Happy Valentine's Day! As a thank you for choosing to follow me, I made a little heart/flower card tutorial for you. I also realized that today was supposed to be the last day for the sale on my new card templates, but I have been forgetting to mention it, so I'm extending it through Saturday, Feb. 18! (Buy two card kits or three printed patterns and get the new acrylic card template free. Photo  below, no code necessary)
     I've been up to my neck in some really fun stuff that's coming, but it makes me forget to stay in touch now! I'm moving my classes over to a new platform (nothing will change for students yet, and we'll give you plenty of time and overlap between the two when we make the switch. But I promise it will be worth it!) I have also had an idea brewing for another big thing, stay tuned! Hmm... 

Heart/Flower greeting card tutorial
     Did you notice that all of the applique pieces are heart shaped, even the leaves? I happened to have not only fabric with fusible web on it, but even some already cut into hearts. But in case you don't routinely find things like this in your sewing room like I do, either trace several hearts onto the paper side of fusible web, OR, put fusible web on the back of your fabric and cut them freehand. Mine were anywhere from 1" to 2". It's not only ok if they are all different, I think it's better! I used 8 of them for the flower, but anywhere from 5-12 would work. If you use 10-12, I'd maybe do an outer and inner row of them. (I'd love to see if if you try that!)

     Next, cut two more, mine are a little larger, for the leaves. Then cut a background piece, batting, and a backing layer, 5 x 6" each. (I use interfacing for backing, but fabric works as well). Stack them with the background on top and interfacing/backing on the bottom. You can quilt the background now if you'd like, I usually wait until after the appliques are on. 
     Peel the paper off of the hearts, arrange them on your background fabric and fuse them down. OK if the center has a gap, it will be covered by the button. The background just needs to have contrast. I used one fabric, but it could be pieced or collaged as well! Just make sure it doesn't interfere with the flower. 
     Then add some stitching around the petals and leaves. I used the free motion foot, and I stitched through all of the layers like I usually do. Then quilt the background if you haven't, I used parallel but wiggly lines.
     Trim it down to 4" x 5 1/4" (or use the handy template!). Cut binding pieces about 5 1/2" x 1 1/4". See my youtube video here for how to apply it. Add your button, and glue your mini quilt to card stock, which is also covered in the video.

     That's it, I hope you have a great day and enjoy this fun little project! Beret

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I had so much fun with the Talkeetna ladies last weekend! They were adventurous quilters, which is a little bit necessary for my classes/projects 😂 They did wall hangings and journal covers, and did great with both! One star student even brought me an apple. 😊And The Patchwork Moose is such a nice shop. These were the first two classes in their brand new classroom!
Online classes
I'm working on transferring my online classes to a new platform that is SOOO much nicer than trying to make my website do something it wasn't intended to. Nothing will change for awhile if you are in one, but I'm giving you a heads up that it's coming, hopefully in a few weeks. We can keep both going for awhile too for people to transition over. With this platform ONE SIGN IN gets you into all of my classes that you have signed up for, yay! And it's so much prettier and easier to navigate, and even has its own community option. Still trying to decide how best to use that one... students only, open to anyone, a membership? I don't have to choose just one, so we'll see. The class lessons also have a comments option to make it easier to ask questions, so that might take the place of the student community. 
New Product! And sale in its honor 😀
I am so excited about this one, I've been wanting to do it for years! I have these for myself, but I had not found a good way to manufacture them for you, until now! They are clear acrylic templates for my greeting cards. If you make more than one or two of these, it's so worth having! You can see through it to choose the best spot to trim them down. And of course you can use it for your own designs as well! (They come with a paper backing, which is why it looks brown in the first photo)
They are only $6, but from now through Valentine's Day, you can get one free with the purchase of any two card kits or three printed patterns! No code needed. I think we're up to 12 different card kit designs! And almost that many pattern only designs also, with more coming, whew! 
Click here to see them all better than the fuzzy photos below 😛 Templates on that page also if you just want to order one. 
Happy Sewing! Beret