VALENTINE’S DAY CARD W/ A SWIRL HEART @rinsky
“Valentine’s Day is coming up soon! Here is the last-minute project I made this week for my husband. I picked this swirl heart design and customized it and add “Happy Valentine’s Day” ‘coz I fell in love right away when I saw it. Very intricate design that expresses all the meaning of love”.
MATERIALS:
Embroidery - threads (Red & Gold; 40 wt.); needle (Schmetz size 90/14); bent scissors/ scissors; hoop (4” x 4”); software (Sew-what Pro)
Black cotton fabric (12” x 8”)
Pellon Stick-N-Tear Stabilizer (12” x 8”)
Pellon Fusible Fleece 987F medium weight
Printed cardstocks (2 8.5” x 11), copy paper
Cutting Mat, Pressing Mat
Portable paper trimmer, Ruler
Glue dots double sided tape
Marking pen, tailors chalk
Glue gun, glue sticks
Dritz fray check, Lint roller (optional)
MACHINES USED:
Embroidery Machine (Brother LB6800 THRD)
Mini Heat Press or home iron
Laptop
FINISHED CARD SIZE: 8” x 5.5”
Heat Press Settings:
High setting for mini heat press and wool setting for home iron to use with fusible fleece.
Step 1: Preparation
Pre-press your fabric to eliminate wrinkles and use lint roller to pick up any foreign materials from the fabric. Mark the middle (horizontal & vertical) using tailors chalk or pen. Peel off the embroidery stabilizer and adhere it to the back of the fabric. Lay down your fabric and find the middle, aligned it with your embroidery hoop then locked in place. (NOTE: This is an important step if you have only 4” x 4” working area**).**
Step 2: Upload your design
A. Open your embroidery software and upload your swirl heart design from your computer and send it to your embroidery machine. Thread your machine with red embroidery thread and start to stitch.
B. Unload your embroidery hoop once finished stitching and adjust the fabric by removing it from the hoop. (NOTE: Make sure you have enough space above the heart to stitch the word, “HAPPY” while maintaining your middle vertical line. Before you begin stitching double check the stitching area by clicking this function equipped with your machine, if any?).
C. Go back to your embroidery software and upload the word, “HAPPY” and send it to your embroidery machine. Thread your machine with gold embroidery thread this time and start to stitch. Once finished stitching, unload and remove the fabric from the hoop.
D. Reposition the fabric to stitch the word, “VALENTINE’S DAY” and follow the same step 2C. Clean your design by cutting off the excess threads.
Step 3: Pressing
Turn on your mini heat press with high setting temperature and press your design to eliminate wrinkles or marks from the hoop. Place a fusible fleece at the middle back of your fabric and fused in place.
Step 4: Cutting
Fold your printed cardstock in the middle (printed should be inside the fold) then cut or trim your cardstock to 8” x 5.5” or desired size that will accommodate your design. Cut another cardstock to 8” x 5.5” and place it at the back of your design aligned it with the fusible fleece. Trim the fabric leaving an inch from the cardstock in all sides. Fold the fabric and secure it by using double sided tape or glue gun at the corners. Set aside and use paper weights on top of it. Grab a copy paper, fold in half and trim it to your desired sized (I used at least 1/4” shorter than the cardstock in all corners).
Step 5: Finishing
Grab your design and apply fray check at the embroidery stitches to avoid fraying (just in case!) Run a generous amount of glue at the top of your folded cardstock and adhere your embroidery design properly. Open your cardstock in the middle and adhere the trimmed copy paper with double sided tape. Pressed down with your fingers on both corners. Wala! Now, it is ready for you to express your love with this beautiful and meaningful Valentine’s Day card with a swirl heart that is Hand made with LOVE!
beautiful embroidery heart design. I can’t believed it that you made a card size of 8" x 5.5" with only limits you for your embroidery area of 4" x 4" hoop size. Also, the stitches were came out beautifully from your machine. This is a friendly and beginner tutorial for embroidery enthusiasts. Nothing is impossible if your creativity is very broad. Thank you for sharing, I love it! 
so beautifully done; thank you!