my secret craft

I don't know why I haven't mentioned this before but I am basically in love with sewing on paper! There is not a scrap of paper in our house or a discarded cereal box or a piece of card stock that is safe, eventually it will wind up being sewn on. I know that I have hemmed and hawed about my machine here before but what I never tell you is that it works just dandy on paper. But who knows? Maybe it 'works' better because I am thrilled with the medium.

We make all of our own cards here. If there is a card to be sent or given basically either Jorn or I have the job. That being said, I am not big on cards. I am even worse at remembering important dates and super-duper lame at sending Thank-You cards out in a timely manner (I know, I know...it's awful). But eventually, I get around to it and then when I do, I just love it!

This card was just delivered to our neighbor, an 81 year old man who chops at least 5 chords of fire wood every year that he's harvested himself from the mountain, taps over 100 trees for maple syrup every spring, brought down a huge wooden swing set on his tractor the first week we moved into our house three years ago and still plows our driveway (on his tractor, out in the elements, not in a plow truck!) several times during each storm because he "loves it".  Did I mention that he's 81 years old! And he never asks for a thing! He really likes garlic and onion potato chips (they have to be Wise) so when they are B1G1 I pick them up for him because he wouldn't want me to 'waste money'. He basically doesn't need anything but his tractor. So at the end of the plowing season we load up a Tractor Supply gift card and hope that he can use it somehow during the upcoming busy season when he'll be mowing everyone's lawn in town, starting his wood pile for next year and moving rock walls around. His name is Felix and his middle name is Rock. I am not kidding. This man is a living legend!

Anyhow, back to sewing on paper. I am not sure why or how I started doing it, meaning I would love to link to a blog or a tutorial or something that got me started but I can't recall one.I know I have seen a million things like this on Whip Up. But it's just great and I highly recommend it. But just be sure you dedicate one needle to it and switch it back to a new needle when you go to sew on fabric again because the paper dulls a needle fast. 

Oh, see. I just found this picture of some of the Valentines we made this year...

Oh, and I just found this picture while I was looking for the Valentine's Day card one. I miss the little bugger already...

Comments

[Monkey Lobster]

how did you cut out those letters?

[Abi]

with a scissor! i used my fabric scissor which is super sharp but it's also really big so it was tricky. the 'a' was the hardest. i just cut them out, you know? meaning, no stencil or drawing.

[Kara]

Let it be a secret no more. These are amazing! I love this idea.

[renee ~ heirloom seasons]

We enjoy making handmade cards here too. Yours are great, love the pocket!
I just visited your farm. Wonderful!

[Dawn Dutton]

I love your idea with the sewing on the paper. I have never tried it myself but I see it done alot. Do you use a regular sewing machine? I do alot of scrapbooking and card making and would like to learn how to do it. I guess I should just get my machine out and give it a whirl.... Lovely work.. thanks, Dawn

[Abi]

thanks renee!

[Abi]

thanks kara!

[Abi]

thanks dawn! just sew away on your regular machine but be sure to dedicate a needle for paper and remember to change it before you sew on fabric because the paper dulls the needle rather quickly. go for it! it's really addicting, don't say i didn't warn you ;)

[Dawn Dutton]

Thanks, I will give it a try! Dawn

[Rima Aranha]

They are so cute! Would love to make some.