Framed Sunshine Embroidery

For the Box of Sunshine I made a dear friend,

I hand embroidered a little bit of sunshine to add a bright spot to her home.

I used the same technique as with the Christmas and Valentine embroidery.

Embroidering is so soothing and calms my nerves, so I love doing it.

If you want to make one for your Box of Sunshine, you'll need:

Sunshine Template

Dollar Store Frames

Krylon Sun Yellow Indoor/Outdoor Spray Paint

White Fabric

Yellow Embroidery Floss

Embroidery Needle

Embroidery Hoop

Pencil 

Glue Gun

This time I changed it up and added a little picture to the word.

I like the little sunshine doodle and I think it adds the right punch to the frame.

Now I want to make one for my house,

because the happy yellow just makes me smile!

Have you made a Box of Sunshine yet?

What did you include?

Have you tried your hand at embroidering?

I'd love to see it!

Be sure to link up to the Flickr group, so everyone can check it out!

Handmade Gift Idea: Framed Holiday Hand Embroidery

Today I've got a quick and easy handmade gift that is fun to make and receive. 

I made a Halloween version and loved it so much that I decided I needed to make a Christmas version when I found this fabulous Christmas fabric hiding in my hoard that I bought on clearance at Joann for $2 a yard a couple of years ago.

Supplies:

Frames

Spray Paint

Christmas Fabric

Transfer/Tracing Paper

White Embroidery Floss

Embroidery Hoop

Embroidery Needles

Fabric Marking Pencil

Glue Gun

I found these great frames at my local dollar store, but they were the wrong color, so I used a little white Krylon spray paint and they were ready to go!

Step One: Cut a piece of fabric that is about 1″ bigger on all four sides than photo glass. 

So for my 4×6 frame, I cut a piece of fabric that was 5×7 and for my 5×7 frame I cut a piece of fabric that was 6×8.

Step Two: Use a fabric marking pencil to mark the corners of your glass size so you know the size area that you’ll have to work with. I used a fabric pencil because I had one, but I’ve used a white crayon in a pinch.

Step Three: Using your computer create text to be embroidered. I did this by making a 5×7 box in Photoshop and then centering the text within that box. Place the design over tracing/transfer paper and draw over the design to transfer it to the fabric.

It will look like this when you’re done!

Step Four: Stretch the design onto your embroidery hoop and start stitching. 

I used a back stitch, but any of your favorite embroidery stitches will work great.

Step Five: Remove from the embroidery hoop and iron out the kinks and wrinkles.

Step Six: Cut a piece of cardstock the exact same size as the glass. 

Then place it on the back side of the embroidery and hot glue the edges to the cardstock – pulling slightly – to keep it taught.
 

You’re done! 

Flip it over and frame it up! 

I like to keep the glass behind it for sturdiness. 

You can put it in front too, but I don’t like the sheen it gives to the embroidery.

Now you’ve got a cute handmade gift to help share holiday cheer with friends!

This post originally appeared as a guest post on Skip to My Lou.