Tutorial for Fabric Emellished Cards

Here is my best shot at a tutorial for using up fabric scraps for greeting cards.  Because I was Thinking Christmas I had lots of Christmas fabrics out and about but please keep an open mind. Scraps of anykind work. This is a link to my stop on the Ghastlies blog hop where    I show some cards, tags and bookmarks made with my Ghastlie scraps  http://selinaquilts.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-turn-on-ghastlie-blog-hop.html

I started this group with drawing a snowman, a tree and a stocking on some scrap paper.  I then photo copied them and made versions at various sizes.

I printed them out on card stock to make templates.

I ended up making cards in 2 sizes for this tutorial.  The larger cards are made using store purchased blank cards I found at a close out  in an art supply store. I know Michaels carries them.  The small cards are just made using 1/2 sheets of card stock.  The principles are the same.  The key is using a good fusible bond.  I use heavy duty Heat and Bond.   The draw back with using it is that you can't easily do hand stitching through it. The card leading this tutorial had the stitching done after all of the bond was adhered and my fingers are still unhappy with me 2 days later.

My measurement for the backing is to cut it a half inch smaller than the card face.  This gives it a nice clean 1/4 border of card stock.

I made some individual cards and some that were more of a mass produced nature.  Above is heat and bond on a single and below is heat and bond big enough for 3 blocks.

It does speed up the process considerably if you do the mass produce process.  You really only need to be creative once.  I made 8 different cards to start and they took about 15 minutes each to do.  I mass produced the next batch in under 10 minutes a piece.

Ok,  you have seen the templates they can be used on single pieces of fabric as in my snowmen

But you can make interesting fabric and get interesting outcomes

I thought that these scraps would make great trees.

Below are the finished trees from the scraps above.

You can also see an example of using one fabric and different size templates top right or just use a very cool scrap o fabric bottom right  and let it showcase itself.  The tree on the left is fused directly onto the card stock with no background as are the 3 trees top right.

 this is a really creative process way easier than quilting.  It's pretty much like applique without the neat stitches.

The stitching on the snowmen above are done with a pigma pen.  The small snowman is done using a small scrap of background.  There are no rules I am just sharing my visions .

Here is my mini mass production.  There are 3 stockings here on the heat and bond.  The background for the 3 are actually in a previous picture.

I made the cuff, heals and toes using fusible fleece just for fun.  I used a ball point pen.  I don't recomment that I just did it so you could see it in the picture, not. I have screwed up more things using a ball point but I never seem to learn that lesson.

So here are all the parts lined up for the iron

And the end result.  Really much quicker than being creative one at a time.

 

These are the smaller cards. Again mush easier to make several the same.  With the following exception

I was on such a roll I never noticed I had the card opening the wrong way.

Well I still had a few scraps left and a sheet of card stock so I set out to make some gift tags.

I just bonded the smallest tree to an edge and the straight part of the stocking  to an edge.  The stocking cuff, heal and toe are just the card stock.  I cut out those pieces before bonding

I'm hoping you can see that the tags open,  hard to photograph that concept.

So for my give away I planned on making 4 -5 cards for the winner.  Due to the tutorial I made a few more than that.  Maybe like 10 large cards and 4 small cards and 4 tags.  So I have made the executive decision to have 2 give aways.

I also made my favorite fabric envelope to hold all of the goodies.

So tomorrow evening I will have MJ pick 2 numbers and I will post the winners.

I hope this attempt at a tutuorial has helped spark some ideas with you for the use of some of your accumulated scraps.

Please go and have fun with it.

Think Christmas............easier said than done.  First I want to thank madam Samm and Lesley for all of the time and effort they are giving to us so that we can have such a great time.  Thanks also to all fo the other Hoppers, without you we wouldn't be.

Back to Think Christmas.  Way to many ideas.  Very hard to focus on any one type of project. I did get a little help from myself.  When I opened the boxes of Christmas fabric I found better than half of a Christmas sampler quilting begging to be finished. What more could I ask for, the blocks were 12 1/2 inches. I only needed 3 more to finish it up. This bear paw was the first block I attempted. I know many of you work days and quilt evenings. I do and I find there are things I should not attempt after a busy day.  One of those things is measurements off the top of my head.  This block was really simple 4 - 6 1/2 in paws = a 12 1/2 inch block, no.  Well it would if I hadn't forgotten the sashing part.

This poor guy is destine to be a Christmas Pillow.  You will not find a Bears paw in my quilt. I just didn't have what it took to make it over.

