ps. . . i love you.

One of my favorite things about the blog world is all the inspiration out there.

In the past, before I started reading blogs, I didn’t really decorate for the holidays -  other than Christmas. But there’s something about taking the time to add some fresh new decorations throughout the seasons that makes me feel more proud of my house and decor. (I wasn’t really so much before.)
And this time of year it’s really hitting me - you take down all the Christmas things and yes, the house feels all fresh and clean, but it also feels kind of naked. Like a dog that’s been shaved for the summer. You know it’s a good idea, but it’s still kind of weird.

So I’m diving into Valentine’s Day with both feet. I have a lot of fun ideas – I’m hoping I can get them all done. I might still be celebrating in March. We’ll see.

I’m starting off with this little stitched Love Note.

It’s a little note embroidered onto fabric that I stitched lines on to look like paper. I know the idea’s not a new one – I can’t remember where I’ve seen it. But I think it’s so sweet and simple.
And I love how the fabric looks all wrinkly- just like a note that you carried around forever and put in a frame.

Ready for a tutorial?? :)

You will need:
• Frame – mine is a 5 x 7  – from the Dollar Store – woohoo!
• Fabric – white - 8 1/2 x 11 piece
• Thread for paper lines – I used Gray and a Dark Pink
• Dark Gray embroidery Thread
• Extra fabric, buttons and trim for decorating frame (optional)

Begin by tracing a 5″ x 7″ rectangle onto the middle of your fabric piece with a fabric marker. You can use the insert from the frame for this.

Mark another line 1 1/4″ down from the top of the rectangle.

With your gray thread, sew a double line of stitching along this line. Sew a straight line in one direction, leave the needle in the fabric and flip it around, and sew back the other direction.

Mark lines down the rectangle 1/2″ below the sewn line and every 1/2″ after that.

Sew single lines of stitching on these lines. Feel free to extend the stitching past the 5 x 7 rectangle.
You can take a little shortcut with these – don’t clip your threads after every row. Just sew down one row, then rotate the fabric and sew down the next row, and on down the rectangle.

Trim all your threads – then switch to your dark pink or red thread.

Mark a line vertically down the fabric, 3/4″ from the left side of your original rectangle.
Sew a double line of stitching on this marked line.

Decide what you would like your note to say. You can either print out a cute font, or write it in your own handwriting. Either way, practice tracing it out on paper a few times, then write your note on the fabric with your marking pen.

Embroidery your letters using 3 strands of embroidery floss and a stem stitch. (You can find directions for that stitch in this post.)

Remove any marking and press the embroidery hoop lines out of the fabric.

If you liked the wrinkled paper look – crinkle up your fabric. Smash it up into a ball. :)

Put your fabric into your frame.

Decide that maybe you’re not too happy with this boring frame. Dress it up in true bloggy fashion. ;)

This frame had a groove around it that I thought would be perfect for ric rac. Because really, what isn’t??

I hot glued it on – with my handy dandy new fancy Christmas present Glue Gun – that I adore. (Thanks sweetie!)
It’s Smoking Hot. Literally.

I was seriously distracted watching this thing smoke. I’m going to assume it’s smoking because it’s new.

I also made a couple of fabric rosettes to add to the frame. There are a milllllllion tutorials out there for these - but I thought I’d include one since I’ve put them on the frame – and really, I think it might be a blog requirement written in secret code somewhere – along with uses of mod podge, burlap, and book pages. :)

Start with a strip of fabric about 1 1/2″ to 2″ wide. Make a small knot in one end.

Hold the knot in your left hand and with your right hand, begin twisting the strip and wrapping it around around the knot.

Continue wrapping and twisting, using your left hand to hold the rose in place  as you go.

Clip your fabric when you get the rose the size you want and tuck the end underneath.

Glue the rose to a felt circle slightly smaller than the rose. This will hold all the folds in place.

You can leave them as-is at this point – or you can dress them up a little. I added buttons to the center to tie in the gray in the stitching.

Glue the rosettes to the frame -

And you’re all finished!

What do you think? I love it. It makes me smile. ;)

Do you decorate for Valentine’s Day?

In addition to the fun parties on my sidebar – I’m linking up to the Valentine’s Edition of Tip Me Tuesday and the CSI Project!! :)