This month for the Craft Room DeStash Challenge, I decided to finish up a couple of cross stitch projects that have been sitting on my side table for weeks (or months) and to finally frame and hang the small projects that I have completed weeks ago (or should I say years!). I finished a few cross stitch projects and framed some older cross stitch projects in embroidery hoops. #finishingwhatIstarted
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This post is part of the monthly Craft Room DeStash Challenge.
Every month a group of bloggers are challenged by C’mon Get Crafty to create a new craft or project from their own stash of goodies! Everyone is allowed a $10 allowance for necessities to complete their project (i.e. paint brushes, glue, etc), but the bulk of it must be created from their own stash of goodies.
Let’s meet this month’s bloggers!!
C’mon Get Crafty | Purple Hues and Me
Domestic Deadline | Across the Blvd
This Autoimmune Life | Modern on Monticello
Be sure to visit all of the projects from these talented bloggers:
Finishing up my old cross stitch projects.
One of my favorite cross stitch projects to do is the project featured in the Country Living Magazine each issue. They are adorable and simple and so easy to do. The problem has been is that I have let them pile up either unfinished on my side table, or finished and just sitting back on the shelf in my craft room along with several other projects I have never framed.
I enjoy working on cross stitch projects not because I plan to hang every single on in my home, but mostly for the enjoyment and relaxation of working on something. Plus it forces me to actually sit down and watch TV and allow my foot and ankle to rest. After two ankle surgeries I am encouraged often to get off my feet which is hard to do as a woman who doesn’t idle very well.
I hope someone else can relate to that problem.
To work on this project for this month’s Craft Room DeStash Challenge, I not only finished two small cross stitch projects, but I also pulled out all of the finished projects off the shelf and decided which ones I wanted to frame in embroidery hoops.
Framing cross stitch projects in embroidery hoops is a very inexpensive way to get them up on the wall quickly. For the last couple of years I have been hanging small projects in a gallery display on my craft room wall.
I need to add more decorations to the walls and these small projects are perfect for the space.
After selecting which projects could be framed in embroidery hoops for my craft room wall, I made a trip to Joann’s for an assortment of wooden embroidery hoops which only cost around a $1 or $2 each depending on the size. I made sure to stay well within the $10 limit for supplies for this month. There were a few embroidery hoops in my stash already but I needed some different sizes.
To prepare a cross stitch project to be framed you must first clean up any smudges on the project. I usually just spot clean with dish-washing soap but sometimes you have to soak the entire project if you have worked on it for a long time and oils from your hands have made the Aida fabric a little dingy.
Once the project is dry, you have to iron it as flat as possible to remove all of the wrinkles from the cross stitch project. I do this with a steam iron and a spray bottle of water. Start ironing on the back side of the project first so that you don’t take any changes of color running on the front side of the project.
After making sure that the cross stitch project is free of wrinkles and smudges, I then easily insert it in the embroidery hoop, secure the two hoops tightly together and then cut off any excess fabric from the back of the project around the hoop.
Embroidery hoops are also so great for frames because you can either use the hole at the top of the metal fastener or just use the depth of the hoop as a hanger. So easy.
Premade Aida cloth canvases are also perfect for small cross stitch projects for easy hanging.
Last year I also purchased these square Aida canvases at Michaels and have recently finished two Country Living cross stitch patterns on them. These are great for easy hanging as well. So even more things are off my craft shelves by using them instead of embroidery hoops for these little patterns.
This month I didn’t make anything new for the Craft Room DeStash Challenge but I was motivated to finish up some cross stitch projects and get them off my shelves, which is a win in my book. My craft room gallery wall is a little fuller and my entrance has a friendly reminder to walk with a friend.
Find some time to craft this month,
Psalm 27:13 “I remain confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
I didn’t know premade Aida canvases were a thing – I NEED to find some of these! I tend to stick more to plastic canvas. Cross stitching is a test for me – I think because of how small, and detailed it is. Anyways, LOVE your little gallery wall there, and congrats on finishing up some WIPs (works-in-progress). I know the rewarding feeling when things are crossed off the list. We won’t talk about my WIP bins… Hehe. Thanks for sharing these!
I didn’t know Aida canvases were a thing either and I was so excited to find a pack of them at Michaels one day! I have several more WIP bins to finish up this winter too. Thanks for visiting.
I love how these look hanging in your craft room. That’s a great way to dress it up, but they are all so lovely, I’d make sure guests had a reason to stop by the craft room to see them!
Thanks Beverly. That is a cute idea.
These are really cute, I haven’t cross-stitched in years! Pinned
Such a cute idea to hang them gallery wall style! They look great! I like to needlepoint while watching TV, I have to always be doing something too!
I understand that so well. Thanks for visiting!
I love the way you’ve used them to decorate your wall! I have quite a few that I made years ago and they are sitting in the closet. This inspires me to get them out!
Thanks for visiting Roseann. The dilemma of what to do with finished cross stitch projects is real! I have a friend who has a huge box of them and they are so beautiful but she just enjoys the process so much but has no idea what to do with them afterwards. Good luck with getting yours out of the closet.