September Guest Designer: LauraJane

Hello everyone and welcome to our September Guest Designer post!

We have an awesome treat for you today! We have the talented LauraJane as our September Guest Designer and she will be sharing some incredibly beautiful projects with you. We have been in love with her unique, gorgeous, and out-of-the-box projects for the longest time now. And she is also a regular hopper in our release blog hops! You will definitely adore her inspiring creations. But, first, let's get to know her!

Hello! I'm LauraJane. I've been sewing and crafting with ink & paper since I can remember, then found the happy world of acrylic stamps after being frustrated with my own drawings for handmade cards back in 2011. I absolutely fell in love with the beautiful Henna Elements and Painted Flowers stamp sets that Altenew first came out with back in 2014 and literally cheered, “HOORAH!” with the release of Vintage Roses and Watercolor Wonders.

Finally, a company that truly understood my need to create floral patterns like those found in the fabrics of my favorite skirts and dresses! Now I'm excited to share with you my new found passion using Altenew stamps on some fabric to create lovely home decor and gifts! :)

You can find me on my blog After-Hours Ink and Flowers Instagram as @mammacooksalot  and finally, my YouTube channel: Mamma LauraJane.

Let’s start admiring LauraJane's gorgeous project!

Hello, Altenew fans! I have an exciting way to stretch your stamps using needle and thread! I like to call it Hoop Art. :) When doing these stitching projects, I like to make a card first that helps inspire the Hoop. However, sometimes the Hoop inspires the card. Either way, it's a win-win because it all comes down to the beautiful artwork found in Altenew products! The stamp set featured in today's Hoop Art is Needlework Motif.

Take a look at the finished Hoop Art and card together:

I only started stitching on stamped images this past June, so please know that I am not an expert at embroidery – just an avid fan of all sorts of needlework! After watching several tutorials on social media, I was excited to give a few stitches a try.

Inking up the Needlework Motif with Rocky Shores Crisp Dye Ink on cream colored cardstock, cut to an A2-sized card front, was a great place to start. Then I quickly colored it with Artist Markers which helps me decide on the colors of embroidery floss for the Hoop Art. Having only thirty-six colors of Artist Markers narrows the choices to a manageable task for me.

After choosing coordinating embroidery floss colors of the Artist Markers used on my card front, I then gathered the rest of my tools: needles, seam ripper, and nail clippers for trimming the threads and placed them in a storage pouch. Using the storage pouches to keep everything for that particular Hoop project, sometimes I have several at a time, allows me to grab a stitching project quickly and go – taking it anywhere easily! Many times the hoop itself fits in the pouch too, depending on the size. Today's project is on a 6″ hoop.

Once I had all the supplies, I inked the Needlework Motif image on linen fabric with Rocky Shores Crisp Dye Ink using the MISTI to get a sharp image, re-inking when needed. Yes, fabric works in a MISTI tool as well!

I then placed the fabric in a bamboo hoop and started stitching! :)

I experimented with many different stitches adding unique textures to my project. I used stitches like; Stem stitch, Blanket stitch, Straight stitch, and Long/Short Satin stitch.

In the video, I shared how I closed up and finished the hoop with a paper backing from the Reflection Scrapbook Collection.

I think the backside of a hoop is just as interesting as the front. :)

Things I've learned along the way:

• Start small… choose an image and add just a few stitches as an accent.
• Most fabric can be used to stitch on.
• Keep fabric very tight in the hoop.
• Keep even tension on each stitch.
• Smaller stitches look much tidier.
• Use 3-6 strands of floss (just a personal preference).
• Don't be afraid to take out and re-work a stitch.
• Never use hand lotion before using a needle… it's just too slippery!
• Adding color with Artist Markers is a great way to add variety to a hoop.
• Bamboo hoops can be colored with the Artist Markers to compliment Hoop Art.
• Scrapbook papers are fabulous backing for the finished hoop.

I love taking the JOY of creating with Altenew out of the craft room. Stitching while traveling, visiting with friends and family, or listening to audio books!

Check out my video below for a closer look at the whole process. You can also watch it in HD on Altenew's YouTube channel.

I hope you have enjoyed walking through my stitching journey with the Needlework Motif and are inspired to get a hoop and try some stitches yourself on the many beautiful Altenew stamps.

Why not? You've got 'em, so stitch 'em!

Here's a sneak peek of my next Hoop Art featuring the Capture Moments mini stamp set, (a smaller and less time-consuming project)!

Thank you so much for spending a bit of time with me today.

Hope your day is blessed!

Thank you Altenew for inviting me to guest design this month, it's always a pleasure working with your products!

~LauraJane :)

Wow. How awesome is her hoop art project?! We absolutely loved it! We hope you enjoyed looking at her project as much as we did. Make sure to visit her blog, follow her on Instagram, check out her YouTube videos, and send her some love.

Thank you so much, LauraJane, for being our September Guest Designer and for sharing your creativity with us today! We are so honored to have you!

~SUPPLY LIST~

Needlework Motif Stamp Set [ ALTN ] Artist Markers 36 Color Set [ ALTN ] Rocky Shore Crisp Dye Ink [ ALTN ] Reflection Scrapbook Collection [ ALTN ] Large Storage Pouches – 25/pck [ ALTN ]