Wednesday Trends

Hey crafty peeps!  It's Karen here.  It's a very bittersweet week for me.  You may have heard that this is my last week with the Trendsetters and each post I write makes me just a little bit more nostalgic.  I love this fabulous group of women and we've really bonded over the years and I'm not really ready to say goodbye.  So I'm not going to focus on that just yet - today is Wednesday Trends!!

I sew on 99% of my cards now, so I thought it might be fun to show you all how I do it.  I know there are lots of you out there who already sew on your cards, but since I've only been sewing on mine for a bout a year, I know there are some of you who have wanted to give it a go, but didn't know where to start, or are a little worried about straight lines.  It just takes practice and getting comfortable with the sewing machine you use.

Here is one of the first cards I made with sewing -

Lots and lots of swervy lines.  I think I pretty much just held on for dear life and let the machine do what it wanted to.  LOL!   Plus, I didn't pull the strings through to the back of the card, I just cut them where they were - rookie.  Ha ha!!

I made a little photo tutorial and I wish I had a video camera so it would be a little easier to show you, but hopefully my photos will show what I need them to show.  This is a looooong post, so grab a snack.

My disclaimer is this - I'm not a professional seamstress by any means - I just sew on paper.  I'm sure they won't be calling me to mend trousers at Downton Abbey anytime soon, so just keep that in mind. 

First, I glued my patterned paper to my cardstock and got all of my individual pieces ready to go.  Be sure to avoid adding adhesive to the areas of the paper that you are going to sew.  This will help keep your needle gunk-free.  Sometimes this is unavoidable like with my scallop trim pieces, so I try not to all a lot of adhesive there. 

I'm going to use the D setting on my Janome Sew Mini. 

I start with my layer base sheet and will align the needle in the lower left corner, about 1/8" in from each side.

To keep my stitches fairly straight, I hold my fingers next to the cardstock, using both hands on both ends of the paper, as a guide.  I found this method to be easier for me rather than holding the top of the paper and guiding it through.  I let the foot of the machine do all the work, I just keep the paper in place.  

When the needle gets close to the end of the paper, I take my foot of the floor pedal and manually turn the wheel on the side of the machine to make those last few stitches so I can be sure not to get crazy and sew off the paper.  It happens. 

To make the corner, lift the foot while the needle is still in the paper and then turn your cardstock 90 degrees and then put the foot back down.  Continue sewing around all 4 sides.

Now that I've finished my border, I'm going to add the next layer. 

I love using the zigzag settings for my sideways panels, so I'm going to use my favorite - G.

I usually line up the needle on the top edge of the panel so that my stitches overlap both sheets of paper.  Each zigzag setting moves the needle to different places, so be sure to line up an edge before you start sewing full speed. 

I've completed my sewing, so now I'm going to pull the loose ends through to the back side of the paper.  This gives the card a more polished and completed look.  To do this, simply pull on the string on the back side of the paper and it will pull a loop through from the front of the card, like this:

Then pull the loop until the thread is pulled completely from the front side.

Here is my finished card.  I also did some zigzag stitching on the tag where the scallop border is attached.

I used Retro Sketches RS#13 for this layout and the stamp set is Cute as a Button.  I hope you'll try some sewing if you haven't tried already.  It's quite therapeutic! 

I use a Janome Sew Mini, which is small and sits nicely on my craft desk.  It's a perfect little starter machine.

Thanks 'sew' much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a wonderful day.
Karen

Trendsetter Tuesday-Karen!!

This is one of the hardest Trendsetter Tuesday posts I have ever had to write....sadly, this is Karen's last week as a Trendsetter. She is taking the summer off to be with her family, and I HOPE HOPE HOPE she decides to come back in the fall!! Karen is SO talented, and has been an absolute JOY to work with! She is smart, funny, talented, and WITTY...with a side of sass!!!! Karen is our Trendsetter of the week, so her official last day is Sunday, but I wanted to be sure to say a special goodbye to her today...sniff sniff. We are SO going to miss you!!

Ok, enough crying....Karen's card for this week's Cork It challenge mad me GASP with delight...HOW CUTE IS THIS??? Well, it's Cute As A Button, LOL!! She has used Torico's new set...and I am in LOVE!!

Would you look at that coloring?? And the grass, seriously? conGRADulations has NEVER looked better, and I for one ADORE this card in so many ways. That little butterfly is TOO CUTE!!

Um, this one pretty much speaks for itself...if it got any cuter, it would PROBABLY be illegal!!! I am in LOVE!! Oh Crop, paired with last week's sketch challenge and some SUPER fun papers...LOVE IT! Look at her coloring on that scene...it is so perfect! Seriously, HOMERUN Karen!!

