Stitched Christmas Cards Tutorial

Step 1: Gather your supplies

You will need:

Assortment of patterned Christmas-themed scrapbooking paper
8½” X 11” sturdy cardstock
Buttons (or other embellishments)
Photo Squares (or other paper adhesive)
Tacky Glue (to glue on embellishments)
Paper trimmer, not mandatory, but it makes things easier!
Scissors
Sewing machine and thread



Step 2: Cut your cardstock

Cut the cardstock in half so that you have two 5½” X 8½” pieces.

Cut one of those pieces in half, so now you have 1 - 5½” X 8½” piece and 2 - 4¼” X 5½” pieces.
Fold the 5½” X 8½” in half for the actual note card.



Step 3: Cut your patterned paper

Cut your background paper to 4¼” X 5½”.

Cut a triangle out of the other paper and a little square for the tree trunk.



Step 4: Assemble pieces

Using the photo squares, attach the background paper (4¼” X 5½” scrapbooking paper) to the 4¼” X 5½” piece of cardstock. Assemble the tree and attach it to the card front.

These pieces are going to be sewn so at this point, we are simply tacking it down to prepare for the stitching.



Step 5: Stitching the tree

Stitch around the tree, starting and finishing at the top.
Trim the loose threads.
This will be covered by a button.




Step 6: Stitch the perimeter of the card

At this point I stitch around the border of the card.


Step 7: Attach stitched card to note card

Using the photo squares I permanently attach the card front to the note card.



Step 8: Embellish the card

I attach a button to the top of the tree, but you can embellish it at this point any way you like.



And you’re done!




Here are some of the templates I have used but feel free to create your own!






Variations:

Using this technique, you could make cards using any holiday shape, stars, snowmen, gingerbread men, candy canes, etc.



You can use fabric instead of paper by using Heat’N’Bond to attach the fabric to the card front.



You can use rick rack and other trims to embellish the cards.



You could trim the paper (or fabric) with pinking sheers to give the edges a “pinked” look.

You could use rubber stamps to further embellish the card.


NOTE: Make sure you change your sewing machine needle before sewing again on fabric, the needles get very dull when sewing on paper!


Thanks to Karen from Cotton Spice for inviting me to to participate in the Last Minute Gift Countdown!