A Little Polar Bear and a Stitched Circle by Jean Okimoto

The new Stitched Circle die creates a great backdrop for the sweet polar bear from the Snowglobe Backer set. Add a matching scarf and Special Merry Christmas message - and glitter. Hi, Jean Okimoto here with another stitched design for the holidays.

Cut kraft cardstock with the 4" Circle Basics die. Prep the Stitched Circle Die by rubbing it briskly with scrunched waxed paper to help release the little dots, then cut the circle. Use Scotch transparent tape to attach red floss to the backside of the diecut in the area between the two dotted circles. Don't tape the floss ends in the center - if you decide to cut the center out later (like I did) you'll cut the threads. Stitch between the alternating dots.

Connect the stitches, then tape the end of the floss on the backside.

Repeat the process with green floss.

After finishing the stitching, I decided to diecut the center - using the 1-¾" Circle Basics die. Cut a 1-½" circle from the bright green glitter sheet in the 6x6 Holiday Glitter Pad.

Cut the polar bear in the Snowglobe Backer set from Open Studio Watercolor paper. Attach a scrap of black cardstock behind his head for the nose. Color the paws, muzzle and center with very diluted iced spruce Distress Oxides. Wrap and tie three strands of floss around his neck for a scarf.

Save time when attaching delicate greetings with these tips. Pressure-emboss Special Merry Christmas on the front of the card using the rubber embossing mat and plate(s) required for your machine. That creates an inset section to align the greeting. Cut the greeting from Open Studio Watercolor Paper. Another tip - leave the diecut in the die, place a strip of ¼" wide lined doublestick tape across each word and run it through the machine again. This 2-step process usually cuts the adhesive layer but leaves the line intact for easy removal. Press the greeting onto the pressure-embossed area for a perfect fit. A few extra steps - but it makes it so easy to align and inset the delicate greeting!

Attach the diecuts to a red A-6 card (4-½" x 6-¼") - use foamtape behind the top portion of the bear. Punch ¼" circles of the green glittered cardstock.

Stitching adds color, texture and dimension to a card - and stitches don't smudge, bend or fall off in the mail! Why not design and create a unique stitched card for the special people on your list this Christmas?

Thanks for visiting...see you again on Thursday!