Next came my Christmas novelty print star.  This star is my go to block.  I can measure it and cut it in my sleep.

The little Scotty dog came from a block of the month at my local quild.  He was a very versitle pup depending on his coat and background.

This block was also part of a block of the month but I have no idea what it is called.  I just love the lines.

Put them all to gether with the 9 that were already done and woo hoo I have a finished top for a Christmas present for my sister. 

I don't have a lot of Christmas stuff out of the attic in july so I had to trot around my neighbor hood looking for pine trees for background shoots.  My neighbors think I'm nuts.

Next set of Christmas thoughts took me to this

I made a blue work quilt for a friend a couple of years back with these snowpeople and vowed that I would make one for me in Red work. I only managed to get 3 done for this event.

They make a nice table runner.  I'm not sure if I will end it here or put it in the Christmas box to take the place of the now finished quilt top.  Time will tell.

As a special thank you for stopping by and reading all the way to the end I am having a little giveaway.  I am making some fabric Christmas cards. I can't show them to you because they weren't done when I wrote this on Monday.  Trust me if they are not done yet they will be done by  the weekend for a drawing on the evening of August 6.

If you haven't stopped by to see the rest of the gals on todays schedule, please do.

August 2Grandmama's Stories
Sandra Kaye Designs
North Hills Quilter
Lv2sew
Quilty Doodads
Quilting in South Carolina
The Raspberry Rabbits
Charise Creates
Traveling Quilter
Nancy B at That Other Blog
Selina Quilts

From Top to Quilt

Made this top a very long time ago and put it in the "Finished Top Drawer".

A coworker asked if I could make her a couple of quilts.  She had no design or color ideas in mind so  instead of starting from scratch, I brought in the contents of "the" drawer.  This was her first choice.

This top was a real test for me.  I sew fast but not very carefully. Strips that are 1 1/2 inches wide are tough. Wiggly seams are much more noticeable.  But all in all it was a success. A good challenge for me.

I sent my quilt to Sarah Russett of Sweet Potato quilts for quilting. She is a long arm quilter in NY.  We mail quilts back and forth with no issues. She did another terrific job.

She totally captured the mood of the quilt.

If you are interested in getting in touch with Sarah her email is srussett514@yahoo.com . 

I think the back was a major winner.  It is all red stars that look like fireworks on a creamy white background.  It was a Christmas remnant at the LQS.

I delivered it this morning and she was thrilled.  She did pick 2 tops.  The other is also back from Sarah.  Will need to bind that this week.  I think it would be a good hand sewing project for the opening of the Olympics Friday night.  Go USA.

Just a Little off Track

This is Tink, she never poses for me.  She usually turns her back to the camera when she sees it coming.  It's wonderful when she is being nosey and didnt see the picture happening. She is such a sweety pie.

My self imposed plan for the week has been to finish the Giant Swoon.  Well I am almost there. I now have the 4 rows  done.  They need a good pressing and to be put together.  Then I need to border the back once I know how big I need it to be.  I do plan on being done by Sunday bedtime and having it in the mail to the quilter on Monday.

Last night was scheduled to be the pressing night.  Oops, I saw the posting about making doll cradle  quilts for the group Get Your Mrs. Claus On,  click on the button on the side bar.  Thats all it took to get me to ignore the pressing. 

They are about 12 x 18. I started them at 7ish and finished all but the hand sewing of the binding by 10:15  with only a break to take Miss Tink for a stroll. Wonderful use of stash and time.

I cross hatch quilted one and quilted the other by doing lines 1/4 inch away from all the seam lines. This was so much fun. I love to do the small quick projects that have a start, middle and end all together in under a day.  Such a great feeling of accomplishment.  Couple that with a donation to a great cause, what more could you ask for.

Can I have a Giant Swoon

Why yes I can !

This will be the back to for my King Size Swoon quilt. I did it in Red and Green so it would be reversible and Holidayish.

It still needs borders but I was too excited to wait for them for pictures. Too excited to wait for help taking the picture too.  Here is how she looks on a King Size bed.  PERFECT. By the way she currently measures in at 80 1/2  X 80 1/2.

and the Winner is.....

Judy 1522

Judy was choosen by my random number generator, Michael, as the winner of the Snowman block.
I have dropped her an email for her address.  Congratulations Judy.

Thanks to all of you for Hopping along and for the wonderful things you had to say, not just to me but to all of the participants.  And one last thank you to Madam Samm and Jane for all their hard work and time spent making this another wonderful event.

