Monday, December 15, 2008

Embroidered Handprints

I loved this idea from Plum Pudding so much that I knew I had to try it. These are the perfect Christmas gifts for our family. They were so easy and fun to make. Now I need to make one for me :)

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

To make these handprints, I photocopied M and O's hands (I could have just as easily traced them, but I had access to a copying machine:). I cut out their handprints, pinned them to the fabric, and traced around them using a disappearing ink pen. That ink disappears FAST! I had to stop and retrace several times while I was working, and I really wasn't sewing that slowly! I used the back stitch to embroider the hands which is super easy to do :)
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12 comments:

  1. ErikaDecember 18, 2008 at 2:22 AM

    Thank you SO much for such a wonderful idea! I am living in the Netherlands for the next two years and have been trying to think of a Christmas idea for the grandparents. This is perfect because it will be cheap to ship and the grandparents will love to see those little handprints. Oh, and how do you plan to finish the fabric? Or will you let the recipient decide? Thank you!

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  2. MelissaDecember 18, 2008 at 6:16 AM

    Erika- It's finished! I painted the hoops red so they would match and trimmed the fabric around the edges, and it's done!

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  3. tracey (aka rainbowmummy)December 18, 2008 at 6:51 AM

    Oh I just have got to learn to embroider, how do you find it? They are so beautiful!!

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  4. AnonymousDecember 18, 2008 at 9:58 AM

    That's AWESOME--I'm totally stealing it. Thank you!

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  5. MeganDecember 18, 2008 at 10:52 AM

    Melissa, Thanks! Yours turned out great!
    Megan

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  6. KristiDecember 18, 2008 at 4:35 PM

    I think I might give this a whirl too.

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  7. KristiDecember 18, 2008 at 4:37 PM

    I wanted to show you my dish towels...which are sort of like your project

    http://ourtotallyawesomeblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/dish-towels.html

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  8. Astrid in Bristling AcresDecember 18, 2008 at 7:50 PM

    I saw that idea on Plum Pudding too. I think it's a great idea! Thanks for mentioning that you use a backstitch...I just tried doing some embroidery and it didn't quite turn out as planned (ahem...oh well). I did some other stitch (I think running? not sure what it's called) and it didn't nearly look as neat as yours.

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  9. darahDecember 18, 2008 at 11:51 PM

    This is what we're doing for the grandparents this year too! I think they will love it. For one of the prints I used wool instead of floss and it turned out really cool. Just gave it a different feel. The other thing I like about these-- they won't break like the plaster ones from our youth!

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  10. Phyllis SommerDecember 19, 2008 at 8:49 AM

    now that's a really cool idea. i'm totally doing this. i bet it would be really cute to do them overlapping in different colors. love it. thanks for sharing.

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  11. WendyLouDecember 19, 2008 at 8:00 PM

    What a cute idea!! Next time use a blue, water soluble marking pen. It stays on the fabric until you spritz it with water, tnen disappears instantly!! Love your blog. It's reminding me to be as intentional with my two little ones as I was with my two older ones ;-)

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  12. Miss NotesyDecember 26, 2008 at 4:27 PM

    That is a GREAT idea!!!! I'm doing that with my kids too.

    A few years back I bought a fabric marker that wipes off with water. You don't have to wash it, just get it a little damp by dabbing it with a damp rag and the marker comes off. It was a cheap pen too ($1-2ish) from JoAnn's. I've never heard of disappearing ink. Sounds like fun though. :-)

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