Crafty Secret's DT Challenge and Linky Party!

Today is Crafty Secret's monthly DT challenge and linky party! We also wanted to introduce our two new design team members, Kathy Clement and Elizabeth Lincoln!  Welcome ladies!

 This month's challenge is to use digital papers in an interesting way.  I decided to use this heart from the Crafty Secret's   digital set.  I will show you an easy way to merge the heart image right over the digital papers a little further down. 

I machine stitched the heart with black thread and used touches of black throughout my card to make the softer papers pop a bit more. 

I added a bit of seam binding and a Prima flower to dress it up a bit. Behind the heart is a piece of corrugated card board.  I painted it a bit. I love the texture it adds to the card. 

I use Photoshop Elements to size my digital papers and images.  It is easy to have multiple files open at the same time. I first selected this red paper. (Which I later changed my mind on) and then clicked on the "Organizer" button at the bottom to open up the patchwork heart. 

Since I wanted each heart to be the same size I decided on the size 209.62% Just hit your option tools and type in the size you want, it's much easier than trying to drag out the corners! Especially if you are trying to get the same size each and every time. 

You can see that I have multiple designer papers open.  :)

I printed my work on one sheet of cardstock with the heart on each piece of designer paper. 

I like this method because it takes the guess work out of sizing things and since the lines were already there, it made cutting the heart a breeze! 

Since I had cut where the zig zag lines had been, I decided to use my sewing machine to replace those stitches with real stitches!

I am the world's worst sewer, so a few of my stitches are a bit wonky.  But I am going to say that it contributes to the homemade, cozy feel of this heart! ;)  

And in case you forgot what the final product looked like, here it is one more time!

Be sure to visit the rest of the design team! Their projects are gorgeous!!!

• Vicki Chrisman Team Leader

Michele Kovack

• Darlene Pavlick
• Melissa Bove
• Rebekah Faries
• Sheila Rumney
• Kathy Clement
• Elizabeth (I love rubber) on Splitcoast

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Have a great day my friends!!!