Note cards from fabric scrap collage

Those of us who sew and quilt know about fabric scrap piles.  They build up on the side of the cutting table where, after eventually toppling on to the floor, they are removed to some other safe place where we save them in case we will find a way to use them. But how many of those scraps do we actually use? Or are they out-of-sight, out-of-mind until at our ultimate demise, our cursing children throw them out??  

Spare your children!  Use up your scraps!

In the spirit of winter-time tidying up with new resolutions, here is one thing I have learned to do with my scraps, thus reducing my pile and making a cleaner studio.

Collage your fabric scraps into note cards.

I love writing hand written notes to people (rather than email or text) because it is personal but if I have to admit, it is also because they are mini art projects each time I write selecting the envelope to match and the ink color. I get most of my envelopes from Paper Presentation on-line.

I cut card stock paper to fit within the chosen envelope size. I allow 1/4″ to 1/2″ space around the edges. I use a folding tool for making a nice smooth crease on folded cards. The handle of a pair of scissors works too. I save my worn out fabric cutting blades to use just for paper. My old cutting mats get used up with these sorts of projects too. NOTE: the scraps of paper make great book marks collaged the same way!

A collage can be an assemblance of any colors but I like to stick to no more than 3 predominate shades, ideally 2 “colors” and 1 neutralized shade.

With the above collage,

1. I laid cut-outs of the fabric on top of a piece of sticky fusible web.
2. I then placed the assembled design onto my silicone ironing mat [or you could use pressing paper]. I covered the design with one side of the mat pulled over it then pressed it until all was stuck onto the mat. I let it cool.
3. I peeled the assembled fused piece, trimmed it to fit the card then centered it on the card. I covered this again with the silicone mat or pressing paper and ironed it with no steam until the fuse had melted and it was secure on the card. Remove mat or paper when cool.

With the above collage,

1. I assembled all my fabric cuts onto sticky fusible web.
2. I additionally I placed the circle onto sticky fusible web then cut it out and placed it over the other collage.
3. I placed the assembled pieces onto my silicone mat and placed another piece of fusible web (not sticky this time) on top of it. I did this to give the final piece a semi-gloss finish.
4. I pulled the edge over the entire package and ironed on cotton setting with no steam until the upper fuse had melted. I let it cool.
5. I peeled the assembled fused piece, trimmed it to fit the card then centered it on the card. I covered this again with the silicone mat or pressing paper and ironed it with no steam until the fuse had melted and it was secure on the card. Remove mat or paper when cool.

With the above collage,

1. I fused my first two pieces of fabric on the silicone mat as in previous collages.
2. I fused the accent burgundy piece alone in the same way then trimmed it when cool.
3. I fused the two pieces together on the mat like above and let cool.
4. I peeled the assembled fused piece, trimmed it to fit the card then centered it on the card. I covered this again with the silicone mat or pressing paper and ironed it with no steam until the fuse had melted and it was secure on the card. Remove mat or paper when cool.

VOILA!

Please leave a comment and let me know what you have done in your own studio!