so, here's the skinny on how i do 'peek-a-boo' stitching...here's a pic of the technique i'm talking about...
it all begins with a pattern and paper choices...i prefer using a patterned paper (the template) that is covered in images with a few large images mixed in (these parts are what i use for the cut out sections). then i choose my top paper (in the photo above this would be the dark brown woodgrain) something not too busy and not too many different colors involved. lastly, i choose the backing paper (this would be the coral dot inset paper above), again, not too busy and something that contrasts with the top paper to make it really stand out.
so for the step by step example i made, i chose a faux woodgrain (dark brown) for my top layer and a text patterned paper for the background (black on ivory). the patterned template paper i chose for this is a floral by k&co.
using a pen (i used a fine tip sharpie in silver...it was the easiest to see on my template), i only traced the lines that i wanted to stitch...once they were all outlined, using painters tape, i attached the template piece to my top paper and then pierced.
(note: the orange flower will be my 'peek-a-boo' section)
once i had it all pierced to my satisfaction, i used my silver pen to fill in the sections that would be cut out (leaving lots of space around the pierced holes). it just helps me with the stitching process...when you start and stop your stitches you don't want to be taping inside of those areas...it can get messy and impossible to cut through the threads with an xacto knife. everything outside of the 'to be cut' image was fair game for taping off though :]
(below: photo of the completed stitching with the colored in cut sections...)
now, using my xacto knife, i carefully cut out the marked sections...
(above: this is what the backside of my stitching looked like, hahaha! just wanted to show you what i meant by not taping the threads to the inside of the cut areas.)
lastly, i adhered my background paper...
et voila!
