Two Birthday Cards - It's your Day and Flower Tag

Here are my two sample cards for this week's CAS Challenge (CAS158 - Stitching or Faux Stitching).  I made one of each.  It was a real challenge for me to sew with my machine.  I wanted a different colored thread than what was in the machine, so I changed it myself (first time by myself) ... and I think I did something wrong, because the tension is definitely not right :(  But, I'm going to post it anyways.  Hopefully no one will notice the mistakes :)

"It's Your Day"

Stamps:  Outlined Occasions (SU!)

Paper:  Garden Green, Whisper White, Just Add Cake DP (SU!)

Ink:  Garden Green (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  sewing machine, dark gold thread, Big Shot, Balloon die-cuts (C.C. Designs), 1/4" Garden Green grosgrain ribbon, Peapod twine, Tangerine twine, Lemon Drop twine (The Twinery), Crystal Effects, adhesives, and dimensionals

I ran the balloons die-cut through my Big Shot using the Just Add Cake DP.  I covered three of them with Crystal Effects and left them to dry for a couple of hours.  Once dry, I added a piece of twine to each balloon.

I mounted the yellow-striped DP on the top of the card front, added the green ribbon, rounded the bottom edges and then sewed on my machine about 1/8" in from the edge, all around the card.

I stamped the sentiment in Garden Green ink.  I dry-fit the balloons, making sure I was happy with the placement and then carefully gathered the twine together and made a half knot.  I mounted the balloons to the front of the card, popping each one up with dimensionals to add depth.

____________________ 

The second card for the CAS Challenge uses Faux Stitching and is paper-pieced.  Hope you like.

"Flower Tag"

Stamps:  Friendly Flowers and Garden Oasis (Fiskars); Bitty Birthday (SU!)

Paper:  Real Red, Whisper White, Real Red polka-dot DP, Old Olive DP (SU!); white with red squares (unknown)

Ink:  Garden Green, Real Red, Early Espresso; Garden Green Stampin' Write marker (SU!)

Accessories & Tools: white gel pen, Real Red button, white Baker's twine, double-striped red ribbon, paper piercing tool, slot punch, adhesives, glue dots, Tombow glue, and dimensionals

  

Stamped the leaf sprig in Garden Green ink onto Whisper White card front.  Stamped the sprig again onto the Old Olive DP and cut out the leaves.  Adhered the DP leaves to the main image using Tombow glue.  Trimmed the card front to the shape of a tag, approx. 2 1/4" x 3 1/2".  Used the Garden Green Stampin' write marker to add faux stitching round the edges of the tag.  Stamped the sentiment in Real Red ink.  Punched slot at top of tag and threaded through red ribbon; trimmed ribbon to size.

Stamped the flower in Early Espresso ink onto the Real Red polka-dot DP.  Cut the flower out.  Stamped the flower again onto the White and Red square DP and cut out the center of the flower.  Mounted the center onto the base using Tombow glue.  Using the paper piercing tool, I pierced two holes in the center of the flower, approx. width between was the same as the button.  Using white Baker's twine, sewed the button onto the flower and tied a 1/2 knot on top - trimmed the twine.  Mounted the completed flower onto the tag using glue dots.  

Mounted a large piece of Real Red polka-dot DP onto a card base of Real Red cardstock.  Mounted the tag on to the card base, popping it up with dimensionals to add depth.