Paper and Fabric Gift Holder

My daughter's birthday is coming up and she knows that one of her gifts is going to be a gift card. Since I like to surprise her, I like to change the way I present it each year. This year, I made one big enough so I can even include a small chocolate inside. If you are like me, "life is always better with chocolate".

Let me guide you through the process. You probably already have all the materials on hand, since we will use fabric scraps and a page of a magazine from the recycling bin.

In a piece of felt (no smaller than 12 inches by 5 inches) accomodate pieces of fabric on top.
Once the felt is completely covered, grab a magazine page from your recycling bin and cut freehand hearts.
With a dot of white school glue paste them on top.
Cover on top with a piece of net tulle, any color
Take it to your sewing machine and with a nice decorative thread sew on top
Cut 11 inches by 4 inches and sew a piece of string or ribbon 2 inches from the bottom edge and another piece of ribbon under the upper edge
Fold 3 1/2 inches from the bottom and sew close to the edge
This is how it looks open , can you see the chocolate behind the gift cards? Mmmm, thank goodness there are more in the box to treat me after all the sewing.
This is how it looks like when it is closed.

Home is Where the Quilt is- A Paper and Fabric Quilt

I made this piece for the Alliance for American Quilts.  The contest is called "Home is Where the Quilt Is." This quilt is donated for their fundraising efforts.  It will tour first and then be auctioned off on eBay.









 My entry:

"Quilting makes my heart blossom"







I really love the different elements of this quilt. The house-like shape with the tile-pieced roof, the colorful flowers embroidered with thick threads, the little bird singing at the top and the skirt made from an over-dyed bed sheet.

I gave it this title because I feel the happiest when I am at home quilting. Like the garden, my family blossoms when I nourish them with love.

I chose this method of construction to demonstrate that cloth and recyclable materials can be used to create and interpret your thoughts. I wanted to include paper clips from magazines, calendars and mail received by members of my household.  This is an enjoyable technique that I feel is just the beginning of a new and innovative way to do art.

ArtQuiltingStudio Magazine Article with Paper and Fabric

I've been published! My article is in Art Quilting Studio magazine and will teach you how to make these little dolls from scraps of fabric and paper so you can send "Messages of Love".
This is an easy and fast project. Best of all you get to use those leftover fabrics you have been accumulating from another projects.

Gelatin Plate:Paper and Fabric Card

I made this Paper and Fabric Card for a 25th year wedding anniversary!
Let me walk you through the process:
Spread paint on your "Gelatin Plate" and place paper cutouts on top. In this case, I cut number 2s and 5s, to use them like masks. Place a piece of fabric cloth on top.
Spread another color of paint on your "Gelatin Plate". Set aside the cutout numbers you used for masks but do not discard them.
Again place the same fabric cloth on top.
Now your fabric cloth will look more interesting with "ghost" numbers. Use glue to paste all those cutout numbers you put aside on top.
 Decide your composition, pull out another fabric cloth from your stash and start cutting out. Iron  "craft fuse", which is an interfacing with glue, to the back.
Load your sewing machine with a thick 30 weight thread and sew some details. Paste it on top of a blank card and voilá! Your card is ready to give to a loved one!