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3/19/2017

Christmas Card Club Challenge 6 - Quilts

Hello & Welcome once again to our Christmas Card Club Challenge. This week Margaret selected our challenge theme to be Patterned Papers. Received an order from Gina Marie with a quilt die that I wanted to try, and it seemed perfect for this challenge. First time I've used a quilt die, and the piecing is just as tricky as it can be with actual fabric quilts.

My first try was in progress when I realized I'd made the card base as usual: 4.25x5.5 while the die is a 4x4. Already had the frame adhered to the card base when the light bulb went off. So had to cut some more card bases, in a square format. Another realization was it's a good idea to use double sided paper, and you don't have to cut the die but once to get the 2 patterns. Of course if one was skilled at pairing colors, more combinations would work, but since it was my first effort, I tried to stay with just 2 patterns per quilt. Ahem...onwards:

 


Gina Marie 4x4 Quilt Block stitched Flower Burst die - using 2 different pattern papers. This was the first try. Cut the die 2 times using different papers to get the 'quilt blocks'. Another tip is to keep each paper's block all together before cutting the block a 2nd time. Saves time separating the quilt pieces! Embossed the card base on this one with an EF.


The 2nd card with the same die, different arrangement of the pieces changes the design. This is also a 4.25 x 5.5 card base. Embossed the sides of this one with a border EF, trying to place the pattern of the embossing so that it overlapped correctly. Then once the sides were trimmed, the side embossing doesn't show anyway....



- This card base is 5x5 and fits the square in a more pleasing manner, I think. This time I selected a double sided pattern, which means you only need to cut the die once to get the 2 paper patterns. (If I'd given any thought before cutting at the start, I would have realized this! DUH!)

Also 5x5 card base. You can see that some of the pieces & frames of the different papers were interchanged. Outline stickers were used for the sentiment, and perhaps a larger font would show up better. I wanted the quilt to be the focus, so the small sentiment is ok with me. Another option would be to add a circle piece in the center, or a decorative button.

Aside from the rather tedious 'piecing', which I did while watching tv, this is quite a fun die to use. Thought I'd gotten the pieces inlaid quite well, but the camera picked up some flaws that the eye didn't catch. I was inspired to collect some of these quilt dies by my friend Carol L, who makes exquisite paper quilts. So thanks Carol for enabling and also telling me about Gina Marie dies!!

Please do go visit my fellow teamies, whose blog links are on the side bar. Don't forget that tomorrow will be: TA-DA: Random Generator thing-y for Blog Candy 1. So check back to see if you're a winner.

In the meantime, have a lovely Sunday. Big hugs & prayers to those in need of them.

Edit: Thanks to one of my CCC team members I'm reminded these quilts will fit into the Snippets Playground, where I have been too long absent. I didn't say in the blog, but quite a few of the bits used in the 'quilts' _were_ snippets. So I shall be linking in with Mrs. A & Parsnip at the Snippets Playground, Week 273 & 274!


55 comments:

  1. Wow, these are just fabulous Mary. Your have been so busy creating these gorgeous cards. I can see that the quilting theme gave you so much inspiration as your prolific results show that you loved working with this die.
    Lorraine

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  2. What wonderful cards Mary. Very intricate too. You must have lots of patience to put those together. Hugs Rita xxxx

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  3. I too have seen this fab die in action on Carol's blog, it's really lovely and I think also fun to use! Love all your different cards, so pleasant! The arrangement of the pieces really can give some very different looks and you shown this so well!
    Great idea cut double side cardstock to have double possibilities, so clever!
    Thanks for sharing!
    Have a lovely Sunday!
    Hugs

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  4. Fabulous Mary..so many different looks with the one die and all your different papers...perfect for the challenge xxx

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  5. I love this Mary. It has a lovely country feel and looks like a lot of fun to use. Barbxx

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  6. BEAUTIFUL cards Mary, lovely combination of colours and designs, LOVE them.
    Faith
    x

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  7. You did a great job on these cards for your first try. The papers are beautiful and your patience is amazing. I don't think I could do one, let alone four. That is confusing to me and why I don't quilt! I love how they all look different from the same die.