I could literally spend ALL DAY mooning over her creations, she is THAT good, but it's making me sadder by the minute. We adore you Karen, don't be a stranger after this week is over, and know you will ALWAYS be a part of this team!!

Hugs, and Sweet Stampy Wishes to ALL of You!! Have a fabulous day!

TSG158 Cork it!!

This week our challenge is brought to us by our Trendsetter of the week, Karen! She is challenging YOU to make a card or project using cork!! The possibilities with Cork are endless, so we can’t wait to see what you do with it!!

To be eligible for the giveaway, create a card or project using cork and then come back to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of this challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (June 4th). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store!

By participating in this challenge, you may also find yourself in the Trendsetting Spotlight that shines on the TSG Blog every Thursday. We will be on the lookout to find challenge cards that stand out and show Trendsetting qualities. TSG stamps are not required to participate in the challenges but are appreciated :)

You do not need to have a blog to be able to participate in the TSG Challenges! You can simply add the URL link from your project after it has been uploaded to your online craft gallery. If you upload your card to an online craft gallery, please use the keyword TSG158 so we can check out your beautiful work!

Need some inspiration to help you get started? Check out these great cards made by the following Trendsetters!!

~ Karen
~ Sandra 
~Holly
~Wendy
~Candace

Winner of Last week's challenge is: Cynthia O.
Here are your random numbers:

9 

Timestamp: 2012-05-28 01:16:09 UTC

Release week in Review (May 20 to 26)

What is Week In Review (WIR)?- WIR is where we showcase cards made by the Trendsetters and myself throughout the week. Not only to you get to see gorgeous projects made using TSG stamps, but you also have a chance to WIN one of these cards! Leave a comment on this post and next WIR I will choose a winner using a random number generator. That person will then get to pick out their favorite card and the Trendsetter that created it will send it to them :)

Last week's Winner is: Pam Spradlin
Here are your random numbers:

7 

Timestamp: 2012-05-26 23:34:25 UTC


Laurel (conGRADulations)

Laurel (Cute As A Button)

Laurel (Flava Sava)

Torico (ConGRADulations)

Torico (Flava Sava)

Torico (Oh Crop)

Jessie(Cute As A Button)

Jessie(Flava Sava)

Jessie(Oh Crop)

Kim O. (conGRADulations)

Kim O. (Flava Sava_

Kim O. (Cute as a Button)

Kim O. (Oh Crop!)

Debby (Cute As A Button)

Debby (ConGRADulations)

Debby (Flava Sava)

Debby (Cute As A Button)

Debby (Oh Crop!)

Angela (Congradulations)

Angela (Flava Sava)

Karen (Flava Sava)

Karen (Oh Crop)

Karen (Cute as a Button)

Candace (Flava Sava)

And the June Release Winners Are...

Thank you to all of you for another fabulous release!! We have LOVED having you hop along with us, and seeing you at the Release Party!! Your comments are SO appreciated, and we are JUST as excited about the new stamps are you are!! We LOVE our fans!!!

Without further ado, here are the winners:

conGRADulations Blog Hop Challenge Winner:

Lynn Noe

Here are your random numbers:

33

Timestamp: 2012-05-26 23:49:17 UTC

winner chosen from Angela's blog.

Flava Sava Blog Hop Challenge Winner:

Alice Pace

Here are your random numbers:

17

Timestamp: 2012-05-26 23:54:47 UTC

winner chosen from Jessica's blog.

Cute As A Button Blog Hop Challenge Winner:

Alina

Here are your random numbers:

22

Timestamp: 2012-05-26 23:59:15 UTC

winner chosen from Wendy's  blog.

Oh Crop Blog Hop Challenge Winner:

Amy Johnson

Here are your random numbers:

3

Timestamp: 2012-05-27 00:03:58 UTC

winner chosen from  Kim O's  blog.

And the Winner from the Release Party Chat is:

Christel Faulkner Nall

Here are your random numbers:

57

Timestamp: 2012-05-27 02:48:07 UTC

Congrats to all the winners!! Be sure to email Jessica at jessica@thereshegoesclearstamps.com 

June Release Review-There's Still Time To Hop!!

Just in case you haven't done it yet, you still have until 5pmEST tonight(Saturday, May 26th) to participate!! 

The Release Chat Party starts at 9pmEST on our Facebook Wall, just look for us under the Release Party Chat Graphic!! Be sure while you are there to get registered for the Release Party Chat prize, as well!!

Here are links to the hop to make it easier on you to find!! HAVE FUN and see you at the party!! 

