Friday, June 28, 2013

I Put A Stamp On It!

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I'm happy to be participating in another blog hop. Thanks to Madame Samm and Thearica for cheering us on in this one!

I knew right away that I wanted to do a stamp set instead of a single stamp, and that I wanted to do something old-fashioned looking. And most importantly, for ease of making this project, I wanted to do a faux-stamp edge. But more on that later.

I started looking around for clip art that I could use to create four stamps within a stamp set. And I found an awesome artist on Etsy, and purchased this clip art. Isn't it great? My theme became clear...Gents!

I imported the clip art into Photoshop, and added text. I randomly picked 5 cents as my stamp price, because I've always liked the number and I was trying to be old-fashioned! But later on in the process, I decided to use the price of a stamp in the year I was born (1963). And what do you think that turned out to be? Yup, 5 cents. So either I'm psychic, or I accessed some latent memory, because I assure you I did not consciously recall the price of a stamp from 50 years ago!

Anyway, back to the project...

Next, I selected a linen-look cream fabric for my backgrounds. I wanted to do black on cream, so I used black wool felt for my appliques. I printed my graphics out and traced them all onto freezer paper. I then cut them out from the black wool felt with fusible web applied to the back. For the blocks, I used my 12.5" square ruler, and added fusible fleece to give the fabric body and to use as the batting. I hand appliqued the designs with two strands of black DMC floss, and stitched an interior border with six-strands. Here's one of the blocks:

 After appliqueing all four blocks, I joined them together with 1/4" seams:

Here's where the faux-stamp edge comes in. I looked around for a trim that I could use. I was thinking about jumbo ric-rac, but then I found this ric-rac ribbon. It's thinner than traditional ric-rac and wider, and I thought it would work well. (I actually purchased the ribbon through amazon.com.)

Using a zig-zag stitch near the edge, I machine-stitched the ribbon over the seams where the blocks were joined. I realize that stamp books don't usually have black backgrounds, but I wanted to set off the cream-colored stamps and give them the illusion of a wavy edge.
Then, I added it to the outside edges so that half of the ribbon was hanging off. I planned to use this as my binding later. Next, I cut another piece of the beige fabric for my backing, and did some quilting. This is my first real attempt at machine quilting, and to be kind to myself I'll say it turned out "rustic." But it actually worked pretty well with the folk art feel of the piece. I quilted around each stamp border, following the waves of the ribbon. Then, I quilted a box just inside of the inner borders. I left the area around the designs alone so they'd stand out more. Finally, I folded the ribbon over the edges, and hand stitched it on the back, and added a sleeve on the back for a dowel for hanging.

Here's the final piece...from a distance so you can't see my messy quilting too well I hope!

All-in-all I'm happy with how it turned out! It measures 24" square (more or less), and will eventually hang in our home office.

I'd appreciate any comments you'd like to leave, and be sure to visit the other creative people on today's list!



64 comments:

  1. This is so creative! I love it!! New follower on BL. jan@http://sewandsowfarm.blogspot.com/

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  2. wonderful ! I am so fascinated by the many techniques everyone used to make their edges. Ric Rac Ribbon..... I think I might need some of that. It would probably look sweet on a baby quilt

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  3. Love your Gent's stamps! The Ric Rac ribbon looks wonderful. Thank you for sharing.

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  4. Oh gosh, that is just so darn cute! Really cute!

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  5. Love your stamps! They are just soooo handsome!

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  6. Your stamp is so cool!!!! Thanks for sharing and being part of this hop

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  7. Fabulous !!!!
    Love the idea !!
    I would of never though of it but I really like it !
    Thanks for inspiring me :-)

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  8. Great stamps - this is the first set I've seen!
    Thank you for sharing!

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  9. So cute your stamp. Looking lovely. Thanks for sharing

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  10. That is a very unique and clever stamp!

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  11. Your stamp is unique - simple, uncluttered! The ribbon works well. Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. stunning, adorable and for some strange reason, I feel like smoking a cigar? lol
    take a peak, well you know...

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  13. I love what you did with your stamps! Great design - love it!

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  14. This is really cute! Love the idea of the ric-rac edges... I haven't seen any of the ribbon, but I'll be on the look out. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. I really like what you did for your stamp on it. It is clean and unique

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  16. I love the black & white - great stamp ;)

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  17. How cute is your stamp! It's very original and nostalgic. Love it.

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  18. That is just awesome!!....it all came together so well!! Love it!! Thanks!!

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  19. Love the creative design!! Your stamps are fabulous!!

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  20. I adore your "gents" such a fun design!!

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  21. great job and wonderful idea! The rick rack turned out fantastic. You stamps are really cute!

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  22. Congratulations on being a top pick today! Your stamp is certainly creative and pretty!

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  23. Wow ! Very well done. The black really makes the stamps stand out. Great choices all the way around.

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  24. This is wonderful...I just love it...I can see an actual stamp made like this can't you....have a great day

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  25. Creative and wonderful, love the gents stamp.

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  26. Great idea. Love the stamp book effect.

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  27. Great use of simple clip art! Love the theme and the use of giant rick

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  28. How great is that you got 4 stamps in one! Such a great looking stamp too.

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  29. Love your stamps with the vintage look although some of your graphics are much older than 1963-the year I graduated from high school. Thanks for sharing.

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  30. This is just adorable! What a great ETSY find you made! Love what you did with it!

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  31. Looking good, Elizabeth! The quilting looks fine from here. The black background works perfectly and provides contrast so I would say, creative license is a must!

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  32. What a great design! I love your project, including the black. I've not been machine quilting very long, and it gets easier rather quickly. I'm no professional, but after a few projects, I feel competent. Yours looks great!

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  33. Just like the US postal service- 4 stamps with the same theme! love it!

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  34. Great theme..love the old fashion feel. Congrats on being one of the chosen. Thanks for sharing.

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  35. Cute, cute stamp...love the masculine and vintage look of it! Great way to trim it, too. Thanks for hopping with us! :O)

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  36. Great for guys! I just love it!

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  37. Your stamps are super. Love how they turned out.

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  38. Very Dapper Gents! Thanks for sharing them.

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  39. Very clever idea. Thanks for sharing.

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  40. Right on with the latest trend...mustaches!. Cute, cute, cute.

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  41. I just love them....so cute. How creative, I just love the idea. Definitely the most creative today!!!

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  42. very nice - I like your idea for the ric rac ribbon too!

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  43. Great! Very clever and well put together. I like the rick rack idea and never heard of the ribbon rick rack. Too cool.

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  44. That was very creative to use rick rack to make the wavy edges of the stamps.

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  45. I'm just wild over your stamps!!
    Really unique and imaginative!
    Thanks for sharing.
    cheers
    maggie

    maggiemine42@gmail.com

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  46. The most creative is well deserved!

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  47. Very cool and unique. Very nice!

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  48. Congrats on being the creative pick of the day! Your project is just so unique and clever. Thanks for sharing.

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  49. Very cute. Stamps. Great idea to make the wavy design. It looks wonderful as the edge.

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  50. Very neat and I like the way you incorporated all 4 stamps into one project. Wonderful ribbon - it sure looks like a stamp edge.

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  51. Love love love it!!! Congrats on being most creative!!

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  52. Very, very cute and to the point. Love it.

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  53. Very creative and sophisticated with the black and white .

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  54. all your research really paid off, this is adorable. I really like it. Thanks for the fun

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  55. Elizabeth, you have made a great little treasure! It is adorable. Congrats for being in the top picks for the day. Thanks for sharing in the hop. Janita

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