Free card tutorial!

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... 

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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!)

     This is a few that I didn't end up using. As you can see, they are all different shapes of hearts! 

     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.

     One last tip: when you are ironing the fusible web to the back of your mini quilt to attach to card stock, it helps to use a thick towel so the button has somewhere to go. I actually stacked two buttons, so it was pretty thick, and this trick helps a lot! Mine doesn't have card stock yet in the photos, it's much harder to get them flat enough for a photo after, since the card pops open a bit!

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

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