Ellen Jackson

Hand made gifts and greeting cards are a great way to let others know exactly how much you care about them. If you're a fan of cross stitching, creating cards from cross stitch designs might be one way to accomplish this. Not only will they appreciate the time and effort you've taken to complete the card, it will be something they'll want to hold on to.

Creating cards from cross stitch designs begins with finding just the right pattern. What are the hobbies or interests of the person who will receive the card? Do they have a favorite animal or a particular sports team? Those interests could give you ideas of where to start followed by determining the size of the card you will create.

Some card types, like the 3-fold aperture card, will limit the design and size. Finding a cross stitch calculator will save you much time and counting when trying to determine how many stitches the aperture will allow. Create a design with some extra space around the edge to avoid cramping the design.

The overall shape of the design should fit the aperture of the card. You're no longer stuck with bland squares, circles, and rectangles. Look to scrapbooking supplies to seek out new shapes such as stars, arches, and Christmas trees.

Perhaps you prefer a plain card that will not cause you to be quite as restricted. Completing your design, fraying the edges, and attaching the design to the front of the card may be one way to have both freedom and creativity.

Think about more than just the design when creating cards from cross stitch designs. You'll also want to think about which colors you want -- not just for the card, but also for the thread. There are many ways to combine colors; contrasting, complementary, or soft tones can all be used. Choose the finish of the card next; you may choose from matte, linen, hammered, shiny, or metallic among others.

Have fun when creating cards from cross stitch designs because the choices available are endless. Don't worry about your card heading for the trash after the occasion is over. The hand made, cross stitched card will be something they'll want to frame and hang on their wall to remind them of the time and love you took to complete it just for them!