ndlpt finishing steps

I compiled these fairly quickly, and obviously they're very brief. If you have any questions please DM me on insta at @eablack! Happy to help but just remember: my philosophy is “Done is better than perfect"! 😎

  • Scan the canvas to jpg, or make a photocopy

    • For the regular non-Cricut method, you’ll use the photocopy to make your 2 matboard cuttings, ensuring you're cutting inwards roughly ~10% smaller than design, because the canvas is going to wrap around the matboard.

    • If you’re all in on the Cricut method, take your JPG into the Cricut software to remove the background and shrink by 10-12%. Cut on matboard using the knife.

  • Use matboard cuttings to make batting cuttings. If you want, you can glue the batting down to the matboard. Totally optional.

  • Cut out canvas and make little notches about 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart. I like to hold the matboard against the canvas as I do this to help me decide where to cut, especially on irregular shapes.

  • Arrange canvas, matboard and batting together. Glue those 3 pieces together, going slow to make sure you’re centered correctly on your matboard and all your non-stitched canvas is being fully wrapped behind the matboard. Use clips to hold everything while it dries.

  • Cut out your backing fabric and make little notches. Don’t go too deep on the notches - I find the fabric is less forgiving and you might end up with a little knick in the fabric on the edge of the matboard.

  • Arrange fabric, matboard & batting together. Glue those 3 pieces together & clip hold, let dry.

  • Glue your two halves together. Weigh them down with something heavy, like a stack of coffee table books, while waiting for it to dry.

  • Take Invisible thread and sew the two halves closer together using a curved needle. This step is skippable, but definitely helps if you feel like it could be more tightly held together!

  • Make cording…

    • Lord help me I haven't written these steps out but it involves a lot of cussing 🤣

  • Glue on cording & pin hold it into place. Let dry.

  • Sew on year charm if desired

  • You’re done!!