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Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Stitched Nose


My twin sister is a veterinarian, I've probably mentioned that oodles of times. I should say she is a great veterinarian...her suturing is very meticulous which makes pet owners very happy and the animals themselves heal quickly. She's doctored quite a few cats in her career so far, possibly even sutured a few noses, but I'm pretty positive that she hasn't ever used coral thread to stitch a nose!


I studied the lovely blog of Amy, Skipping Stones Design's Sketch Artist for September to gather inspiration to create a shabby chic, vintage, multi-layered, highly distressed card for today's Skipping Stones Design Sketch Challenge #93 and Blog Hop. Skipping Stones Design is releasing the cutest of all cute cat stamps, Holiday Cats today!  If you are following the hop, you should have arrived from the blog of the talented Amber.

My kitty was first stamped in distress ink and then misted to soften and fuzzy up her fur. I then distressed all the panels, stitched all the panels and adhered them all to the card base after adding some ribbon and twine. definitely more manpower than I've ever put into a card in a long time but definitely like trying new things too. Oh, and I stitched her nose too, with the help of my boys pushing down the reverse button on the good ol' Janome. Sometimes it was a bit hard to see with their eager hands, but they were having a grand time and I didn't have the heart to interrupt them.


Please enjoy the rest of the hop. Your next stop is the fun and awesome, JoAnn. Once you are done, why not create a project using the sketch and link it up to the Skipping Stones Design blog for your chance to win a free set? (The blog also has a list of all hop stops and further details...)

I'm late in posting a winner of Skipping Stones Design's Grunge Stamp Set from August. I had Chase, the younger boy, pick a number one through five, respectively for each Guest Design Post in August. He chose five, not sure why. Then I had Cole, the older boy, pick a number from one to 38, he chose 7, because he is seven. So, Erin T. you are the winner!

Edited to Add: the wonderfully talented Julie referred me to The Pink Elephant's Vintage Challenge. I don't delve into the world of vintage often, but I thought I'd give this challenge a go!



Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Vintage Cream, Kraft) PTI
Patterned Paper: (Just Chillin' Girls Collection) Making Memories
Ink: (Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger
Fibers: (Pleated Ribbon, Natural Burlap String) May Arts, (Coral Thread)
Tools: (Nestabilities Die) Spellbinders
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49 comments:

  1. ~amy~September 13, 2011 at 7:03 AM

    awwww....love your shabby chic card...check out all the distressing, sewing and the layers!!!!! Lovely work!

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  2. JingleSeptember 13, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    Karen, this is a great shabby chic card! I love it!

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 13, 2011 at 7:29 AM

    Wow, this is a beauty, its just fab, all the work you put into it is well worth it!

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  4. CSeptember 13, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    Now that's just plain adorable! Love the nose, Karen!!

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  5. Crafty Math ChickSeptember 13, 2011 at 8:04 AM

    Awwww! We make cards for our vets all the time - we are SO grateful for the work they do to help take care of our furbabies (we just have the one pup, but he is like a child to me). Beautiful coloring and stitching on this one Karen - and thanks for all of your kind comments about my cards on my blog, I appreciate every single one of them!
    ~Meredith

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  6. Chari MossSeptember 13, 2011 at 8:23 AM

    Well I am not a big Cat fan, but this is cute! My favorite part is the nose (and your story about the boys helping you sew it). Fab job on the shabby chic look! So impressed because I don't know that I can do that. LOL

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  7. Shannan TeubnerSeptember 13, 2011 at 9:01 AM

    HAHA That is so cute!! And I can just imagine the fun y'all had stitching...ha!
    Love your card!

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  8. Erin (Homemade Cards by Erin)September 13, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    Woo hoo, I'm a winner!!! Fabulous card, does this mean you're going to send it to your sister for her birthday? According to my speedy USPS calculator means you've got plenty of time to mail it before your birthdays... (I recommend t-minus 27 days to put in mail).

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  9. Heather InnusaSeptember 13, 2011 at 9:25 AM

    Well, you should send her some coral thread because it's a very stylish look ;). I think this is just too cute for words Karen!!! I love that nose - it's perfect!! and all of the distressing/inking - combined with the coral thread - wow! it really pops!!! I love this!

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  10. StephanieSeptember 13, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    Karen.......I just love your shabby chic look to this card! Your papers are awesome and I love all the distressed edges!

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  11. Sherry EckbladSeptember 13, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    Just adorable.

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  12. alexandra s.m.September 13, 2011 at 11:29 AM

    Wow! Lovely layering Karen!!
    Beautiful card indeed!

    TFS~

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  13. jenSeptember 13, 2011 at 11:37 AM

    look at you! going all girly & shabby! it's FAB! :D (and I think it's so fun that you let the boys help with the stitching!!!)

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  14. ChunyuanSeptember 13, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    wow at your shabby card. Always love your graphic cards. But this is amazing too.

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  15. scrapsnsuch@gmail.comSeptember 13, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    Oooo, love this! So warm so sweet and jut the cutest nose. This is not your normal style, but you put your spin on it and it is wonderful!

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  16. SarahSeptember 13, 2011 at 12:07 PM

    Love all the texture in this card, especially that stitched nose. My sister is a veterinarian too, so I'm always on the lookout for images she can send to her clients.

