Adorable Ideas. Holiday Cards By Sue Ann Obremski

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1 Holiday Cards By Sue Ann Obremski Word count: Narrative: Handmade Holiday cards are a great way to express to someone a special Holiday wish at the Holiday Season and a great way to put you in the Holiday mood. I started to make our Holiday Cards about 7 years ago and the feedback from our friends and family that first year made me want to continue for the years to come. Around midyear I start thinking of what I want to do for the coming holiday, then do a couple cards a day and before I know it I have them all done. Some years I have done cards with a stand-alone tree ornament attached which can be removed and used on their Holiday tree. I am sharing with you some ideas and techniques I use. Embroidery Products John Deer, John Deer s The embroidery designs are listed with the specific card they are used. Materials for Embroidery Embroidery designs listed with the card Embroidery thread Bobbin thread Lightweight Tear Away Stabilizer Dissolve away Stabilizer or equivalent Babylock CustomWorks software Materials for Cards Each card s directions lists any added materials needed for that specific card Basic Supplies: Cardstock paper (81/2 x 11 ) or Mulberry Paper 24 lb Paper (used for the inside of the card) Featherweight iron-on interfacing Double sided tape Blue Painters tape Temporary Spray Adhesive Step 1 Basic Preparation of Card This step is used for all cards when using cardstock paper to be embroider on. Interfacing gives support to the cardstock so the embroidery does not tear the paper. The embroidery design should not be heavily stitched. If you have designs that have a heavy stitch count, Mulberry paper or fabric is good to use for them. Mulberry paper is made from long fibers of the mulberry tree which gives it the strength to handle the heavier stitch count. - Fold the cardstock paper in half to form a card 8 ½ x 5 ½ Tip: To give the cardstock more dimension, emboss the paper using template under the cardstock and a popsicle stick rubbing back and forth over the paper, or if you have an embossing machine. Do the embossing before you proceed to the next step. - Cut a piece of interfacing 8 ½ x 5 ½ - Press it in place on the inside half that will be embroidered with a dry iron.

2 Don t worry about trimming the edges or cutting to size all this is done after you have completed the embroidery on the face of the card. Any extra room gives the ability to correct any misalignment. Step 2 Create the Card Create the card using the instructions below for each specific card Step 3 Finish Inside of the Card This step is completing the inside of the card. - Using 24lb paper, print the greeting on the bottom half of the paper or right half depending on if the card fold is on the top or left side. - If necessary cut the paper to align with the size of the card. - Place strips of double sided tape on all four sides of the inside half of the card, position the greeting, and hand press in place. - Refold the card and the card is finished. Card #1 Happy Holidays with a Star Ornament (Ref V83SAO1) Description: This card is created by embroidering Happy Holidays on starched fabric, and embroidering a standalone star. The star is tied to the card with a gold cord, which can be removed and used as an ornament. Christmas and Lace Stars Holiday material starched 12 x 12 Tip: Starching the fabric with a heavy starch, when it dries gives a good stabilization to the fabric, and gives a nice crisp edge when folding the edges. Construction of Star Card: Gold cording (to attach the ornament to the card and hang) Gold Metallic embroidery thread Dissolve away stabilizer (or equivalent) for the standalone star - Hoop Dissolve Away stabilizer in hoop. - Using Metallic thread stitch out the star, (Run a test if the bobbin thread does not show then Metallic thread will only be needed in the needle thread. If you can see the bobbin thread then wind a bobbin of metallic thread or matching thread. - Once your design is embroidered soak it in warm water to dissolve the stabilizer. Only rinse the star to dissolve the stabilizer. Do not let it soak long because you just want to dissolve the stabilizer and leave some of the dissolved stabilizer in the star. This way when it dries it will be stiff. Lay the star flat and let dry. - While the star is drying, hoop the tear away stabilizer and the fabric in a 5 x 7 hoop. - Stitch out Happy Holidays from the design pack. Happy Holidays stitches out on an angle, maintain that angle. - Remove the fabric from the hoop and tear away the stabilizer. Press - Turn under the sides of the fabric to match the size of the front folded cardstock. Press. - Trim the folded edges to have a ½ hem. - Put strips of double sided tape on all 4 sides of the front of the card, position the embroidered fabric piece on top and finger press in place. - When the star is dry, decide where it is to be placed on the card and using the gold cord tie in place.

3 - Refer to Step 3 to finish the card. Card #2 Angel with Stars Card (Ref V83SAO2) Description: The card is a basic embroidered card with a second layer of colored paper ½ larger to frame the embroidered piece. Christmas Style Construction of Angel with Stars Card: White glue Fine Glitter Q-tip - Hoop easy Tear Away stabilizer in a 5 x 7 hoop or larger painters tape or temporary spray adhesive. (Ref V83SAO7). - When the design is completed remove the stabilizer from the hoop and cut away the extra stabilizer close to the design stitching. RECOMMEND - DO NOT TEAR - Cut a ½ off the 3 sides of the card front. - Using a Q-tip apply a light coat of glue over the angel in the areas where the angel is not embroidered. - Sprinkle fine glitter over the glue, and lightly press the glitter in place. - When the glue is dry dust off the extra glitter from the embroidered areas if any got on the threads. - Refer to Step 3 to finish the card inside with the exception, use coordinating colored cardstock instead of 24lb paper. Card #3 Bell Applique Card (Ref V83SAO3) Description: I embroidered an applique on a prepared card using scraps of material for the bell, and metallic thread for the greeting. Christmas Craze for the Bell, Christmas Ornaments for the Greeting Scraps of Christmas material Construction of Bell Applique Card: - Hoop 2 layers easy Tear Away stabilizer in a 5 x 7 hoop or larger painters tape or temporary spray adhesive. (Ref V83SAO7) - Using design software editing program, such as Customer Works by Babylock bring in the Bell design and the Greeting into the software. Arrange them to fit on the card front. Save the file and load it into your embroidery machine. - Stitch out the design. For the applique bell; the first color to stitch out will be the position for the top part of the bell. Place the fabric over the positioning stitching and stitch the next color that will hold the fabric in place. Remove the

