Do you guys have one of those impossible-to-shop-for-friends? Yea- me too. Actually, I have like 10. Soooo, when birthday’s roll around, or are close to rolling around, I immediately put my creative thinking cap on.
I could go the usual route and buy them a shirt that I can almost guarantee they will end up returning (which is really more of a hassle for that friend), or maybe a gift card for a mani/pedi (typical/easy/boring). Snooze. I want to see people’s face LIGHT up when they open a present from me. I mean, at this point in our lives (late twenties- OUCH/CRY/SOB), Birthday’s certainly aren’t as fun & exciting as they used to be. So, I really try to give gifts that take some of the painfulness out of the aging process.
The best way to do that is to really get personal, & for me that means get my crafty fingers goin’. Dig deep, think about the things your friends REALLY love, brainstorm inside jokes, get on Pinterest (or Fashionlush!!), & forget about numbers. Cause in all truth, thoughtfulness is really what counts.
For this particular friend, I actually came up with this idea at 4am (not kidding). Don’t know where it came from, but I woke up from a deep sleep & thought EMBROIDERY HOOP!!! So weird, but such a cute idea. I’ve never embroidered before, but the next day I hit up my local craft store, gathered supplies, & got to learning.
As for the result– lemme tell ya, I have NEVER had a friend be so blown away by a gift as this one. I’d say it was a total win. The process may have been a bit time consuming (yet oddly relaxing), and also super easy & FUN. Try it out, I promise- you will never have to worry about what to give someone again cause all your friends will want one!
xx, E
++ Supplies:: embroidery hoop, embroidery needles, embroidery thread (grab a few colors), & weavers cloth.
You’re also gonna need a print out of what you want to embroider. For me, this particular friend & I always say #WWOD. We are die-hard Olsen fans & their style is obviously on point, so whenever I send her a picture of something I want to buy or vice-versa, our response is simple, #WWOD. Would MK or A rock it? If yes- buy it. If no- nix it.
LOL- we’re so strange, I know.
++ Step 1: Set up your hoop by adding the fabric & trimming it. Then pin your words to the underside of the fabric and trace w/ a pencil. Remove pins & print-out.
++ Step 2: Start embroidering your words with black embroidery thread using a backstitch. Find out how to do this super simple & clean stitch here.
++ Step 3: Free hand some special/personal designs. I opted for a lil’ hanger (works with the theme I am going for and it was something I could actually draw) & some flowers- in which I just traced the center of a flower as a placeholder. I embroidered the hanger with a backstitch just as I did the text.
++ Step 4: Embroider your flowers using the amazing simple & cute tutorial found here.
++ How cute are those flowers?!! Love love love.
++ TADAH!! Seriously though… cutest. thing. I’ve. ever. made. X 100. Agreed? :) Glad you loved it miss Laur– your face was priceless & you’re the most amazing friend EVER!!! Happiest of Birthday’s to you my bestie!