Ed079 Christmas StarCompleted by Pamela Horton The whispering Platypus

This design is a stitched star inside a beaded star, and is so cleverly designed that, even using one shade of thread, all the star design elements are still clearly visible.

I have copied the design onto a sky blue 200gsm backing sheet cut at 15 x 14 cm, and used a fine gold metallic thread for the stitching and using the thread double where indicated and also for attaching all the beads.

I completed the smaller outer triangle shapes, and then the long stitches before moving to the centre to stitch the smaller triangles and complete the double stitching as indicated.

I then added the 8 gold metallic 4mm rice beads, and the 12 tiny gold glass seed beads.

I have not used bead spacers as indicated on the sheet, however in their place I have used 6 of these tiny gold glass seed beads for the very centre of the star and 8 gold sequins each with a tiny seed bead attached, and a gold glass tube bead in between each gold sequin.

In total I have used, 8 gold rice beads, 8 gold glass tube beads,8 gold sequins and 134 tiny gold glass seed beads to complete the project.

I have used glitter gold dust on the 4 edges and a sprinkling across the completed star, and allowed this to dry before attaching this topper to the main card front.

The blue backing card measures 34 x 17.5cm and is then scored and folded.

I made the group of backing sheets using a 16.5 x 15.5cm red snowflake print, from the Christmas mega bundle, and a matte White card, cut at 16 x 15cm, and then attaching these together using red power tape and attaching 2 layers of white lace and one of red satin, organza gold trimmed ribbon across the middle of the front of the white matte card the thread ends of the stitched and beaded topper, and attached this to the backing sheets using padded D.S. tape.

This completed topper I then attached to the card front using regular D.S. tape. I added some tiny gold stars, some Christmas peel off gold sentiments, a few gold fine line, peel off strips and the red bow.

To complete the insert I have used a blue snowflake backing sheet cut to size and cup 834580_1398, an insert design with a verse as the feature, by Ceredwyn Mcrae, on the left hand side, and attached a small photographic print of the completed card on the right hand side, leaving space for my personal message.

I thought this was a difficult task to complete, and had my doubts I would be able to complete it, however dividing the areas of work as I have done made it so easy to see, where to go to next, to complete each section.

I will be able to complete my next Christmas Star much more quickly, and may be even manage 3 or 4 more to have ready for Christmas posting.

I am so pleased with the finished result as this card certainly has the wow factor. Now I am ready to make my next stitched and beaded card with a light heart. Pamela Horton. The Whispering Platypus.