DIY Sewn Cards

Are you the?ácrafty type? Do you knit, sew, make unique things, break out the glitter-glue, modelling clay or paintbrushes?áevery time you think about?ápresenting presents to your loved ones?

Maybe you would like to send something handmade to your friends and family who live afar. Perhaps this year you need or want to simplify gifts, but still want to make something beautiful, handmade, and very easy to mail. Well, you can take an afternoon, take some supplies, and take your sewing machine… and…

You can sew on paper! If you make or buy heavy weighted paper cards they will hold stitching. I used Strathmore?ácards?áfor mine, they’re available throughout Canada in many craft-supply or stationery stores. There are lots of other fine-quality cards out there, or just cut your own cards out of heavy paper. You can make envelopes for them yourself out of “regular” paper, packaging, gift-wrap… or re-use old envelopes.

I painted?áwith?áacrylic paints first, then added?áglitter-glue (hahaha), and did a touch or two more of the acrylic. I worked on several?ácards at once, so that if I had?áa colour?áon my palette, it could be used on all of the cards at one time. I?áfinally ended with a line or two of stitching to tack down some sequins. Instead of sequins you could use fabrics, scraps of wool or other objects instead. Or… just use the stitching as?áa level of the decoration. You could really piece something fabulous together that would be more than just a card, it would be a keepsake work of art for the lucky person who receives it.

Natasha Henderson, Montreal