Would you believe stitching can be traced through history back to the ice age about 20,000 years ago? Although techniques have changed and we’ve evolved to present day sewing machines, clearly sewing isn’t a fleeting trend! While people of the ice age likely didn’t anticipate the use of stitching on our modern day scrapbook layouts, lucky for us, We have adapted and evolved the use of stitching as a timeless touch in our scrapbook repertoire. Companies such as Mustard Moon and Heidi Grace have caught onto the trend, making it easy for even the most apprehensive of seamstresses to add the look to their pages!

Machine and hand stitching is the most obvious way to achieve a tailored look on your projects. Intimidating at first, but trying your hand at paper sewing quickly becomes addicting. Through trial and error, you’ll quickly find the technique and style that suits your designs. Stitching with a sewing machine is not significantly different from sewing fabrics. However, even if you aren’t a seamstress, don’t be afraid to take the leap and stitch on your pages. Machine and hand stitching alike can be formally designed with straight lines and traditional stitches, or in contrast as freeform and organic as you like! Be creative, the design options are endless.

Things to remember when stitching by hand or machine:

• Always test your machine stitching on a scrap sheet of paper first
• If you don’t lock your stitch (run the beginning and end of your stitching through a few times to secure the stitch), be certain to tape down the loose ends on the back side of your layout to keep it from unraveling
• If hand stitching, for even stitches, use a ruler to mark and pierce holes before adding thread.
• For hand stitching, an embroidery thread works well and comes in a variety of great colors

Stitch-inspired elements and accents are a great alternative to machine/hand stitching. For those apprehensive of needle stitching, there are several great alternative products you can use to achieve the desired tailored elements without much fuss. For example, products such as Heidi Graces decorative pins (new designs arriving soon at Lifetime Moments), Cloud Nine gel stitches (arriving soon), Doodlebug sew easy rub-on stitches and the variety of stamps with stitch designs let you explore the sewing world with having to thread a single needle!

Sewing-inspired paper lines are popping up in the Lifetime Moments shop these days. Top paper manufacturers such as Mustard Moon and Basic Grey are incorporating stylish sewing pattern prints into their paper designs. Once again, an example of the classic influence the sewing world plays in our scrapbook pages! Mustard Moon launched Sew It Seams paper collection at CHA winter. In this collection you see how these classic yet fun and hip designs are subtly influenced with by clothing patterns – making it simple to incorporate a tailored look into your scrapbook pages!

If you’ve already mastered the art of stitching and stitch accents on your pages, take a second look at these modern designs a products used throughout the design team layouts this week! If you’re considering trying to stitch for the first time – take your time and practice makes perfect!

Design Team Examples

To view all layout ideas and products used, please be sure to visit the Design Team Gallery: On Pins and Needles.

Or Click each image below to see a larger view!

Gallery Picks of the Week

By: Jackie Bogert and the LM Design Team

Winter Scrapfest

Well, Winter Scrapfest 2007 is all over.  The points are counted and now, it's time to announce the winners. 

The winners for the second half are:

• Val
• Sissy22
• Alg35536
• Pauline
• Queenygirltara
• Gina
• Laurensmom22
• Hannahsmommy
• strbrygrmp

And, the winners for the overall Winter Scrapfest: 

• Honey1
• Chris
• ShelzyP
• Michsmith1973
• Norri
• Frannyfly

Congratulations to the winners!  And thanks to everyone for sharing your beautiful work.  Keep an eye on the message boards for the next big event (sorry, no hints)!

Digital Tip

Each week in the Digital Scrapbooking forum you’ll find a new Tip – whether you’re just looking to improve your Photoshop skills or want to learn more about Digital scrapping – take a moment to check out this new feature!

This week's tip is by Tegan

April Photo Contest

DUE DATE: SUNDAY April 29th
All participants will get a reply email confirmation from me acknowledging your submission to the contest. If you do not get a confirmation within a day or two, try to resubmit!

VOTING: Starts APRIL 30th via an email vote in

PRIZE: Depending on the amount of entries, top 3 vote getters or top 2 vote getters will win an LM GC (if it is 3= $3, if it is 2= $5, if under 5 entries there will be only one winner for $10)

THEME: MACRO It is such a great time of year to get close up shots of critters, flowers and MORE!!! To assist you in understanding Macro, here is a great site to read http://www.eyeforphotos.com/guides_macro.htm

INFO:
All photos will be in one category.

