Beautiful and easy handmade cards: Stitched Valentine's Cards

It's almost Valentine's Day!

Beautiful and easy handmade cards: Stitched Valentine's Cards

Who wants to make some super cute and easy Valentine's?

I saw these a few years back *I think* in Parents magazine, but, alas, I could not find it on the web to provide a link. I had stored the idea in my memory for a time when my oldest child would be old enough to help. I may have jumped the gun a bit--at 3 1/2 years, she still couldn't quite do it, but we had fun together anyway. And they turned out super cute. I was going to line the insides with scrapbook paper, but she wanted to draw on the insides, so I let her. She had a great time drawing pictures of her relatives and writing her name. :)

So, ready to make some?

Step 1: Gather Supplies

The supplies are pretty basic: yarn, cardstock, a needle big enough to pull the yarn, and a heart (see below for the template I used).

Step 2: Punch holes

Step 3: "Sew" your yarn in

Enjoy!

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Embroidered pictures for home decor: spring button flowers tutoriral

Embroidered pictures for home decor: spring button flowers tutoriral

Today we are turning buttons into flowers and making a cute handmade display-piece! Enjoy :)
You will Need:

• Buttons that feel "Flowery"
• Neutral Fabric (mine was a fine linen colored cotton)
• Embroidery Thread (I used a few greens for the stems & yellow for the flower centers)
• Small Needle
• Scissors
• Pencil or Invisible Marker
• An embroidery hoop to be used as a frame

Step 1: Space out your buttons on the fabric and mark a little pencil dot where you want each one. Like the example above, make sure to leave room for the stem below each button.
Step 2: Sew on the buttons all at once with one color of thread. Visit this post for tips on how to start and end your stitching.

Step 3: Stitch a straight dashed line below each button, starting just under the button and ending at an 'invisible horizontal line'.

Step 4: Frame your fabric in an ornamental embroidery hoop, hide or trim the fabric overhang in behind (I taped mine on the back).
Step 5: Hang your new artwork :)

I hung mine above my desk at the Studio :) This project would be fun as a button swap with friends (you could even do it on a teatowel)! Try it :)
Interested in another Button Craft? Check out this Cork Frame Project :)

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Crafts lessons: braided chain stitch tutorial

 

Crafts lessons: braided chain stitch tutorial

The braided chain stitch is worked almost the same way as the heavy chain stitch. There is only a slight difference in the way the needle is taken under the existing loops, thus giving it a totally different and embossed look. It  follows a reverse pattern like the reverse chain stitch and so we work it from top to bottom.

To work this stitch, you should be aware of at least the lazy daisy stitch. Knowledge of the reverse chain stitch and heavy chain stitch will only be more helpful. I will be working over a curved stitch line.

 

Fig 1: Lay the foundation by doing a lazy daisy stitch with a slightly longer tail, and the base as point A.		Fig 2: Bring the needle out through B and take it under the tail of the lazy daisy without plucking the fabric.
Fig 3: Put the needle back in B to get another loop, layering the lazy daisy from outside. Bring the needle out through C. Take it over the outside loop and under the inside loop as illustrated.		Fig 4: Put the needle back in C to finish that loop. Now Bring the needle back again through D and continue with the same procedure.
Fig 5: To make the taking of needle over and under the loops easier, here is a tip. Before tightening the ‘outer’ loop completely, you can take the needle under the ‘inner’ loop.		Fig 6: You can then tighten the ‘outer’ loop by pulling the thread with your fingers and continue with the procedure.
		Fig 7: A finished braided chain stitch will look like this. It has a slightly embossed finish.

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Buttons arts: Amazing Button Crafts from Around the Web

A sheep that's cute as a button!  Hmm.  What pertinent information can I tell you about this sheep?  The buttons are sewn onto this lucious green fabric, as are the felt head (and ear).  The legs and outline are basic embroidery.  The frame measures 6 1/2 inches square.  You can hang it on a wall, or it also has tabletop-sitting capabilities...I spared no expense when selecting this frame for my loyal followers. 

Okay, here's how to enter:

1.  Leave one comment on this post.

2.  I'll close the giveaway at 6:30am (PST) on Wednesday, September 22nd..

3.  I'll use a random number generator to determine the winner.

4. I will notify the winner via email, so make sure that's available to me either through your blog or your Blogger profile or leave it in your comment.

5. I will ship internationally, so everyone's welcome to participate.

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Palm Leaves plastic canvas

LEAVES

I believe this is called Palm Leaf stitch.

Choose a yarn thick enough to cover the canvas rug (beware, it eats yarn) and follow the numbers in the diagram above. Bring the needle up in square 1 (bottom centre) and put it in square 2. Follow with the rest of the numbers. Bring the needle up in odd numbers squares (column in the middle) and put it in the squares with even numbers. It can be worked counter- or clockwise.

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Ladies Felt: Cute Face Handmade Felt Magnet p2

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