October 3, 2013

How to Make Hand-Stitched Thank You Cards

This cute handmade card is super easy and serves as the perfect token of thanks for that special gift.  When the gift is handmade, I especially like to return the kind gesture with a handmade thank you card.  Hand-stitched cards are also great for birthdays, Christmas ... any celebration!


For my birthday, I received a special surprise from my jewelry designer friend, Tami, of a beautiful handmade necklace and bracelet.  She even made the beads from paper that was originally sunflowers.  Knowing that I am wearing sunflowers brightens my day!  What a clever idea.

HOW-TO MAKE HAND-STITCHED CARDS

Materials Needed:

Embroidery Floss in color/s of your choice

Needle 
Pencil, or computer, printer and tape
Scissors
1 sheet cardstock 

Envelope 


1.  Cut your cardstock to size.  I cut mine to 8.5 x 5.5" (then folded it in half so the finished size was 4.25 x 5.5).

2.  Either use a pencil to lightly draw your word or words, or use the computer method.  Because I forgot how to write in cursive sometime during sixth grade, I found a cursive font I liked (EnglishScriptEF for me) and typed out Tami.  I resized it to be 100 pts.  If using the computer method, print it, cut it out and use painter's tape (if you have it, if not use tiny pieces of any tape) to adhere it to the front of your card.

3.  Using an embroidery needle, punch holes around each letter.


 4.  Using embroidery floss (I used three of the six strands, but you can use all six if you would like a thicker line), use a backstitch to sew around each letter.  To make a backstitch, first tie a knot in one end and stick your needle up through hole 1 on backside of the card.  Then go down through hole 2.  Come up through hole 3.  Go down through hole 2.  It will soon make sense as to why it's called the backstitch. 

Next time, I think I will use a little button for the dot over the letter I.
 


I like to doodle on my envelopes.  This one got a flying monkey and some tattoo lettering. 

 

Here is my awesome new sunflower necklace and bracelet, courtesy of Tami.  There have been whisperings about her opening an Etsy shop, so stand by for breaking news!




~Merrill




September 30, 2013

Mother-Daughter Pottery Painting: The Finale

I cherish the time spent with my daughter, so for Mother's Day she and I spent a fun-filled afternoon together painting pottery.  I chose an oatmeal bowl for my husband for Father's Day, as we all know that handmade gifts are the best.  On the bottom I painted MERRILL LOVES BOB because it's so very true.  My daughter painted a funky mug in a patchwork pattern.  HERE is our work in progress. 


My beloved assures me that oatmeal is tastier when eaten from a hand-painted bowl.



Before:


Lauren with her new mug.


Most creative!



~Merrill   

August 1, 2013

A Giraffe Themed First Birthday

Today I worked on creating giraffe-themed party favors to help Kendall (and 40 of her closest friends) celebrate her first birthday.  Kendall's mom wanted giraffe crayon favors in purple and yellow, and the end result was super cute!  By the way, a herd of giraffes is called a tower.  I did not know that.


Nifty giraffe crayons are available HERE in my Ivy Lane Designs Etsy shop.  All of my super duper crayons can be found HERE.


Color on!

 ~Merrill