Bring on the Chicken Scratch!

My Chicken Scratch products from the March Papertrey Ink Release made their way to me. It's been a flurry of activity ever since. So much fun to create with this group of products. I'm working on a big post with lots of cards on it, but I thought I'd pop in here with the first card I created. Because I just couldn't wait!

I had already been working on this card when my package arrived. I had the bouquet wrap made from the Scissor Keeper Dies from the Quick Stitch Sewing Staples Kit and I had the flowers cut, stamped and ready to go (the kit exclusive stamp set). I was just uninspired as to how to place them on my card.

Then the mail came. And low and behold, the perfect solution! I took a piece of the Fine Linen gingham paper from the Chicken Scratch Paper Pad and trimmed it down. Then I just took the "x" stamp from Chicken Scratch and stamped it in Blueberry Sky ink on the dark squares along the border. Perfect. And so very easy. Very simple way to "scratch". :) The scale of the gingham in the paper pad matches the size of the stitches for those times you want a completely no-brainer chicken scratch application.

I have been wanting to try the original form of chicken scratch embroidery for some time now. Crazy to think about that I got inspired for the all the Chicken Scratch stamping products without having seen this particular embroidery style in real life. Only way to solve that is to make some myself. And thus, we now have two Chicken Scratch Scissor Keepers being put to use at my house.

I first made one the basic way, with the scalloped liner layers from the Scissor Keeper Dies (Quick Stitch: Sewing Staples Kit). I used Heat N' Bond to adhere and stabilize my black gingham fabric to my felt. You can see a video tutorial here on how to do that. Then I just sort of made up my design. I have a close up of it here so you can do it to if you so wish. I bought the fabric at Joann's and the squares seem to be sized to 1/4".

My second attempt was a subtly different. Obviously I cut off the handles and didn't use the scalloped liner portion of the Scissor Keeper. I also cut the gingham at an angle. See how it is oriented on the diagonal here? It doesn't make much difference in the stitched design towards the top, but lower down, where the scissor keeper narrows, it looks less blocky to me, which I like better I think. What is your preference?

More Chicken Scratch to come over the next few days!  Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies

Mother Day Card
Stamps: Quick Stitch Kit: Sewing Staples exclusive, Chicken Scratch, Happy Hydrangea, Keep It Simple: Mother
Dies:  Quick Stitch Kit: Sewing Staples (scissor keeper, flowers + leaves), Happy Hydrangea
Paper: Chicken Scratch Pad, Dearest Jane
Colors: Blueberry Sky, Ocean Tides, Winter Wisteria, Aqua Mist, Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss, Dark Chocolate

Scissor Keepers
Dies: Quick Stitch: Sewing Staples Kit
Felt: Raspberry Fizz, Tropical Teal
Floss
Gingham Fabric