Greeting cards DIY kits

Greeting card kits let you stitch a card instead of buying one. The section holds 159 kits: a base with the full-colour design printed on it, beads or floss, a needle, the card blank and an envelope. The main format is 84×140 mm and 142 of the 159 kits are rated easy.

Four types of card

• Bead embroidery cards — 131, the largest group, 5–12 colours
• Microbead card envelopes — 16, finer and more precise work
• 3D cards — 7, with raised elements
• Cross stitch cards — 5, on 14 count Aida

How long it takes

An 84×140 mm beaded card takes 3–6 hours, so one or two evenings. Microbead envelopes and 3D versions are more demanding: 15 kits in this section are rated advanced and are worth allowing 8–12 hours for.

Designs for particular occasions

Children's designs (37 kits), flowers (29), romantic subjects (28), winter and New Year (25), Easter (10), animals and birds (6) and music (4) — enough to cover a birthday, Christmas and Easter alike.

Questions and answers

Is the envelope included?

Yes, the envelope and the card blank come with the kit.

Can I write inside the card?

Yes, the inner spread is left blank for exactly that.

Will an embroidered card survive the post?

The stitched side is raised, so a rigid mailer is safer. Inside the envelope the card holds its shape, but sorting machines are built for flat mail.

How long does a kit take?

A beaded card takes 3–6 hours, a microbead or 3D card 8–12 hours.