On those occasions when you want to present someone with a very special, elegant card nothing beats an embroidered card.
Even a simple embroidered card can be time consuming but you'll see that the results will be worth all your efforts.
If you've never tried embroidering on paper you can follow the instructions below to make not only cards but also bookmarks, gift tags, embroidered embellishments to use on scrapbook pages, etc.
Let's start by putting together the following items:
- embroidery pattern
- cardstock cut to size
- blue tack
- adhesive tape
- embroidery thread & needle
- sewing pin
- foam sheet
1 - Cut your cardstock to the size and shape you want.
2 - Position the embroidery pattern on the front of your cardstock. Use some Blue Tack to keep them in place while you pierce the pattern, you obviously don't need to use as much Blue Tack as I did!
3 - Place a foam sheet under your cardstock and begin piercing with a pin.
4 - When you finish piercing the pattern onto the cardstock remove the pattern and the Blue Tack and get ready to start embroidering.
5 - Thread a needle but don't tie a knot at the end of the thread. Begin embroidering from the reverse of the cardstock. Make sure you leave some length of thread and fix it with some adhesive tape so it doesn't become loose.
6 - When you finish embroidering make sure all loose ends of the thread are fixed to the reverse of the cardstock with adhesive tape. Your embroidery is then ready to be used on your chosen project.
Tips:
* There are many free embroidery patterns online drawn specifically for embroidery on paper but you can use any patterns just make sure that during the piercing step you do it at regular intervals along the line so your stitches are the same length as much as possible.
* There are piercing or pricking tools available on the market but you don't need to spend money on these as a sewing pin is enough to achieve the same result.
* Use pins instead of sewing needles because they are easier to hold.
* It helps to have the embroidery pattern close by so you can use it as a guide if needed.
Here are a few examples of cards I made using this technique.
If you'd like to try embroidering on paper here's a free pattern you can use.
Links to more free patterns:
Happy crafting 
