Table of Contents
Watch the video: “Embroidery on Paper for Bullet Journals” by Archer & Olive
Paper plus thread equals instant texture in your journal. In this beginner-friendly walkthrough, we’ll stitch floral motifs on sturdy cardstock and adhere the finished piece into a bullet journal for a spread that truly pops. If you’ve ever wanted tactile blooms that won’t smear or fade, this method is a joy.
What you’ll learn
- How to sketch simple florals and pre-poke holes to protect the paper
- Five beginner stitches on paper: backstitch, whipped running stitch, lazy daisy, chain stitch, and side feather
- Why two strands of floss work best on cardstock
- Clean finishing: taping thread tails, trimming, and adhering your piece into a bullet journal
Introduction to Paper Embroidery for Journaling Paper embroidery brings a subtle, hand-crafted depth to your spreads without needing fabric or hoops. The video centers on stitching on a separate cardstock panel that you can later tape into your journal—this keeps the front tidy and hides the back, which naturally looks messier during learning.
Why Try Embroidery in Your Bullet Journal?
- It adds dimension: thread’s texture turns a simple page into an art piece.
- It’s accessible: a pencil, needle, thread, and sturdy paper are enough.
- It’s forgiving: with a separate panel, you can mask the messy back side and focus on clean front results.
Gathering Your Essential Supplies From the video, you’ll need: a pencil for sketching, a needle for poking and stitching, scissors, tape for securing the back, and embroidery floss. The presenter uses Archer & Olive cardstock from an Into the Wild notepad and later adheres the finished panel into an Archer & Olive journal. If you’re brand new, that paper thickness matters a lot. embroidery machine for beginners
Preparing Your Paper and Design Choosing the Right Paper Thickness (160gsm is key!) The tutorial emphasizes sturdiness: 160gsm cardstock is a minimum to keep holes clean and reduce rips when you re-enter the same hole. The paper choice also influences thread visibility—lighter threads may be subtle on some colors, while darker shades pop.
Sketching Your Floral Masterpiece Start with a simple floral sketch in pencil—one stem at a time with clear leaves and blossoms. Avoid overly tiny details until you get a feel for how holes and stitches behave on paper. The video shows three motifs: a blue backstitched stem with leaves, a light-green textured stem, and a sunflower-like bloom with a round, petal-packed head.
Pro tip If you prefer a template, the creator mentions a printable on the brand’s blog. It’s designed to align dots where you’ll stitch, making spacing more consistent.
Poking Holes: The Foundation of Paper Stitching Before stitching, pre-poke holes with a needle along the stems, leaf edges, and petal tips. Even spacing protects the paper and guides your needle. Leaves can share a central hole you’ll re-enter; petals need a single hole at each tip for lazy daisy loops. Keep holes comfortably spaced—too close can tear.
From the comments One viewer suggested placing a cork trivet behind your paper when poking holes for support; the channel called it a great tip. Another thread in the comments clarified that a classic needle is used for poking—simple and effective.
Mastering Basic Embroidery Stitches on Paper Working with Embroidery Floss Strands Embroidery floss typically bundles six strands. The video separates the floss and uses two strands—thin enough to glide through paper, thick enough for visibility. Thread your needle with those two strands and choose colors you love against your paper color.
Watch out Pulling too many strands through paper increases friction and can widen holes or cause tearing. Two strands strike a good balance here. magnetic embroidery frames
The Backstitch: For Strong Stems and Leaves The blue stem begins with a classic backstitch. Come up at the first hole, down at the next, then up at a third and back down into the second to create a continuous line. Maintain even spacing and tension—just snug enough to lay flat without cutting into the paper.
Quick check
- Are stitches roughly the same length?
- Are there any gaps? If so, re-enter the previous hole to close them.
- Is the paper around high-traffic holes intact?
Leaves via backstitch use the same principles. The leaf shapes come to life by re-entering a central hole multiple times, which is why thicker paper matters. Keep your needle movements deliberate so the hole stays tidy.
The Whipped Running Stitch: Adding Texture For the second, light-green stem, the video demonstrates a running stitch first—up and down with small gaps. Then the thread is whipped around each stitch to create a raised, rope-like effect. Maintain a gentle tension while whipping so the running stitches don’t distort.
If your thread color is subtle against the paper, the texture still adds interest up close, and you can always add tiny one-line leaves using a simple backstitch motion.
The Lazy Daisy Stitch: Crafting Delicate Petals Lazy daisy is perfect for lavender-like clusters. Form a loop by going down and back up through the same hole, then catch the loop at its tip with a small anchoring stitch through a second hole. The key is tension—too tight and the loop disappears; too loose and it loses shape.
Repeat along the stem, spacing loops to suggest airy petals. Keep your loops consistent for visual rhythm.
The Chain Stitch: Building Beautiful Stems A chain stitch creates a linked, decorative line reminiscent of lazy daisy loops, but in a row. The video uses it to form a yellow stem—each link connects to the next by coming up inside the loop and going down to anchor it on the same side as the previous stitch. Steady spacing helps the chain read cleanly.
Watch out If loops fail to connect, the chain effect breaks. Slow down and place the needle inside each loop before anchoring.
The Side Feather Stitch: For Intricate Leaf Details For the sunflower leaves, the video shows side feather stitches that draw an L-shaped loop to build the top edge of the leaf, then finishes with a neat backstitch on the underside. Practice the rhythm on scrap paper so your angles stay consistent and the leaf silhouette reads clearly.
