What If You Don't Want to Frame it (different ways to display your finished project)

Cross stitch pictures in most rooms of the house, not sure what else you can do with your completed cross stitch pieces? There are lots of options available to you if you don't wish to frame your completed cross stitch, some of which are listed below.

There is nothing nicer than a hand made card and to make a card really special, a cross stitch design may be used to enhance the appearance of the front of the card. Imagine the look of delight on a friend or relative's face when they open your card - they will really appreciate the thought and time which have gone into creating the card for them.

You could make cards for every occasion, not just birthdays but Christmas cards, get well soon wishes, new home cards, anniversary congratulation cards as well as the arrival of a baby or grandchild to mention a few. As these pieces will be fairly small, it will be possible to build up a stock of different cross stitch designs and your friends and family will be impressed at how quickly you have managed to assemble such a special card for them. If you choose to do this, make sure you store your completed designs in between quite thick books as this method of storage will keep them flat and when you need to use a specific design it will be ready for you.

You can also make nice individual key rings and fridge magnets. If you know of a particular favourite football team for example, their logo on a key ring would be an unusual gift for the football fans in your life. Logos of cars on key rings are also much appreciated little gifts. In fact, you can become extremely creative and produce some really unique designs of a small nature suitable for key rings. Similarly, a picturesque fridge magnet also makes a nice little present for someone. Like key rings, fridge magnets can be stitched with any design you think appropriate for the person to whom you will be giving the finished gift.

Cross stitch coasters are another small item which can be made quite easily and, again, make a nice personal gift if stitched in a subject you know a friend or relative particularly enjoys. Keen gardeners in the family would appreciate flowers, whilst pet lovers would enjoy animal coasters. You could even stitch names and emblems so each member of your family has their own individual coaster.

Christmas is a really special time of the year and what could be better than having some cross stitch decorations around your home as these items, could, in time, become family heirlooms to be passed from one generation to the next. It is possible to make some really natty Christmas Tree Decorations - what a nice stocking filler for the younger generation in your family.

Using waste canvas is a way of creating a rather unique item from something quite plain. Tee-shirts and sweatshirts for example can be given a new lease of life by stitching a cross stitch emblem onto them. A plain canvas bag can be turned into something really stylish and swish by attaching cross stitched motifs to it. A rather ordinary jacket can be totally changed in its appearance by stitching an emblem onto the pocket. This sort of thing, again, makes a wonderful individual gift for someone and is really appreciated. You will be the envy of all your friends if you create a really special design of your own on any garment, especially if it is embellished with jewellery beads and you make matching earrings and necklace as well.

A major piece of cross stitch that doesn't need framing is, of course, a tablecloth and if you cross stitched matching napkins, any dinner table could look amazing. As large items like tablecloths can take several months to complete, cross stitching the smaller napkins in between sessions on the tablecloth would help to break up this particular workload. How nice to stitch a tablecloth with napkins as a wedding present, especially if you could incorporate the wedding date into the design together with the happy couple's initials - this would indeed become a priceless heirloom.

Towels are another article which can be transformed from a plain towel to something really exquisite that looks great in any bathroom by using waste canvas to create a nice motif. Pillowcases too can be treated to an update using cross stitching.