How cute is this greeting card? Would you believe me if I told you I used my Ricoma EM1010 embroidery machine and my go to 5.5″ Mighty Hoop to stitch the image right onto the cardstock? I did! (You can absolutely make this on a single needle machine, too).

Imagine the recipient’s surprise when they open their card to find the front embroidered! It’s certainly an unexpected touch.

Embroidery on cardstock isn’t difficult at all, however, there are a few simple guidelines that will help you create your masterpiece.

I started by using this watercolor cardstock. It’s thick enough to handle the needle punctures without causing a hole. It also adds really nice dimension. As an added bonus, you could always step your card up a notch by actually watercoloring the base before you embroider.

It’s also important to pick an embroidery design that isn’t overly dense. Dense designs will cause your cardstock to become weak, or worse, create a hole. This sketch design worked beautifully.

I think I just might embroider all of my Christmas cards this year! Want to join me? Watch the tutorial below to get started today.