Tips and Tricks for Successful Paper Embroidery Managing Thread Tension on Paper Thread tension is the secret to crisp results on cardstock. Aim for “secure but gentle.” Over-tightening can tear holes or flatten loops; too loose can make petals and chains slump. If a loop misbehaves, lift it gently with your needle tip and settle it into shape before anchoring. magnetic hoops
Securing Your Stitches for Longevity On the back of the piece, the creator secures loose thread tails with clear tape—simple, effective, and fast. This helps the panel lay flat when you adhere it into your journal. Trim away excess tails before taping if they’re bulky.
Pro tip Tape is added at the end in the video to keep things tidy while stitching. If you tape too early, you may trap loose ends before you’re done—wait until you’ve finished all motifs.
From the comments
- Beginners found the walkthrough straightforward and helpful.
- A viewer asked about needles; while the video doesn’t specify types, the comments confirm a classic needle works for poking holes and stitching.
- Many appreciated that “perfect” isn’t required—organic lines suit natural motifs.
Integrating Your Embroidered Art into Your Bullet Journal Trimming Your Design to Perfection Once the embroidery is complete and the back is taped, trim your panel into a clean rectangle that complements your layout. Leave a margin around the stitching so thread ends stay safe and the composition has breathing room.
Adhering with Washi Tape or Glue In the video, the panel is fixed with pink washi tape along the edges. Choose a tape that holds well; if your washi is weak, a touch of glue underneath the corners can help. Position the panel first, check alignment, then commit.
Adding Personal Touches: Quotes and Embellishments A handwritten quote beside the embroidery completes the spread—simple, personal, and cohesive. Gel pen lettering stands out on dot grid and pairs well with stitched texture. The result is polished but still handmade.
Watch out Placing the embroidery directly into a journal is possible, but the video notes the back side won’t look as neat. Working on a separate panel keeps your spreads clean and reduces risk to the bound pages. snap hoop monster
Quick check before you close the notebook
- Is the panel firmly adhered at all corners?
- Do any thread tails peek out from the edges?
- Does the page close flat without snagging?
Final Thoughts: A Unique Touch to Your Journal Paper embroidery slows you down in the best way—each stitch a mindful mark. With five beginner-friendly stitches and a sturdy cardstock base, you can create floral motifs that feel alive on the page. Start small, embrace a few imperfections, and enjoy the meditative pace of needle and thread.
From the comments: encouragement and ideas
- Viewers praised the clarity and pacing—no fluff, just practical steps.
- Beginners felt excited to try embroidery on paper for the first time.
- One viewer wondered about using a project like this in an art school portfolio; the video doesn’t address this, but a finished, well-photographed piece could showcase your process and craftsmanship.
Troubleshooting at a glance
- Paper tearing near repeated holes: Switch to 160gsm or thicker and ease your tension.
- Loops disappearing on lazy daisy: Don’t over-tighten; anchor with a small stitch just outside the loop’s tip.
- Whipped running stitch looks twisted: Keep the whipping thread gently snug—not tight—so the base stitches keep their shape.
- Messy back side: That’s normal. Tape thread tails neatly at the end to flatten and secure.
Tools and materials referenced in the video
- Pencil, needle, scissors, tape, gel pen, washi tape
- Cardstock from an Archer & Olive notepad (Into the Wild) and an Archer & Olive journal
- Embroidery floss colors shown: blue, light green, pink, yellow
A note on doing this directly in your journal The video mentions you could stitch right on a journal page, but the creator prefers a separate panel because the back won’t look as tidy. If you experiment in-book, test on a back page and support your paper while poking holes.
Resource reminders
- The creator references a printable on their blog to help align stitch points.
- Stitches demonstrated: backstitch, whipped running stitch, lazy daisy, chain stitch, and side feather.
Optional detour for machine stitchers If you’re primarily a machine embroiderer curious about handwork on paper, this project is a refreshing change of pace. Explore it as a portable, tool-light complement to your machine projects. magnetic embroidery hoop
Care and storage Keep your embroidered spread away from heavy pressure or dampness. If your notebook lives in a bag, consider placing the stitched page toward the front or back with a protective sheet over it.
Celebrate the finish Once adhered and lettered, the final spread is charmingly tactile. Turn the page, run a fingertip over the petals, and smile—your journal just learned a new texture.
Bonus: stitch-by-stitch recap - Backstitch stem and leaves: continuous line; re-enter the same hole to shape leaves.
- Whipped running stitch stem: run first, whip second; gentle tension preserves texture.
- Lazy daisy petals (lavender-like): loop, anchor at the tip, repeat with even spacing.
- Chain stitch stem: linked loops in a line; keep links consistent.
- Side feather leaves: L-shaped loops for the top edge, then backstitch the underside.
Keep experimenting Change palette, scale, or flower types. Try smaller clusters for margins or a single bold bloom as a page focal point. As you build confidence, you’ll discover how much expression lives in the smallest stitches. mighty hoop
Shopping and setup notes The video doesn’t specify needle sizes or brands beyond using Archer & Olive paper products. If you’re building a starter kit, aim for:
- A pack of sturdy 160gsm cardstock
- A small assortment of embroidery needles
- A few skeins of floss in complementary colors
- Clear tape and sharp scissors
- Washi tape to adhere your finished panel
Finally, enjoy the process This technique rewards patience and play. Whether you’re sketching botanicals or abstract lines, paper embroidery adds a fresh, tactile chapter to your journaling practice. magnetic hoops for embroidery