This is what...

This is what 16 finished Swoon blocks looks like.  It's really hard to show them when they aren't put together.  Actually once they are put together they won't be easy to show either.

I finished up the last one this morning.  What a great feeling of accomplishment.  This evening or maybe tomorrow i will start on the back.  My idea for the back is an 80 inch Swoon block.

Yeah, I am a little crazy. It's a king size quilt and the back was going to have to be pieced anyway so why not make it count.  I found some funky red/pink Christmas fabric and some funky Green fabric on sale at the LQS.  Found some great cream fabric with huge snowflakes for the background.  When all is said and done it should be a reversible for the holidays.  I'll keep you posted.

My Stop on the Red White and Blue Blog Hop

Happy Summer everyone and welcome to my stop on the RED WHITE and BLUE BLOG HOP.

This hop has been a great motivator.  I had 2 ideas for a small quilt this year that melded together perfectly under this red, white and blue inspired hop.

In December/January, I participated in the 12 Days of Christmas quilt along   from       http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com/      where we made a block a day for 12 days.

It was a great sampler made up of blocks that increased in number of pieces over the 12 days.  Day 1 block had 1 piece, day 12 had a 12 piece block.  At the time I thought this could work up to be a great lap size quilt for my couch.  Mean time, I had made myself a RW&B quilt top a couple of years ago that a friend asked me to complete  for her 2 months ago.  So now I needed a new RWB quilt for me. Perfect meeting of ideas.

Here is my parade of blocks for this quilt.  I had no trouble making the original 3 ½ inch blocks but my ability to convert them to larger blocks was woeful.  Some weren’t bad like the pinwheel and 4 patch, but let me tell you the X was a mini nightmare.  I finally drew the block on my yellow cutting board to actual size and then cut the pieces using the actual measurements.  

This is still a top and will probably be a top til at least next spring, my slow time, unless I send it out.  I have no issue whatsoever with leaving it a top and hanging it across the back of my couch as is.   It’s the thought that counts : }

Now while this blog hop motivated me to make this quilt, I felt like I was not working in the true spirit of the hop and that I needed to make 1 special stand alone block.

I originally made a block very similar to this one, just a bit larger to use as a wall or door hanging the Christmas after 9/11.  I quilt gifts for several friends and members of my family every year and this was the gift we all needed that year.  This redesigned one fits my table topper just perfectly.

My give away is this block. I will draw a name from the comment list on Sunday, July 15. Just let me know if you want to be in the running.

This was a great kick off to my summer.  Thanks for stopping by to visit.  Please stop by and see the rest of today’s creative contributions to the Hop.


July 10th

Tinks mom (that's me)

beaquilter

Quilted Sisca (I will Host)

sharon-dancing thru threads

Connie C

Cate`s Linens

And last but never least, thank you Jane and Madam Samm for putting this hop in motion.

A quilt for Phoenix quilts.

Spent yesterday putting this top together to be sent to Julie at Phoienix Quilts for the people who were burned out in the wildfires out west.  This group is looking to make/collect at least 750 quilts, 1 for each burned out family.  Please stop by her blog and read about what her group is doing. Maybe you could offer some help or assistance.

http://phoenixquilts.blogspot.com/2012/07/welcome-to-phoenix-quilts_07.html

Lets Celebrate the 4th

The company I work for participates in a program called summer Friday's where we work an extra half hour a day during the week and then they let us go at 1:00 on Friday.  It was way too hot here in NJ on Friday to do anything productive outside so I spent some guiltless time blog hopping through the links on http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/

What I found is   http://todaysfabulousfinds.blogspot.com/  where I found this great download designed by Janet.  She calls it Subway art and has designed them for all the seasons, most holidays, birthdays,  you get the picture.  She has them available in various colors with instructions for how to download and how to change colors using several popular software programs, all out of the goodness of her heart.

I thought this one for the 4th of July would make a great shirt for the holiday picnic. Picked the shirt up at Target's for $8.  Even if the project was a total flop( one never knows with iron on transfers ) it would be a good PJ top.

Here is a close up of the detail.  I'll wear the shirt proudly on Wednesday.

This is her birthday version.  I had to play a little with this one too.  I printed the design for the shirt at  8 1/2 x 11, the card 4x6, and the bag 5x7.

Thanks Janet,  I'm just getting started with what I can do with this art.  A wall hanging of the seasons is definitely in the wind. 

Happy 4th everyone !