Cross stitch project suggestions?

I want completed project ideas for cross stitch. Have thought of coasters, ornaments, magnets, bookmarks, flour sack towels (using iron on patterns). Anyone else have other ideas for completed projects? Or framing ideas?

I usually do projects for weddings, new babies and new homes for my friends and family members. I try to think of something that coordinates with their theme or taste. For example, I found a project that had a ring of leaves and the phrase “Grow Old Along with me, the best is yet to be”. I added the couples names and wedding date and gave it as a wedding gift for a fall wedding.

For gifts, I just go with a simple frame and mat finish so the receiver can hang it on their wall immediately.

I was in my LNS last weekend and saw a GORGEOUS finished project. A woman had purchased an old fashioned clock several years back, something similar to this one, except with a glass door over the whole front of the cabinet:

http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/store/images/12231.jpg

She had stitched a piece for the background of the shelf area and it was absolutely stunning when it was finished.

You could also do a jewelry box lid. I just did one for my niece for Christmas. I used a box intended to be a photo top box from Michaels – I sanded and painted the box, then designed a piece to go inside where the photo would go. It looked similar to this:

http://www.patchesnplanks.com/images/5×7_jewelry_box.jpg

You could also do the whole box out of cross stitch, using a fine plastic canvas instead of fabric:

http://huangfamily.com/craftlog/archives/box.jpg

Look for a book called Hand-stitched boxes : plastic canvas, cross stitch, embroidery, patchwork by Meg Evans.

Scissor Fobs, Pincushions and Needle cases:

http://www.kjcraftworks.com/KJNeedlework/Pics/wand-fob.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/ma/yahootie/images/SBfob1.jpg

http://www.withmyneedle.com/MyTreas.jpg

http://huangfamily.com/craftlog/archives/needlebook.jpg

http://huangfamily.com/craftlog/archives/needlebookopen.jpg

http://needlewench.com/becky/sands/minitrea.jpg

Eyeglass Cases:

http://shop.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/store_images/products/486_md.jpg

Altoid Tin Topper:

http://www.dondeleo.com/images/emporium/products/thumbnails/a9b2f169/catalog/images/img_044/06-2070.jpg

TONS of finishing products:

http://www.crafterspride.com/category_results.cfm?Category=19

This woman adapted patterns to create fabric patterns:

http://www.practise.co.uk/work/archive/shan-james-cross-stitch.html

Machine embroidery bookmark Part 4