Stitching Template tutorial

To create a stitched design, you will need:

        * your cardstock with the stitching template cut using your Silhouette

        * a needle

        * floss or thread

I previously, cut the "stitching templates - geometric border" design from my piece of cardstock.  (stitching_templates_-_geometric_border_C00597_17986)

Step 1:

Figure out where you would like to start and push the needle from back to front.

 

Pull the thread through but keep hold of the tail.

Step 2:

Tape down or tie the end on the back so it doesn't pull through.

Step 3:

Now push the needle from front to back in the next hole. (Don't worry about any "hanging chads", they will just be pushed aside with the needle.)

Step 4:

Push the needle from back to front in the next hole.

Step 5:

Push the needle from front to back in the previous hole. (Hole you used in step 3)

Step 6:

Push needle from back to front in next empty hole.

Keep up this pattern of stitches until you have completed your stitching pattern.

And voila! You've created a little homemade touch to any card or LO!

Note: I cut my stitching template out by hand after I had stitched it. If you're planning on cutting an outline of it in the end, I'd do it before even starting to stitch. I just didn't plan ahead. Everything is much easier with the Silhoeutte than by hand, of coarse!

Oh, and check out how Starlight Scrapper's 3D tree turned out here. While browsing through her blog, I also found some other really fun creations from the Silhouette. She does some great work. Gotta love Cali's chubby series, and I love Samantha's "2 layer swirly halloween batbat " that Starlight Scrapper has used. Keep up the awsome projects. I'm loving them!

Anyways, hope the tutorial helps get you excited for the possibilities of the stitching templates! If you've overlooked them, here's the ones that are available in the store now:

 

Here's the newest one. Basic straight stiches. Easy to use anywhere. I've included a variety of stitch lengths so you don't have to adjust the holes yourself. The work is done for you. To make it fit a shorter length, just ungroup and delete any holes you don't want.

Enjoy!

Pumpkins and trains, chuga-chuga, chuga-chuga, choo-choo!

Here's a fun picture of our pumpkins from last year that I found while trying to find the right pics to create a page. Thought I'd share. Don't they look crazy!

To create something similar to this, trace your design or poke your design into your pumpkin. Next scrap away portions to make your design. Don't carve all the way through the shell, you only want the shell to be thin in the places you want the light to show through. Example, My husband scraped away at the "fire" area, the skulls eyes, nose and mouth but left the rest of the skull as is.

This is a great way to create designs that have inner shapes like my "UNION PACIFIC" text. You'd never be able to do that with actual carving.
Oh, and if you're looking for the locomotive shape, check out my portfolio or search "modern locomotive" in the Silhouette Online Store. (Can't sell the Union Pacific logo though, sorry, it's a copyrighted image.)

Speaking of trains, if you're looking for a christmas gift for children and you would like to do something creative, why not make them their own train map. Last year I created these train track segments along with buildings and scenery. (There is more in the store than I'm showing here.)

 

 

 

With my husband working for Union Pacific Railroad here in California, my kids have come to recognize the sound of the train. It's a lot of fun to hear them say "It's daddy's choo choo" everytime they hear the horn blow or drive past the railyard. We'll be participating in the "Polar Express" train here in Sacramento for the first time this year too. Should be a lot of fun. Aren't the holidays great!

Enjoy!

3D ghost, bat, spider tips and tricks tutorial

The 3D Ghost, Spider and Bat are created in basically the same way as the 3D pumpkin. Here's the link to the 3D pumpkin tutorial:
http://3under3andmore.blogspot.com/2010/09/3d-pumpkin-assembly-tutorial.html

3D Ghost tips and tricks:
1. The Ghost is a little trickier than the pumpkin, bat or spider. There are two ways to place the rings on:
      Option A. Place bottom ring on from the bottom. You will have to curl all four layers a bit more to fit it over the wide bottom. TIP: I find that if I place one side in it's notch and then curve all four layers, I can slide it over the bottom a bit easier.
      Option B. Place bottom ring on from the top. You will have to curve the paper enough that the arms slide through the hole, but you won't have to curl all four layers as much. TIP: When doing it this way, slide the bottom ring into one of the top slots, then ease the opposite arm through, and finally, slide the last arm through, fitting the lower ring into the lower slots like the photos here:

3D Ghost tips and tricks:

After assembled like the pumpkin, bend the eyes up or down. You can create contrast by pasting another cutout of the eyes over the top or coloring the eyes. Here's an example of contrasting eyes:



Good luck and Enjoy!

3D Tree assembly tutorial

Here are the pieces you will create for the 3D tree.

Part  1 - Stump assembly

To start, take "A" and "C". Slide A into the top slot of C like this:

Set it aside.

Next, slide "B" into the bottom slot of "D" like this: 

Now, take the first set of A&C and slide it into the top slot of B&D like this:

Line A-D up and fit your disk (E) into the slot.

Next, carefully spread A-D around the disk (E).

TIP: Looking from above, Take two from the 12 o'clock position and move to the 3 o'clock position.

 Next, move two from the 6 o'clock position to 9 o'clock.

Spread the rest out from there.

Set your tree stump aside.

Part 2 - Branch assembly

Reminder: Here are the pieces you will create for the 3D tree.

To start, take "F" and "G". Slide G into the top slot of F like this:

Set it aside.

Next, slide "H" into the bottom slot of "I" like this:

Now, take the first set of F&G and slide it into the bottom slot of H&I like this: 

 TIP: To line all four layers up, I slide my fingernails in the slots.

 Slightly bend your branch pieces (F,G,H,&I) to fit it in the center of the first ring and slide the ring to the top slot:

Do the same thing for the bottom ring.

Spread the branches around like you did the stump...and ta da! It should look like this: 

Part 3 - Tree assembly

Place branch part over stump. You want the tabs on the branches to be every other "V" section.

TIP: I get the back to two tabs where they need to be and then work on the front two. Seems to help.

Once in place, slide down together.

And you're done!

Here's my graveyard scene:

Enjoy!