This past week has found me in my stamp room… but not stamping. I was sewing! I don’t sew. I don’t like to sew. Long story about why… fortunately girls today have come a long way since I was in school and required to take Home Economics. Yup… it was REQUIRED for all girls years and years ago to learn how to sew and cook. I so wanted to be an architect but was not allowed to take the Mechanical Drawing classes. Those were just for boys (and required for them as well). Geesh. *stepping down off my soap box* I became discouraged quickly and gave up on that path by 10th grade. I’ve gotten over it…sorta. *chuckle* Well my oldest son needed a costume made for Halloween. He brought over a store bought pattern (the one for the long coat worn in the Matrix), tons of fabric and internet instructions to alter the pattern to become Dr. Horrible’s lab coat.
Have you ever heard of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog? Well it is the rage with the 20-something internet crowd. I managed to get most of the costume done, but I had never done buttonholes. I called on my friend, Nan (who would not have had a problem with those requirements of cooking and sewing). She has a fabulous blog call Pots and Pins. Yes she is a gourmet cook and a seamstress extraordinaire. Nan came over and within a couple of hours had all the buttonholes finished and even finished the collar and hem for me! I owe her big time. (She is also a writer and has written an entertaining post about her experience helping me with this costume. She even gave me the idea to post Dr. Horrible’s picture. I tell ya.. what would I do without Nan!?!) Well, this card is for her.
It is also for Sharon Johnson’s (notimetostamp) Stamp Simply Challenge. Sharon’s challenge this week was to make an autumn card and incorporate button(s) into the design.
This very old leather button is one special button. It was a gift from Sharon herself! A couple of years ago she sent me the MOST wonderful bag of goodies… EVER!! Here is what she wrote about all the buttons she sent:
“…Then there’s the buttons – well, I have old button jars coming out of my ears!!! …Here is just a small assortment – some old and brownish looking, some prettier colors. But there is a bag with some very old leather buttons in it and you see those odd buttons in that bag with the huge eyes – they are Civil War underwear buttons – seriously, they are! You know, the one piece union suits.”
I’m still in disbelief that she sent me such treasures!! How could I not use one for her challenge and on this particular card going to someone who has helped me with buttonholes! It just all came together. lol
(Oh and if the colors and placement of the leaves on the tree looks familiar, it is because it is an exact CASE from my October 2008 Stampin’ Success magazine.)
The second card is for the Splitcoaststampers Inspiration Challenge #152.
The symbol stands for “friendship” which is stamped on the inside of the card. Each panel is 1-1/4″ wide.
I made both cards last night as I waited and waited for the ghosts and goblins to come to my door. Where have they all gone? I had a total of four trick-or-treaters. Last year I had seven. This doesn’t bode well for next year does it. 🙁
But hey at least I finally got in some stamping time!! 🙂
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Button Card (All stamps, paper and ink are Stampin’ Up!)
Stamps: Season of Friendship
Papers: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, “Autumn Vine” DSP
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, More Mustard, Sage Shadow
Accessories: Gingham Ribbon, Antique Leather Button, Sewing Machine, Linen Thread, Photo Corner Punch
Inspiration Card (All stamps, paper and ink are Stampin’ Up! except where noted.)
Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Symbols of Solicitude
Papers: Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White, Basic Grey “Urban Prairie” DP
Inks: Garden Green, Really Rust, Bravo Burgundy, So Saffron
Accessories: Organdy Ribbon, Kaiser Flatback Pearls, Primas, Paper Piercer and Template
Fabulous cards … love them both.
Susan, I really enjoyed reading your post tonight. Glad you got the costume finished with the help of your wonderful friend, Nan. I love your card and the ‘civil war’ button is the perfect touch for Sharon’s challenge. ( Can’t wait to receive this set. It seems like my order is taking forever!)
Oops. I forgot to mention that you Asian-inspired card is GORGEOUS!!
Susan, the things we do for love! I recall the same things in high school…girls weren’t allowed to take any “male oriented” subjects. It bothered me then, but I too have mellowed in my years, and now I see it as a reflection of how things have changed. I don’t think I could do buttonholes either!
Your card for Nan is awesome…speaks beautifully of friendship and is absolutely gorgeous. Your inspired card is breathtaking…wow! Love the three panels and the little flowers. It’s inspirational in it’s own right!