4 hoop from the machine. DO NOT remove the card from hoop, carefully cut any excess fabric from around the stitching, attach the hoop to the machine and continue with the next color which will be the bottom applique position stitching. Proceed in the same manner as you did for the top of the bell. After the bottom is stitched and trimmed the design will continue with a satin stitch and complete the design. - When the design is complete remove the stabilizer from the hoop and cut away - Refer to Step 3 to finish the card inside. Note: The Christmas Craze design pack s designs are in 3 styles, Applique which is what was used for this card, Redwork and Solid Embroidery. Tip: the Redwork is great stitched out and then colored in with colored pencils or markers. A great project for the kids as well. The solid embroidery works great stitched on fabric, fring the fabric and then stitch it using an applique stitch to the card face. Card #4 Picture Ornament Card (Ref V83SAO4) Description: : This card was created much like the Happy Holidays with a star ornament card. Embroider Seasons Greetings on the card and then embroider the stocking attaching it to the card, it can be removed and used as an ornament. Christmas Ornaments Scraps of Christmas material 1/8 coordinating ribbon Construction of Picture Ornament Card: - Hoop easy Tear Away stabilizer in a 5 x 7 hoop or larger painters tape or temporary spray adhesive. (Ref V83SAO7) - Stich Season Greetings at the top of the Card - When the design is completed remove the stabilizer from the hoop and cut away the extra stabilizer close to the design stitching. RECOMMEND - DO NOT TEAR - Following the directions included in the design pack, stitch out the ornament. - When the Stocking is complete position it on the card and using the ribbon tie it in place. - Refer to Step 3 to finish card the inside. Card #5 Embroidered Mulberry Card (Ref V83SAO5) Description: Using Mulberry heavy stock paper I embroidered a solid embroidery design using 6 ¼ x 9 ¼ paper and tying the front and back together at the top. Christmas Elegance Mulberry heavy weight paper

5 Ribbon Hole punch tool Construction of Embroidered Mulberry Card: - Using a design software editing program, such as Customer Works by Babylock bring in the Season Greeting, Horn and Holly Border into the editing screen. Arrange the designs to fit on the paper. Save the file and load it into the embroidery machine. When arranging the designs leave 1 ½ space at the top and 1 at the bottom. Note: The extra space is for trimming the card to fit in the envelop as well as, enough space to tie the ribbon to hold all the layers together at the top. - Hoop easy tear away stabilizer in a hoop larger than 5 x 7. - Center the mulberry paper on the hooped stabilizer. Hold in place using blue painters tape on the corners or temporary spray adhesive. (Ref V83SAO7) - When the design is complete remove the stabilizer from the hoop and cut away - Trim the card to 8 ¼ x 6 leaving 1 above the Season s Greetings. - Using 24lb paper print the greeting on the paper and trim to the same size as the card. - Cut a second 24lb weight piece of paper to the same size as the card and glue it to the back of the card. - Stack the pieces together forming a card. - Tie the card together by measuring down ½ from the top and punch a hole 2 in from each side. Feed the ribbon through the two holes and tie the card together with a bow. Card #6 3D Happy Chanukkah Card (Ref V83SAO6) Description: Made an applique of the Star of David and using craft foam glued to the bottom of the star then glued to the card, makes the card 3D. a technique that can be used using appliques. Elegant Jewish Emblems White glue Scraps of craft foam Q-tip Blue Rhinestone 6 x 8 piece of Royal Blue satin material Construction of the 3d Card: - Hoop easy Tear Away stabilizer in a 5 x 7 hoop or larger painters tape on the corners or temporary spray adhesive. (Ref V83SAO7) - Stitch out Happy Chanukkah an 1 ½ down from the top - When the design is complete remove the stabilizer from the hoop and cut away Star of David: - Using a 5 ½ x 8 ½ piece of cardstock, press a piece of interfacing on the back with a dry iron. Hoop easy Tear Away stabilizer in a 5 x 7 hoop or larger. - Center the cardstock on the hooped stabilizer. Hold in place using blue painters tape on the corners or temporary spray adhesive. (Ref V83SAO7)

6 - When the design is complete remove the stabilizer from the hoop and cut away - Position the royal blue satin material over the cardstock using spray adhesive. - Stitch out the Star of David. The first color to stitch out will be the position for the star.. Position the royal blue satin material over the cardstock using spray adhesive and stitch the next color that will hold the fabric in place. Remove the hoop from the machine. DO NOT remove the card from hoop, carefully cut any excess fabric from around the stitching, attach the hoop to the machine and continue stitching out the design. - Tear away the Star of David from the card stock and trim away any fuzzy fibers. Tip: if there s any paper showing through, using a matching color of magic marker go over the fibers with the marker. Using magic markers to color in is a great way to fill in. - Cut 7 - ½ pieces of craft foam, glue one on each of the points and one in the center of the Adorable back of the star. Ideas - Position the star on the front of the card and glue in place by putting glue on the foam. - Refer to Step 3 to finish the card inside