Clarity Matters Blog Tutorial: Using an Embroidery Plate to Create a Non-Embroidered Card

Hello hello! Grace here.

I hope this finds you well, safe and enjoying your Sunday morning.

We are joined today by the talented Maggie Byford. She has kindly put together a blog tutorial for us. Very helpful! I’ll hand you over to our tutor!

How To Use an Embroidery Plate to Create a Non-Embroidered Card

Embroidery plates are wonderful to use and you can create some amazing designs using thread, but with just a little bit of creativity you can also use these plates to make lovely cards without adding any embroidery at all. Here is a pretty summer whitework card I’ve made doing just that. If whitework isn’t for you just now, then simply add colour to the flowers using your favourite colouring medium.

This project is suitable for all abilities but assumes you have some knowledge of how to use parchment scissors or snips. This is what you are aiming for.

Ingredients

Plate Mate for A5 Sq Grids (GRO-CO-41706-08)
Tina’s Petal Embroidery A5 Sq Plate (GRO-PA-41743-03)
Groovi A4 Clear Parchment Paper (GRO-AC-40024-A4)
Pink A4 Two Tone Parchment Paper x 10 (GRO-AC-41406-A4)
1-Needle Bold Perforating Tool (PER-TO-70028-XX)
2-Needle Bold Perforating Tool (PER-TO-70279-XX)
Multi Needle Tool Moon (PER-TO-70031-XX)
Pergamano Excellent – Embossing Mat (PER-AC-70075-XX)
Groovi Embossing Tool 1 and 2 (0.8mm to 1.3mm) (GRO-AC-40026-XX)
Black Dual-Purpose Groovi Mat A4 (GRO-AC-40194-A4)
A4 Black Super Foam Mat (GRO-AC-41957-A4) (thick mat)
A4 Picot Foam Black Mat (GRO-AC-40625-XX) (thin mat)
Groovi Sticker Tabs x 16 (GRO-AC-40437-XX)
Groovi Guard (GRO-AC-40345-XX)
Ringlock Scissors (PER-TO-70041-XX)
Pastel Mix Pergamano Brads (PER-AC-70270-XX)
Nested Squares Picot Cut Die Set Fresh Cut Dies (ACC-DI-30666-66)
Dry Tumble Dryer Sheet
Spare pieces of clear parchment paper
Pink adhesive gems (optional)

Method

Step 1. Attach clear parchment over Tina’s Embroidery plate using Groovi tabs or low tack tape, then wipe a dry tumble dryer sheet across the surface to make embossing easier.
Use the Groovi number 1 tool to emboss only those outlines you can see on the picture, which includes the dots radiating out from the middle of the inner circle.
Note: these dots are for decoration only and can be omitted if you prefer.

TOP TIP: Using a Groovi Guard whilst embossing the outlines ensures the parchment stays flat whilst you work and also keeps the parchment clean.

Step 2. Release your parchment and give it a quarter turn to the right (or left) so you can carefully re-align it over the plate to add more embossed daisies in the gaps between those daisies, within the double circle.

Step 3. In each of the three remaining corners of the square frame, emboss a trio of daisies matching those you did in Step 1.
Note: Although some of the daisies in the double-circle are missing in the picture, I did add them later on.

Step 4. Re-align your parchment over the plate so you can emboss more of the dotted lines radiating out from the middle (as shown in the picture) then put your work to one side for later.

Step 5. Attach a spare piece of clear parchment over the six large petals in the centre of the plate and emboss only those outlines as shown.
Repeat on another piece of clear parchment, giving you two separate sets of flowers.

Step 6. Using one set of the flowers, carefully align the petals (face up) over the plate so you can emboss a row of dots down the centre of each of the six petals.
Repeat for the other set, then put everything to one side for later.

Step 7. Returning to your main parchment, we will now be doing some whitework, but if this isn’t for you just yet then an alternative is to simply add colour to the back of the flowers using your preferred colouring medium.
On the back, use the Groovi number 3 tool to fully emboss inside all of the daisy petals, including those in the four corners of the square. Be careful not to press too hard or the parchment may crack. Also emboss the centre circles of the daisies.

Once your parchment has rested use the Groovi number 2 tool to emboss everything a second time to further whiten.

TOP TIP: When embossing the centre circle of the daisies, emboss with a “round-and-round, up-and-down, side-to-side motion” to avoid a grey speck appearing in the middle.

