Introducing Chicken Scratch

Hello, and welcome to Day Three of the Papertrey March Countdown! All of the new products you're seeing this week will be available March 15 at 10 pm EST in the Papertrey Ink store. 

Today, we are showcasing a fantastic and super creative new stitching collection, designed by Erin Lincoln, called Chicken Scratch. Have you heard of this embroidery technique? Also called depression lace, Amish embroidery, and snowflake embroidery. Google it or search on Pinterest and you'll find loads of examples!

The foundation for this type of embroidery is gingham, so this collection starts off with a Background Basics: Super Gingham stamp set for stamping your own gingham patterns, as well as a gingham patterned paper collection: Chicken Scratch Gingham. Then you can add all sorts of patterns using the different stitch images in the Chicken Scratch stamp set. Last, the Chicken Scratch Cover Plate makes it a breeze to do actual stitching with embroidery floss. The possibilities truly are endless!

I had so much fun looking at various chicken scratch patterns and designs on Pinterest and then translating them to paper with these fun stamps. First up are two cards, both super quick to create, and both inspired by a chicken scratch towel that I found while browsing Pinterest. I love the retro feel of the red and white stitching on the turquoise gingham.

I stamped the gingham background in Hawaiian Shores ink using the Background Basics: Super Gingham stamp set. The Pure Poppy stamped stitching was done with two different small stitch images from the Chicken Scratch stamp set. I added the white stitching using a white gel pen. Now check out that sentiment ... and then check out the on-purpose mistake right above it. See the red "X" that should be white?

Chicken scratch was popular for aprons back in the day, so to give this card an apron feel, I die-cut the bottom of my white panel with one of the Edgers #3 dies, and added some True Black Baker's Twine for the apron ties. I added the yellow scallops along the top by die-cutting Lemon Tart card stock with the Eyelet Lace die and tucking it underneath the stamped panel. A pair of scored lines add just a touch of extra detail to the bottom of the white panel.

Next is a variation of the first card:

Again, I started with a Hawaiian Shores stamped gingham pattern. I added the stitching in Pure Poppy and Fresh Snow ink. The centers of the white stitches are dotted with a white gel pen.

I matted the stamped panel with a pinked edge. The sentiment is stamped on a folded piece of white card stock and tucked underneath the stamped panel to look like a clothing tag. The bottom is die-cut with the Edgers #3 die and scored for added detail.

Another one using the same colors, this one a little more involved:

This time I stamped the gingham pattern in Harvest Gold ink onto Harvest Gold card stock for a subtle look. Before stamping, I ran the Harvest Gold panel through my die-cutting machine with the Chicken Scratch Cover Plate. I love how those stitching holes make it super easy to line up the Background Basics: Super Gingham stamps. I also love that you could easily do some real chicken scratch using embroidery floss.

For the stitching, I stamped in Fresh Snow ink  then heat embossed in white for added contrast. I added some fun sewing/stitching details -- buttons, baker's twine, a lace trim border, more pinked edges, and the stitched rectangle frame from the Keep It Simple Frames die set.

For this next card, I wanted to try adding even more color with the stamped stitching.

I've stamped a Lemon Tart gingham background, then added stitches in Summer Sunrise, New Leaf, Winter Wisteria and Berry Sorbet. The die-cut and stamped sentiments are from Heather's new Noted set that was introduced yesterday.

Last one for today:

For this one, I stamped a Spring Rain gingham background, and added stitches in Harvest Gold, Blueberry Sky, and New Leaf. I stamped off each of the stitches once for a lighter look. I die-cut the chicken scratch panel into a circle and rotated it so that the gingham was on the angle. The sentiment is from Maile's  new Sentiment Splits set, and the flower bouquet is from last month's Bitty Bouquets. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Be sure to check out what the rest of the team has for you!

Nichole Heady

Ashley Newell

Betsy Veldman

Danielle Flanders

Dawn McVey

Heather Nichols

Laura Bassen

Laurie Willison

Maile Belles

Melissa Phillips