Cross Stitch Robin

I've made this card with some of my holiday stitching, this lovely design is by Durene Jones.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 5" white linen card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Durene Jones 'Christmas Stamps' cross stitch chart
     14ct white aida
     DMC threads
     Snippet of white linen card

After stitching the design I used a snippet of white linen card to make a frame for the stitching.  As I didn't have a die the correct size I used the largest stitched rectangle, cut the first half of the aperture and then moved the die to cut it to the correct size.  I trimmed the fabric an attached it to the rear of the aperture before attaching it to the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Ed Hedgehog

I won this cute hedgehog cross stitch kit in a giveaway group and thought it would make a great birthday card for a young member of the family.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white linen card blank
     The World of Cross Stitching magazine 'Country Companions - Ed Hedgehog' cross stitch kit
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Woodware Round Corner punch
     Snippet of white linen card

After stitching the design I set it aside and made a frame from a snippet of white linen card.  I trimmed the card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank, rounded the corners and die cut a stitched circle from the centre.  I attached the stitched design behind the aperture and then attached the panel to the front of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Kath x

Ruby Rose Cross Stitch

This Reflexions cross stitch kit was amongst the many items my neighbour gifted me earlier this year.  The kit was to make a ruby wedding anniversary framed picture, but I decided to omit the wording and stitch the rose to make a card for her birthday.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Reflexlions 'Ruby Wedding' cross stitch kit
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Woodware corner rounder punch
     Snippet of white hammer card

I die cut a stitched circle from a piece of white hammer card and trimmed it so it was slightly smaller than the card blank before rounding the corners.  After completing the stitching I mounted the design behind the aperture and attached the panel to the front of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     As You Like it Challenge - Cute or Elegant (I prefer making elegant cards, especially using floral or butterfly images, although I do make some cute cards for younger members of the family)
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies, Blooms (I have chosen the blooms option)

Kath x

Bluebells Cross Stitch Card

These bluebells are a design from the Carolyn's Garden series by Serendipity Designs.  I stitched the design last year, but have only just made it into a card for a friend's spring birthday.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Carolyn's Garden 'Bluebells' cross stitch kit
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Snippet of white hammer card

After completing the stitching I mounted the design behind a stitched square aperture that had been die cut in the centre of the card blank.  A piece of the same card was attached to the inside to cover the back of the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies, Blooms (I have used Blooms)

Kath x

Floral Wellies

Steve bought me a Cross Stitcher magazine for Christmas and this lovely cross stitch design was the cover gift.  

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Susan Penny's 'Token of Love' cross stitch kit from Cross Stitcher magazine
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Snippet of dark pink textured card

I stitched the design using the fabric and threads in the kit.  The completed stitching should have been patched onto the front of a patterned card blank that was included in the kit, but I chose to make a frame instead.  I chose a snippet of card to match the pink flowers, trimmed it so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut an aperture in the front.  I used strong tape to attach the stitching behind the aperture and then attached the panel to the front of the card with Artist-Tac.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Blooms or Butterflies (I have chosen Blooms)

Kath x

Red Clover Card

This design is from Carolyn's Meadow by Serendipity Designs and is another recent charity shop purchase.  I enjoyed stitching this lovely design which I've made into a birthday card for a friend.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Serendipity Designs 'Carolyn's Meadow - Red Clover' cross stitch kit
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Snippet of white hammer card

     

After completing the stitching I mounted it behind a stitched square aperture that had been die cut in the front of the card blank.  A piece of the same card was attached inside to cover the back of the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies & Blooms (I have chosen blooms)

Kath x

Thank You

As the year ends, I wanted to say 'Thank You' to everyone who has commented on my blog over the past year.  Also many thanks to the Design Teams who have chosen my cards as Top Picks and those who have invited me to be a Guest Designer.  This card is for all of you!

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white linen card blank
     Durene Jones 'Thank You' cross stitch chart (from Cross Stitch Favourites magazine)
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die-namics' die
     14 hpi white aida
     DMC threads  
     Snippet of white linen card

After stitching the design I trimmed around the fabric so it was slightly smaller than the card blank.  I die cut an aperture in the front of the card blank and used Artist-tac to attach the fabric behind the aperture.  I trimmed a snippet of white linen card to cover the stitching on the inside of the card and attached it with strong tape and Artist-tac.

I wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Kath x

Festive Gnome Decoration

This Festive Gnome had been a cover gift with a magazine, although I bought it from a charity shop and stitched it over the summer.

