Monday, January 28, 2013

Valentine Bookmarks

I am so excited with the Valentine Bookmarks I have made for my grandchildren Evie and Canaan who live in England.  Their mmom is my daughter Jessica who has the incredible blog SunnyStitching.  Evie and Canaan said they would like bookmarks so my brain started creating.  They do really LOVE books....Their parents have really taught them the enjoyment of reading.

I will say I did create these with no visible inspiration and was also excited about that.  Oops....I was inspired to embroider them by Justine of Kerr-afty Creations.  She does beautiful embroidery, click here to see some!

On to the Valentine Bookmarks by Nanny (my "grandma" name)......

There are very few supplies needed.  Embroidery Thread, Embroidery Needles (not pictured), Rotary Cutter or Scissors, Heart Templates, Felt, Template for Bookmark, Ruler and Pencil (not pictured).

 I began by putting paper bookmark template on the edge of the felt.  I use Eco-Fi Felt which is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.

 I placed the edge of the felt along the straight edge of the cutting board and put the ruler along the edge of the paper template.

Then used the rotary cutter (or you can use scissors) to cut out the felt bookmark.  I cut two each of blue and pink ones.  One of each is used as a backing.
Next, I cut out the hearts from felt using the paper heart templates and pinned the hearts where I wanted them on the bookmarks.  Then started embroidering the designs on them  I have included a photo of how I pinned a smaller paper heart onto the larger felt heart.  This was a guide to embroider inside the larger heart onto the bookmark to keep my stitches in the shape of a heart.  ( I hope this makes sense).
Now...time for the fun....embroidering the design on.  
For Canaan's blue and red bookmarks: 
I used the basic running stitch around the inside of the larger hearts on both the red and blue bookmarks. The stitches on the red center hearts are done with red thread so it is hard to see.
The running stitch also for the sun and the cloud on the blue one.
The chain stitch for the "C" in blue thread on the red one and for the rainbow on the blue bookmark.
I used the twisted running stitch for the top and bottom of the hearts on the blue ones in red thread.
I used the blanket stitch around the edges of the blue one. I added another piece of felt to the back of the pink bookmark so the stitched on the back of the front piece would not show.
For Evie's pink and red bookmarks:
I used the basic running stitch around the inside of the larger hearts on both the red and blue bookmarks.
The chain stitch for the "E" in pink thread on the red bookmark;  in purple thread for the inside top and bottom of the three pink hearts on the pink bookmark; and in green thread for the stems of the flower.
The daisy stitch for the flower in the center heart of the pink bookmark and french knots as indicated in photo.
The blanket stitch around the edges of the pink one. I Iadded another piece of felt to the back of the pink bookmark so the stitched on the back of the front piece would not show.

These were so fun and enjoyable to make for adorable Evie and Canaan!

All of them.......

Happy Valentine's Day, Evie and Canaan

Shhhhh.....These are a surprise!

18 comments:

  1. They are so cute! I love working with felt, I've only really just discovered it. These are a great idea!

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  2. This is adorable - I love the stitching :) Thanks for linking up to The Weekly Creative.

    Shannon @ Sewing Barefoot

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  3. Pinning your cute book marks:) New follow. Follow me back at http://www.sewsweetvintage.com/2013/01/his-and-her-pillows.html

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  4. Aww that's cute! And a great keepsake :0) I’m a new follower of your blog from the Monday Mingle Blog Hop! Would love if you could stop by mine. Thanks :0)

    The Three Whiskateers
    http://thethreewhiskateers.blogspot.com/

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  5. These are so cute, Mom! The kids are going to love them...and I promise I will keep it a secret. :-)

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  6. So lovely!!! Love the red one with "C" from my lover's name :) Thanks so much for sharing tutorial! Would love to have you visit me sometime.
    Have a fabulous week!
    Hugs from Portugal,

    Ana Love Craft
    www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

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  7. They are so beautiful dear Kay! You have very lucky grandchildren :-). Eva loves reading too, but so far she bends the corner of the page to mark her place (learned from mum...). Time to make us both bookmarks!
    big hug dear friend

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  8. Those are adorable! Thank you for sharing this tutorial on talu. :)

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  9. Oh my goodness are those ever pretty! I love the stitching. Such a nice touch!

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  10. I love your felt bookmarks, Kay!!! The stitching is just perfect. My favourite is the blue one with the rainbow... very creative.

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  11. Adorable and full of love! My favorite is the little flower -- but the rainbow is close! Thanks so much for sharing on Busy Monday!

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  12. These are so cute! Thank you for sharing this at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  13. Great tutorial! I'm featuring this on Eco Kids this week!

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  14. Beautiful! I plan to check out your daughter's blog as well, as soon I get a free minute! Thanks for sharing with us at Eco-Kids! I hope you will come link up with us again this week!! http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2013/02/an-enchanted-childhood-playschool.html

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  15. These are such sweet bookmarks. I need to work on my embroidery stitches. Thanks for sharing @ DearCreatives.com Theresa Hope your having a great week!

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  16. These are full of love! So festive!

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  17. Hi Kay, I've included your fab bookmarks in a roundup of fabric bookmarks today.

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I would love to hear your comments!