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  8. These are wonderful Mary! I especially like the last one. Thanks for taking us through all the steps. My MIL is a avid quilter - this would be a wonderful idea for her Christmas card next year. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  9. You're cards are gorgeous and I love quilts!
    Hugs, Sherry x
    Loose Stitches and Unraveled Threads

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  10. These are really effective Mary - and you really have far more patience than me!

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  11. These are lovely Mary, great tip about the double-sided paper, something I probably wouldn't have thought of : )

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  12. These are some really pretty Christmas Cards. It is amazing how different they all long and each one beautiful. Have a good Sunday.

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  13. Hi Mary,
    oh how wonderful are these gorgeous cards.
    Great use of paper and such very pretty designs.
    My that must have taken you ages to paper piece each one, but the effect is super.
    I always admire quilts that people make and wish I could sew straight enough to make one so to have it in paper form is wonderful because I think I could maybe do that as there is no sewing involved. lol.
    My I used to sew quite well at one time, but my fingers can't feel the needles properly now, and the old eye sight isn't too good either.
    Still I can't grumble as I can still craft which is a bonus.
    Love and big hugs from my house to yours.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  14. Fabulous quilt cards and beautiful paper piecing.
    Kath x

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  15. These cards are amazing and that last one took my breath away

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  16. Fabulous cards - I have not seen this die before - so much fun!

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  17. This looks amazing Mary, worth every minute you spent putting it all together. Love the colours xx

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  18. Oh wow Mary! This quilt die is just fabulous and you have made some amazing cards which all look so different. Incredible!! Great stuff! Hugs Christine xx

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  19. Wow, wonderful Christmas cards. Great job!
    Valerija xx

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  20. Wow, Mary, they are so elegant and gorgeous!! I love the designs!! The papers you used are fabulous!! Love these!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  21. Fabulous cards Mary, a super quilt die and lovely selection of papers.
    Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
    x

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  22. OMG Mary, fantastic cards, but look so complicated to me, brilliant paper piecing making that wonderful design, beautiful papers too, Kate x

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  23. Wow Mary, that is such a clever die and you have used it so beautifully, I love your cards, they are so elegant! I know you think I have patience but golly, you must have spent ages piecing those pieces together - it was definitely worth it though! Hugs, Anne xx

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  24. A brilliant set of cards and, great colours and papers and so glad you got to grips with it finally. The last card looks really stunning.

    Kath x

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  25. wow Mary these are amazing - I love these - what a clever die and brilliant use of them! Hugs rachel x

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  26. WOW! Mary, these are outstanding! I love all of them and they match my love for quilts too. So pretty. That die is fabulous.
    Oh, and if I'm not mistaken, yesterday was National Quilt Day - could have been the day before though.
    Lynn

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  27. This quilt die is very versatile and all the cards are very pretty Mary. The double sided paper is a great idea to cut down on cutting. The red and green colours you have used a lovely traditional Christms colours too.

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  28. Fantastic card makes Mary, must have taken age`s to piece the pattern, but really worth the effort.
    Hugs Pam x

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  29. WOW fabulous card Mary,love the intricate patterns and well worth the effort
    Carol x

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  30. You have pieced these quilts in such a pretty way, Mary! My eye wouldn't have noticed they were the same pattern. Such a difference the fitting of patterns make! I'm not a quilter but I think I feel some shopping coming on!

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  31. AHhhhhh, what a wonderful set of quilt cards you've made, and I'm envious because I don't have this particular die yet! LOL Each one is beautiful and you've done a super job of arranging designs and patterns with each card! The more you do this, the more fun you're going to have with it! The possibilities are endless! I'm especially loving the first one - it's probably the solid red embossed background with the solid green quilt pieces that looks just perfect together! Thanks for the shout out, and I hope you have tons of fun playing with this fun die again :)

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  32. Love, love, love your quilts, Mary! I have one quilt die that I don't think I've ever used, but you've inspired me to get it out! I've certainly got plenty of printed paper I could use--haha!

