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Embroidered Valentines!

My very first embroidered cards!

Iron Craft Change #5 was to make a Valentine for someone special in your life. It's been years since I've either made or given Valentines to anyone, so I was pretty thrilled with the idea of giving it another go. I have a lot of people in my life to be thankful for, and what better way than giving them an embroidered card to tell them? Well.... I'm sure there is a better way but I know I don't have the cash flow for something like that. 

Would you like to know how to make some yourself? Of course you would. 

Supplies:

Folding Cards and Envelopes. 

Paper Piercer

Embroidery Pattern or Other Design

Scissors

Phonebook (or equivalent thickness of scrap paper)

Embroidery Needle 

Embroidery Thread

I used a brad setter and piercing tool from We R Memory Keepers that I had in my crafting toolbox and bought a value pack of blank cards and envelopes at Michaels. 

Tools you need first, cards and a paper piercer. 

I used some embroidery patterns I found for free on PaPaver Studio Blog. I just love it when people give away free things!

Go to PaPaver Studio Blog for this free design template!

I suggest keeping to simple designs for cards, sticking to basic outline designs. 

The next step is to use photoshop to crop out the portion of the design and resize it to fit the card front you are using. On the off chance this is a little advanced for you on your own, I found this great tutorial on Resizing and Converting from Photoshop Essentials that should be able to walk you through it. 

So I cropped out everything but those two sweet little birdies and resized the to be just smaller than the widest part of my card. (The card is 5.5 inches wide, so I resized it to be 5 inches wide.) 

Then print out the image and cute out the design to get ride of all that extra blank paper, it will just get in the way. Make sure the design fits, I had to make adjustments in the size once or twice to get it to perfect. 

With the card unfolded, secure the design temporarily onto the card front (I used a paperclip, but some tape or a small binder clip would work just as well). You are going to use the paper piercer to pre-poke all the holes for the embroidering, so take a moment to think about the stitches you will use. I only backstitched because it's what I'm best at. 

Once you have your mind wrapped around it, put the phone book underneath your card and design and pre-poke the crap out of your card!

Not my favorite part. 

Held up to the light afterwards, the poked card reminds me of a lampshade my grandparents used to have...

After your hand stop cramping, use the holes as guides for your needle! Like I said, I only backstitched, you can find a video tutorial on this stitch here.

I like to embroider while watching TV.

TA-DA - that's about it. Once there is thread through all your holes, your done! I made sure to keep my design handy to decipher the code and figure out which hole I was threading through first. 

These are time intense! I estimate about an hour of each of these. But I think the effort shows and I am excited to give these beauts to my valentines!

I've seen people tape down the threading on the backs of the cards, some even go so far as to put coordinating card stock over it to keep it pretty. Maybe I'm lazy, but I left it as is. 

And just for fun, here is a shot with my bi-polar kitty, Grace Kelly, needing to be the center of attention while I was snapping some shots of these cards!

Baby It's Cold Outside!

With a high temperature estimated in Denver today of -1 (!!!!), I am dreaming of warmer things.

Iron Craft issues 1 craft challenge a week for a whole year! Last week's challenge was Cup Cozies. I am not drinking anything this week unless it's at a boiling temperature. To ease cabin fever, manfriend is trying to convince me that boiled wine is a delicacy in some parts of the world. Much to his dismay, I do not believe him.

Boob Scarf!

I went to work today thanks to my dear friend and neighbor, who let me catch a ride. When I left the house, I had on a fleece jacket, a coat, a hat, some gloves and a scarf over my long sleeve shirt, under which I was smuggling a hot water bottle. I have a large collection of scarves, but none as amusing as these babies from boobsRus on Etsy. They actually look like they might help keep mine warmer....

A Christmas Story snowsuit!

This is what I felt like this morning, and I only had to walk from the door to the car! I'm glad I don't have to walk to school on days like this, uphill both ways! You have to admit though, he looks warm.

Door Snakes!

I live in a drafty old house, which means she has charm and character. This, however, does bubkiss on days like today. Our poor heater is running at full steam and it's still cold in here! I only have one official door snake, the rest of the doors and windows are currently covered in blankets and sheets to keep the cold out. I'm putting "Make my own door snake" on my craft list tonight, having been inspired by Kat of Kat Crafts (lovely tutorial here.).

Sugar Skull Slippers!

Make your own thanks to a lovely tutorial on Craftster! 

Quilts!

Make a quilt is on my list of '30 before 30'. I am kicking myself for not making one before now! This little baby is a beautiful example posted by Oh, Fransson! I just love the colors and fabric choices here. They warm my heart!


Mostly, I am spending these cold bitter days crafting under my slanket with a heating pad and hot water bottle and a glass of boiled wine. How are you keeping warm?