Quilt Cards

You are right Mary it had been so much fun getting all the extra cards this month, It's like it's Christmas every few days. I really enjoyed all the cards.

It's been so fun getting the *extra* cards this month. Great suggestion Ann!

Heather, your cards look great - you found some really cute prints.

I hadn't updated the photo album in a while so I added all the new cards (I hope I didn't miss any!). Click the link below and take a look at all the fun postcards we've created this year!

Quilt Cards Album

Going in the mail tomorrow! Here's a preview.

Today's mail brought two more cards - the one above from Nancy and the one below from Debbie. Thank you both - I love them!

I'm getting an early start on January's card and am really happy with how this one turned out. I used perle cotton to stitch some texture into the *snow*.

I also played around some with iron on crystals and embroidering 2009 but I'm not so happy with these - we'll have to see if I can improve on these.

I got 2 more today...this one from Nancy...thanks Nancy.And this one from Mary Ann..thanks, Mary Ann.

They are both great!  Happy New year to you all.

It looks like Mary Ann has been busy! I'm going to try and work a little on my snowflake today before cooking dinner.

Those are very cute Nancy and Ashley! I got one from Mary Ann in the mail today - snowmen and snowflakes - very cute!

I wanted to make a beaded snowflake for my January card so I took a few photos to show you how I make mine Ashley.

First I find a simple drawing. This is an embroidered snowflake but I can use beads instead of thread.

The supplies I need are small eyed needles, I use quilting betweens, some beads - I used a tube that has different size beads...bought at Joann's (or Michaels), some thread. You can use beading thread show in the bobbin (at Micheals or Joann's) or you can use Hand Quilting thread - don't use regular thread because it's not strong enough. I also use a piece of batting as my work surface to keep the beads from rolling around.

I wanted the snowflake against a blue background but wanted some snow on the ground too so I made my background with some white at the bottom.
I drew some lines on my blue background to follow. I used a Clover white marking pen that shows up on dark fabric. These marks will disappear with steam if I don't cover them up completely.

Make a knot in your thread and come up where you want to place your first bead.

Use your needle to scoop up your bead - it's easier than trying to use your fingers to put it on the needle. Then you're going to go down with your needle --- the space between where you came up and go down should be the width of the bead you're using. This will be easier to do as you practice.

Here I'm going around to create a little inner circle like on my drawing (see first photo).
Now my circle is done and next I'm going to use small white beads and sew them right along my line.

Starting in the center of the circle and sewing one bead at a time, I'm adding the white beads right along the line.

Remember the space between where you come up with your thread and go down should be the same as the width of the bead.

Keep adding the beads in a straight line.

If the bead doesn't lay just right like the one below.
You can nudge it with your needle and pull the thread a little tighter before adding the next bead.

Here's my first line finished. I added a big bead on the end and some of the longer beads to the side like my drawing had.

Here I'm finishing up the second line - I went through the big beads on the end twice to hold them more securely.
Here I'm adding the longer beads - notice I'm leaving a wider space here between where my needle comes up and where it goes down - equal to the width of the bead I'm using.
And here are two of my lines beaded. You'll notice that I didn't get the beads perfectly straight...it takes practice and I'm certainly not perfect!

You can also use beads to fill in centers of flowers or in other applique cards like we have - they can be an accent or you can make the whole design beaded.

I hope this helps Ashley, let me know if you have any questions.

Mary

How do you put the beads on the cards? All of your cards look really good. I`d like to make one.
Thanks Ashley

Travis and Georgina left today.  It was good to see them.  But we're happy to be back to normal too.  It has been a busy month. 

Can't believe this year is almost over...hopefully for the 'PA' McLaughlin's it'll be a better year.

I got your snowman! He is too cute! Great job!

Mom's card was here when I arrived home and Ann's came today. I love both of them. Can you believe that this was the first ribbon embroidery Mom has ever done??

I got your card today and it is beautiful!  Love the beading!  It was great seeing you and the rest of the bunch this past weekend!

Mary and Aunt Rae, Thanks for my cards. They are great! I am planning on working on my cards one night this week or over the weekend (next weekend!). I bought all my fabric and they will be simple but cute (hopefully)!

Oh, I got the snowman from Aunt Rae. She posted the card earlier. And little christmas trees from Mary. My printer/scanner is getting fixed, so I can't post pics...sorry.

Mary I got your card today. Thank you , the tree is really cute. Such pretty fabric.

I mailed my December Post Cards today so everyone should be getting one soon. I posted pictures earlier.

Since sending cards to everyone was an option for December, I got mine done and they're already in the mail. I posted photos earlier - I made 4 different version...you'll have to wait to see which version arrives in your mail!

Well, it's December already!  Mary reminded me to post the exchange list for the month.  Again, with all that is going on with Uncle John's family...if you need to skip this month, please don't worry. We all understand.  Here is the list.