Monday, April 25, 2011

Simon Says Stamp & Show...Buttons

Happy Easter Monday Greetings!
Hope you're enjoying the long weekend, sun-rays and boom of blooms...Another new week, new challenge and inspiration galore over at Simon Says Stamp & Show - with one of my all time favourites - Buttons! Love, hoard and cherish them and couldn't wait to create something to show them off. On holiday last week I drew a few sketches and now here she is...

After some serious glue, digging and paint, I altered an old book into A Dressmakers Studio. I used Vintage Photo Distress Stains and Ink to age the white paint, then I stamped a frame of buttons on the left-hand side to balance out the piece. I stamped a strip of lint to create a tape measure and layed it across some stitched bias binding. I love to sew, so I just could not resist these Haberdashery Stamps and participated in a little Haute Couture!


I stamped the mannequin three times onto the book, then just the bodice again onto card and cut them out.Then I designed a skirt and accessories for each one...This mademoiselle is wearing lace tiers and a wired press-studded bustier! Each lady has her own outfit and attitude...

 Just love this vintage image. I stamped directly onto the book, then a second time onto brown paper so I could paper piece certain sections.

 The stamps work well on natural Sticky back Canvas. Just great to sew on too and the texture is perfect for a needle book. Washers, lace, a rosette trimming, pins, scraps and ribbons form a gathering of goodies...yummy!


Here I've used the canvas again to stamp the reel labels. I've glued a few real buttons on top of stamped ones for a dash of colour, and depth.


My mega yet mini Glossy Accents bottle did some great work I must say...

Another trim waist sporting a stamped tissue paper skirt and chunky belt... check out the washer buckle - now ain't that just dinky!




Three Memo Pins hold some stamped Mica scraps and are then threaded into the lace...glad 'sew' only has three letters! Added a strip of ribbon and golden thread too.
 Here is a stitched paper frill made from Glassine paper - just like the ones I made for the skirt on my first lady. Showing off a few sweeties from my vintage button stash!

 I have to admit it was another intensive process, with a lot of what I call fiddily-diddily. But it is also very, very rewarding. I am always totally engrossed during the creative process and lose all track of time...
 I decided to decorate the cover too, but I really wanted quite a simple modest look, seeing as the inside is quite detailed.  I personally love all that open space...and not a flower in sight!

I've used trusty Coffee Archival Ink to stamp the single mannequin image, paper doilies and various snippets - to give a taster of what's to come...



The spine has been covered with a strip of button tape, coloured with the Distress Stain and then finished with a swoosh of Viva Gold.

On the back cover - just one more stamp and a strip of stamped measuring tape for that finishing touch!

Lots of pictures today... all to inspire you and get your mojo all a go-go! What's buzzing in your mind and fingers??? Buttons can be anything you want them to be. I'd love to see your ideas and it's really great seeing your creations appear on the challenge blog. See more great projects from the Design Team there too! You could be in with a chance of making the Top Three and gaining the coveted Winners button or maybe you fancy a $50 spending spree...!!!


So time to round things up for today - I'm off to a car-boot sale!!!! Thanks for dropping by, do say hello if you've got time - it's always nice to meet you all.
Ciao for now,

Sarah.

29 comments:

Jo said...

Oh this is so lovely, the muted colours,the layout and all the little design elements - love the attention to detail.

jo
xx

Kaz Hall said...

Oh Sarah, this design piece is just beautiful, charming and full of brilliance, I have to keep going back for more peeps.
love it!

kazx

Αlex... said...

Hi!Love your project!You are an inspiration!
Alexandra :)

Nancy Wethington said...

Beautiful! Have to show my CYI group this book!

Minxy said...

I absolutely fell in love with this the minute i saw it, it's truly stunning, and if it should need a new home i'd be more than willing to look after it lol
Just beautiful <3

Peggy Parker said...

Very appealing - so many fine details to admire and explore!

Unknown said...

STUNNING!

Terry said...

My goodness Sarah, really AMAZING what you made with the buttons...wowzersss everything looks just GREAT. Thanks for sharing teamie, hugs terry xxx

Emma Williams said...

Stunning!! Love your work and now started following your blog! Can't wait to see more of it!
Emma x

Marjie Kemper said...

Wow... this is stunning! You've done an amazing job. Those little skirts are killer as are so many of your details. Love it.

Gabrielle said...

This is just lovely. Thank you for stopping by my blog - very much appreciated!

Candy C said...

Sarah...This is just amazingly beautiful! LOVE all the detail you did on this. Absolutely stunning piece! <3 Candy

Paperfanatic said...

This is amazing, I love all the textures and colours. I am now a follower of your lovely blog

Sherry said...

Totally gorgeous and inspirational!

Angelnorth said...

Lovely artsy piece, the different skirt styles for the mannequins are fab!

Scrappy~Sarah said...

beautiful work :)

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Oh my, Sarah, I can't tell you how beyond amazing I think this project is. I am in love! It is perfect down to the smallest detail. Thank you for describing everything. This is truly a work of art!

So glad you are back in the swing of things again! Hope you had a fabulous trip.

Hugs,
Linda

Lori said...

Totally gorgeous book, Sarah, love the sewing theme, and the neutral tones are wonderful!

KAT said...

This is really fabulous!!! I love the different dresses on each of the dress forms and the use of the glassine paper - just little touches here and there. The mica behind the idea-ology... The is "sew" perfect!!!

Cindy said...

Absolutely beautiful! I love sewing and you've really captured the essence of it in your project.

Hugs XX
Barbara

Rhea said...

This is really really lovely! Very elegant with thoughtful touches, just fab.

Sid said...

Gorgeous art !!

Pastila said...

Gorgeous work!!

Rosana Garcia Hess said...

lovely project....I´ll feature on my blog. Hope you don´t mind. I´m a new follower
hugs from Brazil

Gillian .... said...

Sarah .... This stunning DT project caught my eye immediately, it is absolutely breathtaking .. I love every single little detail .. Bravo. x

email: Steph@SimonSaysStamp.com said...

Wow!! I just love the dress form..and the way you put the lace around the skirt line..brill!

*mwah*
Steph
Simon Says Stamp

Linda Brun said...

Hi Sarah. Thank you for great comment in my blog and meeting with you at Pacs where great fun. Your dressmakerstudio looks fantastic, with all the details. Specially love the dress form. Have to take a look at those stamps.
Big hug to you!

Kezzy said...

Wow wow just saw the pic on woyww and just had to have a look, and its stunning, a beautiful piece of altered art. Kezzy x

craftytrog said...

Your altered book is a stunner Sarah! Love the way you dressed those 'forms'! Going back for another look! x