My First Feature

Several weeks ago, I received an e-mail asking me if I would be willing to provide the inspiration cards for the Midweek Throwdown over at Operation Write Home: Stars and Stamps.  Would I be willing???  I was so flattered I couldn't stop smiling for days.  The only problem was the actual technique...paper piecing.  I didn't really have a clue what that was.  So, like any good blogger, I googled it and discovered it means different things to different people.  The result?  This is going to be a long post with three different types of paper piecing, and I didn't even cover all of them.

Up first is using a pattern to cut shapes.  In this case, I embossed a shape on cardstock.

 

The cut outs are then pieced together by gluing them to a small circle to create the flower.  I thought this could work either as a Christmas card (although it would have a better poinsettia feel had I turned the petals around so the pointed end was out - like I did to create the leaves) or as a Valentine.

Card two has a quilted feel, where pieces are fit together to create a pattern.  For the sake of color, I paired the dark brown patterend paper with the bright pink cardstock and the soft stipes with the brown.

 

The last piece was tucked under the first, and I did have to trim about 1/16th of an inch off one end to make it fit.  I did a ton of distressing using Chocolate ink.  Notice the background on this one.  Another paper piecing technique is to create a background by using scraps and fitting them together.  So...there's two for the price of one. 

 The last card pieces together an image using multiple sheets of paper.  "Becky" is stamped on flesh, white, and patterned papers.  I colored and then cut out the bib/jar and bunny slippers from the white and the headband and P.J.'s from the patterned paper.  I trimmed on the very edge or the inside of the line.  Before I placed them over the flesh colored paper, I cut out the hands.  I then stamped "Becky" once more on white and cut it in an oval.  I layered everything, popping the hands and slippers with foam tape for extra dimension.

I used colored pencils to create a shadow.  I'm not sure you can see it very well, but I pulled the edges of the ruffle up just a touch.  It probably won't stay fluffed for very long, but it sure looks cute now.  This card and the second one are more geared toward Valentines, because we have to be thinking many months ahead in order to get our cards to our heroes overseas.

All cardstock and paper are from CTMH, though "Becky" and the paper used on that card have been retired for a long time.  The bow on the quilted card is Jolee's boutique.

There you have it!  Three different cards using four different paper piecing techniques. 

Until next time,

Becca