DIY projects for Valentine's starting now...

Share your love of card making, embroidery and sewing with someone you love. Includes Bonus Mug Rug option.

In honor of Valentine's Day for the next several weeks, I will be posting crafty projects here, and on Facebook, different ideas and DIY instructions to inspire your own personal sense of creativity. On Facebook be sure to check out the Free Projects and Free Designs which are linked under the Cover Page. If you finish one of the projects upload it to Facebook, as all of us love to see the crafts you are working on.

Whether you stitch this fun quilted block or simply put a favorite photo in the Oval window - the recipient will be totally delighted!

Let's get started on  this Valentine Card but first read this through in its entirety.   Bonus Mug Rug option at the end with brief instructions, included.

To make it you will need:

• A ready made trifold card

OR

• 1 strip of 7x15 light weight card stock with a card scorer, paper trimmer, oval shape punch for window

PLUS

• 1 fabric square 2.5" x 2.5"for your five sided shape
• Rectangle piece of plain muslin or white fabric, cut 1" larger than your window in length and width
• Small strips of fabrics
• Tacky glue
• Embroidery thread for shine. It's not a garment therefore strength of thread is not an issue
• Sewing machine or stitch together by hand

Step 1 : Sew, by machine or by hand, a crazy quilted fabric block slightly larger than the window of your card, if you have never sewn a crazy quilted type of block see this video. It really is easy and takes just a few minutes when you know how it is done. After watching the video use the rectangular shape of fabric as your foundation fabric. Cut your 5 sided shape from the 2.5" x 2.5" square.  Cut your strips no shorter than the length of your rectangle and vary the widths of the strips or keep them all the same width (after all it is a card!) Don't make your strip widths smaller than an inch because there is a seam allowance. You want to see the fabric's pattern. Make your CQ block per the instructions on the video.

Step 2:  The Card, look at photo below for guidance

To make your own card:

• Score vertically 5" in from each side.  
• Cut out your oval - this one is  3.5" x 5",
• Trim 1/8" off the width of left side.  (This step makes the best folding 3 panel card)

Step 3:  The Assembly, look at above card template for guidance

• Place  CQ fabric right side up on left side, trim it down if needed to fit with in the rectangle. You don't want to see the fabric sticking out of the sides of the card when it is done! Glue in Place.

Fold in left side of card. Secure left panel which is now the front of the card with either glue or add stitching as shown in the featured sample with either a sewing machine or by hand.

Variations: cut with different shape punches instead of oval, or make a mini quilt block and stitch it to the top of a two sided card, glue buttons, ribbons and other trims - limitless possibilities.

Gift card variation: If you make it as a finished quilt block, secure it with Velcro to the card, The card becomes a mug rug gift! Mug rug is your CQ fabric, additional back fabric,  batting in-between. cut all three layers to the same size to accommodate mug size allowing for a 1/4: seam allowance.

MUG RUG Gift using 2 panel card: If you make it as a finished quilt block, secure it with Velcro to the card, The card becomes a mug rug gift! Mug rug is your CQ fabric, additional back fabric,  batting in-between. cut all three layers to the same size to accommodate mug size allowing for a 1/4: seam allowance.  

Layer from top to bottom as follows: 

• Back fabric, wrong side up
• CQ fabric, right side up
• Batting

Stitch all four sides together leaving an opening along the center of one side for turning. Turn right side out, top stitch along all four sides.  Velcro to card. Soft non nubby side  is on mug rug bottom. 

Enjoy ~ Cookie


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