Bargello Technique

Today's WOW Wednesday! uses the Bargello technique which is based on a traditional embroidery style. You can read a little more about it over on Wikipedia. Instead of using stitches to create a pattern, this card uses Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper. 

This card uses the Bird Ballad DSP and the Friend Like You stamp set with Petal Pink and Calypso Coral cardstock and ink.

Start by cutting 3/4" x 5-6" strips of 3-4 different patterns. You can have some contrasting patterns or you can use a more monochromatic color scheme. 

Then, lay the strips out in a repeating pattern. Next, adhere the strips to a piece of thin scrap paper or cardstock making sure that the strips are tight side-by-side without overlapping and getting the adhesive all the way to the ends. Since I was using scraps, the strips weren't all the same length. Once they were adhered to my piece of Whisper White cardstock, I trimmed it so that none of the cardstock was showing around the paper. 

Once they were adhered to my piece of Whisper White cardstock, I trimmed it so that none of the cardstock was showing around the paper. It looked something like this. See how you only see the patterned paper and no cardstock? 

Now, you're going to cut this piece into strips going the other direction. Each strip can be the same width, I used 1/2" strips for one card, or they can be varying widths. Lay the strips side-by-side shifting the patterns up or down each strip. You can go back and forth between up and down, or make a wave-type pattern, or a variation of the two. 

Cut a piece of Whisper White cardstock to the size you want for the front of your card. I used a piece that was 5 x 3.75". Adhere the strips to this piece in whichever pattern you choose. Then, flip the card over and trim the edges. 

I finished the card up by adhering this Bargello piece to a piece of Calypso Coral cardstock (5 3/16 x 3 15/16") and then to a card base in Petal Pink (5 1/2 x 8 1/2" folded in half). I then tied it together with some Linen Thread and added a greeting from the Friend Like You stamp set cut using the Stitched Shapes dies. 

And an alternate card in Petal Pink and Old Olive.