Seeing Shamrocks Blog Hop

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I know I am early. Today begins The Angel Company's "Seeing Shamrocks" Blog Hop. The hop runs through March 6th - play along and you could win some lovely TAC blog candy. If you don't blog, that is OK! You can upload your card to the TAC Paper Crafting Community Gallery, just tag your card "Seeing Shamrocks Blog Hop". While you are getting to know your way around the TAC PCC take note of the chat feature because Mischelle will be hosting a chat there on Saturday, March 5th at 8 pm CST. I can not be on the chat because I will be in Peoria for Desi's Winter Guard State Championships! Max and I are going while mom stays here with the littles. I can not wait for some alone time with the man. Don't let that stop you from playing along and stopping in on the chat!

My card for this hop was a fun exercise in creativity. See, I am not Irish nor do I believe in luck so I don't have a lot of shamrock supplies! I wanted to show you something that was different and worth your time. I appreciate that you stop in and read! After thinking a little about it I decided on a fabric FAV - The Yo Yo! I have had a long love affair with yo yos you see. I thought I would challenge myself to make them heart-shape for my very own clover. Here is how I did it:

Step One: I folded my fabric so I had three layers. Why? Because 3 heart yo yos and a little scrappers floss makes a shamrock!

Step Two: Find a circle object to trace. I start with a circle because it is easy to find (I use it for circle yo yos too) and keeps the hearts all uniform size.

Step Three: Trace with a black marker and cut inside the line with pinking sheers. I cut all three layers at the same time so that all the finished yo yos are about the same size.

Step Four: Trim the circle shapes into hearts. They don't have to be perfect! Let them have some character!

Step Four: Starting at the top, in the center of the heart, sew a running stitch all the way around. End right were you started.

Step Five: Pull and knot. Your yo yo will look like a little hobo bag. Make sure you knot it off tight, but don't cut the thread yet.

Step Five: Shape the little hobo bag into a heart shape and sew on the button to finish. Tie the thread in a tight knot and trim the thread.

Step Six: Repeat two more times.

Here is another look at the finished card. It's a long post, with lots of pictures! I hope it inspires you to play with yo yos! You can see a yo yo pumpkin on my blog here, and there is a yo yo flower here. <--- more yo yo inspiration. I used Kraft, White and More Mimi Cardstock on this card. The pink almost solid pattern paper is from the More Mimi Soar With It Collection. Trendy Greetings from TAC supplied the greeting. I am in love with the little Scor-Bug that I used to make the embossed stitched lines. After I made and adhered my clover to the card I stitched the stem with brown scrappers floss. Thank you so much for stopping by! Because of you, I am so blessed.