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Archive for the ‘Subversive Cross Stitch’ Category

12 Creative Ways To Recycle Your Christmas Cards!

Subversive Cross Stitch Reviews The patterns are difficult enough to be challenging, and entertaining enough to not be boring. My sister made the "This Place Sucks" sampler for our first home, and it's prominently displayed in the hallway. Makes a great story. This book is hilariously funny. Although I'm not sure anyone would display half of the patterns, it is comical to be given the opportunity. I love this book. Not only does it have some great patterns, but she provides a host of links and resources in the back. I received this book as a gift. I agree with the review that I could do these myself, without the book. HOWEVER, I never thought of it. This book was a great jumping off point for making my own subversive creations. The alphabet used can sometimes be a pain and getting used to her pattern style took a little time. All in all a great book. Recently I've immersed myself in the domestic arts (knitting and crocheting, mostly) and wanted to try something new. I had bought cross stitch kits in the past, but never got far on them because I didn't know what I was doing. I always thought cross stitch was for Grandma, but I was glad to be proven wrong by "Subversive Cross Stitch". Witty, snarky, smart, and sarcastic, the designs in the book show that cross stitch doesn't have to consist of "bless this mess" and other such cliche motifs; one can even alter the very simple designs in the book to fit a phrase or theme of their liking. It's a great beginner's guide to cross stitch, and a great guide on how to make your projects your very own. I think all of my girlfriends will be getting a customized cross stitch for their homes this Christmas, and I may even make a few of the less daring ones for some family members. Average Rating:

In this wicked little book, Julie Jackson reinvents the age-old craft of cross-stitch, finally putting an end to all that saccharine sentimentalism and giving modern stitchers the chance to say what's really on their minds...

Notecards: Subversive Cross Stitch Reviews Well packaged, high quality greeting cards that are unlike anything you can pick up at your local grocery or drug store. ADORABLY cheesy "needlepointed" envelopes serve as the icing for the cake inside. Brilliantly funny, especially for those, like me, with a slanted sense of humor. Don't have enough time to stitch up all the little messages yourself? (See the book by the same author). Until you are ready to undertake that (which I will be), I cannot imagine a better way to express and share your sweet sentiments with others. A great deal and a great find! Looking forward to many gleeful moments of mailing fun! Hip-hip-hooray! ... send something Subversive instead! If you're all serious and sentimental and not the least bit cynical, move on. In fact, move on IMMEDIATELY! This stuff is not for you! But if you're cynical and sarcastic and, well, just a smart-ass, you need this box of cards. Seriously! Know someone who's not too keen on getting older? Perfect opportunity to send a "Happy F@#%&ing Birthday" card. Or if a friend is going through a tough romance, commiserate with a "Love Stinks" card. See? So useful for modern living! You really ought to have a box handy - I do! ...These are the cards that you're looking for. Who needs fluffy bunny cards to beat around the bush when Julie Jackson's Subversive Cross Stitch notecards tell it like it is. Great for so many occasions. I hope this is the start of a revolution. Surely the next set will have my favorite design from the Subversive Cross Stitch book, which is "Have a Nice Life." There are so many people i'd like to send THAT to. Average Rating:

Slipcase with Velcro closure, 20 blank folded cards (5 images repeating 4 times), 20 envelopes.

The Subversive Stitch: Embroidery and the Making of the Feminine Reviews If you've ever looked at samplers or thought of the ways in which needlework shaped the lives of women for centuries (mostly in the negative sense), you will enjoy this book immensely. Parker takes one of the central tasks expected of women in the 18th and 19th centuries and shows how women used needlework as an outlet to express feelings of dismay and dislike. It just goes to show you: where there's a will, there's a way.If you enjoy learning about women's lives in the past, and have either an interest or an aversion to needlework yourself, I think you will enjoy this most unusual history. Average Rating:

Rozsika Parker's now classic re-evaluation of the reciprocal relationship between women and embroidery has brought stitchery out from the private world of female domesticity into the fine arts, created a major breakthrough in art history and criticism, and fostered the emergence of today's dynamic and expanding crafts movements...

Don't throw your Christmas cards away! There are so many creative ways to use your Christmas cards, many of which you can do with your kids. We have brought together some ideas below.

Christmas jigsaw game:
Make a Christmas jigsaw game. Gather 10-20 cards and cut each one into 3 or 4 pieces, using straight lines. Shuffle them up and lay them out on a flat service such as a dining table or the floor – then put them back together again! Store the cards in a shoebox for next time. This is fun on a quiet family evening at the beginning of the season as it helps to get everybody into the Christmas spirit!

Christmas tree ornaments:
Make cinnamon stick ornaments for the Christmas tree. Wrap a small bundle of cinnamon sticks together with a pretty ribbon tied in a bow (leave a loop for hanging). Using a small dab of glue, attach a pretty shape cut from a Christmas card with pinking shears to the centre of the ribbon bow to finish the ornament off. These look pretty and smell delicious too!

Scented sachets:
Make scented sachets to give as gifts or fragrance your own home. Simply glue the bottom and side edges of the card together and then slip a small amount of potpourri (or a cotton ball on which you have dropped a little Christmas essential oil) into the space. Use a hole punch to make two holes on the top edge, through which you can thread a pretty ribbon before tying a bow. If you leave a loop in the ribbon, the sachets can be hung on door handles, coat hooks or radiators (the heat will help to release the scent, but it won’t last as long) to create a welcoming, Christmas atmosphere.

Christmas mobile or “string”:
Cut shapes out of the cards in matching pairs. Hearts work nicely, as do simple Christmas tree shapes and even plain squares and circles. Stick the cards back to back and laminate them, then punch a hole in them and use to make a colorful and child-friendly mobile or “string” to decorate next year. You could add to this every year. As a variation, you could back each shape with a plain-colored piece of card or construction paper and write on it the date and name of the person who sent the card.

Christmas card game:
Cut playing-card shapes out of the cards, stick a piece of plain card over any writing if necessary, and use to make a Christmas game or quiz for your children to play next year. Laminate to protect.

Gift tags:
A traditional activity, but one which never fails to amuse the kids, is making gift tags for next year's presents. Use pinking sheers, a hole punch, and leftover ribbon

Gift bags:
Make gift bags for next year by saving smart paper bags. Cut a nice shape out of each card and stick it to the front of the bag (covering any shop labels if necessary). Sometimes one Christmas card will yield many different bag decorations! Add a little ribbon bow just above the card and wrap your present in tissue paper before putting it into the bag. This looks lovely with brown paper bags and tartan ribbons.

Miniature Christmas cards:
Some Christmas card designs can be cut and folded into miniature Christmas cards for the kids to give next year, or for decorating the dolls house.

Christmas screensaver:
Scan your favorite cards into the computer – and some of your favorite messages from inside the cards as well – and make them into a Christmas wallpaper or screensaver with a photo program. Children love this and it is a great memento if you do it each year.

Lacing card:
Cut out the pictures on the larger cards, punch holes around the edges with a hole punch, add a shoelace or brightly colored yarn (with sticky tape wrapped around the ends) and you have a cheerful and cheap lacing card for little ones. If they are particularly popular you could laminate them to make them last longer.

Christmas confetti:
Make some Christmas confetti to use next year (scatter it on the Christmas table, or put a pinch inside your Christmas cards and gifts!) Use either a plain hole punch or a special Christmas one (both together look great) and choose the most colorful areas from each card to cut. Gold and silver looks very effective, especially mixed in with red and green. Small scraps of leftover wrapping paper can be used too. You can keep the children busy with this for hours!