To make this decoration I used:
     World of Cross Stitching 'Festive Gnome Bauble' kit
     Green and red twine

I stitched the gnome on the plastic canvas in the kit and trimmed around the edge when I had finished the stitching.  I used the same colour threads as the cross stitch to stitch the back seam.  Before I finished stitching the back of the gnome I knotted a piece of twine to make a loop and inserted the knot in the rear of the gnome before continuing to stitch the back and make him ready to hang on our Christmas tree.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     As You Like it Challenge - Festive Creations

Kath x

Folk Art Christmas Stocking

This design was from a folk art selection of designs by Sue Page.  The stocking should have been an ornament hanging from holly (similar to my Folk Art Cross Stitch Christmas card) but I just stitched the stocking so it would fit inside the aperture of this tri-fold card.

To make this card I used:
     C6 cream tri-fold card with oval aperture
     Sue Page's 'Folk Art' chart from Christmas Cross Stitch Favourites magazine
     14 hpi rustic aida
     DMC threads

This was another quick card to assemble as once the stitching had been completed I trimmed the fabric before attaching it to the rear of the aperture.  The card was then folded over to cover the back of the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - X is for X-Stitch
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Festive Wear

Kath x

Happy New Home

I stitched this design for one of my neighbours who is moving to another flat within the next couple of months.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white linen card blank
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackable' die
     Maria Diaz 'New Home' chart (from Ultimate Cross Stitch Cards magazine)
     14 count white aida
     DMC threads
     Snippet of white linen card

I used the largest die to cut an aperture in the front of the card blank.  After stitching the design I trimmed the fabric before attaching to the rear of the aperture.  I trimmed a snippet of white linen card and attached it inside the card to cover the back of the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Kath x

Folk Art Cross Stitch Christmas

This is one of the many designs I've stitched over the summer - perfect for a Christmas card for my niece and her partner.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 5" dark red matt card blank
     Sue Page 'Folk Art' chart from Christmas Cross Stitch Favourites magazine
     My Favorite Things ' Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die-namics' die
     14hps Rustico aida
     DMC threads
     Snippet of dark red matt card

After completing the stitching I set trimmed around the edge of the fabric so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and then used Artist Tac to attach it to the front of the card. I trimmed a snippet of red matt card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank for the frame.  I didn't have a rectangle die that was large enough, so I used a square die and cut the first half of the aperture then moved the die to the lower edge of the card to cut the rest of the aperture.  This was then attached over the fabric with strong tape.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - X for X-Stitch
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Try It On Tuesday - Get Ready for Christmas

Kath x 

Mini Mittens

These cute mini mittens were some more of my holiday stitching - they were stitched with a free pattern from Catkin and Lillie.

To make this card I used:

     5" x 5" cream hammer tri-fold card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die-namics' die
     Catkin and Lillie 'Mini Mittens' cross stitch chart
     14 hpi rustic aida
     DMC threads

I stitched the mittens onto a small piece of rustic aida and set the finished stitching aside.  The aperture in the tri-fold card was slightly too small, so I used the stitched square die to cut the aperture to the right size.  The fabric was trimmed and attached behind the aperture before folding the panel across the inside of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Festive Wear
     

Kath x

Penguins for Annie and Sam

I made these cards for my great niece and my youngest great nephew using a lovely Christmas alphabet by Rhona Norrie.

To make these cards I used:
     5" x 5" white hammer card blanks
     Rhona Norrie 'Penguin Playtime' cross stitch charts
     14 count white aida
     DMC threads 
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' and My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Snippet of white hammer card

I stitched the penguins onto white aida - both initials should have been stitched in green but I changed the 'S' to a red initial so they were slightly different.  I used the square die to cut the outside of the frame and then used the circle die to cut the aperture.  I trimmed the fabric so it was slightly smaller than the frame and used double sided tape to attach it to the rear.  The panel was then attached to the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Critter (I love penguins and have done so since being taken to the zoo as a child and seeing their funny walk - they always make me smile)
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Pansies Cross Stitch Card

I recently bought this lovely cross stitch kit to make into a birthday card for a friend who loves brightly coloured pansies.

To make this card I used:
     Orchidea 'Pansies' cross stitch kit
     14 hpi white aida

The kit came with printed aida as well as a chart, but I chose to use my own aida as I'm not keen on stitching on printed fabric.  After finishing the design, I trimmed the fabric and used double sided tape to attach it behind the aperture.  The card was then folded over the back of the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies, Blooms (I've chosen blooms)

Kath x

Ho Ho Ho

I take part in a couple of 'Secret Santas' each year and like to make a small Santa card to enclose with my present - this Mouseloft design is perfect for this year's SS.  I had been gifted the chart and left over threads which I matched to some of my own threads to stitch the design.

