Shabby Chic with Pile It On and Paper Sweeties

This week at Pile It On! our theme is "Shabby Chic" and we're looking forward to seeing your projects. If you're unfamiliar with the "Shabby Chic" style, there's a nice definition at the Card Concept. 

We're sponsored by Paper Sweeties and their owner, our former PIO teamie Debbie M, offered the DT a coupon so I couldn't resist splurging on some of her gorgeous seam binding! [Check out my other Shabby Chic card post to learn about a secret in these pearls!]

The seam binding is sold in 4-yard packs, which is perfect for this usage because I used little over half a yard for this bow. I followed the Delicate Bow Tutorial at Useful DIY to make the fancy bow using a fork.

There's a bit of a story behind the concept of this card... a crafting friend recently gifted me some Monogram wood stickers from Michaels, and since my initial is "C" I thought it would be fun to use it in a different way. I created the phrase très chic using alphabet stamps from the "Happy Day" set that came free with a magazine (Future Publishing Ltd). The letters were stamped with Vintage Photo distress ink, and I used Antique Linen for the rest of the ink distressing. I added a border of pearls with a Viva Liquid Pearl Pen.

The teapot was cut/embossed from the packaging cardboard that came with the Wood Stickers -- I just loved the bright pink, and using something recycled felt "shabby chic" -- using another Sizzix dies and a Cuttlebug embossing folder. It was white-core cardboard, so I sanded it, inked it, and sanded it again. The doilies were cut with the Lace Medallion Sizzix die from Graphic45 paper.


The cream background is pre-embossed with a tiny dotted pattern, and I matted that onto a piece of Idea-Ology glassine paper. I did the empty stitching on my sewing machine. I finished the card with some adhesive pearls swirls.

Shabby Tea Room #218

Inspiration/Challenges:

1. 613 Avenue Create: Make Your Own Challenge Board (1. Patterned Paper; 2. Die Cut + Embossing; 3. Liquid Pearls; 4. Pearls; 5. Ribbon & Stitching)
2. Craft-Dee BowZ May Challenge: Anything Goes with a Handmade Bow 
3. Craftitude Challenge #65: That's Die-licious (Use a Die)
4. DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge #132: Anything Feminine
5. Everybody Art #278: Shabby Chic
6. QKR Stampede: Punch or Dies
7. The Shabby Tea Room: Photo Inspiration + Teapot + Ribbon + Pearls
8. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Die Crazy (2nd entry)
9. Sunflower Fields Designs: Vintage/Shabby Chic/Rustic
10. Sweet Stamps Challenge #169: Polka Dots

Thank you for visiting, and hope you'll join us this week at Pile It On,