Stitching on Layouts - 1

I love stitching on my layouts... using my sewing machine is a very easy way to add extra texture and depth and it is quick and easy.
But having said that, as my sewing machine isn't out and set up to use, I don't use it as much as I would like to.

There are alot of scrapbookers out there who don't have a machine to use to stitch on their layouts- so what else can you do?

You can use a needle and thread of course!
It can take time, and sometimes a fair bit of patience, but I think the results are well worth that extra effort.

I was asked to do a couple of layouts to show how you can add something extra to your layouts through stitching.

My first layout uses some of the Bella Boulevard Swing into Spring range.
These papers are so bright and fun, and there is a matching sticker sheet to complete the range.

The stitching technique on this layout is simple, and the only tools you need are a paper piercer or strong needle, and a needle and embroidery thread.
You could use thinner thread for a finer look to your stitching, but I prefer the chunkier look.

To get the shpes for my pieces of paper I drew around some chipboard templates I have, then I cut them out with my craft knife.
The first piece was cut from the Easter Grass paper.

I used Little Buds for another,

and April Showers and May Flowers for another two.

A final piece of roughly 6 inches square was cut from Bazzill Basics Dotted Swiss cardstock.
I then inked all the edges using a Cats Eye chalk inkpad.

I stuck the largest piece to my base, a sheet of 12x12 white Bazzill cardstock.
The piercer I use is the Bazzill Basics In Stitchz one. I pierced holes about 5mm inside the edge all the way round. Remember to use a piercing mat or similar thick foam pad underneath to protect your work surface!

Using an embroidery needle and thread I then simply stitched through all the holes I had pierced using the simplest method- starting from underneath,up through the first hole, down through the next.
You'll be back underneath again, so go up through the next hole, and down through the next. Continue until you reach the end- in this case until you get back to the beginning where you started.

Stitch all the pieces in the same way, I used different coloured threads on different papers for a greater contrast.

To fix it all together I used pieces of foam tape to add to the depth of the layout. I normally use small 3D foam pads, but due to the size of the pieces being stuck down I found tape worked better.

For the title I used American Crafts Gift Box Thickers in white; and Making Memories Tiny Alpha stickers.

I kept the rest of the embellishing of the page to a minimum as I felt that the stitching and different shaped papers didn't need too much else.
I took two stickers from the matching sheet, and layered them together. A small amount of journalling written onto thin strips of card finished the page.

And here is the completed page...