Postage Stamp Inspired Valentine Magnet and Giveaway!

If you're joining me from the Spread the Love Valentine Blog Hop hosted by Jennifer at Ellison Lane, welcome!  Feel free to stay and play awhile after entering the GIVEAWAY!

Here’s a quick and easy little project to spruce up your space for Valentine’s Day.  Or maybe your valentine’s space?  Maybe he or she is a philatelist (there’s got to be a few of y’all out there that has a special stamp enthusiast in their lives, right?).

Maybe you’re aware of the USPS’ ongoing Love Stamp series (or maybe not, but surely you’ve seen some of them around).  The stamp we’re taking inspiration from was issued in 1984 and looks like this:

Image Credit

Materials:

White thread - not shown

• 5” square of white fabric - I used a square from a Moda Bella charm pack
• 5” square of fabric for backing - I cut mine from a random scrap of a red solid
• 4" square of scrap batting - You can also use craft or wool felt in a neutral color to make the magnet more stiff. I had batting so that's what I used.
• Embroidery floss - I used colors from the Sublime Floss Breakdance palette
• Magnet(s)
• Water Soluble / Disappearing Ink Marker
• Sewing thread - white (not shown in photo)
• Embroidery pattern - free just for you!

Tools:

Sewing Machine - not shown

• Pinking shears
• Embroidery needle
• Sewing machine (not shown in photo)
• Pins
• Hot glue gun + glue

How To Make It:

First print out your embroidery pattern. Make sure to uncheck the box that says "Fit to Page". This will ensure that the pattern prints out at the correct size. Measure the 1 inch test box after printing to be sure.

Get your white square of fabric and line up the square inside the grey box. This will ensure your pattern is centered on the square, which is important later when we trim it up.

Using your water soluble marker (or other disappearing marking device), trace the pattern onto your white square.

Layer the square on top of the batting scrap (try to center the batting square under the fabric). Pin it in place through the hearts.

Thread your embroidery needle with three strands of floss in the color you want to use for the text and knot the end. I used Boombox from the Sublime Floss Breakdance palette. It's a grey that has kind of a purple undertone. You could be true to the inspiration stamp, or go totally wild with your color choices! I thought the Breakdance palette would be fun since the stamp is from the 80s.

Starting with the O in the middle "Love" and working your way out, backstitch all the letters, leaving the hearts until last. You'll want to start in the center because, just like in quilting, it will help to prevent puckers when embroidering through the batting.

If you need some instruction on backstitching, there's a simple tutorial on Sublime Stitching.

Thread your embroidery needle with six strands of the color you want to use for the middle heart and knot the end. Backstitch the hearts, changing the floss color for each one, or leaving them all the same, it's totally up to you!

Lightly spray your design with water to remove the ink (or use the method according to your particular instrument). Allow it to dry.

Layer your embroidered square on top of the backing square as if you were making a quilt sandwich (so right sides facing out). Pin in place around the edges. (Yours will ideally be lined up more evenly than mine - I was just trying to show the backing square behind it for clarity).

At your sewing machine, sew with white thread (and your choice of bobbin color depending on the backing fabric - I just left it white since it won't be showing) around the perimeter of the stamp using a 1/2" seam allowance. You could use your ruler and draw with disappearing ink if you want to be really precise. I just use the markings on my machine as a guide. Remember to backstitch at the beginning and end.

Using your pinking shears, cut in the seam allowance, leaving 1/4" to 1/2" of fabric. The pinking achieves two things: 1) To prevent the edges from fraying, and, 2) To resemble the perforated edges on a stamp.

Decide what you'll be using your magnet for.  I knew I wanted it to be strong enough to hold heavier toddler artwork on our fridge, so I opted to use 4 magnets, one in each corner.  The number and placement of the magnets is entirely up to you.

Using your hot glue gun, glue the magnet(s) to the back of the "stamp". Allow the glue to cool and dry, and then you're all done with your magnet.

You can use it on your magnet board in your office.

Or you can use it on your fridge to hold your quilt inspector's artwork (like I will be doing).

I hope you enjoyed this project, and if any part of the tutorial was not clear, please let me know! Thank you so much for stopping by, and please remember to follow me (see buttons on the sidebar - top right) so we can stay in touch! Happy Valentine's Day, Y'all! Make sure to check out the other blogs participating in the hop! You definitely don't want to miss out on all the GIVEAWAYS!

Here's the line-up: 

1/28: 

Blog: Ellison Lane - Giveaway: Papa's Old Shirts Fabric Shop

Blog: Doodle Do Designs - Giveaway: Material Girl Quilts

1/29: 

Blog: Canoe Ridge Creations - Giveaway: Knotted Threads Fabric Shop

Blog: LR Stitched - Giveaway: Lima Sews Fabric Shop

1/30: 

Blog: Owen's Olivia - Giveaway: During Quiet Time  

Blog: Petit Lyons - Giveaway: Stitch By Stitch Long Arm Quilting

1/31: 

Blog: Jednoiglec/Sewing Under the Rainbow - Giveaway: By Mary Fabric Shop

Blog: Stitchery Dickory Dock - Giveaway: Knotty Gnome Crafts

2/1: 

Blog: From the Blue Chair - Giveaway: Our Epoch Fabric Shop

Blog: Sew Crafty Jess - Giveaway: Hot Pink Stitches

Speaking of giveaways, here's how to enter to win a Moda Birds and Berries Layer Cake from Material Girl Quilts.  Simply leave a comment!  That's all folks.  Of course, you want bonus entries right?  Well that's simple too, just become a follower of Doodle Do Designs and leave a separate comment letting me know how you follow (via a reader, email, GFC, etc).  Easy peasy.  The giveaway is open through February 5, 2013, when I will close comments and pick the winner using a random number generator.  Good luck!

The giveaway is now closed.  See the winner here.

Linking to Fabric Tuesday on Quilt Story.