Lovely Details - Start to Finish

I love a good challenge, don't you? May has issued us some inspiring and amazing challenges during class with her. This one was no exception. Look at this needlepoint! Isn't it AWESOME??? 

Image is clickable and is from the Amazing 39 Squares Blog!

When I saw this, I was indeed inspired! I decided to give it a go. The obvious inspiration is to hand sew. I have never before done this on a layout. I'm in the mood for a challenge. And just for fun...let's make it more of a challenge...anyone up for a double pager? 

I never do doubles. Perhaps because I have to first make room on my desk. Oh, bother...even the tea will have to be relocated...

Well, I basically just shoved everything to the sides - LOL! Nice neutral grid paper from MME selected for the background. I do believe this grid will come in handy for our stitching yet to come!

Now that the background is selected, I feel the need to tape the backside together. This is probably strange, I realize...but this single page scrapper can't handle the thought of thinking of this as anything other than one page. So, humor me here...

All taped together. Now, let's stamp! I should mention that this will be another layout for the studio renovation book I am putting together for my mom. She calls the final studio "The Beehive" as her nickname is "B." I found this fun stamp and am using it on various pages throughout the album for continuity.

Likey so....

And, repeat:

Let's get some misting on there. I can't have this looking too clean, now can I?

Ah, yes...that's better!

Now for the stitching. First, I grab my ruler. Don't worry - I will not be measuring! I have not completely lost my mind...It's only a straight edge:

Using my grid paper as a guide, I draw out where I want to stitch:

Before I punch the holes, let's get some texture on there.... How 'bout some fabric scraps? This fabric is used in the final studio space that this LO is about. This seems like a fun way to incorporate it :)

See this glass tile? It is also part of the final space. My plan for this grid is to fill it with fun little details and bits...like said tile:

And cute twine wrapped spools:

While those dry...let's give this tool a whirl. I bought it for my daughter, but she wasn't too interested, so maybe it will come in handy for me here...

Oh, look! It worked!

Now to pick a color of embroidery thread. Thanks to my grandmother's hand-me-downs, I have a few choices! 

I initially thought black, but I really like this green color. Works well with the tile too:

OOOOH, yes! I like it!

I stitch...

And stitch....

And an hour and a half later....Ta DA!!!!

Now, for photo placement.... perhaps likey so? I am not sure... I will ponder. Time to call it a night. 

OK, back to it! I still like the picts here after a night of sleep...let's go with it! Some patterned paper gets scattered about...

Time to pop these around:

Fun!

Remember the spools? Cuteness!

A little hanger seems appropriate:

And perhaps some doily action:

A nice border type accent?

Yes! I like that layering:

Now here is where I got all punchy and decided birds would be fun. I made a bunch, then realized that would give me birds and bees and, well...that's not really the theme of this LO - HAHA. So, I will save those birdies for another time!

Moving on... Title time!

My one and only flower from my stash (thanks to happy mail from May) makes it on this page:

Perhaps some chipboard for dimension?

Yes! The banner works!

Alright. Here is what we have. The journaling and pen lines have been added. But, it doesn't feel finished. Something is off. But what? Time to call it a night again. I will ponder. 


At this point, I got in bed. Then, I layed there....pondering. But, it was bugging me. I got up, went to the studio and took a pict with my phone, got back in bed, and stared at it. I kid you not!


After much consideration and a brief moment realizing that I had indeed gone off the scrappy deep end, I finally knew what was bugging me! The dark pict, on the top right. It looks to be floating. It is too "heavy." Happy that I had this revelation, I drifted off into scrappy dream land.

After a restful sleep, I am back at it and ready to finish this baby! As you see, it didn't take me long to crop down that dark photo, add some patterned paper, and finish off with some washi. So much better! 


I grab the hubster and proudly show him all of my hard work - all two pages of it!

To which he declares, "It's too clean. It needs a splat." Oh, I do love him. So, splat it IS!

And with that - it is done!

This did take a bit...

Lots of lovely little details...

But, I do love it!

And, I was pleasantly surprised...

Surprised by how much I enjoyed hand sewing on paper! Now, as for the double pager...I am not sure I will repeat that as often. But when I do, I will again tape the pages together - that helped me so much! Don't worry, I did indeed cut it back in half before placing in the album :)


Do you hand sew on your layouts? I would love to see what you have done! Share a link in the comments below :)