I tried something a little different—embroidery on paper. What happens when you try stitches and French Knots on paper?
I used Strathmore 300 Bristol Smooth paper to make a handmade tag and experimented with several stitches along the way, including a blanket stitch around the edge, looped flower petals, French knots, and a few simple leafy stitches. It definitely turned into one of those “let’s see what happens” projects.
Paper does not behave like fabric, so this was a good reminder that sometimes trying a new technique means learning as you go. Some parts worked better than others, but that is also part of the fun. By the end, I had a better sense of what I would do differently next time and a few ideas for how this technique could be used in future paper crafting projects.
What I Used
- Strathmore 300 Bristol Smooth paper, 100 lb
- Embroidery floss
- Embroidery needle
- Pencil for a light sketch
- A tool for poking holes in the paper
- Scissors
What I Learned About Embroidery on Paper
If you want to try an embroidery on paper tag of your own, here are a few things I learned during this experiment:
- Heavier paper helps. The Bristol smooth paper held up better than regular cardstock would have.
- Rounded corners would likely work better than sharper tag corners, especially if you want to stitch around the edge.
- Hole placement matters. Pre-poking holes can help, but it also creates its own challenges.
- Paper can tear if holes are too close together, so a little extra spacing helps.
- A bit of tape on the back can help secure loose threads and keep things from shifting.
Even though this was not a perfect project, I still enjoyed the process. Sometimes a creative experiment teaches you more than a polished project ever could.
Ideas for Using This Technique
This kind of stitched paper tag could be a fun addition to:
- junk journals
- handmade cards
- folios and mini albums
- mixed media projects
- gift tags and embellishments
If you have ever been curious about stitching on paper, I hope this gives you a little encouragement to try it. You may discover your own favorite way to make it work.
You can watch the video here (This was originally recorded as a livestream and has been lightly edited for easier viewing):
Keep the Adventure Going!
If you enjoyed this project or information, you might also like exploring more ideas here at My Artful Adventures.
Want more creative inspiration and free printables?
Cheers to YOUR Artful Adventures!
Kristie