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When you open one of our kits, you’re not just beginning a new stitching project — you’re bringing a piece of genuine artwork to life, one cross at a time.

At The Stamped Stitch Club, every design begins with an artist. A real person, with real talent, who has poured hours — sometimes days or weeks — into creating something beautiful. That’s why every single one of our designs is fully licensed.

What does “licensed artwork” mean?

When a design is licensed, it means the artist has given permission for their work to be used — and they’re being paid fairly for it. We pay royalties to our artists on every kit sold, ensuring that creativity is respected and rewarded.

Sadly, not every company does this. Many stamped cross stitch kits on the market use stolen or unlicensed artwork. Sometimes images are taken directly from the internet without consent. Other times, companies use AI tools to create “new” images that are heavily based on existing artwork — effectively copying an artist’s style without credit or compensation.

Why that matters

Artists rely on their income from licensed designs to continue creating. When their work is stolen, they not only lose income, but their reputation and creative voice can also be exploited without their knowledge.

We believe that every stitch should tell an honest story — one that celebrates creativity, not copies it. When you choose a kit that’s been ethically licensed, you’re helping to build a fairer, more sustainable creative community.

You’re also choosing clarity and quality. Licensed designs come directly from high-resolution artwork files, so the final printed image and colour placement are true to the artist’s original vision. That’s why our mock-ups look exactly like your finished stitch — because they are.

The rise of AI-generated art: where we stand

AI tools can be useful in many creative fields, but they can also cross ethical lines when used to imitate an artist’s work without permission. Using an artist’s creations to “train” an AI or asking an AI to make something “similar to” another artist’s piece is not fair use — it’s imitation without consent.

At The Stamped Stitch Club, we make a clear choice: we only work with artists who give us permission, and we never ask AI to mimic another artist’s style.

That said, a small number of our licensed artists use AI as one part of their creative process — often as a digital sketching or concept tool. The difference lies in how it’s used. These artists start with AI-generated elements as a foundation, then spend hours refining, painting over, adjusting lighting, composition, and fine details until the final image is entirely their own creation. The result is original artwork that blends modern tools with traditional artistic skill.

We believe in celebrating that balance — transparency, creativity, and respect for the craft in all its evolving forms.

Our kits are built on respect, transparency, and integrity — because your time and talent deserve better than stolen art.

How you can help

When you buy a licensed cross stitch kit, you’re making a difference. You’re standing with the artists who inspire us, the stitchers who care about quality, and the idea that creativity should always be treated with respect.

Next time you pick up a needle, you’ll know you’re stitching something genuine — and that’s something to be proud of.