Got some burlap scraps hanging around? Whip up some love with a few stitches.
Cut your burlap into postcard size rectangles (approximately 4"x6") . Stiffen up the burlap with a little spray starch and a hot iron. Repeat a few times on each side.
(The "Bee Mine" Valentine was inspired by my bee-keeping friend, Patricia.)
(This one makes me think of the Fed Ex package Tom Hanks delivered at the end of Cast Away.)
Embroider a design on the postcard. All of my designs were free-hand, though I did trace the hearts with a light pencil to achieve symmetry. Maya*Made has a great post about embroidering on burlap. The woven grid of burlap is a perfect surface for embroidery. I used fine cotton crochet thread, but embroidery floss would work just as well. Use what you have on hand.
Cut a piece of paper the same size as the burlap. Stitch the paper onto the back of your burlap postcard. I simply zig-zagged around the postcard with ecru thread. The paper backing will cover the backside of your embroidery and give you a place to write a sonnet to your beloved.
Voila! You're ready to send some love to someone you love. Or if you're like me, you can stuff them into a ziploc bag and put them away for a year until you remember to do something with them. I have to admit, I'm a tad bit embarassed by how sappy some of these Valentines are, but what can I say? It's the season for sap.
Season for sap, I like it! I love the embroidered burlap. That's how I learned to embroider in the first place, all those years ago in Junior High art class. I still remember Miss King and the door she unknowingly opened for me to become a needle artist. I embroidered a free hand portrait of our dog on bright pink burlap. It was the 70's after all. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of embroidering on burlap...how wonderful. I suppose if I did this and took it to the post office to be hand stamped for postage it should go through the mail just fine...what do you think?
ReplyDeleteYou are so frickin' brilliant. What a brain with a heart you are :)
ReplyDeleteOh, how cute are these! This would be a wonderful surprise from the mail :) The bee mine design is so sweet, perfect for Vday! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteNow I know what to do with all the burlap I have!!! Thank you for the creative valentine post.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea for so many things!
ReplyDeleteLove - love these! And I still have some burlap in my stash.
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