Step 8. Place your parchment face up on a thin Groovi perforating mat. Use your Moon perforating tool to shallow-perforate THROUGH the outermost embossed border line of the square frame. Perforate along all 4 sides to form a lacy edging.

TOP TIP: If your parchment tends to lift up whilst perforating, use one of the windows on your Groovi Guard to help keep it flat.
MORE TOP TIPS: Normally, when using Multi-needle tools, you would perforate along the outside edges of an embossed line and not through it, but in this instance perforating through the lines will be more helpful to keep you working in a straight line if you need it, and it won’t spoil the finished look.
Recommendation: If you need to learn more about using multi-needle tools I would highly recommend Linda Williams’ Handbooks for Multi-Needle Tools; Volume 1 and/or Volume 2.
Volume 2, Pages 42-45 relate to the Moon tool, and both of these books go into a lot of illustrated detail about how to use these very versatile tools, including perforating, embossing and cutting, as well as how to control the spacing so the shapes fit evenly along an edge.

On the back use the Groovi number 2 tool to solid emboss within each of the moon shapes. At this point it doesn’t matter if you squash any of the perforations as you will be re-perforating the holes at the next step.

Step 9. Place your parchment face up onto a thick Groovi perforating mat. Using a 1-Needle Bold tool, re-perforate each hole to make them big and round, being careful to hold the tool upright and only perforating down as deeply as the thickest part of the needle. This helps to avoid the holes splitting and merging into the next hole.

Step 10. Use parchment scissors or snips to cut between all the Moon shape perforations along the outside edges only. When done put your work to one side, preferably under a heavy object such as a book, in order for the parchment to rest and keep it flat.

Step 11. Choose a Pink sheet from the Two Tone Pink parchment pack (there are two shades in the pack – Pink and Light Pink) and lay it down with the darker & shiny side face up onto a thick Groovi perforating mat. Place one of the embossed flower sets face-up on top of the Pink parchment and attach the two pieces of parchment together with low tack tape. Place everything face-up onto a thick Groovi perforating mat and use a 2-Needle Bold tool to perforate all the way around each of the six petals, through both parchment layers, ensuring all holes are deep and round. Once again use a window in the Groovi Guard to keep your parchment flat whilst you perforate if necessary. Switch to a 1-Needle Bold tool to perforate a single hole in the flower centre.
Repeat the above steps for the second flower set.

Step 12. Use parchment scissors or snips to cut between the perforations of both parchment layers of both flower sets. Note: Alternatively cut each layer separately and match them up afterwards.

This is what you are aiming for when all the cutting has been done.

Step 13. Gather together the following items: your main parchment, the two large sets of cut-out flowers, your choice of brads, 7×7” folded white card, and a piece of coloured background card cut to 6×6” square. I cut my card using a 6×6” Picot Cut square die.

Step 14. Finishing. Attach your main parchment to the front of the coloured background card using a brad in each corner.
Layer the 2 large cut-out flowers one on top of the other and attach in the middle of the card using a brad. Use your fingers to carefully swivel the top petals in order to offset them from the bottom petals as in the picture. Mount everything onto the front of folded white card and here is what the finished card looks like.

Step 15. If you fancy blinging-up the card a bit, add some pink adhesive gems as I have done. Although it doesn’t show it on the picture the gems do add just a touch of sparkle that catches the light in a lovely way when the card is on display. Your project is complete!

Wow. That is absolutely lovely, don’t you think?

What a special card! Although it may look tricky at first glance, Maggie has made it pretty easy to achieve by breaking it down into these easy to follow steps. That is so very helpful!
We hope to see your versions shared on Groovi Worldwide.

Thank you so much, Maggie, for sharing this detailed and super helpful bloggy tutorial with us. Yet another impressive step-by-step project that we are sure will encourage and inspire those of you at home!

Everything that Maggie has used in this particular project is available in a shopping list, HERE.

Now, looking at a busy week ahead…

Monday 19th August:
*NO SHAC*
Tuesday 20th August:
Groovi Tuesday with Paul – 10am Live on Facebook & YouTube
Thursday 22nd August:
Get Groovi with Clarity with Paul on Create & Craft – 1pm & 5pm
Thursday 22nd August:
*NO SHAC*
Friday 23rd August:
Crafting with Clarity with Barbara on Create & Craft – 9am & 1pm

See you there!

Travel gently, friends.
Lotsa love, Grace & Maggie xoxo

Clarity – The Home of Art, Craft, and Well-Being.