Hello everyone!  My name is Jan and I'm excited to be back sharing another project I created, using new Tim Holtz Chapter 2 dies.

You will need:

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 10PK - Gertrude, Colorize (664429)

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 25PK - Stacked Tiles, Circles (664437)

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 146PK - Alphanumeric Tiny Type Lower (664407)

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 6PK - Funky Floral, Large (664158)

Embroidery Hoop, about 6"
Printed Tim Holtz Fabric, Felted Wool
Heat'n Bond Iron on Adhesive paper
Tim Holtz Kraft Stock (various colours)
Ranger Opaque Crackle Texture Paste
Tim Holtz Distress crayon (brown tones)
Sizzix Adhesive Sheets
Seam Binding Ribbon
Tim Holtz Story Stick Charm (TH93680)
Liquid glue, hot glue

  1. Cover the outside ring of an embroidery hoop with white gesso, let dry.  Apply Opaque   Crackle Texture Paste over top and let dry again.  Lastly, apply brown Distress Crayon and rub into the cracks.
  2. I used various colours of Tim Holtz Kraft stock for myGertrude Giraffe. It is a good idea to adhere two-sided adhesive to the back of your paper before die-cutting, especially the smaller pieces. These Colorize sets are very easy to construct, every piece is labeled on the back with a number and colour suggestion. If you are a visual person like me, Sizzix has a video for each die set on their YouTube channel showing you step by step.  So helpful!
    Gertrude Embroidery Hoop by Jan Hobbins
  3. I lightly sanded the edges of each piece. Adhere all the pieces of your giraffe and set aside.
  4. Cut out a circle of your printed background fabric, slightly larger than your embroidery hoop. To stabilize your fabric before die-cutting the smaller pieces, I used a two-sided Heat'N Bond fabric adhesive.  Cut out a small piece of fabric then iron on a similar size of fabric adhesive to  the back of your fabric. This stops fraying, and also gives a sharper cut.  Die-cut your circles from the Stacked Circles and various felted wool colours, and cotton fabric. Die-cut your leaves from the Funky Floral Thinlits and printed fabric.
  5. To guide me in the placement of the pieces, I used a large basting stitch around the perimeter of my background fabric where the edge of the hoop is. Iron the circles and leaves onto the printed fabric background. You can leave it like this or machine stitch to accent. Ironing the pieces on first, makes it so much easier to machine stitch the pieces.
  6. I pressed my fabric piece before placing inside the embroidery hoop. Once you have it in the hoop and the screw is tight, trim the excess fabric close to the hoop.  For added strength, so the fabric doesn't slip or come out, apply a liquid glue all around the back frame where the two hoop pieces meet.
  7. Adhere your Gertrude Giraffe to the hoop. I used a hot glue gun for this, as it was on fabric, and I didn't want it to come loose.
    Gertrude Embroidery Hoop by Jan Hobbins
  8. To finish off my project, I die-cut my words using Tiny Type Lower Alphanumeric set and black cardstock(with adhesive backing). Since I had a lot of words, I didn't want my hoop to look too crowded, so I put the first two words on a small circle label.  This label was made with the Stacked Circle die and Tim Holtz Kraft Stock.  Add this label to the top of your hoop, along with a Tim Holtz Story Stick charm and dyed seam binding ribbon.

Gertrude Embroidery Hoop by Jan Hobbins

That's my project, hope you enjoyed this tutorial!  I think a wall grouping of all the Colorize animals on hoops would look so cute in a children's room!