Handstitched Ornaments

I was really inspired by Plum Pludding's embroidered hand prints because as you know, I LOVE hand print projects. Her version had her children's prints all inside a 12 inch embroidery hoop. It makes a nice keepsake because you can hang the hoop on the wall as is.

I decided to make mine into a pillow ornament. I started by tracing ER's hand onto a scrap of light colored fabric that I got as a remnant at Joann's for less that two dollars with a disappearing ink pen. Then I started using a backstitch and got about half way through. I worked a bit more the next day too, but when I went back to it the third day to finish I found the rest of the pen markings had disappeared.

I tried to put her hand within the stitched marks and retrace it, but I couldn't get her little fingers placed right. Okay, on to try number two! This time I noticed that Plum Pudding had traced her kids hands onto paper, cut out, and used that tracing to transfer the hand prints onto her fabric. An important step I didn't take, well live and learn!

The second time I used a paper tracing of ER's hand print just in case, but didn't end up needing it as I finished the embroidery all in one sitting. I backed the embroidered print with green fleece, also from the remnant section, and added a ribbon hanger. I love how it turned out! The year is at the top, and her name is on the back. I added a Jolee's by EK Success 3D sticker embellishment from the Happy Holidays Title Wave in the corner. See my other hand print ideas by clicking the handprints label at the bottom of this post.

I was also inspired by Janna Wilson's stamped heart ornament that was featured on the Fiskars website. I can't find the link anymore, they've moved stuff around! Hers is more elaborate, it has a wire hanger with beads and a flower in the center with a J in the middle as well as some leaves for embellishment.

I began with the same fabric remnant I used for the embroidered the hand print. I used Hero Arts Super Merry Christmas Greeting, it's older so it's probably discontinued, with gold ink from Color Box's Petal Points Pigment Ink Set in Aurora. I hand cut a heart to use as a template.

Then I traced the template over my stamping. I used three strands of embroidery thread to backstitch around the heart most of the way around. With about half an inch left open, I added stuffing. Finish backstitching, tie a knot, and use pinking schears to cut out heart. Set an eyelet at the top of the heart, add ribbon and tie a bow. Embellish.

I used paper flowers from Making Memories that came with the paper pointsettias, leaves, and brads. I made seven and plan to use them a decorations on the gift bags I putting together for my extended family.

This is part of Centsational Girl's Ornament Party, and wow does she know who to make a pretty ornament! Check out her peppermint letters and the glittery ones with snowflakes on it.