An Introduction to Stitching Cards

An Introduction to Stitching Cards

A beautiful card made by stitching the dragonfly design directly on the card.  The dark blue card is 104x152mm.  It is stitched with pearl metallic thread.  This design takes approximately 1 hour to stitch.

 Method:

Protect your work surface with a piece of foam, a felt mat or a folded towel.  Open up the card and with the right side facing up, lay a design template on the middle section.

 

Holding the template in place, take a large pin and prick through each dot in turn on the template ensuring that the pin also goes through the card.  Remove the template when the entire design has been completed.  (If you wish to secure your template to the card with sticky tape, place the tape on and off a cloth several times.  This will take off the excess stickiness yet still allow it to adhere to the card without leaving a mark.  To test, first use the reverse of the right panel as this will eventually be hidden.)

  

Cut a length of thread about 2 feet long and thread the needle. (It is better to use several short threads rather than one long piece as the holes of the card may start to wear away the filament in the thread and cause it to fray.  The underside of your work will be hidden so it does not matter how many times you seal your threads.)  Attach the thread to the back of the card, close to the starting point, with a small piece of sticky tape, making sure that you do not cover over any holes.

 

Follow instructions for each embroidered design, securing each length of thread with a small piece of sticky tape.

Close up view of the stitching diagram

Written instructions for stitching the wing

Two pages of instructions for stitching the dragonfly

The first wing is complete.  Notice how the metallic thread catches the light giving these cards their special quality.

When the design is completed, fold under the right hand side of the card and glue in place around the edge.

 

Alternative Gift Wrapping Ideas

Would you like to be more creative
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<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1355/gift.html> wrapping
this Christmas? Want something that will stand out from the other, more
typical holiday
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1348/holiday.html> wrapping
paper? There are a great number of alternatives to store-bought wrapping
paper. Here are just a few suggestions to look into:

Bags

If you don't want to use any kind of wrapping paper, why not clothe your
gift <http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1355/gift.html> in an
attractive gift <http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1355/gift.html>
bag? You can buy <http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1442/buy.html>
pre-made bags at the store, or make your own for a personal touch.
Crafting a fabric
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1473/fabric.html> bag is simple
and fast and, best of all, they're re-usable. To make a fabric
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1473/fabric.html> gift
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1355/gift.html> bag, gather
together the materials you plan to use. Cut out two pieces for the
lining, and two pieces for the bag itself. Line up the pieces for your
bag on top of the pieces for your lining, fold it over like you would
for a hem, and sew the top edges together. Place the 'outside' pieces so
they face each other with the sewn edges on top, and then sew the other
three sides. Turn the completed bag inside out. If you want to add a
ribbon, lay it down a few centimetres from the top and sew the middle of
the ribbon to the bag.

Hemp

Decorative and environmentally friendly, this paper can be found with
all natural <http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1486/natural.html>
dyes and inks. Most hemp paper combines recycled material with
fibre-strengthening flax and is chlorine-free, which your earth-friendly
loved ones will appreciate. You can combine hemp wrap with cards
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1588/cards.html> or ribbon made
from the same material to create a more uniform look to your present.

Calendars

Is there a calendar you enjoyed this year with pictures
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1606/pictures.html> you just
adore? They might be perfect
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1604/perfect.html> for gift
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1355/gift.html> wrap,
especially if they're larger pictures. You can cut them out and use them
individually for the gifts, or paste a few smaller pictures
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1606/pictures.html> together
and use them that way. The attractive, glossy finish of the pictures
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1606/pictures.html> will help
make your gift <http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1355/gift.html>
stand out.

Wallpaper

You might want to consider asking your crafts
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1375/all_about_crafts.html> or
home improvement
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as_tips.html> store if they have any wallpaper
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/683/wallpaper.html> they're no
longer using. Many stores have samples of discontinued material, and
they're more than happy to get it off their hands (and out of their
stock room.) Larger sheets will be perfect
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1604/perfect.html> for many
gifts, as the varying colours
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1543/colors.html> and textures
are appealing to the eyes.

Newspaper

Save the coloured portions of the newspaper, especially the comic
section, for a few weeks. They're perfect
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1604/perfect.html> for a more
light-hearted gift. If you want the present
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1614/present.html> to have a
more polished appeal, consider putting a sheet of cellophane over the
newspaper.

Hand-drawn children's pictures

Is there a pint-sized budding artist in your house? See if they might
enjoy having you use some of their creations for gifts
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1360/gifts.html> you're giving
to relatives. Some children
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1347/children.html> will be
thrilled that you're letting them 'help' in the process of wrapping
gifts, and even volunteer to make some special pictures
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1606/pictures.html> for the
occasion. This is a great way to bond with your child
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celebrate the season.

Blank newspaper

Sometimes your local newspaper office
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1638/office.html> will have
'roll-ends' that you can purchase cheaply and use as a blank canvas for
your own creative
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Decorate the paper with whatever strikes you - pens, crayons, paint,
felt, potato print, etc. Be as subtle or as wild as you want, because
the end result still looks fantastic. A ribbon or bow will finish off
this type of package nicely.

