Hi there!
Here's a fun and simple card that features the In Stitches Jumbo Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel and the Sweet Buttons Embosslit die from the Occasions Mini Catalog.
(click on card to see larger image)
When I saw these items in the Occasions Mini Catalog, I immediately thought of the family room of my childhood home and my Mom's sewing area. My mother is an accomplished seamstress and when my sisters, brothers and I were growing up she took in sewing and tailoring. As I got older, I helped Mom by cutting out patterns, opening seams, and helping her to keep her sewing area neat and tidy while she worked. Mom's sewing machine had cams that would make the stitches you see on the In Stitches Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel and I know that there were many strips of discarded fabric remnants that had rows of these stitches when I was learning how to set up and use these stitch cams when my mother was teaching me to sew.
Mom also saved buttons. Clothing in our home got lots of use as it was passed from one child to another. Needless to say, over time, buttons would be lost and need to be replaced for one reason or another. Mom would never purchase a button until the button canister was searched to make sure that we didn't already have something that could be used. Most of these buttons came from clothing that was too worn or torn to be used any longer. Some were the onesies and twosies of buttons that remained on the button card after completing a new outfit. I remember sitting on the floor watching TV removing buttons from shirts, pants and skirts or from button cards and adding them to the canister. It was always interesting to look at the buttons and see all the different designs in a rainbow of colors and styles.
We begin this card by rolling the In Stitches Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel across a strip of Whisper White cardstock using Real Red ink. (To ensure that the stitch lines stayed straight, I used the Stampin' Around Wheel Guide--just like you'd use the stitch guide plate on the sewing machine.) The Whisper White cardstock was matted with a piece of Basic Black cardstock and adhered to the Real Red card base with the top edge of the Whisper White/Basic Black approximately 1/2" from the top (fold) of the card front. Scraps of Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, and Tempting Turquoise cardstock (each scrap is approximately 2" x 2 1/2") were inserted into the Sweet Buttons Embosslit and run through the Big Shot to create the buttons. This gave me a nice selection of 36 buttons. I selected a different style of button from each color and randomly attached them to the stitch patterns using SNAIL and popped a couple up with Stampin' Dimensionals to add interest.
At the lower right corner of the card front a sentiment was placed. I used my favorite go-to sentiment stamp set, Teeny Tiny Wishes, to select the sentiment stamped in Real Red ink on a scrap of Whisper White cardstock. The sentiment was punched from the cardstock with the Word Window punch and adhered to a scrap of Basic Black cardstock punched with the Modern Label punch. The sentiment was adhered to the card front with Stampin' Dimensionals.
At the top of the card, I added a length of Whisper White 1/8" Taffeta ribbon and knotted it at the center.
(click on card to see larger image)
The inside sentiment area of the card was lined with a piece of Whisper White cardstock. The In Stitches Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel was rolled across the bottom inch of the liner, again using Real Red ink (and that wonderful Wheel Guide). I selected another button from the pile of cardstock buttons and adhered it along the stitch lines using SNAIL.
(click on envelope to see larger image)
The In Stitches Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel was rolled one more time across the Medium Whisper White envelope flap using Real Red ink (and that wonderful Wheel Guide).
Mom still has her sewing machine and the button canister. The sewing machine now sits in a different house and has a decorative cover to hide the scars and wear on the cabinet. She seldom sews now and then only for her own pleasure; and that's the way it should be.
Stamps: In Stitches Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Inks: Real Red; Cardstock: Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White; Cardstock Scraps: Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise; Embellishments: Whisper White 1/8" Taffeta ribbon; Adhesives: SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals; Tools: Paper Cutter/Scorer, Paper Snips, Bone Folder, Jumbo Wheel Handle, Stampin' Around Wheel Guide, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Big Shot w/Standard Cutting Plates, Multi-Purpose Platform, Sweet Buttons Embosslit die; Other: Medium Whisper White envelope
What fun memories! I love the story.
Posted by: Heidi Baks | 04/08/2011 at 09:27 AM
Great card! it is the perfect illustration to your wonderful story! Thanks for sharing them both!
Posted by: Yapha | 04/08/2011 at 10:47 AM
Such a cute, colorful card. And I love the story (your life story) that goes with it. You should have given a hanky warning... ;)
Posted by: Adriana Benitez | 04/09/2011 at 07:52 AM
Beautiful memories of your childhood Mickey and I can soooo relate. Your card really illustrates the story so well.
Posted by: Karen Gilbert | 04/09/2011 at 11:24 AM
Our mom's sound pretty similiar! Love the buttons on the wheel. I might have to CASE This one!
Posted by: Sara Mattson-Blume | 04/09/2011 at 12:57 PM
Oohhh, I love this! Love the colors, and you are using some of my favorite stuff!! And we had similar mothers too. I still have a button canister, and a zipper box :)
Posted by: Tanya Boser | 04/11/2011 at 11:37 AM
Great card, Mickey!
Posted by: Diane Simpers | 04/12/2011 at 10:21 PM
Great card! I have my grandmother's buttons that she saved! They are a ton of fun to go through!
Posted by: Shelley | 04/13/2011 at 06:01 PM