To make this card I used:
     4.5" x 3.5" red tri-fold card with circle aperture
     Mouseloft 'Ho Ho Ho' chart
     14hpi cream aida
     DMC threads

After stitching the design I trimmed around the edge of the fabric and mounted it behind the aperture before folding the card behind the stitching to cover the back of the design.  Simple!

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Santa in September
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x 

Santa and Presents

I stitched this design when we were away earlier this year - the cute Santa is perfect for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge 'Santa in September' challenge.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Durene Jones 'Santa' cross stitch chart from Cross Stitch Favourites magazine
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched  Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     14hpi white aida
     DMC threads
     Snippet of green textured card

After completing the stitching I set it aside to make the card.  I didn't have a snippet of red card large enough to make the front of the card, so chose green instead.  I trimmed the card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut a stitched aperture from the centre.  I attached the stitching to the back of the aperture and then the panel to the front of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Santa in September
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Summer Garland Card

When I make a paperweight for my mother-in-law last year, I originally stitched the design onto 18hpi aida.  This was too small for the paperweight so I put the design into my 'finished cross stitch' drawer and stitched it again on 16hpi for the paperweight.  I've recently been gifted a lot of tri-fold card blanks and this small red card had the perfect size aperture for the small design.

To make this card I used:
     4.5" x 3.5" red tri-fold card blank
     Framecraft 'Summer Garland' cross stitch chart
     18hpi cream aida
     DMC threads.
     
To make this super quick card, I trimmed the fabric and attached it to the rear of the aperture before folding the card over to cover the stitching.  I've plenty more designs in my 'finished cross stitch' drawer so need to make them into cards too!

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     As You Like It Challenge - Layered or Flat (definitely flat for me as they are cheaper to post and also fit my CAS style and my cross stitch designs)
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Cardz 4 Galz - Stitching, Real or Faux
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Kath x 

Fuchsias Cross Stitch Card

I've recently been gifted a Fuchsia cross stitch kit to make a scissor keep.  As I didn't want to make the scissor keep I stitched the flowers to make into a card.

To make this card I used:

     5" x 5" white linen card blank
     Textile Heritage cross stitch kit
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Snippet of white linen card

After finishing the stitching I set it aside.  I die cut a circle in the centre of the card blank and trimmed the fabric before attaching it to the rear of the aperture.  I trimmed a snippet of white card so it was slightly smaller than the front of the card and attached it to the inside of the card to cover the back of the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Cardz 4 Galz - Stitching, Real or Faux (I've obviously chosen the real option)
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Kath x

Sailing Boat

This sailing cross stitch was another charity shop find and was originally a cover gift with Cross Stitcher magazine.  It was just the right size for this card blank that was among the craft items I've recently been gifted - a perfect birthday card for a friend who loves to sail.

To make this card I used:
     4.75" x 3.5" dark blue tri-fold card with circle aperture
     Cross Stitcher magazine 'Sailing' cross stitch kit

To took a while to stitch this design as it's a long time since I've stitched on evenweave, but I did enjoy the challenge!  After completing the stitching I placed the stitching behind the aperture.  As I didn't want the dark blue to show through the fabric I attached a piece of white paper to the inside of the card before folding it over the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Masculine
     Little Red Wagon - G is for Gentleman
     Try It on Tuesday - Going Round in Circles

Kath x

Happy Christmas

I stitched this card for the Christmas Kickstart 'Let's Wreath It Up' challenge using a kit that had been a magazine cover gift.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white linen card blank
     Debra Page 'Happy Christmas' cross stitch kit (from Cross Stitch Card Shop magazine)
     White DMC thread
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Snippet of white linen card

I stitched the wreath using the chart in the kit.  The white flowers should have been left unstitched, but I used some oddments of white thread to fill in the flowers .  It took a bit longer to finish the design but I thought it looked better.  I trimmed a snippet of white linen card so it was slightly small than the card blank and die cut a stitched circle from the centre.  The fabric was attached to the back of the aperture and the panel was then attached to the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Let's Wreath It Up
     Little Red Wagon - Circle of Life
     Try It On Tuesday - Going Round in Circles (I have used a circle aperture and wreath)

Kath x