Nature

A short walk through a park can do wonders to spark creative
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1557/creative.html> gift
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1355/gift.html> wrapping ideas.
If there are no nearby parks, your own backyard might make a good
substitute. The natural
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1486/natural.html> resources
found in nature can bring a welcome touch to any package including
leaves, pinecones, or even small twigs or branches. It's generally a
good idea to avoid berries, which can both stain the packaging and the
gift, and be poisonous to pets
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/69/pet_care_training_and_travel_
tips_and.html> or children. You can glue some glitter, ribbons or other
festive decorations
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1445/decorations.html> to a
pinecone for a more celebratory mood. If you choose to use branches with
fresh greenery, such as fir or evergreen, it's best to collect the
materials a few days before you actually give the gift
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1355/gift.html> so the wrapping
stays fresh . it isn't a good idea to give someone a gift
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1355/gift.html> when it's
wrapped in a dead branch. :-)

Altered Star

http://www.flickr.com/photos/berrylane/1623377144/in/set-72157601789740945/

This would be lovely for both a pink tree or a memory tree

altered book

http://www.save-on-crafts.com/whisalbo.html

 

how about making an altered book. they seem to be quite popular.

Almond Puffs

Almond puffs

Makes

24

Ingredients

• 140g blanched almonds, lightly toasted
• 115g soft unsalted butter
• 2 tbs caster sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
• 140g (1 1/4 cups) plain flour
• 2 tbs icing sugar

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper.
2. Place the almonds in a food processor and finely grind.
3. Beat the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale and creamy. Add the ground almonds and vanilla essence and sift in the flour. Mix to form a smooth dough.
4. Use your hands to roll the dough into balls the size of a walnut. Transfer to the lined tray and bake in the oven for 35 minutes.
5. Remove from the oven and sift icing sugar evenly over the biscuits. Return to the oven for a further 2 minutes. Set aside on the tray to cool.

Advent Collage - cute

Countdown-to-Christmas Collage

Kids can enjoy a literal buildup to December 25th with this add-to-it-each-day twist on an Advent calendar.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	For the Backdrop
	1 yard of felt, cut to 25 by 28 inches
	Scissors
	Ruler
	2 feet of cording
	2 (3/8-inch-diameter) dowels, each cut to 27 inches
	Fabric glue
	For the Add-ons
	1/4 yard of felt for the house, cut to 9 by 22 inches
	1/4 yard of felt for the roof
	1/8 yard of white felt for the snow
	10 to 12 (about 9- by 12-inch) felt sheets in a variety of colors
	Templates for the add-ons
	Fine-tipped permanent marker
	Small pom-poms for the Christmas tree
	16 tiny bells for the reindeer
	Repositionable glue such as nontoxic Aleene's Spritz-On Reposition-It Tacky Glue
Time needed: Afternoon or Evening

1. Backdrop
Set the felt right-side down on a flat surface. Using scissors, make 2 small holes along the top edge, as shown, 1 inch down from the top and 10 inches in from each side. Thread the ends of the cording through the holes.

2. Lay one of the dowels lengthwise across the felt and tie each end of the cording around it in a tight double knot. Pull the cording taut.

3. Spread a thin, even line of fabric glue across the top edge of the felt. Tightly fold the felt over the dowel and press it in place. Repeat the gluing process with the second dowel (but no cording) along the bottom edge of the felt. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly (about 45 minutes).

4. Add-on Pieces
Download and print templates for the add-on pieces and roof and snow templates. Trace and cut out each. Following the directions on the templates, glue together the layered elements, such as Santa. Add details such as eyes, chocolate chips, and the word "toys" on the bag with a permanent marker.

5. Set the pieces facedown on a clean trash bag. Following the directions on the label, spray with repositionable glue. Store the pieces in a plastic bag, preferably with the sticky sides facing away from one another, until you're ready to place them on the collage. (If a piece isn't sticking properly, apply more glue and allow it to dry thoroughly.) Next year, simply spritz on another layer of repositionable glue before starting your collage. __._,_.___

Advent Calendar that kids can make

 

Advent Calendar You can arrange this from 24 down to 1 (a countdown) or from 1 up to Christmas.  I always do it from 1 to Christmas as it encourages the kids to count the days that are remaining until Christmas -- it never hurts to sneak in a bit of counting practice *grin*. Let the kids break into one of the cups each day until Christmas.

Materials:

	toilet paper rolls (13)
	scissors
	glue
	construction paper
	black marker
	small wrapped candy
	OPTIONAL:  paint
	OPTIONAL:  bow

Instructions:

	Cut 13 toilet paper rolls in half.
	Paint the toilet paper rolls or cover them with construction paper.
	Cut circles out of construction paper (just trace around one of the largest toilet paper roll ends to get the size of the circle).  You can fold the paper in half a few times so you get more than one circle at a time.
	Glue a circle onto one end of each tp roll half.
	Let dry
	Drop a small candy into each little tp roll cup that you've created
	Glue a circle onto the top of each tp roll half.
	Let dry
	Use a black marker to write the numbers 1 thru 25 onto the closed tp roll cups.
	Tape two pieces of construction paper together to make one large sheet (or use a piece of poster board)
	Arrange the cups in whatever way you wish and glue them onto the poster board (we just made a rectangle, but you could arrange them into a Christmas tree shape, a candy cane shape or a wreath shape)
	Add a bow if desired.