Butterfly Cards & Gifts

Butterfly Cards & Gifts My business was built on the idea that everyday life should be practical, thoughtful & fun.

With handmade products, cross stitch supplies & clever creative tips, I help people create, organise & enjoy the things they love & use the good things every day.

01/06/2026

How Many Threads?

When starting to cross stitch it can be tricky to work out how many strands of thread to use depending on the fabric and project you’re stitching.

Often the pattern will tell you and sometimes it’s personal preference, but if not here’s the rule of thumb I follow when cross stitching with 6 count aida.

For 6 count aida all 6 strands are best. Some people like the extra coverage of 8 strands, I personally think 8 is too much and I personally cross stitch with 6 strands.

In this reel I test cross stitch on 6 count aida with 6 strands, 2 strands and 1 strand.

Stitching with 6 strands is nice and it makes for nice cross definition and coverage. Two strands is nice to stitch with and has amazing cross definition but really bad coverage. While 1 strand is not great to stitch plus the coverage is terrible so it’s not really worth it.

My preference is 6 strands for 6 count but it’s really a personal preference or pattern requirement.

How many threads do you like to stitch with when using 6 count aida if you’ve ever stitched with 6 count :)

29/05/2026

If you’ve ever thought scissors are scissors

This is your gentle reminder that they all have a different purpose. I sew as well as cross stitch, so I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that having the right scissors for the job isn’t being fancy — it’s being safe and it also makes justifying the collection easier 😂

Here’s what I use and what I use them for.
• Fabric scissors - Fiskars heavy duty for fabric only - I use them for trimming edges, when framing or cutting smaller pieces of aida
• Pinking shears for fabric only - I use them for the edges of aida when im going to stitch but not overlock (I also now have a pinking rotary cutter but I only use it for small pieces of Aida)
• Small embroidery scissors I have two kinds Klass red handled scissors and a pretty set that was gifted to me - I use these for cutting floss and trimming threads
○ To be honest I have about 8 sets of the red handle Klass scissors, I have some dedicated to paper craft, cross stitch and sewing they are just that good.
• Rotary cutter Olaf - I use this for big, straight cuts like sections of aida when it comes off the bolt.

I think its important to use the right scissors for the job.

What scissors do you swear by?

28/05/2026

What a glasses case is made of matters more than people think.

This is the foam I use — it’s dense, structured, and fusible, which means it bonds to the fabric when I apply heat.

This step is what gives the case its shape. Without it, it would just be fabric in your bag. With it, it actually holds its form and does its job — protecting your glasses instead of just covering them.

After that, it’s cut, sewn, and turned into the final case you see in the shop — each one slightly different depending on the fabric design.

The foam is the secret sauce that makes the difference between something that looks pretty but doesn’t work to something that you use and lives in your bag every day.

You can find all available glasses case designs via the shop link in the reel.

26/05/2026

Every time my cross stitch needle tins appeared in a reel, people asked about the them.
And… I get it, they’re super cute and and keep me organised and I never have to guess which size needle is which (though sometimes user error does happen)

So I cleaned up my SVG files and turned them into a free download for fellow stitchers who loved the idea. You can use them with Cricut or Silhouette machines, upload the file then resize them to fit your own tins or magnetic cases, and make them with vinyl, sticker paper, or whatever you already have on hand.

You can grab the free SVG through the link in my bio or on my website butterflycardsandgifts.com

26/05/2026

You know the I DO IT stage kids have when they want to carry their own things… until five minutes after when you’re handed the drink bottle and other bits and bobs.

So I made a smaller version of the drink bottle bag. Same handy pockets and practical design just sized for smaller bodies, little hands, and kid-sized drink bottles.

Easy for outings, zoo trips, school holidays, sports, parks, walks, or those “I can do it myself” phases.

There’s space for their drink bottle, plus little essentials like lip balm, treasures, snacks, or whatever toy or accessory they’ve decided absolutely must come along.

Practical for them but also fun, in a range of popular characters. Plus they make an amazing gift for a kid who loves carrying their own stuff.

You can check out my range at my website through the link in this reel.

25/05/2026

Some seams are really rigid and or bulky.

Especially on structured pieces like my drink bottle bags where you’re using a firm interfacing and in same places there are 8 layers of fabric.

That’s why I use a seam roller. I use it to soften and flatten the seams before I iron the fabric. It helps soften the fibres so the seam sits flatter, which makes everything easier when it comes to top stitching and how it looks when finished.

If you like seeing the behind the scenes of handmade sewing, follow along for more sewing tips and gift ideas.

25/05/2026

If you’re stuck choosing… this is the one people keep coming back to.

The black print with all the little dogs, its easily the most popular.

It goes with everything, and it’s a print where you keep noticing new puppies.

It’s still the same practical design — it stays on the lead, doesn’t flop around, and you can refill it without taking it off the lead.

So it’s not just nice to look at (though it is) — it’s easy to use as well.

If you’ve been deciding between a few designs, this is a good place to start.

Shop now via the link in this reel or my website butterflycardsandgifts.com

24/05/2026

Floss drops are magic voodoo!

I’d seen people use floss drops before but never really gave them much thought until last year. Tried them once and immediately understood why people love them. The magic is how easy it is to separate a single strand.

So to prep them - take your skein, unwind it fully —
Then fold it in half… and half again… and keep going until you’ve folded it four times.

Take the loop end and thread it through the floss drop. Then snip the loops at the other end so you’re left with all the thread tails hanging down.

Then you just slide your needle between the strands near the top and gently pull one away.

I live this setup for projects with only a few colours or large blocks of the same colour (looking at you 310). The thread length ends up being perfect for a loop start too.

I still use thread organisers for my confetti-heavy projects because I find it easier to swap and change the colours. But for simpler stitching sessions? Floss drops have earned a permanent spot in my setup.

If you’ve never tried them before, this might be your sign.

24/05/2026

This is a gift that will get used every single day?

That’s exactly why these tissue pouches have become one of the most picked up items at my market stall.

People spot a print that reminds them of someone, pick it up “just to look”… then immediately go:
“Wait… this is so cleaver and would be so handy for …..”

They clip onto handbags, keys, backpacks, work lanyards or school bags, keep tissues easy to find, and save you from digging through the bottom of your bag when hayfever, spills, kids, or messy food strike.

Practical? Yep.
Boring? Not even close.

The fun part is matching the print to the person — bees, butterflies, skulls, florals, bright colours, soft neutrals… there’s a bit of everything.

Such an easy gift idea for teachers, coworkers, mums, friends, Secret Santa, stocking fillers… or a special treat for yourself…..and if you’re local — free South Canberra delivery makes the “just grabbing one” decision very easy.

22/05/2026

This is your reminder that small business deliveries are often far less glamorous than people imagine 😂

Sometimes it’s just me walking down the back steps with one carefully packed order and and putting it into the back of my caddy van ready for delivery.

But every order matters to me and my small business.

I think that’s one of the nice things about shopping handmade and local — there’s a real person behind every package caring about what arrives at your door.

Also, I offer free local delivery around South Canberra and free Canberra-wide delivery on orders over $20.

One of my favourite things about local orders is being able to pack them myself and get them to their new homes.

Address

Canberra City, ACT

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

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