Yesterday I showed you how to use up some scraps of fusible fabric and cut some heart shapes on the Brother ScanNCut SDX225 electronic cutting machine. Now let’s start making some postcards!
Fusible heart shapes cut on the Brother ScanNCut SDX225
- Cut 1 – 5” x 7” piece of heavy-weight fusible interfacing.
- Cut 1 – 5″ x 7″ piece of lightweight batting. I prefer fusible batting, but non-fusible works just fine too.
- Cut 1 piece of fabric 5″ x 7″.
- Center the 4″ x 6″ template plastic on the 5″ x 7″ piece of fabric. Trace around the template plastic with a fabric marking pencil.
- Place heart shapes on the background fabric, arranging them within the 4″ x 6″ space. Press the shapes in place.
- Place batting underneath the design layer and press, pin or baste in place.
Fusible heart shapes cut on the Brother ScanNCut SDX225 ready to be stitched
Now it’s ready for stitching!
Stitching can be done by hand or machine. I found it very relaxing to do some hand stitching on these small pieces.
Fusible heart shapes hand–stitched on batting
I also made some cards with machine stitching. The shapes are quite small, so be sure to machine stitch slowly and carefully around each shape. I used a straight stitch, but decorative stitches can be used too.
When machine stitching through fusible web, you might like to use a Schmetz non-stick needle for best results.
Depending on your machine, you may need to use the even feed or walking foot. I didn’t need it on my Brother BQ3050 machine, but I did use an open toe foot so I could see my stitching more easily.
Machine stitching using an open toe foot on the Brother BQ3050
When the stitching is finished, press gently.
Place the 4″ x 6″ plastic template back on the fabric, and trace around it again, adjusting it as needed. Cut on the drawn line.
Trace around plastic template to determine the cutting line.
Center the front of the card on the 5″ x 7″ piece of heavy interfacing. Press all layers together. I like to use a Teflon pressing sheet on both the front and the back, so nothing sticks to the iron or ironing surface. Make sure to clean the pressing sheet to remove any unwanted fusible bits before using it again.
Trim off the heavy interfacing so you are back to a 4″ x 6″ size.
All layers of the postcard are trimmed to 4” x 6”
Join me again tomorrow, and I’ll show you how to make a unique back for your postcard, and we’ll finish the edges. Cutting those hearts on the Brother ScanNCut SDX225 was so easy, you’ll want to make cards for every occasion!
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