Embroidered Kitten

     For the last 7 years or so my once-beloved sewing machine has taken a backseat to my paper crafting.  In fact, when I moved nearly 4 years ago, I left the embroidery attachment and the quilting kit packed away although I did unpack my actual sewing machine.  I've done a few things with it, mostly Christmas projects, but for the most part it has been tucked away in a corner, sad and lonely.

     Last weekend, I dug out the embroidery attachment because I had been given a new-to-me data card for the machine, filled with cute animals and insects and flowery patterns normally used for dressing up kids clothes or even household linens.  What I hadn't thought about was the possibility of making embroidered appliques but after testing one or two of the small flower patterns on some scraps of muslin, here's what happened (see card below.)  I think I may have discovered a new addiction (plus a way to combine my two favorite things - sewing and card making) !!

     What do you think?  Once I had the machine set up and programmed with the data card, it took about 9 minutes for the machine to make the kitten; I had to change thread for the kitten's ears and again for the butterfly (twice).  But it took me longer than all of that to hand cut the applique with scissors (Note to self - get your tiny embroidery scissors sharpened!) keeping the kitten and butterfly all together as one piece.

     Obviously, the "coloring" was done with the various threads instead of my usual markers but I did have to choose the threads.  Once it was cut out, I used white fabric glue to attach the applique to some scrap CS, then trimmed that to fit.  The CS acted as a stiffener so that the kitten wouldn't curl.

     I die cut the scalloped circle with a die from Memory Box and the scalloped frame was cut with a Sue Wilson die, then run through my 'Linen" embossing folder.  I glued the applique to the circle, then layered it onto the Sue Wilson piece, and all of that went onto a piece of dp from the Linen Closet stack by DCWV.  I chose papers that had beautiful Wedgewood blues to compliment the blue-gray of the kitten, but in the photo the blues look more "sky" blue.

     The only other thing needed was the little satin bow and it was finished.  I see many more of these in the future.  However, I'm now going to have to start budgeting for more data cards for the embroidery attachment.  Why does everything crafty that I love end up costing so much?  :-D

     Challenges:
Butterfly
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Kraftin' Kimmie
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paper Shelter
Scrapy Land
SUYP Cats
WordArt Weds.
World Wide Open DT

     Well, that's it for me today.  I'm going back to the sewing machine and make up more appliques from some of the flower designs.  I'm sure with more practice I'll get better and things will go faster.  I've already promised myself that I'll make at least two of each applique design on that data card, using different color combos and put them in my stash before I go and buy another one.  The cards run from $35 to $75 depending on how many designs are on it.  See, I told you it would be an expensive addiction!  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie