Winter Cardinal, Need Some Finishing Help- It's finished!!

[marniecat]

Hi all!

I am stitching the free pattern "Winter Cardinal" by Waxing Moon Designs. You can find the pattern here: Waxing Moon Designs
Here is my stitchy helper, Samba. I usually stitch here on the couch, tonight I tried to entice him to not lay on me by placing a blanket near my feet, but he has been creeping his way back up and has fallen asleep on my pattern! So it is a good time to take a break, share these two pics that I took with my phone, and ask for some advice.



I want to finish this into a flat ornament, like the directions I found on the "Learn To Finish With The Twisted Stitcher" site, here is the link:
Flat Ornament
I've never made anything like this, I think the Winter Cardinal would be perfect for it and everything sems really straightforward except for the part when she gets to the hanger! I believe it has directions for gluing the cording around the edges, then "make the hanger as you like". I have no idea what to do! Any ideas? I emailed Vonna (the Twisted Stitcher) last week but never heard back from her. I would love for my hanger to look just like the one she made.

Any ideas/ comments are welcome! Thanks everyone!
-Marnie

[pattiebelle]

WOW that's alot of steps and supplies

i vote for "simple" ...

i just use sticky felt. slap it on the back and "free cut" to size. then i glue the cord or DMC perle #5 around the border and loop it at the top. (maybe even a bowtie on top or bottom, depending on image) and voila !

your cardinal is so cute. it's perfect for an ornament finish ...

[rcperryls]

your cardinal should make a beautiful ornament and I imagine that Samba was staying close so he could keep an eye (even a closed one) on the bird like any self respecting feline would do. (Its obvious who rules at your house too ). I've never made an ornament so I will leave that help to those who know what they are doing. But I do like the cardinal. Very Christmasy.

Carole

[Rose]

That little bird is so cute!!!!!!

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

Your cardinal looks great Marnie! As for the hanger - I am no expert but Vonna could have just knotted a piece of cording at each end and just glue gunned that to the top of the flat fold?

Whatever you decide to do you will have made a fantastic ornie!

[mags]

If I understand correctly, you are wondering how do the 'hanging' bit. How about something like the one shown at this link - further down the page there is a flat ornament with a ribbon attached before the backing is put on. I'm not sure you could do this with cord to match the cording around the ornament as it might be too thick.

http://focusonfinishing.blogspot.com/se ... /Ornaments" target="_blank

[Wandatoo]

I've done lots of ornaments, but don't usually put them together that way. In fact, I just posted some in the Mini-Projects (also in my Gallery here) that show a couple of mounting methods.

If they're stitched on plastic canvas, I glue them to a sheet of foam, with the ends of the ribbon hanger in between. I leave about three-quarters of an inch at both ends to glue inside, so the hanger is secure. When they're dry, I cut the extra foam away around the edge of the ornament, either right close to the edge or with a border showing all around to give more colour or background.

For ornaments stitched on aida like yours, I just found some adhesive foam (pictures also in my gallery). I like it better than felt for ornaments, because it gives a firmer backing. This particular foam is also sparkly and comes in several colours. I got it at the Dollar Store, then found some in Walmart that was more expensive, so I'm sticking to the Dollar Store!

I once went to a workshop on ornaments, and the instructor used the finishing method you linked to. We glued the heavy cord around the edge, but used lighter ribbon for the hanger. The ribbon hanger was placed in between the two sides when you glue them together, the same as mentioned above.

Hope this helps!

[marniecat]

Thank you for all of your helpful comments!
I'm thinking of revising my plan a bit and going with something like the link that mags posted. It would save me the time and expense of using the cording, and like pattibelle said, more simple! But still very cute!
I still have to stitch the fenceposts and outer leaves with the snowflakes which shouldn't take me too long (I must say I've enjoyed the simplicity of this pattern with not having to re-thread my needle very often!), then buy my supplies for finishing!

MrsMilkyBarKid, do you think it could really be that she just glued the knotted ends to the top of the ornament? Trying to figure out how she did hers has been driving me nuts!

Carole, Samba is definitely in charge in this house! We have three kitties, out of the three he is the only one interested in my stitching, but he really thinks I'm just going a long roundabout way of playing "string" with him and can't figure out why I don't want to play string when I've brought out so many good ones to play with! Bobbin winding time is the worst!

Wandatoo, I'm going to check out your ornaments now! The adhesive foam sounds interesting, too!

[Mabel Figworthy]

The designs are really cute, will you be doing the other season birds as well? (And the patriotic would be perfect for Rose )

[marniecat]

I think I will do the other designs as well, I really like the simplicity of the patterns and the birds themselves!
I will be giving the Winter Cardinal to my mother-in-law, so if I want a full set for myself I will have to stitch it again. We'll see!

[marniecat]

So, I finished the stitching on this a long time ago. I finally dug it and all of my finishing supples out today and got it done! The lacing was the hardest part, I don't think I'm very good at it, but what I did worked so I think I'm ok.
There is a link to the free pattern in my first post, and I used the finishing technique in the link that mags posted here for me so long ago. Thanks again mags!

All mounted, sorry this one is sideways.
 


And the back all laced.



And finished!

[rcperryls]

I love it. It is so pretty finished. You did a great job. It is really getting to be Christmas in the forum now, isn't it?

Carole

[millymolly]

Looks great

[Squirrel]

A really beautiful finish. Love it

[Rose]

Super finish!!!!!!!!

[Carole]

That looks lovely. Great job on the finishing

[Cecilia]

That looks lovely. Great job on the finishing

I totally agree.

[mags]

Well done on the finish - it looks lovely.

[NinjaBetty]

You did a fantastic job on this. It's so very pretty.

[Parksfarm]

Very cute!