed to enter this challenge as often as I would like, so I was determined to have a go this time. When I saw the challenge was Y is for yarn, I was a bit dubious. Yarn to me means wool, but I read the post and it said, 'Wool or embroidery thread', and I have lots of embroidery thread so I went for that. (I actually have even more wool, but I do not usually use it on my cards). 

Anyway, I remembered a card I made years ago, according to the information on the photo I took, it was back in 2009!, and I thought I´d give it another try. I hunted around for the necessary stencil which I found, but there was no sign of the instructions, so I had to figure it out again. It also took me quite a time to find the decoupage sheet I bought to go with it. Then I needed to sort out card, threads and beads and I was all set to go. Here is the card I made.
I know, the green layer is not straight, but I used very strong glue, so it is staying that way. It is a good thing I only make my cards for family and good friends, and they are used to my idiosyncrasies. A new pair of eyes and steadier hands would come in useful!
This is the stencil for making the card. I think it is an old Marianne one, but I am not sure. The idea is to cut around the inside of it, leaving the 'bridges' between the circle and triangle, and also around the outside of the square. Then you use a pricking tool to mark the holes along the edges. I sketched a second template and marked where I wanted to sew, and having chosen a copper thread and a bright green one, to go with the centre image, and a few green beads, I did all the sewing trying to keep the template as flat and evenly tensioned as possible. 
When this is done, you cut away the 'bridges' so that the triangle is suspended in the centre. You have to be careful not to cut any of the threads. You really don´t want to do that! Do you hear the voice of experience speaking?.
Next you need to cut matching circles in the base card and a top layer, big enough to cover the actually stitching and template, but not so big that it hides the thread work, and fortunately the largest of my set of circle dies was just right. I was using a large pre-cut base card, so I decided it needed a second mat, and I cut a larger circle in this as it would be sandwiched between the other two. (If I´d stuck to one layer it wouldn´t look so crooked!) Before joining them, I used an X-cut corner punch to cut a small butterfly in each corner. Using a punch again made me realise why dies are so popular. It was hard work!
I used plenty of strong, quick-drying glue to attach the stitched template to the base card, and then glued the green layer to go on top. That's when I remember there was a tan layer to go between them so I had to glue that fast, and by the time I had added the green one it was dry and wouldn´t move at all.
I cut the triangular butterfly out, and the decoupage layers, and  assembled them on the centre, and added a matching plain triangle to the back to hide the stitching.
Finally I found a copper happy Birthday peel-off to go in the bottom corner, added some yellow stickles to the centre of the flower, and at the top I added two shiny butterfly stickers. I bought a set of these from Lakeland before they stopped selling craft items - ten years ago maybe? There were hundreds of them, and they are still so pretty. I have used them regularly, but there are still lots left.
Now I will link this up to Mrs A´s Butterfly Challenge, and as the green card was from my snippets box, I will also pop over to the Snippets Playground to link it there.


15 comments:

Lidia R. said...

Hola !!! Preciosa tarjeta con bellos detalles. Me alegra este aprendiendo español. Gracias por visitarme !! Hello !!! Lovely card with beautiful details. I'm glad you are learning Spanish. Thank you for visiting me !!

Barb said...

Morning Kate. Your card is really lovely. I bought a few of these Trapeze stencils some years ago and only ever made one card. They are lots of work to do but certainly very impressive finished, as your beautiful card is. Barbxx

Di said...

Oh how clever Kate - totally beautiful and well worth all the hard work! I'm stumped right now about the current butterfly challenge - that Mrs A comes up with some tough one! Why couldn't she pick Y for Yellow for instance :(

Hugs

Di xx

Sarn said...

WOW - this card is a stunner Kate. It's so delicate looking.
Hugs, Sarn xxx

terrie said...

Your card is beautiful...I saw this technique many years ago..
Well done and good luck in the challenge...

Mrs A. said...

This is stunning. A wow factor for certain. I love the design. You have rather piqued me to the post though as my interim card make for Wednesday was very similar so will have to go back to the drawing board. Just wait till I catch up with Miss Di. Yellow indeed!!!
Thankyou for all your hard work in making this card. I love it.
hugs Mrs A.

Jean said...

This is a lovely card Kate, I like the colours you used and your stitching is very pretty. I like the added beads. I've still got some of the butterfly stickers too.
Jean x

Liz said...

Oh WOW! What a great design, Kate. I've still got my thinking cap on for Mrs A's butterfly challenge. As Di said, 'Yellow' would have been so much easier!! LOL! xx

kiwimeskreations said...

Kate this is gorgeous - love the stitching and the beades suspended on the stitches are perfect.
Blessings
Maxine

Annie said...

Hi Kate so good to see you calling in my blog this week. Oh my this butterfly creation of yours is rather special - stunning work with the threads. I don't think I could manage it but well worth the effort.
Annie xxx

veronica said...

a stunning card Kate - I remember the spirelli cards, but haven't seen this version before,it's a lot of work but worth it. Wonky layers are so much easier than perfectly straight ones!

Sally H said...

wow, wow, wow, Kate! What an absolute stunner of a card! Gorgeous!

scrappymo! said...

Great job here. Smart girl to use your yarn that way. That textured card you chose looks wonderful with those cute corner butterfly cuts!

Jopez said...

Loving the butterflies, as always. 😃
Not sure I'd have the patience to do all the threading.

Ps. Hannah loved her birthday card, thank you. X

Dr Sonia S V said...

WOW what an amazing creation...loved it
Cheers
Dr Sonia