Even though we're well beyond Valentine's Day, the creation of Michiko's "puffy hearts" are too adorable to pass up. Finally, instructions on how to make your own "puffies"!
Hello my friends, Michiko greeting you today with an introduction to a Heart Stitch layout I so happily created in celebration of February's familiar theme, "Love". In Japan, there are many hearts displayed thoughout town, including both paper and chocolate varieties, and upon seeing them, I often feel a strong sense of excitement and glee. To recapture this feeling, I went about creating a layout on the subject, though skipped out on the chocolate! It's famous feature, puffy hearts! Today, I'm going to show you how to make them!
The Must Haves
Paper Heart Collection: Pattern Papers {Delivery, Define, Cupid, Friendship}, 6" x 6" Patterned Paper Pad, Stickers, & Chipboard.
Farmhouse Collection: Patterned Paper {Homemade}
Others: Sewing Machine. Cotton. Embroidery Thread, and Vellum Paper
First, make a heart template from a folded sheet of cardstock, or scrap paper. Draw a half-shaped heart along it's folded edge and trim it out.
Go ahead and make yourself a small pile of various sized hearts from cardstock; big & small. Feel to free to create a few that are in less-than-perfect form. I went with a total of five stitched hearts for this particular project, but you're welcome to make as many as you'd like.
In moving forward with the stitching process, you'll need two of the same shaped hearts. This is when the templates come in extra handy! Fold a sheet of patterned paper in half (again, use up them scraps!), tape the template to the patterned side of the folded paper and trim around the template so that you have two matching sized hearts to work with. Repeat this step for the remaining hearts.
With needle and thread in hand, and while holding matching hearts together, blanket stitch around them. Stop stitching after you're 2/3's the way around and tuck cotton inside the heart 'til it's slightly puffy. Lastly, stitch closed!
I produced a total of five stitched hearts. Only three of them contain cotton, whereas a few are without it. Believe it or not, this minor difference lends texture to the layout, and the overall unique combination of hearts.
To finish the layout, trim a 11" x 11" section of "Homemade" patterned paper and adhere it on top of Paper Heart's "Delivery" patterned paper. Stitch around the edges with a sewing machine. Mat a photo with both "Defined" patterned paper and torn vellum. Position stickers, hearts, chipboard pieces, and other elements as shown. Finally, locate a small section of journaling next to the photo. Short and sweet is perfect!
I hope feel the same happiness I felt when having been surrounded by so many hearts not so long ago. If hearts aren't your thing, maybe go about creating puffies of a different shape - with so many shape options at your disposal these days thanks to the endless array of die-cutting machines, making puffies is super easy, and endlessly fun! See you next month!
This is so beautiful! I love the dimension of the puffy hearts. Who would've thought to do that. Michiko always has awesome ideas.
Posted by: Lynne S | March 05, 2012 at 05:24 AM
Wow, those hearts are sooo cute!!!
Posted by: Anne-Sophie | March 05, 2012 at 05:48 AM
Adorable!!
Posted by: susan Tutt | March 05, 2012 at 06:02 AM
oh, how fabulous!!!!
Posted by: soapHOUSEmama | March 05, 2012 at 07:45 AM
Fabulous layout...love it!
Posted by: Melanie C | March 05, 2012 at 08:09 AM
love the hearts! thanks for the tutorial.
Posted by: conniemelancon | March 05, 2012 at 10:31 AM
LUV this idea!!! Will have to make some of these real soon!!! TFS :-)
Posted by: Michelle | March 05, 2012 at 04:48 PM
Ohhhhhhhhhh this is GORGEOUS! I loveeeeee how you made those hearts!!!
Posted by: Julie Tucker-Wolek | March 05, 2012 at 05:45 PM
GORGEOUS and fabulous creation! I LOVE this idea!!!
Posted by: Court's Crafts | March 05, 2012 at 09:43 PM
so, so, so....CREATIVE!! Cute!
Posted by: Carolyn | March 05, 2012 at 09:47 PM
those hearts are fab!!
Posted by: Chrislyn | March 05, 2012 at 10:06 PM
Fabulous Idea. Thanks
Posted by: Cecilia Reyes | March 05, 2012 at 10:55 PM
I love the homemade puffies! Thanks for the tutorial.
Posted by: Christine | April 06, 2012 at 09:24 PM