If you enjoy hand-stitching on your paper craft projects, you’ll fine the new Essentials Stitched Arches and Hexagon Dies right up your alley! They work well with the original Essentials Arches and Hexagon Dies.

I die cut the stitched arch first through a woodgrain textured paper, then nested the appropriate fitting plain arch inside and ran it through my machine to get the window effect. After blanket stitching the perimeter, I mounted it with foam tape to a grey base card, and then added the other elements.

Creating these stripes was relatively quick and easy—I actually wished I had some metallic floss at the time I was making this sample; it would have been so pretty! Note to self: Snag some metallic floss ASAP!!!

For the above sample, I had watercolored several backgrounds onto quarter sheets of watercolor paper and set them aside for some future project when it struck me that the Hot Foil Snowflake Stamp would really look pretty against it, so I whipped out my Gemini Foil Press and tried it! I can’t even tell you the monkey clapping that went on when I peeled back that foil sheet and saw my gorgeous, shiny snowflake!

Now, truthfully I thought the card was gorgeous as it was, without the baker’s twine, but I added it, crossing my fingers that I hadn’t just ruined perfection . . . WHEW!!! It’s a nice addition—not necessary, but it doesn’t detract, either. That’s kinda rare for me—usually when I had more, I ruin things.

So, I’ll take it—three card making WINS!!! Go, me! (virtual high five)

We’ve been dealing with high wind storms and power outages this week—hope y’all are staying safe out there and thanks for stopping by!

SUPPLIES:

• Sweet Surprises by Julie Ebersole, Essentials by Ellen Clear Stamps

• Sweet Surprises by Julie Ebersole, Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies

• Essential Arches for Stitching, Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies

• Essential Arches, Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies

• Essential Hexagons for Stitching, Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies

• Snowflakes, Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies

• Snowflake, Essentials by Ellen Hot Foil Stamps

• Tag It - Christmas, Essentials by Ellen Clear Stamps

• Farmhouse Tags, Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies

• Holly Jolly Christmas by Julie Ebersole, Essentials by Ellen Clear Stamps

• VersaMark Ink Pad

• Solar White - 25 pk, Neenah Classic Crest Cardstock

• Mushroom, Concord & 9th Premium Color Cardstock

• Desert Storm - 25 pk, Neenah Environment Cardstock

• Watercolor Paper Pad 9x12, Canson XL

• Stampendous Embossing Powder, Detail White, 0.76 oz.

• Silver Fine Detail, Gina K Designs Embossing Powder

• Dual Speed Heat Tool, WOW

• Garnet, DMC Embroidery Floss, Essentials By Ellen

• Christmas Red, DMC Embroidery Floss, Essentials By Ellen

• Tin, DMC Embroidery Floss, Essentials By Ellen

• Black Tie, Lawn Fawn Hemp Cord

• 36 Color Set, Gansai Tambi

• Large Fine Point (23637), Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush

• Mottler Flat Wash 30, DaVinci Cosmotop Spin Brush (Retiring)

• Scor-Tape 1/4' (5mm), Scor-Pal Tape

• Scrapbook Adhesives Crafty Foam Tape, White

• Silver, Gemini FoilPress Papercraft Foil Rolls

• FoilPress Machine, Crafter's Companion Gemini

• Crafter's Companion Gemini Junior

• Platinum 6 Die Cutting And Embossing Machine, Spellbinders Tools

Disclosure: I include affiliate links to the products used in my projects and make a small commission when you purchase via those links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for buying all the things!