(a pair of) SHOES!!!

ok, technically, although this post does contain two shoes, they are not actually a pair, since i have paper-pieced and embellished them quite differently. but they do both qualify for (and were inspired by) this week's challenge at shopping our stash, that is called "if the shoe fits" and for which we'd like to see cards and projects that... (do i even need to finish this sentence?) ...have shoes on them.

patterned paper: julie nutting/photoplay, dcwv, crate paper, michaels, the paper co, recollections, best creation; glossy black cardstock: the paper cut; seambinding: paper anthology; gingham ribbon: making memories; jewel strip, heart bling and paper flower: eyelet outlet; ink: prima and ranger; corner rounder: we are memory keepers; adhesives: elmers brand gluetape, 3m foam tape, sewing machine

for once i found i owned several different and cool pre-made products which would've worked really well. including eyelet outlet shoe and purse brads-- which i used to make these cards in june. and yes, i designed that texty patterned paper which says, "if the shoe fits... BUY IT!" and it's available for you to download on the "freebies" page at the eyelet outlet blog. but i haven't paper-pieced anything in a bit and i was just in that sort of mood. i grabbed a copyright-free clipart image off t'internet, printed off a couple of copies, and used it to cut out the shoe parts. i often staple a few layers together and cut multiples, to give myself choices on the finished image. in this case i wound up with two versions i really liked, and rather than choose, i just made both of them.

the first one incorporates some ancient glossy (pink!) leopard print paper, which i've given a woodgrain heel and some cursive text as the inside lining of the shoe. i've stitched all the way around in a coordinating thread, using my sewing machine's highest stitches-per-inch setting to fit the scale. the background of this 6x5" card is a tone-on-tone damask print, which is actually the reverse of the cursive text and the only paper involved in either card that wasn't an ancient scrap, lol. i've added a seambinding bow for extra interest... and to fill in the blank spot at the upper right hand area of the card. (yes, i know, a lot of people would've put a sentiment there...)

the second version is an all-black shoe, but i've incorporated some interesting specialty papers to add texture: a faux croc embossed glossy paper for the shoe, a glitter black scrap for the heel, and a charcoal grey damask lining. i've trimmed it out with an elegant eyelet outlet clear jewel strip and added a small paper flower with bumpy heart bling as an accent.

be sure to hop over to SOS and check out the amazing work of my uber-talented design team sisters! ♥