Valentine Card Tutorial!

I got an idea for a handmade Valentine a couple of weeks ago, using one of Sublime Stitching's desgins, so I sent them an email asking if they'd like to do a collaboration for their blog.

They were sweet enough to let me take the lead on the tutorial and Jenny provided editing for the piece. They will be posting the tutorial on their blog too, along with a .jpg of the intestines image for you to make one for your loved one.

Now this is my first tutorial, so please be kind!

Materials

• Decorative cardstock - 8 1/2" x 11", folded in half.
• "I love your guts" image - available for download on the Sublime Stitching blog.
  
• Transfer paper (or transfer pen/pencil)
  
• White fabric (or your choice of color)
• Embroidery floss in "gutsy" colors
• Embroidery scissors, needle and hoop
  
• Ruler
• Craft glue or spray adhesive
  
• Small paintbrush
• Rick-Rack

Instructions!
x-x-x-x-x-x-x

1. Choose your transfer method. I am opting to use the transfer paper and stylus. (If you are not using the transfer paper method, skip ahead to step #5!)

2. Cut a piece of transfer paper slightly larger than the size of the intestines design. Tape the corners of the transfer paper to your fabric.

3. Now tape the inestines design to the transfer paper. All this taping is to ensure there is no shifting of the pattern, so you won't "ghost" your image.

4. All taped and ready to go? Good! Transfer the image by going over the design firmly with the stylus. No stylus? No problem! Just use another object with a dull point, such as a bamboo knitting needle. You can even use a pen or a pencil, just take care not to puncture through the paper and mark on your fabric.

Jenny says: If using a pen to trace the design, opt for another color so you can clearly see where you've already traced.

5. If you've decided to opt for the transfer pen or pencil method, you will need to follow the package instructions.

6. Now for the fun part: embroider them guts!

7. One and a half episodes of Grey's Anatomy & the intestines are successfully embroidered!

8. Un-hoop your fabric and give it a good, HOT ironing to remove the hoop marks. (You can use your steam setting now.)

9. Now measure half an inch outward from the farthest point of each side of your intestines.

10. Once you've measured around all 4 sides, cut out the design.

11. Decide the placement of the design on your card.

12. Turn your fabric square over on to the backside and apply a thin line of fabric glue along all 4 sides. Then stick it to your card front, in your placement choice. You could also use spray adhesive here, if you're fancy like that.

Jenny says: Just be aware that spray adhesive is not kind to fabrics over time and this
will not be an heirloom piece if you use it. I'm just saying!

13. Now open your card, and apply a thin layer of glue along the top edge of your card, and apply the rick-rack. Repeat for all 4 sides. (I found it easiest to use a paintbrush to apply my glue.)

14. Repeat the glue and rick-rack method to the front of the card to apply rick-rack around your embroidered image.

15. Cut out the "I love YOUR GUTS" text, and glue it to the inside of your card. You can be as simplistic as I was, or you can get fancy and add a different colored paper or even more rick-rack underneath or around the text.

16. Now you've got yourself one sick + twisted, handmade Valentine, sure to make any lover's stomach flip-flop.

I hope you like this Valentine idea! If you want to make one of your very own, head on over to the Sublime Stitching blog, and there you will find the .jpg to download the intestines image, so you can get started on this project this weekend! (The file for the image is towards the bottom of the page.)

If you're in the mood to make something a little bit sweeter for your honey, no problem! Sublime Stitching also has an adorable Itty Bitty Cupid Card kit.

Hugs & Stitches,
Amy