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!!