Hand Embroidered Valentine Bookmarks

Hello Everyone!!! I’m Abby over at A Feathered Nest blog which is kind of a collection of hobbies I like or attempt. I’m a mom with 4 kids - boy, girl, boy, girl, and a husband. I wish I had a puppy so bad. My baby girl is an animal so she will suffice for now. We live in Michigan {the most beautiful place on earth} but we’re getting ready to move back home to Sunny Arizona! I’m SO excited that Heather would ask me to put together a project for all of you. We’re going to do a Valentine project but not that kind of Valentine project. Let’s veer from the standard Valentine gifts and do something unique for our good friends & loved ones. Who out there doesn't love a good book?! Even kids’ books. They’re amazing. Don’t you love it when you find a good book and you’re sad when you finish? Wouldn't it be fun to give a good book to someone you love this Valentine’s Day?! With an adorable hand-made bookmark?! Even better. {add some chocolate to the gift and I’d say that would be the best Valentine gift EVER.} I’ll take a good book {and chocolate} over flowers any day.

Hand Embroidered Valentine Bookmarks

Aren’t they precious? How fun to use the bookmark as the actual gift tag wrap it around a gift card or if you buy a book wrap it around the wrapping paper. 

Supplies:

• Felt, cut in varying circles or shapes (I have a scallop pair of scissors) 

• DMC floss, needle, scissors 

• Fabric marker- mine has a disappearing ink side 

• Fabric glue 

• Elastic (you can dye your elastic any color you want using RIT dye - just boil hot water, add a few drops of dye, boil for a few minutes, rinse with cold water. Bleach your pot before using it for cooking.) 

This is a perfect project for those of you who are beginners to embroidery. If you need a practice guide, here is a handy-dandy Stitch Guide I put together a long time ago. This post also has some stitching help, another great Valentine project. I’m missing a few stitches on my site but if you google searched the following stitch names you’ll find more than enough help on how to do them.

Cut your shapes - I used 3-ply together, but stitched on 2-ply.

Trace/draw your design. The circles should be small, so you don’t need a whole lot on them - keep it simple. I free-handed everything so I don’t have patterns, but you can look at these and figure it out. They’re not very complex.

Embroider your design. Here are the stitches I used: Lazy Daisy

- French Knot

- Split Stitch

- Running Stitch

- Blanket stitch

Secure your elastic in a loop/circle, using glue or thread - make sure it’s straight. Nothing but the best from you.

Glue your front to the back.

Done! Now go make a whole bunch of these and you have plenty of time until Valentine’s Day! Wahoo!! These will also make great end-of-year teacher gifts too get a head start and be the admiration of the PTO moms. You’re amazing.

More Valentine’s Day Crafts

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DIY Christmas Pinecone Garland Decor

This post is sponsored by Command™ brand.

I love the holidays. Cheery Christmas music, gathering all my favorite decorations to tuck into every nook and cranny of my home and our favorite sweet treats we only eat once a year.

This year we live in a lovely pre-war home with two fireplaces which means I get to decorate two mantels. I'm so excited. I get to create two pretty Christmas vignettes on each one.

I love the fall/Thanksgiving decorations I have on my dining room mantel.  It's made of a beautiful old growth oak wood. To keep the pretty wood intact I am using Command™ Clear Mini Hooks that are easy to apply and easy to remove without hammering holes in the wood for a damage-free holiday.

I wanted to create a lovely transitional garland that I can have up with my Thanksgiving decorations that I can also have up for Christmas.

This simple pinecone garland is a perfect easy DIY Christmas decoration or Thanksgiving decoration anyone who can tie a simple knot and bow can make.

DIY Christmas Decorations - Pinecone Garland

• Gather an assortment of pine cones -wash and dry

• 2-3 yards of ribbon

• Holiday craft pick 

• Craft Glue

• Command™ Clear Mini Hook (to hang)

  Gather and wash your pinecones. Cut a length of 2 1/2 yards of ribbon. If you are feeling sparkly you can add some glitter to each pinecone too by simply brushing some glue on the pinecones and dusting with glitter.

Wrap the ribbon around the bottom of the first pinecone and tie it in a double knot. Repeat spacing the pinecones apart about 5 inches. Tie two bows from the ribbon leaving long tails to top each end pinecone. Glue the bow on the top of the end pinecones.

Using the Command™ Clear Mini Hook add adhesive back as directed. Place the Command™ Clear Mini Hook on the mantle to hang the garland as pictured above (I used the white mini hooks so you can see them better here in the photo.)

Next, I simply added a Christmas craft pick tucking it into the Command™ Clear Mini Hook to hold it in place. The nice thing about using the Command™Brand Hooks is you can quickly change your decorations if you change your mind without damage.

I'm also hanging my wreaths on my windows using Command™ Brand Hooks. Did you know you can use them on glass? Be sure to clean the glass well before adhering the hooks.

On my enclosed porch I'm hanging these pretty velvet and grapevine wreaths on the windows using the Command™ Medium Designer Hook which can hold up to 3 pounds which is perfect for hanging wreaths.

You can find more ways to use Command™ Brand Hooks for your holiday decorating here at Command™ Brand Holiday.

Happy Holidays!