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  33. Awww great cards Mary, I must say the first one and last one are my fav..
    I was wondering as I was reading your post whether it would help in reassembling pieces of Die cuts, if you very lightly embossed the Die on base sheet to give you a guide.
    When I cut around Die cuts for an outline, I lightly emboss the original Die shape with no shim just embossing mat and plates. Thought this might help with this jigsaw puzzle???
    Well done on getting some more Christmas cards made too. 😊
    Thanks for sharing your inspiration!
    Shaz in Oz.x

    {Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

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  34. Very beautiful cards Mary! Very inspiring!
    Xoxo Olga

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  35. WOW Mary, these are absolutely gorgeous!!! The patterns are beautiful and the colors really stand out. Great job!
    Pam
    scrap-n-sewgranny.blogspot.com

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  36. Hi Mary, I've been away for three days and sure have been busy:)

    Loving the cards.

    You take care
    Sue

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  37. Wow they all look fab Mary. I hope it doesn't take too long to piece in the pieces, but worth the effort for sure they are lovely. Zx

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  38. Mary, these all look amazing!! Really great design for Christmas with the colors and it reminds me of a nice comfy quilt you'd want to curl up with during this time of year! :) Thanks for sharing! Hugs & Smiles - *Vicki*

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  39. I bought this die also and haven't used it as much as I would like. You've done some awesome things with it there. Beautiful Christmas cards that will bring Christmas cheer. I think there are lots of things you can do with this die. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful week!

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  40. Yes! That Carol L is quite the enabler when it comes to quilt dies. She is the reason I own mind. You idea to cut with double sided paper is BRILLIANT! and now I must try that. I like the different patterns you came up with using the different papers.

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  41. These are fantastic, Mary! I've never done one but a kind friend sent me pieces to try one! Thanks for the inspiration to do it!

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  42. Wow Mary, these look wonderful, a great way to use up oddments of papers and needing very little else to finish them....and no two need be the same. Carol x

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  43. Oh my goodness me Mary these are spectacular. I see what you mean now. I love the third design the most. I have loads of triangles you can have! Lol. Hugs Mrs A.

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  44. Warm and cozy just like blanket quilts ....Lis

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  45. Wow ... gorgeous quilted cards Mary! Love all the different combinations you've made. It's amazing how different they look from each other with just changing the patterned papers. I can image that this took a lot of time, but think of all the things you learned and passed along to us. Great tip about using double patterned papers! xx

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  46. This is so original! It looks like a real quilt to me and I love it!!
    Lia xx

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  47. Gorgeous cards Mary, love how you've clearly got into the use of them, each one becoming more adventurous. Those dies are a lovely idea, they work so well using this brief. Hugs, Shaz XxX

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  48. Hi Mary! I just happened to look at Mr Linky in detail earlier and spotted you had linked but no image was showing. I added one from your blog post and it still didn't work - BUT, when I refreshed my blog there just now, it was fine! How wonderful to see you Mary and what and amazing die this is - so many fabulous cards too. Parsnips sends one huge squishy hug - he misses you when you don't come to play :)

    Hugs

    Di xx

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  49. Wow, such a fabulous die Mary, the cards are gorgeous, suddenly I feel the need to make some kind of quilt cards too!

    Love and hugs
    Maarit

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  50. Gorgeous quilt cards, Mary. It always amazes my how one of the dies can create so many different effects just by changing the colours. I've got a couple of the MFT quilt dies, which I love, but I don't think the Gina Marie dies are available in the UK. xx

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  51. Gosh Mary, you must have some patience to do those! I especially like the last one, it looks more quilt like to me.

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  52. Wow! I love how all these came out Momma Mary!!! You have done a great job with making these quilt patterns so don't be so hard on yourself. I love them!!!! I have two quilt dies and haven't even used them yet! lol I need to know after seeing yours. That Carol enabled me with them. lol Hugs, brenda

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  53. Popping around visiting my Playground Buddies. Di has a lot of entries this month!

    Your quilting cards are fabulous what wonderful dies!

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