Creating gorgeous patterns with stamps is something that most stampers have played with at one time or another. Now you can do just that, with gingham as your base, using these creative new stamps, dies and papers! "Chicken scratch" may make you think of messy hand-writing or.....chickens!......but after today, it should make you think of vintage embroidery techniques! Check it out...
It's time to kick your gingham backgrounds up a level by taking them back in time with vintage-style Chicken Scratch stitches. Also known as Amish embroidery, gingham cross-stitch, or depression lace, Chicken Scratch is the craft of using gingham patterned fabric as a stitching guide for creating a faux lace appliqué on projects. Instead of using floss, use ink to the same effect to create gorgeous backgrounds and focal points to your paper projects. For additional versatility, the stitch patterns in Chicken Scratch coordinate with the holes in the Cover Plate: Chicken Scratch die and the large scale gingham.
Erin has put together a wonderful download that includes lots of examples of how to use this amazing collection of products!
CLICK HERE to Download Printable Chicken Scratch Examples portfolio
The Details:
- Chicken Scratch will be available for purchase on March 15th.
- It will retail for $15.
- Chicken Scratch contains a total of 22 images. The large, eight petal flower measures approximatel 1 and 3/4 inches by 1 and 3/4 inches. The "good intentions" sentiment measures approximately 3 inches by 3/4 inches. The eight square gingham strip measures approximately 2 and 5/8 inches by 3/8 inches.
- A coordinating die will be made available for sale separately, retailing for $16. Pair up the Cover Plate: Chicken Scratch die with the coordinating Chicken Scratch stamp set and you can stamp the stitches in place or use floss to make your own stitches. Measures 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".
Background Basics: Super Gingham is here to bring sweet, homespun style to your next project. Both strips are sized to fit entirely across the long side of an A2 card and extra wide bases will make lining up a breeze. In addition, the scale of the large gingham pattern coordinates with the stitches in the Chicken Scratch stamp set and Cover Plate for even more design possibilities.
The Details:
- Background Basics: Super Gingham will be available for purchase on March 15th.
- It will retail for $18.
- Background Basics: Super Gingham contains a total of 4 images. Both the thick and thin gingham patterns measure approximately 6" x 1 1/4". Both small patterned stamps measure approximately 1" x 1 1/2".
For a shortcut option, this paper pad features ginghams in a variety of colors that are sized just right for the stamped stitches as well! Includes Aqua Mist, Lavender Moon, Fine Linen, Spring Moss, Harvest Gold and Melon Berry!
Note: Unfortunately this paper collection was not completed at the time of team box shipments, so you won't see these papers appearing in their projects today. However, it will be available for sale on the 15th along with the rest of the March release.
The Details:
- Chicken Scratch Gingham paper pad will be available for purchase on March 15th.
- It will retail for $10.
- Chicken Scratch Gingham paper pad contains 36 (4-1/4" x 5-1/2") sheets, 6 sheets each of 6 designs.
- Printed on our signature white linen paper.
- Coordinates with Aqua Mist, Lavender Moon, Fine Linen, Spring Moss, Harvest Gold and Melon Berry.
Now that I've made all of the formal introductions, let's get onto the projects!
Erin's new Chicken Scratch collection is a fantastic way to add the popular *vintage homespun* look to your projects. Whether you build borders, backgrounds or focal points, there are just tons of uses for this gorgeous set! I opted to start out with a quick and easy border that would accent this Big Hugs sentiment.
The script "hugs" is die-cut three times from white cardstock and stacked together. The companion sentiment from Big Hugs is added underneath that with White Filigree Embossing Powder.
I stamped the side of a Hibiscus Burst block with the smaller print in Background Basics: Super Gingham using Pure Poppy ink.
I then added the Chicken Scratch stitches using White Filigree Embossing Powder and Aqua Zing! Embossing Powder.
This design can work well with a huge variety of large die-cut words!
Here is another take on a border, this time using the larger print in the Background Basics: Super Gingham set.
I used one of the Half & Half dies with New Leaf cardstock to create the sentiment banner at the top. The sentiment is heat embossed with White Filigree Embossing Powder.
The banner and the card front are die-cut with one of the Stitching Lines dies and stitched together using white crochet thread.
The gingham border is stamped in Spring Rain and then the Chicken Scratch stitches are stamped in Blueberry Sky and New Leaf.
This little card is one of my favorites, mostly because I'm crazy about anything with chickens on it! The new Cover Plate: Chicken Scratch is easy to use as a frame because of a gingham border strip stamp included in the new Chicken Scratch stamp set.
I stamped just the outer border of the die-cut card cover using Winter Wisteria ink.
Tip: Use a post-it note at the end of the rows if your border stamp is going to extend past the end.
It was SO easy to add stitches to all of the solid block of the gingham since the holes are already die-cut and perfectly measured!
I cut a block of white cardstock to fit within the middle of the frame and cover up all of the remaining stitching holes. The block was trimmed with pinking shears.
The chicken from On the Farm is added to the block with Plum Pudding. Underneath that I added a sentiment from Meadow Greens using Charcoal Palette ink.
I can see myself making these in dozens of different colors!
For this card I thought it would be fun to do some actual Chicken Scratch stitching using the pre-cut holes from the Cover Plate: Chicken Scratch die. I cut the cover plate from Pure Poppy cardstock and then trimmed it down to 4-1/4" tall to make it square.
I did a bit of browsing online and found a stitch that caught my eye and recreated it super-sized using white crochet thread. There are so many fun stitches, it was hard to pick just one!
Tip: To adhere this cover plate after it has been stitched, use 1/8" Scor-tape all around the outside edge. You will get thorough adhesion and there will be no worry of adhesive showing through the stitching holes.
