ED209 Floral border

This is a stitching design by Emy van Schaik, with which definitely is worth spending some creative time. I have used mostly metallic coloured threads except for the stems of the plants and leaves where I have used a mid-green polyester thread.

I have used a white smooth surfaced matte 170gsm card cut at 13.5x12.5cm to transfer the and when the topper was completed trimmed down to measure 13cm wide x 12cm high.

I copied the sheet supplied and pricked all the sections before I began the stitching, starting with gold metallic thread for the outer circular section.

The inner circular section is stitched with a pale green metallic thread.

I then completed the circular star shapes using red, gold, green and a variegated metallic thread for the smallest circular star.

The scrolls representing the stems are stitched with the darker green polyester thread. Before I stitched the flowers and buds, I have attached the 12 green glass seed beads, the red glass seed bead, the2 red 4mm red metallic rice beads and the single red glass 4mm tube bead.

The smallest of the 2 flowers and the matching bud, I have stitched using the variegated metallic thread. The larger of the 2 flowers and the matching bud I have used a vivid red metallic thread and then used a colouring pencil to gently shade the petals of the larger flower.

I have used coloured sequins instead of spacers for the area within the circular frame and allowed them to be larger than the space allowed to give more definition before attaching the matching coloured glass seed beads inside each of sequins The centre of the flowers both have a gold sequin with a tiny red seed bead attached.

The last beads to be attached are the 5 red glass 5mm tube beads representing the red star flower.

I have used a total of 25 beads, which comprises of 14 green glass seed beads,5 red glass seed beads,1 lime coloured glass seed bead, 2 red 4mm metallic rice beads, 5 red glass 5mm tube beads, 1 red glass 4mm tube bead, 4 gold sequins, 2 red sequins and one lime green sequin.

I have secured the stitching and beading at the back of the white card using magic tape before attaching the 12.75x 114.25cm red and white soft-toned diagonal gingham, cup1049542_21027, backing sheet.

I have then attached the decorative red peel off strips to the outer edge of the white card and used padded D.S. tape to attach the topper to the prepared white 200gsm card front.

I have attached a dark green decorative peel off strip to the edge of the white main card front.

To complete the embellishments of the card front I have used a tiny image of a previous purchase Gorgeous Gnome, cup1043635_983, a design by Amy Perry, some gold glitter stars and a sentiment.

To complete the insert, I have used Holly Background sheet, cup735376_16808, a design by Lizzie, which I often use as a Christmas insert, and printed the verse I have chosen from the free Christmas verses section.

I have attached a smaller image of the card front onto the left hand side of the insert and used gold foil Christmas ribbon over both the side edges of the holly insert.

I am so happy with this beautiful project which was well worth the time and effort. Pamela Horton. The Whispering Platypus.