Birthdays always sneak up on me. But I now have a method for the world's fastest fabric greeting card. I made this last night "watching" Henry Louis Gate's Finding Your Roots program on PBS. Maybe the birthday card will get to Nancy by May10th!
Cut 3 pieces of fabric 4" x 6." One is the decorative top piece, the second in the sandwich is the batting for which I used felt. If you want to "quilt" the top piece to the batting, do it now. Then there is the back piece that must say "Postcard."
For extra protection, sew these three pieces near the edge to secure them. I didn't. Cut and iron Wonder Under to two strips of fabric 1" x 6" and two strips 1" x 4". Fold these strips in half lengthwise and remove the backing of the WU. Place these strips of fabric tight and flat along the edges of the fabric and iron them in place. Follow the instructions on the Wonder Under and cut the strips a little long to trim to fit. To secure the bonded fabric, I went around the edge of the card both to iron and add a decorative machine stitch. To quilt further, I stitched other stars from that same decorative stitch at different spots on the postcard. Click to enlarge photos.
I then stamped Postcard to the backside and addressed the card with Fabrico pen which I heat set. (Here, addresses are covered with fabric scraps.) I pressed the stamp on carefully. It probably needs less postage since it is flat and the size of a postcard, but since I ask for hand-cancelling, I pay full letter price.
P.S. Last week I Googled the National Geographic DNA Genographic project to get my kit and it arrived yesterday. Now to find time to gather my DNA to mail it in to find where in the world I came from thousands of years ago. Should be fun. On the 15th, Material Mavens reveal their "mystery" quilts and I will show the one I just finished at that time.
P.S. Last week I Googled the National Geographic DNA Genographic project to get my kit and it arrived yesterday. Now to find time to gather my DNA to mail it in to find where in the world I came from thousands of years ago. Should be fun. On the 15th, Material Mavens reveal their "mystery" quilts and I will show the one I just finished at that time.
It's always a treat to see any postcard that you create. I treasure the one you sent me! AND, I've now learned about the National Geographic DNA Project. Can't wait to share that info with Butch, so that we can send for ours to see where in the world we came from. :-)
ReplyDeleteI am eager to mail in. It will only do my mother's line. I hope it will be so interesting that my brother(s) will do the male lineage.
DeleteNice tutorial Linda...maybe when I finish my MM Mystery quilt I will "whip up" a few
ReplyDeletefabric postcards using your fast method...always nice to have a some at the ready to send.
Oh that is a good idea. Plan ahead. Not something I am good at. However, even if you make the cards ahead, you can personalize them in the message or by simple collage elements on the front of the message side.
DeleteLinda, Nancy will LOVE this special card. I love the colors and the way you've arranged your "Happy Birthday" message. Cheers to you and Cheers to Nancy ! ss
ReplyDeleteI have to credit the cloth designers for the birthday message on the front fabric as it is the fabric purchased for the grandchildren mentioned in the last blog. I thought I was getting an alphabet, but the letters were limited to "happy birthday," but one can do a lot even with those. I added a few letters with the Fabrico pen so the message would be clear in such a small sample of cloth. Such a lively fabric it is!
DeleteOh, Linda, I love it! I love it! Can't wait for it to come. I now have all the fabric cards you and Alice have sent me on the coffee table, so that I can admire them everyday as I drink after supper coffee.
ReplyDeletePS I bought the materials to make non-sew fabric postcards, but they are just sitting there staring at me as I type.
Delightful, Linda. I still get a lift when I see the one you sent to me on my design wall. I love the idea of making up a bunch ahead of time and then personalizing them! That would definitely be doable and it would a fun challenge to see how different you could make each one, even using the same fabric for the front!
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