Some time back I was at the thrift store and found a bag of completed cross-stitch ornaments for $1. It was a monthly series and each of the 12 months were in the bag. I immediately tossed it into my cart. I was so excited.
I didn’t really love them as they were. They looked a little dated. The satin ribbon didn’t really do with the more country look and style of them. But…I thought I could spruce them up to make them work in my decor.
Well, an idea didn’t come to me right away. Time to come up with an idea didn’t come my way either. Then the other day as I was in the mood to do some finishes, I thought it was time. It was time to tackle these ornaments.
As I was cleaning, in the basket near them was a small wooden frame. It was only 3″ x 3″. I wondered if it might work to make the ornaments into pieces to pop into the frame.
To test my theory, I took apart one of the ornaments. I didn’t look what month it was, I just grabbed one. Taking them apart wasn’t too hard. I had to be careful though as I need every thread to stay in place if they were going to be big enough to frame.
I tried it and…it worked! Check it out. Kind of cute right?
I used sticky board on these. Again I know some people poo-poo sticky board but these aren’t heirloom and I didn’t even stitch them. You can find sticky board at Hobby Lobby near the floss. It was a sticky side.
I cut my sticky board with an old rotary cutter blade that is dull. It works perfectly for this.
I peeled the paper off and stuck it to the back of the stitched piece.
I flipped it over to make sure it was centered. Sticky board is good in that I can pull it up and stick it back down if needed.
Then I took packaging tape and taped the sides down.
In the end, the backs look like this…
..and the fronts look like this. Aren’t they cute?
I like them so much better.
I have no idea who stitched these or what pattern it was. All I know is that they were stitched on Aida cloth and the stitching is fantastic.
The little frame is just perfect for them.
I’m in love with them and so happy I spent the $1 at the thrift store to get them.
Here is the November piece.
I’ve been telling you all that I wanted more little pretties for my dough bowl and other places. These in the frame are just perfect.
I am so glad I bought these and so glad I finished them like this. I put all of the extras in a ziplock bag and put them in a drawer in my Martha Washington cabinet right below this tiered tray. These are so precious. I’m so happy that I saved the stitches.
Wow you really did find a great deal… I see a perpetual calendar… Always nice when the deal is a Keepsake waiting to happen; )
From shabby to chic. Great job!❤
I made those!! And still put them out every month! They are from a Leisure Arts brochure.
Jean – do you remember the number on the L.A. brochure?
Love and prayers
These are from the Leisure Arts The Magazine, February 1989
Jo – you are so creative! Love what you did with the mini cross stitch pieces.
I stitched these many , many years ago. Might have been a Leisure Arts? They were a lot of fun to stitch. Great idea for the frame. If I can find mine, just might try that!
So Cute! And I use sticky board for a lot of my cross stitch ornaments. Never once have they turned yellow so that makes me happy too.
I knew someone on here might know where these came from – thanks Jean.
Love and prayers
Perfect use for that little empty frame and a great addition for a dollar !
I think they are adorable , great find . You fixed them up so nicely .
Sweet find, Jo, and a definite improvement in presentation!!
You are so creative Jo.
Great job! I admire the way you can see some project that needs love and change it up to rescue it! So cute!
That was a marvelous save. I love them.
So cute – what a find!! You are always so creative and you did a perfect job finishing these the way they work for you. I really like the tier tray and the way you have decorated with it.
Those really are so much cuter the way you finished them off!! And they will each look great in their month in the dough bowl!!
You did a fantastic job on refurbishing these and you will enjoy them all year long. These stitcheries could not have found a better home. Bravo!
sometimes i see something nice or cute, but don`t buy it because i should be scaling down. but go home and start thinking about it. so back the next day and if i`m lucky its still there.
Jo, so glad you were able to come to the rescue of those little cross stitch pieces. They are much cuter in your frame than the original ornaments. Two of my favorite things were stitchery rescues from our St. Vincent store; a counted cross “Simple pleasures are life’s treasures” and a narrow crewel bell pull. I just couldn’t let them languish on the shelf without a home! And that doesn’t count the bits and pieces of embroidery that will one day make it into a quilt. So many stitches, so many stories that connect us.
Good idea. Thought you were going to say you gifted them to people whose birthdays were that month. But your idea is great too.
From trash to treasure!
Really sweet way to finish and use these—I think you’re going to enjoy them for a long time.
Great idea! Hopefully this will be one of many projects you can get to with some of your newly found spare time if we all send directly to your donation list. Hugs and prayers!
These are from the Leisure Arts The Magazine, February 1989