What do you do with your finished projects?

[snes]

I've just started with cross-stitch and only made little things so far. Craftster has been an amazing inspiration! I like to put my stitchings on felt and attach a ribbon, so I can use them as decoration. Like I did with Kirby and these angels (can't post the pictures, only links).

But now, when I see a cute new pattern I find myself thinking... what will I do with it once it's finished? I can only put so many things around in the house before my boyfriend starts complaining. Ofcourse I could put it in a frame, but I would like to save that for Future Masterpieces.

To be short, I'm looking for a way to put my stitchings to good use and want to know what you like to do with yours. Thanks in advance for any responses!

[Antidigger]

I very rarely start a project without a final end in mind. Having said that I've just started one, but there you go.

Perhaps you could start thinking about who might like them as gifts, or whether they would be transferable to an item of clothing, or would they suit a cushion in your home? If you like it then would someone else, could you use them as fundraisers for your favourite cause?

[deromilly]

The perennial problem for stitchers! What to do with it once it's stitched.  Last year I made pillows. Then my husband started complaining that he hated moving pillows all the time to sit down... This year I'm into tote/grocery bags. We don't have a lot of wall space - and what we do have is likely to be soon covered in bookshelves, so framing them isn't very useful for me. So ideas I've been brainstorming recently:

Stitch on clothing... Jackets and skirts are nice, large canvases.
Make tote bags
Make crazy quilts from little projects
Make big quilts of embroidered blocks
Make jar toppers from small embroideries (very popular in the 80s)
Make hand-embroidered covered buttons
Make hand-embroidered button covers.
Make pouches to stick sewing stuff in.
Make embroidered boxes
Stitch on tea/dishtowels and use them so you have to stitch more (this is a favorite for me)
Make placemats & napkins and use them.
Ornaments for every holiday.
Wall hangings, framed or otherwise finished.
Shower curtains (yes, I'm stitching one)
Curtain curtains. If it was good enough for my grandmother in her kitchen, it's good enough for me.
Coasters.
The list goes on.

Definitely find friends who appreciate your work and gift things! This can sometimes be harder than it sounds. The first time I hear "it's too nice to use" is the last time they get anything stitched (unless they respond correctly to, "if you don't use it, it won't wear out, and I can't make you any more...")  If I hear "it's as nice as the one I saw in [fill in cheap store full of Chinese imports here]" it's the last stitched item they receive. Luckily I've got a LOT of friends who like stitching themselves, and appreciate presents.

[Listessa]

I pick up a lot of stuff that ends up being a hangable item- fine since my mom has a new place and loves getting cross stitch that I made. 

If you have a bunch of little stand alone designs, stitch them up (either on that perforated plastic 14 count or paper OR trim your aida/evenweave/linen and mount on sticky back stuff), and put some of that magnetic tape on the back- instant awesome magnets for your refrigerator! 

You could laminate or buy empty key chains and zipper pulls for small things that are finished. 

It's fairly easy to mount a small piece in card stock for a DIY card so you can give it for whatever occasion it works for!  (Never have to buy another greeting card again!)

I have a bunch of fun little tiny things hanging in various spots around the apartment too.  They aren't really framed, just tacked up and they look cute. 

Small patterns are great for bookmarks as well. 

[kittykill]

Western shirts, jackets, boxer shorts, bags (of course), chairs, blankets (quilts)

[Disobedient Child]

Gifts!  I takes a long time for us crafters to realise it, but other people love what we do!  I have looked at a finished piece and thought, well THAT'S tatty, and that bit's a bit wonky, and wow, call that a french knot? What a mess - only to have a friend come up and say OMG you did that?! It's amazing!  Or something like that.
So finish it off, and give it away! And then you can get on with making MORE THINGS!  Hooray

[thehappycrochetchic]

Love the list.  I like using designs on teatowels, and making them into pincushions!

[mrs.turner]

I put my stitchings in plastic sheet protectors and photo/scrapbooking albums. You can find them in the scrapbooking area of your favorite craft store. I find that it protects them very well and all of your hard work is in one place.

[sesame_sweet]

I love all of these ideas! And I definitely agree with giving projects away as gifts. Very few of my friends craft, so they're usually super excited to receive a handmade gift.
I'm thinking of making a quilt for one of the gazillion babies my friends are suddenly having. I'm a beginner quilter, so it would just be basic square blocks. Several of the squares could be embroidered, which would use up several projects at once. I have a bunch of Sublime Stitching patterns that I look at often, but never use. The designs are cute enough to be used on baby items. (Except for the pinups. I must find a different use for those.)
I'm also planning a tote bag with a James Dean cross stitch on one side. A coworker is graduating high school, and she LOVES James Dean. I just bought a cross stitch design program (PC Stitch), and I think I'm about to become obsessed with cross stitching.)

[littlesquares]

I put my stitchings in plastic sheet protectors and photo/scrapbooking albums. You can find them in the scrapbooking area of your favorite craft store. I find that it protects them very well and all of your hard work is in one place.

This is such a good idea!!