Scrap Swaps

I don't think I will ever use all of my scraps. So while linking around Blog Land I found SwapDex. SwapDex is a list of swaps happening around Blog Land. It gives you a little information about a swap and a link to go to the blog post about the swap. They have swaps for everything.

So on my first night of checking out SwapDex what did I find? a SCRAP SWAP!!! All things considering this is right up my alley. I am participating in {tidbits} Scrappy Fabric Swap. For this swap I am sending 3 people each 10 - 15 scraps from my stash. They will make something for me out of those scraps and send it back to me. In return each of those 3 people will send me 10 - 15 scraps from their stash and I will make something and send it back to them.

Today I am getting my scraps ready to mail tomorrow. I am excited to see what I get and what I can create with it. I should be receiving my scraps sometime before Halloween and I have to mail them back around Thanksgiving. I will post pictures as I go.

When Life Gives You Scraps...

Make something! Another great way to use up some of your little scraps is to make art quilts, post cards, gift cards or ATC's. ( Artist Trading Cards)

There are books out on how to make fabric postcards. They can be mailed just like a regular postcard or in a clear envie. They do need to be hand cancelled though. It is pretty easy to make one. Here are a few basics. The size is usually around 4" x 5", measure a post card you already have or if using a clear envie make it to fit the envie. The back should be white, cream or muslin, easier to write on. The front mini art quilt whatever you like. A piece of thin batting in the middle and zigzag stitch the edges. Lightly quilt if desired.

To make a gift card is way easy. First you need a piece of card stock 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", fold card stock in half so the card is now 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". Make a small patch work to fit the card front. I have seen everything from small paper pieced works to a theme print boarded out. Them secure it to your card front, either sew it directly to the card with your machine or hand stitch it on.

An ATC is the size of a baseball card, a small art quilt, usually embellished, and has some batting in the middle. You can also frame them if you like. I have seen swaps where they have a theme, you create your ATC based on that, one for everyone in the group and the hostess trades them out. Some store them in baseball card binders or mini albums out for display.

When All Else Fails...

Give it away!

I am putting together the prizes from the contest I held at the end of August. So far each of the 4 participants will receive 1 half yard, 2 traditional quarter yards and 4 fat quarters. It may increase though, I am aiming for 3 yards total. Each pile is a hodge podge collection from my stash that I haven't used yet. I am planning on mailing 2 prizes this weekend and delivering the other 2 next week.

Another place to give away fabric is to your local philanthropy group, check with your local quilt guild or quilt shop. I am giving to Manteca Quilters, my guild. They make cute quilts out of 6" squares and then use the 3" x 6" rectangles to make variation of Chinese Coins. I have been cutting excess fabric into these two groupings to be delivered this week.

I am also revisiting my Mod Quad quilt this next week. Look for a new varation on that soon!

And The Winner IS...

All 4 who left a comment! I decided since I have A LOT of Stash and Scrap to Eliminate the everyone will be a winner.

So with that the winners will be receiving a prize from me in the next 2 weeks. I will be contacting each of you to find out colors you would like you prize in. After I know that all packages have been received I will post here what they won. Most likely around the beginning of October.

Thank you all for sharing your ideas on Scrap Elimination!

Side note, Scott's laptop would not let me log in yesterday to post this on the first.

Extra Quilt Batting

After you sandwich your quilt what the heck do you do with that Extra Quilt Batting (EQB) you trim off??? Don't toss it out!!! I have a few uses for it!

Okay the first one is a no brainer, I sandwich it between two pieces of muslin to practice my free motion quilting. I also have used a piece from the back of my quilt, sandwich my extra batting and do some test run quilt on it before I start my quilt. This way I make sure my tension is set correctly and that my thread is a good choice.

Next, some of my pieces are big enough to hang onto for a wall hanging or a small baby quilt. I have even piece 2 extra pieces together to do a baby quilt. I have also made Poop a little book from a panel, it called for a yard of batting. Not me I had EQB for the whole thing!

A fun one that I enjoy is the base for a quilted purse/bag. That fusible stuff is $6 to $8 a yard. Use your EQB, a little quilt basting spray and you are in business!

I made a bag last night that had batting in the straps. I pulled out the box of EQB, the piece in the perfect size just waiting for me on top of the stack.

The Promises Surprise!

So I am having a little contest. It will start today. All you have to do is leave a comment on what you do with your scraps! Weather it is fabric, paper or any other hobby that has scraps.

I will leave this open for one week. Everyone that post a comment will be put into my drawing for a fun prize! I will hold the drawing on September 1st! So lets hear those ideas!

Scrap Gift Tags!

Okay now that you have used your old paper to make some fabulous boxes, what do you put in them? How about some cute little scrap gift cards.

I used Christmas paper to make my box and I had an extra piece of the paper to make my cards. My cards simply say To and From on the inside. Everyone need gift tags round the holidays. Great little gift to have on hand.

My card base is Card stock that I cut at 3" x 6". One Sheet of 12" x 12" card stock will make you 6 cards. I folded my card base in half, now 3" x 3". I used my circle scallop punch for the card stock backing on my image. Stamped my image on white card stock and punched with a circle punch. If you need them to tie to your package punch a small hole in the corner and thread through a piece of floss or ribbon.

Picture is coming.