I added a tag using dies and stamps from the previously released Cuppa Love collection. The tag was cut from white cardstock and then stamped in True Black, Summer Sunrise, Pure Poppy and Simply Chartreuse.
The tag is tied in place with black crochet thread. I can't wait to experiment with other Chicken Scratch stitches using this type of layout!
Now that you have seen a few of my creations, here are some of the amazing things that the team has created!
Amy says, "Chicken Scratch is such an innovative and clever take on the embroidery technique! You'll love creating all sorts of patterns using the many different stitches. Try combining different floss colors, whether stamped thread or actual thread, for even more variety. Just like snowflakes, no two patterns will be exactly alike!"
CLICK HERE to see more from Amy Sheffer.
Ashley says, "One word that describes Chicken Scratch is fascinating. I'm new to chicken scratch designs, but how quickly you can familiarize yourself with this homemade style. Chicken Scratch is a stamp lover's dream set - allowing you to stamp countless patterns. Then, you can combine them with Background Basics: Super Gingham and obtain even more design possibilities. Like stitching? Cover Plate: Chicken Scratch makes adding hand stitching to your projects a breeze. Check out my projects to see what I created...from scratch!"
CLICK HERE to see more from Ashley Cannon Newell.
Betsy says, “What a fun concept Erin has put together for us with her Chicken Scratch collection! I’ve always loved the look of chicken scratch embroidery…I just never knew what it was called! Stop over and check out my projects - one quick and easy and another that features some multi-color embossing.”
CLICK HERE to see more from Betsy Veldman.
Danielle says, "Oh my goodness. This is one of those concepts that just allows your creativity to show through as you play with all of the different possilibities! I don't think there could be two cards alike with these stamps and dies, there are just so many different ways you could use them! I had a blast trying different color combos with this amazing stamp set, and I know you will too!"
CLICK HERE to see more from Danielle Flanders.
Dawn says, "Chicken Scratch is one of those embroidery techniques that I hadn't ever heard of but have quickly fallen in love with! There are just so many options for the colors you can mix and match and the patterns you can create! You'll love building backgrounds and so much more with these new products! I hope you'll pop over to my blog, to see what I've created using them!"
CLICK HERE to see more from Dawn McVey.
Heather says, "I remember my mom doing chicken scratch embroidery when I was younger and so stamping with the new Chicken Scratch set was so much fun and brought back some fun memories. Once you get going with building patterns for your projects, you aren't going to want to stop!"
CLICK HERE to see more from Heather Nichols.
Laura says, "Who knew Chicken Scratch could be so fun, so colorful? I'm sold! I love that you can customize it to your own style. Warning...once you start, you won't be able to stop stamping patterns with this set."
CLICK HERE to see more from Laura Bassen.
Laurie says, "I have to admit, I had to look this one up before I got started, but once I saw this particular kind of stitching, I remembered my grandmas pillow cases and table cloths from so many years ago. This fun new set and die help make that sitting even easier. I put some fun colors together and have a couple of cards to share today, using the new Chicken Scratch set. "
CLICK HERE to see more from Laurie Willison.
Maile says, "I had a blast working with this set! I may have taken a step out of the box with today's feature, but that just expresses how versatile and great this set truly is!"
CLICK HERE to see more from Maile Belles.
Melissa says, “Chicken Scratch is going to wrap itself around your heart and take you back to your roots. Such a delightful concept filled with so many possibilities.”
CLICK HERE to see more from Melissa Phillips.
I hope you have enjoyed all these amazing creations that both the team and I have shared with you today! Were you already familiar with the term "chicken scratch" as it relates to embroidery or is this technique totally new to you? Are you excited to begin building your own unique backgrounds and focal points with these new Chicken Scratch products? We would love to hear your initial thoughts on everything we introduced! Please leave a comment on this post to tell us what you think of the new products and you will be eligible to win big!
$75 Papertrey Ink Gift Certificate
to spend however you choose!
You have until 7am EST, March 13th to leave your comment and be eligible to win. Only one comment per person please. One randomly selected winner will be announced on our March Release Winners Page before noon EST the same day. Thank you for stopping by today and best of luck with the contest!
CLICK HERE to see more from Erin Lincoln. While she did not get the Chicken Scratch product line in time to create projects today, she does have a lot of inspiration to share along with another Sewing Staples project!
CLICK HERE to see more from Lizzie Jones.
HUGS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY CARD
- STAMPS: Chicken Scratch, Background Basics: Super Gingham (available March 15th) Big Hugs
- INK: Pure Poppy, VersaMark
- PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Hibiscus Burst
- OTHER: Big Hugs die, White Filigree Embossing Powder, Zing! Embossing Powder (Aqua)
- FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"
LOVELY DAY CARD
- STAMPS: Chicken Scratch, Background Basics: Super Gingham (available March 15th) Scrolling Script
- INK: Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, New Leaf, VersaMark
- PAPER: Stamper's Select White, New Leaf
- OTHER: Stitching Lines die, Half & Half die, White Filigree Embossing Powder, white crochet thread
- FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"
STITCHED KINDNESS CARD
- STAMPS: Chicken Scratch (available March 15th) On the Farm, In the Meadow
- INK: Winter Wisteria, Plum Pudding, Charcoal Palette
- PAPER: Stamper's Select White
- OTHER: Cover Plate: Chicken Scratch die, pinking shears, embroidery floss
- FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"
CHICKEN SCRATCH TAKE CARE CARD
- STAMPS: Cuppa Love
- INK: True Black, Summer Sunrise, Pure Poppy, Simply Chartreuse
- PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy
- OTHER: Cover Plate: Chicken Scratch die, white crochet thread, black crochet thread
- FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/2" x 4-1/2"
