Franki Kohler, Author of Fast, Fun & Easy Fabric Postcards, has created an adorable summery fabric postcard project to share with you.
Does it say “summer on my mind”? You bet it does! It also says “u r on my mind”. Make several of these fun postcards before you take a much-deserved summer break. They are fast and easy! Mail them back to friends or family to let them know you are thinking of them. It’s a new twist on “wish you were here.” First-class postage (use the self-adhesive kind) will deliver your keepsake. Keep reading for full project instructions.
Janome Supplies Required
- Memory Craft 11000
- Digitizer Pro 11000
- USB cable
- Standard Hoop
- Embroidery foot “P”
- Janome embroidery thread: #204, 236, 239, 247, 273
- Bobbin thread
- Blue Tip needle 75/11
Other Supplies Required
- 1 rectangle 5˝ x 7˝ background fabric
- 1 rectangle 5˝ x 7˝ address-side fabric
- 1 rectangle 6 x 9 Sulky Sticky
- 1 rectangle 5˝ x 7˝ fast2fuse
- Mettler Embroidery thread #900 for lettering (s, m, e) or Janome color to coordinate with your design
- Thread to coordinate with design for edge of postcard
- Jacquard Lumiere light body metallic acrylic paint, Pearl Blue (#570) for edge
- Paint brush, small
- Teflon pressing sheet or parchment paper
- Micron Pigma pen #01 or 02
- First-class self-adhesive postage stamp
Creating the Design
1. Open digitizer Pro-Easy Design.
2. Click on Embroidery
3. Double click on N-1 New Zealand Series to open. Select design N110, open. Click off the design.
4. Click on the lettering icon. Select font Adept, size 10.00
5. Type “s ^ u ^ mme ^ r” with no spaces.
6. Select the icon with a Circle (lettering on top), click ok.
7. Place cursor where you want to stitch the letters, above the flower design. While pressing the button, drag the cursor down to create a circle. Let go of the button and press ‘enter.’ The word appears above the design. Click and drag, centering the word over the flower design.
8. Click off the word.
9. Click on the lettering icon. Type “on my mind”.
10. Select the icon with a Circle (lettering on the bottom), click ok.
11. Place the cursor where you want the lettering to stitch, below the flower design. While pressing the button, drag the cursor down to create a circle. Let go of the button and press ‘enter.’ The words appear below the flower design. Click and drag, centering the words.
12. Click off the design.
13. Click on ‘edit’, choose ‘select all.’
14. Click on ‘object details’, select ‘dimensions.’ Type 0 (zero) for position X and position Y to ensure the design is centered in the hoop. Click ‘ok’.
Save the design
1. Click ‘file’, select ‘save as.’ Type “u r on my mind” for the file name. Select Janome Design (*.JAN) as file type. Click on save.
2. Repeat step one, this time saving the file as a Janome (*.JEF) type.
Send the design
1. Turn on the MC 11000. Open the carriage arm. Select embroidery mode.
2. Connect computer and embroidery machine with the USB cord.
3. Click on ‘machine,’ select ‘send a design.’
4. Select file folder to store the design. Click ‘open’.
5. Click on the ‘send’ button.
Stitch the Design
1. Secure Sulky Sticky in the hoop, sticky side up.
2. Place 5˝ x 7˝ background fabric on top, centered, and smooth.
3. Open carriage arm, select embroidery mode and attach hoop to the MC 11000.
4. Touch the ‘open file folder’ icon. Open folder you saved the design in.
5. Stitch out the design.
TIP: I chose green and honey dew colors to stitch the letters. Choose colors to coordinate with your fabric choice.
6. Remove from hoop. Trim threads.
7. Using your hands, smooth fabric out to the edges of the Sticky. Trim extra Sticky away.
8. Place the fast2fuse on half of a Teflon pressing sheet or parchment paper, align the stitched design on top, cover with the other half and fuse.
9. Repeat Step 8, fusing the address-side fabric to the opposite side of the fast2fuse.
10. Trim to 4˝ x 6˝.
11. Stitch 1/16˝ from the edge of the postcard with coordinating thread. I used white thread.
12. Use a small paint brush to seal the edge of the postcard with acrylic paint.
13. Use a Micron pigma pen to write a message and address the postcard. Affix a self-adhesive first-class stamp and mail.
Thanks for the great project, Franki!
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2 Comments
Oh, wow!! My eyes are popping here…. I have the Janome 11000… and it still fairly new, so I can use this as a ‘tutorial’ for my machine. Thank you for this!
fun project thanks