Information

[Art_Teacher]

technique for you? I have so much trouble using actual stitching on my paper layouts. It's never straight and it just takes so much time!
On my digi layouts, I hate extractions. They are time consuming and I don't always like how they look.

[joannie]

I am not a good flower cluster-er! & I am not good about getting my stamps out to use them on my pages! I know there is more... but I do love stitching!

[cajenkins81]

I'd say hand stitching too. Little spots I can do but even those come out misshapen and uneven. So I just usually draw on long areas of stitching.

The other used to be circles, but I've been working with them and getting more comfortable with cutting things out by hand, after tracing around something.

[Deanna13]

I love stitching and to me it's not meant to be all straight and perfect.

My most difficult would probably be stamping or masking. I have lots of stamps and a few masks and I just really don't know much about using them.

[1grandma]

Confession time. I don't do my own LOs very well. I must use a sketch or scraplift. I almost don't try those techniques anymore.

[MacSarah]

I find it difficult to jump in with ink. I have gotten a little braver when it come to inking edges, but I like the look of heavy inks and mists, but I am still too scared to try.

[christinec68]

I have so much trouble using sketches. They are supposed to make it easier but I get so blocked by mimicking the sketch that it takes me three times longer then if I just did my own thing. I just came to this realization yesterday as I struggled for hours on the Becky Fletch Sketch challenge and recalled how I had trouble with another semi-recent attempt to follow a sketch.

[blbabe1234]

I love stitching and to me it's not meant to be all straight and perfect.

My most difficult would probably be stamping or masking. I have lots of stamps and a few masks and I just really don't know much about using them.

Ditto! I think I have never been straight and perfect with my stitching.

[blbabe1234]

My things is stamping. I can stamp a sentiment on a card - those are pretty easy, especially if I use a "Happy Birthday" stamp or "Congratulations". But I don't do a whole lot of stamping..

[stateless]

I have so much trouble using sketches. They are supposed to make it easier but I get so blocked by mimicking the sketch that it takes me three times longer then if I just did my own thing. I just came to this realization yesterday as I struggled for hours on the Becky Fletch Sketch challenge and recalled how I had trouble with another semi-recent attempt to follow a sketch.

I used to do this too. The way I get around it is to not print out the sketch so I can see it while I'm scrapping. Instead I'll take a look at it online; then later when I sit down to scrap I'll either sketch what I remember on a piece of paper or just go from memory. That way I'll remember the basic idea of the sketch but I won't focus on each little detail.

[suewho372]

i have a really hard time with stitching too Laura, and I absolutely love how it looks so I keep trying. Deanna is the one who is a whiz at stitching she needs to give me a tutorial!! LOL

[christinec68]

I have so much trouble using sketches. They are supposed to make it easier but I get so blocked by mimicking the sketch that it takes me three times longer then if I just did my own thing. I just came to this realization yesterday as I struggled for hours on the Becky Fletch Sketch challenge and recalled how I had trouble with another semi-recent attempt to follow a sketch.

I used to do this too. The way I get around it is to not print out the sketch so I can see it while I'm scrapping. Instead I'll take a look at it online; then later when I sit down to scrap I'll either sketch what I remember on a piece of paper or just go from memory. That way I'll remember the basic idea of the sketch but I won't focus on each little detail.

That's a great point!! And it's probably how all the layouts I've seen online in galleries & pinterest have sort of seeped into my brain and form the basis of my ideas but don't block me from doing my own thing.

[killarney_rose]

Face Palm moment! I just realized there was an MMC today!!!! LOL!

Right now it is layering.....like a minimum of Five layers.....I seem to always stop at three!

I happen to agree with Deanna! I have never seen perfect stitching by hand or machine! Reminds me watching Duck Dynasty last night with Cy sitting down at a sewing machine and sew together an adorable apron for Miss Kay! Not all of his stitching was perfectly straight, but that man sure could sew and they were straight enough the apron didn't look funky! So yours don't have to be straight!

[killarney_rose]

I have so much trouble using sketches. They are supposed to make it easier but I get so blocked by mimicking the sketch that it takes me three times longer then if I just did my own thing. I just came to this realization yesterday as I struggled for hours on the Becky Fletch Sketch challenge and recalled how I had trouble with another semi-recent attempt to follow a sketch.

I used to do this too. The way I get around it is to not print out the sketch so I can see it while I'm scrapping. Instead I'll take a look at it online; then later when I sit down to scrap I'll either sketch what I remember on a piece of paper or just go from memory. That way I'll remember the basic idea of the sketch but I won't focus on each little detail.

That's a great point!! And it's probably how all the layouts I've seen online in galleries & pinterest have sort of seeped into my brain and form the basis of my ideas but don't block me from doing my own thing.

Oooooooo.......perfect explanation! I have gotten to where I no longer need the sketch sitting next to me. I do usually go back and may look how an element was used, but not how the papers were used! LOL....I lately like to reduce the size of a sketch, but I 'm working on BF challenge right now and I'm increasing this one!

[Wheeliegirl]

technique for you? I have so much trouble using actual stitching on my paper layouts. It's never straight and it just takes so much time!
On my digi layouts, I hate extractions. They are time consuming and I don't always like how they look.

I totally agree about extractions!

[killarney_rose]

i have a really hard time with stitching too Laura, and I absolutely love how it looks so I keep trying. Deanna is the one who is a whiz at stitching she needs to give me a tutorial!! LOL

Here's the biggest tip I can give. Use a pen or pencil to mark your holes, then go back and punch holes. If you outline stitch make sure holes are closer in curves. Straight lines an be achieved by using thin tip felt pen where ink won't bleed and a straight edge. Can be ruler or your trimmer. Then when you poke holes go slow and get them as centered on that dot as possible. I have been known to use pencil or pen with my CM patterns and stencils, too. I'm going to stitch on my BF challenge layout today. It will be in gallery sometime today!

[pawprints]

Paper tearing. I suck at it. I did it once on a page for my grandmother's album, and it took me a bunch of tears to get it to be "acceptable" for me. Not too good when you are wasting a sheet of Coredinations paper!

Stamping is another thing that I don't do too often, although I should since I have quite a collection of stamps. I really want to work on using them more.

[suewho372]

i have a really hard time with stitching too Laura, and I absolutely love how it looks so I keep trying. Deanna is the one who is a whiz at stitching she needs to give me a tutorial!! LOL

Here's the biggest tip I can give. Use a pen or pencil to mark your holes, then go back and punch holes. If you outline stitch make sure holes are closer in curves. Straight lines an be achieved by using thin tip felt pen where ink won't bleed and a straight edge. Can be ruler or your trimmer. Then when you poke holes go slow and get them as centered on that dot as possible. I have been known to use pencil or pen with my CM patterns and stencils, too. I'm going to stitch on my BF challenge layout today. It will be in gallery sometime today!

That is great advice Kim!! I appreciate it! Good luck on the BF and your stitching there-- I will check it out!

[scrapy1967]

The most difficult thing for me is to do a challenge. For some reason I always feel like I am forcing myself to do it and it never comes out right. As for a technique it would have to be masking.

[writerlady]

I have a lot of trouble clustering. I follow every bit of instructions I can find, and I still think the clusters look horrid. Followed by cutting a straight line. Yup - I'm one of those. That's why I bought the Fiskar's Procision Rotary Bypass Trimmer. I love it!!!