This project is a great example of how various influences can inspire me. I was involved with a project on applique this week, and another friend mentioned trapunto. Yet another friend introduced me to window cards last year, and I have been playing around with marbling fabric in the last year as well. These things all came together here. I decided to try my hand at using these tools and techniques to make cards.
Materials: two fabrics that you like, with some red.
embroidery floss or thread of a color that will enhance the fabric, and a sewing needle
fabric shears
photo frame cards, here's a link
a small amount of polyfill stuffing or clean cotton or lamb's wool
Directions: cut a heart from one fabric, I fold the fabric before cutting to get it symmetrical. Be sure to measure the window opening of the card to get the heart the right size. I used my marbled fabric, I also have red and blue toile around, I am excited about toile these days. Cut the background fabric to just a little larger (by 1/2 inch or so) to the size of the window.
Stitch the heart to the backing fabric. The trapunto is optional but makes the heart puffy and sweet. To do it, cut a small vertical hole in the backing fabric only behind the heart, not too close to the stitching. Tuck in just a wee bit of polyfill or cotton or wool fluff. Don't use too much or the backing fabric will wrinkle. Stitch up the hole with a stitch or two.
Tuck the little backed heart into the photo card window, smooth out the fabric. Voila!
