stitching on paper

for my mid-winter (aka valentines) crafts, I decided to borrow some textile related ideas and translate them to my favorite medium, paper.  It adds a touch of novelty to paper craftiness by incorporating hand stitching.  Plus there’s something sweetly nostalgic about a hand made valentine.

The items pictured here are not finished valentines.  They are pieces that will later become part of a finished valentine.

For my very first paper stitching project, I cut a small square from a brown paper bag, selected a button and threaded my hand needle.  No up front prep work. 

The basic loop stitch makes a pretty flower.  However, I hadn’t yet learned the technique of perforating the paper in advance.  And my second attempt was a fail that I managed to (sort of) rescue.

After that I decided to trace my designs to the back side of the paper and make perforations before stitching.  I like the look of this satin stiched heart, but I should have made long stitches both top and bottom.  My shortcut approach makes the stitching lopsided, but I still like it.

 

Cross stitching is only slightly more complex.  Draw a grid and pencil in the stitches on the reverse side of the paper, then perforate at each needle point before beginning.

Both pieces are stitched on thick hand-made paper scraps that I purchased in a bundle from an art supply store.

It is a beginning.  I’m experimenting with paper and ribbon ruffles next.

Such fun!  Thank you for visiting and hope you’re having a fabulous weekend 🙂

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