I love both cards. I just love the Season of Friendship set. I was playing with it earlier myself. I really love your version. Please post a picture of your sewing project. That is very cool your son wanted that as his Halloween costume!! Very fun!
always beautiful your work
Both absolutely fabulous cards, and the first couldn’t be more perfect for your friend, Nan! Sharon’s gift is truly an amazing treasure for only those most special cards like this one.
Both of the cards are so beautiful! Love the leather button! It does look special! The second card is amazing! Lovet he colors you chose and the panels! So gentle! Glad you have wondeful friends!
I looked at the blog of your friend who made you button holes – she has lots of good stuff! Her recipes look so delicious!
Simply stunning. I adore the way oyou’ve showcased Sharon Johnson’s old button. Man, sure wish I had a bag of old buttons. What a treasure!
Fabulous cards as always Susan! I love the button, wonderful design.
Hello Susan,
Both cards are very nice. The second one with the three panels is my favorite. It has some of my favorite things….simplicity and three colors that always work well together – blue, green, and yellow. Add in the piercings, small flowers with the understated bling, and it really comes together nicely. It will be ‘borrowed’ for my next club meeting this month, plus I have the stamp set and this is the perfect card for it!
-Annie
OMG, Susan…you sure did bring back some memories…I still remember the ugly outfit and the nasty egg salad I learned to make in 9th grade home ec!!! Yikes…gives me a chill!!! I love both your beautiful cards…The button is AWESOME and I love the meaning behind the gorgeous card!! The IS card is a real beauty, too…I love the panels and how you added the flowers to the grass….Amazing work!!!
Your cards are beautiful–I may have to borrow the colors from the first card. That button is so cool. We have always been history buffs at our house so it was fun to read about it. As for Dr. Horrible–love it. Have you seen it? It’s pretty funny. One of my favorite quotes. “The status is not quo.”
Both of your cards are wonderful, Susan!! I love your CASED card with your very special button from Sharon. It’s *perfect*!! Your inspiration card is so pretty as well!! I love all of the tiny flowers with pearls!!
Wonderful cards as always!!! I did a little sewing when my kids were little but my seams were NEVER straight. LOL
Love that leather button….what a cool way to use the button Sharon RAK’d you with! Is that even good grammar?—aaaack!
LeAnne
We must’ve grown up in the same era. lol I, too, had to take Home Ec (dare I admit that I loved it?). I love to cook, though I haven’t sewn in ages (except for some mending and my cards -lol). Your blog must’ve been where I found Nan’s blog — I subscribe and read her posts regularly as they come in (she’s absolutely hilarious and always has great recipes to share!) — so thanks! 😉
Your cards are both beautiful, so soft and lovely. I’m sure Nan will treasure your gesture of gratitude, just as you treasure each other’s friendship. (How nice to have a friend so willing to help out like that — that in itself IS a true treasure!) I loved reading about the buttons Sharon sent you (very sweet of her), and your choice to use that particular one for Nan’s card won’t be unappreciated (she likes antiques if I remember correctly; am I right?).
As always, thanks so much for the pleasure of viewing your work.
Ok, well I LOVE the cards. LOVE the story about the buttons, and I think I’d be afraid to use them! LOL!
I can’t sew either. I took an optional Home Ec kind of class and really should have bailed becuase I spent many nights crying and pulling my hair out over the sewing. I actually can do lines around reciving blankets and curtains. But its been about 4 years since I did that…. Cards are easier. 😀
I passed on getting Season of Friendship and Inspired by Nature, seeing how you used them I must buy them 🙂
These cards are so gorgeous! But I also had to comment on Dr. Horrible! I just learned about this myself – my brother is a fan – I had no idea what it was – he came over for pumpkin carving just before Halloween with a template, and asked if I could tell what it was – I said ‘a guy with glasses on top of his head???’ I was confused. But apparently my brother loves it enough to capture his likeness in pumpkin! 😀 I also visited the post about it on your friend Nan’s blog (and am now craving italian french fries, btw!) and noticed your comment on there – your son works for Google?!? How cool. That has to be a really fun place to work! (ok it’s late and I’m rambling, I need to stop typing in this comment box immediately…!) 😀