Confession time: I went to a New Year’s Eve wedding and didn’t bring a card.
Yes. Me.
The person who literally makes cards and crafts for a living.
Between the chaos of the holidays and real life being… real, it just didn’t happen. But instead of panicking, I realized I actually had a better idea. Something more personal than a card. Something they could keep.So this is the story of how a forgotten card turned into a framed piece of embroidered lettering – and how I very much made this up as I went.
Rather watch than read? Check out the full video by clicking the video below!
The Idea (aka: How a Card Became a Second Gift)
At first, I thought about making a card with embroidered lettering on it – something they could potentially frame later. But then I thought… why make them do extra work?
I had recently thrifted a beautiful frame, and that was the turning point. If this was going in a frame anyway, why not:
- Skip the card
- Skip the cutting
- Skip the framing step entirely
- And just make it a finished piece of art
Yes, this absolutely turned into a second gift. We’re choosing not to talk about that.
Designing the Lettering
Because calligraphy is my background, the design process started the same way it always does for me:
- Rough thumbnails
- Playing with how the names connect
- Testing a few layout ideas before committing
Their names (Lana and Kate) worked beautifully together, and I found a layout almost immediately that I loved – with the end of one letter flowing naturally into the next.
Once I had that, I sized everything to fit my embroidery hoop, knowing that if it fit there, it would fit in the frame.
Underneath the names, I planned to add the wedding date in simple block numbers. Simple… in theory.
Transferring the Design to Fabric (Learning as I Go)
To get the lettering onto fabric, I used Sulky Stick & Stitch, which acts like a temporary stencil:
- Draw or trace your design onto it
- Stick it onto fabric
- Stitch over it
- Wash it away when you’re done
This is where I learned an important lesson:
👉 You do, in fact, need to draw on the correct side.
Once that was sorted, I chose a neutral linen fabric and a deep green thread inspired by Lana’s suit at the wedding. The goal was something timeless, soft, and frame-worthy.
The Embroidery Process (Spoiler: It Took Forever)
I’ll be honest: I am not an embroidery expert.
I chose a stitch I vaguely remembered, split my thread so it wasn’t too thick, tied a knot (yes, I know some people don’t), and hoped for the best.
What I thought would be a “quick desk project” turned into:
- Moving to the couch
- Embroidering late into the night
- Finishing around 11pm (which is very late for me)
But slowly, stitch by stitch, the lettering came together – and it was actually… really cute.
Adding the Date (After Much Overthinking)
Once the names were done, I debated whether to add the date. Ultimately, it felt wrong not to include it – this was a wedding gift, after all.
I mapped out the placement using a ruler and a laser level (one of my favorite lettering tools, honestly), then stitched the numbers in small, simple stitches. They’re not perfect – but they don’t need to be.
They’re human. And handmade.
Washing, Framing, and One Last Extra Step
After rinsing away the Stick & Stitch backing, I let the fabric air-dry. It dried with a bit of texture and wrinkling… and I actually loved it.
Once it was in the frame, I made a few final decisions:
- No glass – I wanted the texture to be touchable
- Add a subtle embroidered border to finish it off
That border took… a while.
But it was worth it.
That’s a Wrap – The Finished Piece (and the Real Point of This Project)
What started as a forgotten card turned into a keepsake – something personal, imperfect, and made with a lot of thought (and a lot of late-night stitching).
I know that a year from now, I’ll look back and see all the things I’d do differently. But that’s kind of the beauty of crafting. You get better by making things. You learn by doing. And sometimes, the best projects come from happy accidents – or forgotten cards.
Now I just need to:
- Write the actual note on the back
- Ship it very carefully
- And maybe forgive myself for turning a card into a full-on art piece
Worth it. 💛
And if you’re looking for more wedding gift ideas, check out this DIY Wedding Jacket!
And finally, your dad joke…
I got a new pair of gloves today, but they’re both “lefts”…
On the one hand, it’s is great, but on the other hand, it’s just not right.
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