Guest Author - Sandy laipply

Are you looking for a quick and easy project for a last minute Mother’s Day Gift? While visiting a rubber stamp show a few weeks ago I came across a company with a unique product for papercrafters. Many of us make cards using the iris folding technique. Often these cards are too pretty to be put a way, but how does one display them? Designs by Dreamer has the answer. They sell clear acrylic covers in both 4” and 2 ½” sizes. They were displaying many different “ quilt “ patterns encased in the acrylic covers. Of course I had to have some! And I needed a pattern, too. I love real quilts, but lack the time and patience to make them myself. Being a papercrafter, I am excited when I can make a “ Paper Quilt”.

Designs by Dreamers had a wonderful display of paper quilts ranging in size from 2 ½” mini quilts to 6” quilts.
Patterns come in kits with an assortment of 4 patterns in each kit. I chose Selection One, which includes Courthouse Steps, Log Cabin, Striped Square, and Wild Goose Chase. Here is the project I made, which is Courthouse Square.




The kit includes all 4 patterns listed, as well as a template to cut a window in your cardstock for your “ quilt” to show thru. The directions are simple and easy to follow. Other supplies you will need include paper scraps cut into strips about 3” long and 1 inch wide, transparent tape, cardstock, and a ribbon for hanging. The acrylic squares have holes pre drilled in each corner. I chose to use tiny brads to connect my sandwich, and then glued small plastic flowers on top of the brads. I found the flowers in the button department of my local craft store. You could also use tiny screws and nuts from the hardware store, or any of the huge variety of decorative brads available.

After completing your design, you will need to make your sandwich. I taped a 6” piece of ribbon on the top back of my piece, and cut a piece of pink checked cardstock of the same size to back it. Remove the protective covering from the acrylic squares. Lay one of the acrylic squares over your design, and use a pencil to mark the location of the holes. Use a tiny hole punch or an awl to make holes in both pieces of cardstock. Make a sandwich of an acrylic square, the finished design, a piece of cardstock and the second acrylic square. Add your brads or screws and voila!

These tiny quilt blocks can be hung in very small spaces, and would make terrific Christmas ornaments. If both sides will be seen, I would make a second design to show on the back. This could be the same design as the front or a coordinating colored design. I would also like to make a string of these little gems. After creating my quilts, I would lay the quilts face down on my work surface, equal distances apart, lined up vertically. Next I would lay a wide ribbon down the center of all the quilts and tape it in place on each one, making a loop at the top as a holder. After completing my sandwich and attaching the squares I would have very special decoration. I think I hear my paper stash calling…….