Saturday 7 May 2016

First Jems Blog Hop!

Firstly, welcome to my new blog!  Please leave a comment to let me know you've been here (and show me I'm not talking to myself!)  I'd love to hear your thoughts on my projects.

I've chosen a very special event to mark the launch of Jolie Paperie - the inagural Jems Blog Hop.  The Jems are an amazing team of Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrators, headed up by the brilliant Julie Kettlewell.  Being part of this team is one of the best things I've ever done.  It's an honour to be part of such an inspirational group of women.



If you've come to me via my lovely Stampin' Up! "Mummy" Julie Kettlewell, welcome!  Isn't her project amazing? What an act to follow!

Our theme this month is Retired Products, and I've used the Birthday Bouquet papers from the Spring/Summer catalogue (probably my favourite papers EVER, I'm going to be so sad to see them go) and the Perfect Pennants stamp set from the Annual Catalogue, which is full of positive and uplifting sentiments.



I wanted to keep the beautiful papers as the focus, so I've chosen a very simple design with a delicate vellum banner, embossed in gold and stitched on with gold thread.  A sprinkling of gold sequins completes the look.


Here's a close up of the embossed sentiment and stitching.  I'll let you in on a secret - I don't have a sewing machine...I used my paper piercer to poke holes and then sewed it by hand (you don't want to see the back!)

Here's another example using the ice cream cone paper..


And another close up...


I liked the way the loose threads looked, so I pulled them through to the front.  But for those who like things neat, I did another sample with the threads tucked neatly away, and pierced two rows of holes so I could cross stitch.


Such a delicate, feminine looking project, I think.

And finally, all the cards together.


Thank you for visiting, hope you liked my projects and my new blog...I'd like to invite you to subscribe if you'd like to see more from me.  Next stop on the hop is the lovely Samantha Webster.  Enjoy!

Stay jolie,
Allie xx