Recycling Sewing Patterns

Hello, Connie Nichol here today with a few cards that use old sewing patterns for backgrounds.  I recently did an article on this topic for Creative Scrapbooker Magazine  and I am just enamoured with the old patterns.  They make such easy and pretty cards.  Here's a couple of examples:

Here's what you need to make your card background - an old sewing pattern, white cardstock and some gel medium.  I usually find old sewing patterns at thrift stores and one pattern goes a long way. Take a section of the patterned tissue and adhere it to a pre-cut layer of cardstock with the gel medium.  Gel medium is essentially an acrylic paint without the pigment so it dries clear, smooth and it is archivally safe.  It comes in different thicknesses and finishes - for cards, I'd recommend the matte finish.  This gel medium by Prima works really well.

When the gel medium is dry, about 10-20 minutes depending upon how thick you've applied it, put it in an embossing folder and run it through your manual die cutting machine to add a whole bunch of texture.

Then, simply add a Quietfire Design die cut word, or a stamped quote.  You can add a bit of ribbon, paper flowers or other embellishment but that's it.  Easy, huh?

Here's a card that was published in the summer issue of Creative Scrapbooker magazine.   I created a sewing pattern flower by twisting strips of sewing tissue and winding in a circle on a sheet of two sided adhesive.  I coloured it by giving it a quick spray with dye ink spritzer.  Add the die cut small Happy Birthday and you've created a unique card.

Quietfire Design Supplies Used:  Celebrate and small Happy Birthday dies, I Will Write Peace rubber stamp

Other Supplies:  Prima gel medium and pink flowers, Multi-craft wooden bird and rhinestone trim, Sizzix and Stampin Up! embossing folders, Clearsnap ink