Greeting Cards - Combining Fabric and Cardstock

Some machine embroidery designs are not suitable for stitching onto cardstock, but that shouldn't stop you from creating magical greetings with your embroidery. Discover how to create your own one-of-a-kind greeting cards by first stitching onto fabric, and then attaching to cardstock. Our step-by-step project instructions will show you two different methods for creating your own!

Embroidery designs created to fit a 4"x4" hoop are easy to turn into personalized greeting cards. This tutorial will show how to make two different cards.

The first card is framed with a window cut out of the cardstock, allowing the embroidery to show through. The second is a sewn card where the embroidery design is first stitched onto fabric, then sewn onto the front of the card. The framed embroidery card steps will be first. To make the Sewn Embroidery card, skip ahead.

For the framed card, the embroidery design needs to be smaller than 3" x 5."  The fabric piece needs to be larger than 3" x 5" with roughly an extra inch along each edge. In this demonstration, we used the 4x4 size of the design "To the Moon and Back" (M29357).

To make the framed embroidery card, draw a 7" tall by 10" wide rectangle on a piece of 65lb cardstock.

Cut the 7" x 10" rectangle out of the cardstock.

Match up the short (7") sides, and fold the paper in half so that it is now 7" tall and 5" wide. Press the fold with a bone folder to make a clean, crisp edge.

After folding, open up the card once more. On the left half of the card, measure 1" up from the bottom edge. Draw a line.

Be sure to draw only on the left half of the card. The cardstock to the right of the fold should remain blank.

Next, measure 1" from the left of the fold. Draw a line along this point as well. Again, only do this on the left half of the card.

Repeat to draw a line 1" from the top edge, and another line 1" from the left edge. Make sure only to draw on the left half of the card.

The four drawn lines will overlap and make a rectangle in the center of the left half of the card. Using a craft knife and cutting mat, carefully cut out the rectangle within the lines. 

Measure the opening, it should be roughly 3" wide by 5" tall. This will be the opening (or window) through which you will see the embroidery.

Next, take the finished embroidered design. Using a temporary marking tool, draw a box around the design that measures approximately 4" x 6." When finished, the design should be centered within the drawn box.

It is important that the fabric is cut to be larger than the 3" x 5" opening created on the card so as to prevent the embroidery from falling through. It also needs to be smaller than the card itself (5"x7"). In this demonstration, we simply measured and drew 1" out from all four sides of our chosen design.

Cut the design out along the drawn box.

After the design has been cut to size, center it within the opening of the card. Make sure the right side of the embroidery is against the inside of the card. Glue the embroidery in place using white craft glue.

To hide the back side of the embroidery, cut an insert out of cardstock that measures 4.75" wide by 6.75" tall.

Place the insert over the backside of the embroidery and glue it into place. This completes the framed embroidery card.

For the sewn embroidery card, the embroidery design needs to be smaller than 3.5" wide and 4.75" tall. In this demonstration, we used the 4x4 size of the design "Beautiful Wildflower Stems" (M19646).

To make the sewn embroidery card, start by drawing a rectangle onto 65lb cardstock that is 5.5" tall and 8.5" wide.

Cut the 5.5" x 8.5" rectangle out of the cardstock.

Match up the short (5.5") sides, and fold the paper in half so that it is now 5.5" tall by 4.25" wide. Press the fold with a bone folder to make a clean, crisp edge.

Next, take the finished embroidered design. Using a temporary marking tool, measure and draw a line 1/4" away from all four sides of the design. These lines will overlap and create a box with the design at the center.

With scissors, trim around the design along the drawn box.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions to remove all visible lines from the marking tool.

If needed, press the embroidery design to remove any wrinkles.

Turn the design over and carefully trim the stabilizer as close to the main design as possible. Do not cut the fabric.

With the card folded closed, locate what will be the front side of the card. Spray the back of the embroidered design with temporary spray adhesive and center it on the front side of the card.

Open the card so that the back half of the card is out of the way for sewing. Then, using a sewing machine, stitch around all four sides of the rectangle, leaving a 1/8" border around all four edges of the fabric. Your stitches should be through both the fabric and the cardstock and the design should be perfectly centered.

Trim the excess threads away, and rough up the raw fabric edges as desired.

To hide the stitching on the inside of the card, cut an insert out of cardstock that is 5.25" tall and 4" wide.

Center the insert on the inside of the card, so that it covers the stitches. Then, glue it in place using white craft glue.

Discover lots of machine embroidery ideas and inspiration on the Embroidery Library Pinterest page.

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