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  17. Tenia NelsonSeptember 13, 2011 at 1:27 PM

    So so so love this card!!!

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  18. BabyBokChoySeptember 13, 2011 at 1:47 PM

    This is a departure from your usual CAS! but I LOOOOOOOOOVE it, meow!!!! :)

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  19. Jay GeeSeptember 13, 2011 at 3:27 PM

    You did a fantastic job with shabby chic Karen :) Love how you misted the cat to 'create' fur and all you stitching and colours are fabulous.

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  20. lisa aranaSeptember 13, 2011 at 3:31 PM

    how adorable. your stories are always just as fabulous as your cards Karen.

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  21. LindsaySeptember 13, 2011 at 3:55 PM

    This is fabulous Karen! I love the pinks and the fun nose!

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  22. NancySeptember 13, 2011 at 5:03 PM

    What an adorable card, Karen! How cute is that stitched nose! Enjoyed your FUN story too!

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  23. FionaSeptember 13, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    Wow, this is a change for you Karen, all those layers! Great job on your shabby chic card and I love cats.

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  24. LynnSeptember 13, 2011 at 5:32 PM

    Karen, look at you with all those layers! I love that you made your card monochromatic...and distressed the edges a bit...gorgeous! I love hearing about your sister too!

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  25. Katie GehringSeptember 13, 2011 at 5:34 PM

    Really, truly lovely. Love all the details and layers. The stitching on the kitty's nose is the perfect touch!

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  26. JennySeptember 13, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    Look at all that fabulous distressing...they look like pieces of material tucked behind the image :)
    What a great choice of job your sister chose! I think there is a place for colour co-ordinated suture materials :)
    Jenny x

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  27. sammiSeptember 13, 2011 at 6:58 PM

    The distressing paired with this image makes for a fabulous combination! your card is gorgeous!

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  28. yyamSeptember 13, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    Awesome! Love the layers and distressing! :)

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  29. Savannah O'GwynnSeptember 13, 2011 at 9:07 PM

    OHHHHHH! This is just TOOOO cute! LOVE his/her little nose--SO PRECIOUS:)

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  30. CristinaSeptember 13, 2011 at 9:38 PM

    Well, it may not be CAS but it is ultra-fabulous! All that work paid off, and the stitched nose is adorable. Love the placement of the sentiment in lieu of the row of dots, too.

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  31. WendySeptember 13, 2011 at 9:44 PM

    I am sooo loving this Karen!! I hope your having a good week!

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  32. UnknownSeptember 13, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    LOVE!!! this is my favorite card of the hop...love the muted tones and the little stitchy nose :)

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  33. MichelleSeptember 13, 2011 at 11:20 PM

    Oh wow, the layers and the stitching! I love how you stitched the nose too! So fun:-)

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  34. kasia c.September 13, 2011 at 11:23 PM

    How fabulous that your boys could help out!!
    What a great card, the coral nose certainly tops it off nicely. :)

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  35. JoAnn V. (http://joboogie.typepad.com)September 14, 2011 at 12:16 AM

    So pretty! Love the vintage!

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  36. UnknownSeptember 14, 2011 at 12:27 AM

    Fabulous card, I just love all the layering! Thanks for sharing!

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  37. JessSeptember 14, 2011 at 6:18 AM

    Super cute! I adore all of the layers and the shabby vintage-ness. And of course you know how I feel about kitties so this card gets a big thumbs up from me :D

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  38. farmhouse-storySeptember 14, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    pink, shabby, and fab stitching on the nose...i LOVE it, karen!

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  39. Jen W.September 14, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    You might not delve into vintage often but when you do you rock it! Love the rough edges, layers and stitching and the pink nose is the cherry on top!

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  40. Amy ShefferSeptember 14, 2011 at 10:57 AM

    I would never guess you don't delve into vintage often -- you've pulled it off like a pro here! Lovely take on the sketch. Love the stitched nose detail, too!

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  41. artfuldelightSeptember 14, 2011 at 3:01 PM

    Oh my goodness this card is adorable. :-)

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  42. ~Tammy~September 14, 2011 at 3:02 PM

    So so fun and I think you should do vintage more often!!! :-)

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  43. Alice September 14, 2011 at 7:08 PM

    love the warmth this gives with the distressing. fabulous take on vintage/shabby card, Karen! so very sweet!

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  44. TaylorSeptember 14, 2011 at 8:48 PM

    This is just stunningly gorgeous!

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  45. Diane JaquaySeptember 16, 2011 at 7:49 PM

    Love the layering of the pretty, shabbied up papers, and that cat is adorable!

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  46. Indy's DesignsSeptember 18, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    I love how you made this image so vintage-like. Great job!

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  47. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2011 at 12:15 AM

    That stitching is amazing, I love the stitched nose! The colors are so fun and shabby too, love it all!

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  48. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2011 at 8:01 PM

    Perfection! Love the distressing, love the colors, love the image!
    Karen C

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  49. Andrea MOctober 2, 2011 at 8:37 AM

    This is perfectly vintage and perfectly ADORABLE!!! I love the sweet kitty and the stitched nose!! Is there any style you can't master?!?! WOW!
    I didn't know your sister is a vet… my husband and I are vets too :) I love that you said that she's a great vet - that's so sweet!!!

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