ConGRADulations Blog Hop Challenge

Flava Sava Blog Hop Challenge

Cute As A Button Blog Hop Challenge

Oh Crop Blog Hop Challenge

Oh Crop Blog Hop Challenge

Our fourth and final set for June's release is SURE to capture your hearts and tickle your funny bone!! Again, thanks for participating this month!! We couldn't do this without YOU!!!

Let's get to it!!

Oh Crop is our second set from Melyssa this month, and it has STOLEN our hearts!! The flying pigs, the picturesque scene, that ADORABLE farmer…really, how could you NOT love this? You don’t have to be a country girl to know that THIS set is a Blue Ribbon WINNER!

Oh Crop is a 6x8 set that includes a total of 21 stamps and will sell for $24.00.

Would you like to win the new Oh Crop stamp set? Here is what you need to do- visit the Trendsetter’s blogs that are participating in each of the blog hop challenges below and comment on their creations as you go. One of the Trendsetter’s blogs (from each hop day) will be randomly chosen as the ‘it’ blog and a winner will be picked using a random number generator from the comments left on that Trendsetter’s Blog Hop Challenge post.

You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning new stamps! The Blog Hop Challenges will be open until 5 PM Eastern Time Saturday, May 26th with the winner being announced during the release party chat.

Cute As A Button Blog Hop Challenge

Thank you SO much for participating in all the blog hop challenges so far this month, TSG FANS ROCK!! 

Today's set illustrated by the EVER fabulous Torico will DEFINITELY appeal to the crafter in you...and we can't WAIT to see your reaction, so let's get to it!!

What can we say about this new set from Torico, other than…it’s Cute As a Button?! The perfect sewing set for ANY crafter, full from top to bottom, end to end, with as MANY stamps as you could POSSIBLY need to make the perfect card or scrapbook page, this whimsically cute set is sure to have EVERYTHING you need to celebrate the crafter in your life!

Cute As a Button is a 6x8 set that includes a total of 33 stamps and will sell for $24.00.

Would you like to win the new Cute As a Button  stamp set? Here is what you need to do- visit the Trendsetter’s blogs that are participating in each of the blog hop challenges below and comment on their creations as you go. One of the Trendsetter’s blogs (from each hop day) will be randomly chosen as the ‘it’ blog and a winner will be picked using a random number generator from the comments left on that Trendsetter’s Blog Hop Challenge post.

You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning new stamps! The Blog Hop Challenges will be open until 5 PM Eastern Time Saturday, May 26th with the winner being announced during the release party chat.

Flava Sava Blog Hop Challenge

Here we are on day TWO of this month's peeks, and we are bringing you a set by our fearless leader, Jessica Knutsen!!

Excuse me, I MUSTACHE you a question….is this NOT the CUTEST set?! Mustache’s, and puns about mustaches (lol), are all the rage right now and we couldn’t help but add a little TSG flare to this FABULOUS trend! The possibilities, and uses, for this set are endless…and just ENTIRELY too funny!

Flava Sava is a 4x4 set that includes a total of 14 stamps and will sell for $10.00.

Would you like to win the new Flava Sava stamp set? Here is what you need to do- visit the Trendsetter’s blogs that are participating in each of the blog hop challenges below and comment on their creations as you go. One of the Trendsetter’s blogs (from each hop day) will be randomly chosen as the ‘it’ blog and a winner will be picked using a random number generator from the comments left on that Trendsetter’s Blog Hop Challenge post.

You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning new stamps! The Blog Hop Challenges will be open until 5 PM Eastern Time Saturday, May 26th with the winner being announced during the release party chat.

ConGRADulations Blog Hop Challenge

It's that time again, There She Goes Fans!! Yep, you guessed it, it's time for our June release!! We are SUPER excited to bring you FOUR days worth of FABULOUS stamp sets from our SUPER talented illustrators/designers!! 

Ready? Set? GO!!!

Melyssa is at it again, and just in time for all your graduation needs! This stamp set is PERFECT for ANY grad, young or old!! There is NO better way than to honor your favorite grad with a card, or scrapbook page, about their achievements!

ConGRADulations is a 4x6 set that includes a total of 17 stamps and will sell for $15.00.

Would you like to win the new ConGRADulations stamp set? Here is what you need to do- visit the Trendsetter’s blogs that are participating in each of the blog hop challenges below and comment on their creations as you go. One of the Trendsetter’s blogs (from each hop day) will be randomly chosen as the ‘it’ blog and a winner will be picked using a random number generator from the comments left on that Trendsetter’s Blog Hop Challenge post.

You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning new stamps! The Blog Hop Challenges will be open until 5 PM Eastern Time Saturday, May 26th with the winner being announced during the release party chat.