Embroidered Barbed Wire ATC using a backstitch how to from the book: Greeting Cards In Stitches

My two favorite things come together in this super fun book:

Greeting Cards in Stitches: 30 Designs with Hand-Embroidered Embellishments
by
Sharon and Kristin Jankowicz

Clever greeting cards, embellished with hand stitching, are so unique they'll become keepsakes!

The fabulous mother-daughter design duo has created 30 original cards for all occasions, including holidays, birthdays, births, graduations, anniversaries, get well, thank you, congratulations, and general note cards.

A detailed basics section includes general embroidery information plus an overview of all the techniques and tools necessary for embroidering on paper. Embroidery stitches are taught with watercolor how-to illustrations, step-by-step instructions, and close-up photos. Full-size patterns for all projects are provided for easy transfer.

Also included is a website link to download the patterns so you can print them directly on your special paper.

Embroidering on paper and card stock is a relatively new idea, and this book hits the market as the cross-over craft gains momentum.
Fresh, original card designs have wide appeal.
Only book available dedicated to cards that feature hand-embroidery.
Link to site for downloading patterns

Sharon and Kristin Jankowicz, mother and daughter, are also the authors of  Embroidery to Embellish Everything and Say It with Stitches. Their designs are clever and very creative! Sharon and Kristin design for the craft industry. Each a graphic artist and passionate needle-crafter, together they are a creative collaboration between Baby Boom and Generation X.

Not only is full of great projects, there are some great tips and techniques. There is one about using plastic canvas as a template to make perfectly spaced stitches is beyond fabulous posted here. I love when a simple item from the craft stash can be repurposed into a super-useful tool to make crafting easier!

So today I had an idea about stitching a barbed wire ATC and so off to what else? Why my copy of Greeting Cards in Stitches: 30 Designs with Hand-Embroidered Embellishments

Click on this image to see how to sew a backstitch. In addition to the backstitch how-to, there is a how-to to sew a woven backstitch.

Here is my barbed wire embroidered ATC:

How I did it:
First I drew a light pencil line on the back and front of the card in the same place. I did this because the backstitch requires you to put the needle through the paper from both sides and when you are stitching paper the hole is permanent, not like with fabric.

I then sewed the backstitch along the line.

With a new piece of floss (I am using 3 strands of gray) I made two random stitches in a "V" shape, with one leg of the "V" on each side of the backstitch line.

I then did 4-5 satin stitches, satin stitches are simply horizontal stitches parellel to each other.

Then I did another "V' stitch in the opposite direction.

I repeated this two more times.

I then die cut a tag and then the letter B attaching it with a brad.

Then I stamped the rest of the word with tiny letter stamps.

So if you are any kind of paper crafter and like your stitching too, this book is for you! (oooh I made a rhyme, a bit of a departure from the bad puns for me!)

You know what's coming next, the question:

What is the wackiest thing you have stitched, thought of stitching, or would like to stitch?

And as usual, our thanks for sharing and leaving a comment, you'll be entered to win a free book!

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OK, off to go make something.....as always I'll keep you in the loop!

Comments

[rush]

i thought about mending clothes...nah! i have sewn a snap (like in sewing) to a card. the wacky part is that i did it, AND i avoided having to sew by hand!

[Martha Crutchfield]

I am being careful to stitch a piece I cut off from a coke can. I drew a pattern first and then punched small holes to pull a needle through the coke can. I haven't decided which thread would be the best yet.

[Lindart]

Very cool! At first I thought you were attaching real barbed wire - I had to look close to see it was stitched!
Wackiest thing I have stitched - I not much of a wacky stitcher, I guess my answer would have to be stitching paper together on a card. Not really wacky, I know, but at the time it was!

[Katina]

The barbed wire stitching is great. You really have to look twice to see it.

As for wacky stitching. I have stitched window screen to the side of a dog run fence to make it mosquito proof! I've also stitched window screen to the grill of my front gate to keep bugs out of the house if the front door is open!

[Yogi]

Love your barbed wire stitching. Very neat idea. I've done all kinds of embroidery stuff. I don't consider anything I do whacky... But I guess the most different for me was layering all kinds of fibers on scrap cardstock, to cut up into pieces for cards and ATC's, and tacking them down with glue and embellishing with stitching.