Stitching and Piercing Plates at Cheery Lynn Designs

Cheery Lynn Designs recently introduced a whole group of new and exciting dies during the 2011 Winter CHA in California, including Wickers and Weavers, Layered Stackers, Doilies, as well as our new Stitching and Piercing plates. Today my project focuses on using the new Stitching plates to add dramatic texture to your next papercraft project.

The Stitching and Piercing plates are a unique new product for papercrafters. They are used just like any thin metal die and emboss or die cut. Both Pierce and Stitch plates will cut through the paper (if used as a die cut) and are excellent for using to assist with hand-stitching your project. For fine threading we suggest you use the Piercing plates and for thicker threading material we suggest you use the Stitching plates.

While I am known to pull out my sewing machine now and again for use in my papercrafts, I have never been one to hand stitch anything (let alone paper) as much as I adore those projects that feature that technique. This is one of the reasons that I love the Stitching and Piercing plates. While they are a fantastic resource to assist with your hand-stitching you can also create your own threadless stitch or pierce patterns by embossing your cardstock using the rubber embossing pads, or you can use the plates like a die cut and really add dramatic texture to your project like I did when I created this gift tag.

I used the Large Square Stitching Plate on all of the cardstock I used for this project. I ran the cardstock and tag through my Big Shot just like any thin metal die I would be cutting with.  For this project I used some of the cardstock cut with the Stitching place face up and some face down, this created some added interest to the project, because the "look" of each side of the cardstock is just a little different after cutting it with the Stitcher plate. (For this project, I used the backside on the Kraft Cardstock and tag and the front side of the Cream and Rustic Cream cardstock I used.

After running the tag through my Big Shot with the Stitching Plate, I stamped it with a swirls-style background using a light brown ink (Stampin' Up Crumb Cake). I stamped the bird image directly on top of that with a cream ink (also Stampin' Up). I added both Kraft and Rustic Cream cardstock to the tag after die cutting it with the Scalloped Diamonds Border. To create the flowers I simply adhered the large and small petal on top of one another from the Poinsettia2 die. I love the fact that you can create flowers year-round with that die simply by altering what parts of the die you use and what color cardstock you cut. Next I added a small strip of cardstock at the top of the tag (I love how the stitching really stands out on that cream cardstock!), topped it with a sentiment and added a bit of bling with some Imaginisce Glam Rock and my I-Rock tool. Some ribbon tied up with twine finished off this tag that is filled with texture and dimension thanks to the Stitching plates I used... without having to thread a needle!

Enjoy your weekend and remember to stop by often, we have new projects posted for your inspiration daily right here at Cheery Lynn Designs blog!