Hand-Cut Nursery Art

Truth be told, I really wish I had a cutting machine. But I don't. So I learn to make do.

I would love to add a Silhouette Cameo or Cricut cutting machine to my arsenal of craft tools. But for now, I'm cutting my projects by hand. I've found that with a little time and a bit of patience, you can still create really cool gifts - even without a cutting device. 

This week, I hand cut this nursery art for a friend's baby who was recently baptized.

Would it have been easier to make this with a cutting machine? Most definitely! But what I lacked in crafting tools I made up for with perseverance.

So maybe the lower curve of the "s" is slightly jagged, and center of the letters are absent, but let's not dwell on that okay? Just humor me, and agree that it adds to the gift's charm :)

Want to make your own? Here's how...

• First create your graphic using PicMonkey, or equivalent. Begin with a blank image resized to the dimensions for your frame. (Send me an email if you need help getting started.) Design your graphic in regular view and once satisfied, switch to a reversed image by clicking the two sideways arrows. (Located on the text edit box - where you select the color.)

• Save and print your image (on cardstock). It should look something like this...

• This will be your guide for both stitching and cutting. The printed portion will be on the back side of your art.
• Stitch selected portions before cutting.
• Then cut out name and hearts with craft knife.
• Line backside with pretty fabric.
• Embellish frame with rosettes made in corresponding fabric.

Sit back and enjoy your completed gift! 

(and try not to dwell on how much simpler this would have been with a cutting machine :)

Linking: Happy Hour Projects, Positively Splendid, Sew Much Ado, Uncommon