INFO ABOUT THE VOTING--
At the end of the contest, a thread will be posted like always to give the link to the photo entries, however, there will be no poll on the boards. You will be given an email address where you will send in your top 3 votes. Your votes must be made by an active username and will only be counted once.

General rules [to insure fairness and integrity of the voting]:

-The photo must not be currently or previously uploaded into the LM gallery. This also includes avatars and signatures. This further extends to no uploaded layouts that feature the photograph.

-Please don’t request votes for your photo through email, postings on LM or other Internet message boards, private messages, etc. This includes having a friend solicit votes on your behalf. Anyone who solicits votes will be disqualified.

-Please don’t post and reveal which entry is yours. The entries are uploaded under the “Contest” user name to ensure anonymity. Revealing which photograph or entry is yours will result in a forfeiture of any prizes. (I know it is sometimes hard if the photo is of people and their kids as we may recognize them but don’t be biased...open your photographic eye!)

HOW TO ENTER- PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:
-Email your entry to soulbella at EarthLink dot net
-One entry per person.
-*Please include your name and LM user name.*
-Please also include the film brand & speed [or “digital”] & camera make & model.
- Feel free to add any other information like: digital/SLR/automatic, f-stop & shutter speed, any special techniques you used, why you took the photo, why you like the photo, what type of lighting you used & why… this extra information helps viewers learn about your photo & also learn how to create a similar photograph. This information also makes your entry look more complete.
-Photos must be JPEGs and they need to be able to load into the Lifetime Moments gallery. Please aim for about 800 pixels x 800 pixels or smaller. The gallery will automatically enlarge your photo.

IMPORTANT:
*DIGITAL CAMERA USERS: Please reduce the size of your photograph with your photo editing software; if the photo file size is written in MB, it is too large... 15 minute upload/download, it is too large. Please ask if you have any questions about this. (Don’t be discouraged if you are unsure how to do this, I will do it for you!)
*NON-DIGITAL CAMERA USERS: essentially, please scan a standard 4x6 or 3.5x5 inch print without enlarging it. Again, please ask if you have any questions about this.

For more information and/or questions, please refer to the following link:

New In Stock

• CK Computer Tricks idea book
• NEW Hambly Overlays & Rub Ons!
• NEW Quickutz: IN STOCK
  • Spring Gift Set 2007 - sophisticate - Limited Edition! (see details from QK about their Sophisticate Innovations CONTEST!)
  • NEW Clear Stampz from QK - Triplets, Flowers
  • Flower Die Set 2007
  • NEW April shapes - flowers, bird, vines
  • Revolution Cutting Mats
• Tinkering Ink:
  • Covent Garden Collection
• Autumn Leaves:
  • Quote Unquote 5 - spiritual quotes - in stock now!
  • Artistic Expressions Overlays - 8 new designs!
  • 20 new clear stamps!
  • Foofala Bella Collection
  • MOD Primary Collection
  • Rhonna Farrer French Twist

• Technique Tuesday Stamps
• KI Memories felt Albums
• Quickutz Silhouette electronic die cutting machine
• Quickutz Button tab die, embossing dies
• Cropper Hopper 8.5x11 Paper Holders
• Fancy Pants Designs:
  • Clear Stamps
  • Key Lime Pie
  • Kewl
  • Floral Chic
  • Clair de Lune
  • Wildheart
  • Free Spirit
  • Mulberry Road
  • Biggest Board Chipboard
• Prima:
  • QuickPick Hydrangea
  • Whispers
  • Essentials

Coming Soon

• Prima Pop Ups, Paper, Essentials Flowers, silk Road Tins, Sprites, Pixie Tins

• Making Memories - LOTS of new things

• Crate Paper

• BoBunny flexible ruler, sanding kit and more

• Cloud 9 Designs

• Creative Imaginations

• heidi Swapp XL photo corners and corner stamps

• K & Company Girl Scout line

  
  

Sara Meyers, Newsletter editor sara@lifetimemoments.com
Kate J. Design Team Coordinator kate@lifetimemoments.com
Jackie Bogert , Owner jackie@lifetimemoments.com

Design Team (Sara Meyers, Miranda Isenberg, Madeline Fox, Kate J., Susan Berg, Tracy Austin, Sonya Shaw, Wendy Chang, Franny Lesniak, Nancy Thomas, Margaret Winters, Melissa Thigpen, Beshka Kueser, Cecilie Malling and Vickie Brown.)  designteam@lifetimemoments.com

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© 2006 Lifetime Moments, 29445 Beck Road, Ste A104, Wixom, MI 48393
phone 248-449-8044 fax 248-493-5921