ED212 floral borderCompleted by Pamela Horton The whispering Platypus

I have used red green and gold Christmas shades for both the stitching and the beads in completing this stitching project.

I printed the image from the sheet supplied at 14x12cm and before attaching it to the card front trimmed it down to finish at 13x10cm.

I completed the stitching before attaching the beads. For the straight lines I have used variegated metallic thread in shades of green, silver and red, using it double and stitched each line twice and secured the ends at the back of the work, using magic tape.

The swirls I have stitched using green polyester sewing thread and the flowers are stitched with metallic red thread. I have used faceted gold sequins instead of spacers and for the centre of these I have used 3 tiny pale green glass seed beads and attached the seed beads using the shiny red metallic thread.

I have used gold metallic 3mm rice beads for the corners and for the leaves I have used 7 iridescent, green 5mm metallic rice beads and 1 of the same shade which measures 7mm.

For the berries I have used red tiny round metallic beads and for the small red flower I have used 6 tiny glass seed beads attaching the extra bead into the centre.

To complete the card front I have edge the finished stitched and beaded topper, using a red permanent pen and secured the work at the back using strips of magic tape.

The 14x11cm satin finished gold foil backing sheet is attached using red power tape.

To make the main 29.5x13cm card I have printed the Holly, background sheet, cup479109_936, a beautiful Christmas backing sheet by Marijke Kok, onto both sides of good quality white matte photo paper and trimmed it to size before attaching the completed topper.

The embellishments for the centre of the card front is part of the image from, cup806726_1398, Beautiful Christmas pine cones and Holly, a design by Ceredwyn Macrae, which I have edged with gold dust glitter effects and stitched 6 tiny red glass seed beads onto the position of the berries before attaching this into the centre of the card front using red power tape.

I have added some gold peel off holly leaves to the image and then added the tiny gold glitter stars and the sentiment.

The ribbon is attached using red power tape.

To prepare the insert for the verse section, I have added a sentiment which I have coloured red and a small image of the completed card front.

The design is simple and the instructions are very clear, which makes the work easy and quick to complete.

I have kept the finished card small and post size acceptable and to fit into a 6”x5½’ envelope and is a beautifully stunning addition to my growing prepared greetings for Christmas 2020.

Pamela Horton. The Whispering Platypus.