Paper Quilting With Designer Series Papers!

Hello!  Today I am sharing a few paper quilting projects I worked on this week using several collections of Stampin' Up! Designer Series Papers.  Working on these projects gave me a new appreciation for Wild Wheat - one of the 2023-2025 In Colours, to which I admit I had not previously given too much attention.  Definitely a perfect colour to include in autumnal-themed projects - and a great complement to Lost Lagoon, Pretty Peacock, Mossy Meadow, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Copper Clay, and Highland Heather - Wild Wheat patterned paper can be found in the following Designer Series Paper collections that I used in my projects:

• Thoughtful Journey 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 163303);
• Splendid Autumn 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 164173);
• Regal Winter 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 164156); and
• touches in the Meandering Meadows 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 162735).

Additional Designer Series Papers I used:

• Lost Lagoon patterned paper from Perennial Lavender 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 162593); and
• wood grain patterned paper from Country Woods 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 163393).

A string quilt is defined as a quilt made from "strings" - the "strings" being narrow strips of fabric that are attached to a foundation.  The arrangement of these strings can of course run the gamut from fairly simple to very complex.  My paper string quilt blocks are very simple and very easy to construct:  for the base (foundation) I cut a square (I used various sizes - 4", 3 1/2", and 3") from light-weight cardstock (no need to use your premium SU cardstock for these bases!) to which I glued the DSP strips that were cut in various widths.  Before adding the strips I used a ruler and pencil to mark two diagonal lines on the square connecting each corner with its diagonally opposite corner, creating four triangles within the foundation square.  The pencil lines served as guidelines when attaching the paper "strings" to each triangle of the foundation square.

I began adding the strips to one triangle, lining up the first strip with one of the two pencil lines delineating the triangle, and butting the additional strips up to the edge of the previous strip.  I attempted (not always successfully😏) in alternating the direction of the placement of the strips for each subsequent triangle. (For my sample photos my black & white patterned strips were cut from the retired Zoo Crew 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper - item 161304.)  After adding all strips I trimmed off any parts of the strips overhanging the foundation square.

I used two alternate methods for completing a few of the string blocks:

• starting the block by completely covering one of the triangles on the foundation square with a DSP triangle. I cut a square out of the desired DSP the same size as the foundation square and cut it in half diagonally - after gluing the DSP triangle to the foundation square I trimmed off the  bottom portion of the DSP triangle that was overhanging the edge of the foundation square; and

• starting the block by gluing an uneven four-sided DSP shape to the center of the foundation square and gluing the DSP strips around the shape - in this method the pencil lines are not necessary.

I got a lot of inspiration for my paper string quilting from Mary M. Hogan's book "Classic To Contemporary String Quilts - Techniques, Inspiration And 16 Projects For Strip Quilting" (Landaur Publishing - 2019).

Just a brief synopsis of the basic tools and supplies I used to complete my projects this week:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming paper and cardstock;
• stylus and scoreboard (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) - for scoring decorative lines and card fold lines - to ensure crisp folds I also burnish all folded scored lines using my Bone Folder (item 102300).  For one of the blocks I added some additional dimension by placing the block facedown in the scoreboard and scoring lines every 1/4", turning the block, still facedown, ninety degrees and scoring lines again every 1/4" to create a grid of raised lines on the front of the block;
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting and embossing;
• Paper Snips Scissors (item 103579) - these sharp little scissors are great for trimming the "overhanging" portions of DSP strips from the foundation squares;
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the paper piercer, mini spatula, and tacky putty tips are a great help for picking up and placing small die cuts (including when assembling several pieces in a die cut such as adding the "thread" to the spools) and embellishments; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755). I also used a small broad-tipped paint brush (not my best one!) to spread the glue on the DSP strips.

I used the Stampin' Brayer (item 162936) to roll over the DSP strips immediately after gluing them to the foundation squares to ensure even coverage of the liquid glue and good even adhesion of the strips to the foundation squares.

To embellish a few of the projects I used some vintage buttons from my button collection - lucky enough to have some great colour matches!

On with the projects!  

For this project I used a black frame with a 7" square back opening picked up at Dollar Tree, glass removed.  Before matting the 3 1/2" square block with the center DSP shape I embossed the block using the Changing Leaves Hybrid Embossing Folder (item 164138 - includes eight dies) to add some additional texture. 

 

Additional supplies used to complete the project:

• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 3 5/8" square, 5 1/4" square, and 5 7/8" square matting panels;
• Cajun Craze cardstock (item 119684) for the 7" square back panel; 
• Copper Clay patterned paper from the Splendid Autumn DSP for the block's center shape and 5 3/4" square matting panel; and
• Linen Thread (item 104199) to tie the knots in the centers of the two buttons.

For the base of the second project I glued a 5 1/2" x 12" wood plank over a just shy of 11" x 4 3/4" x 1 1/2" deep wood shadow box frame/tray, both of which I picked up at Dollarama.  Before gluing the shadow box frame/tray to the wood plank I covered all sides of the shadow box frame/tray with Wild Wheat check patterned paper from the Regal Winter Designer Series Paper (item 164156), using a fine grit sandpaper to distress all edges of the DSP panels.  To complete this project I used the following additional supplies:

• 9 1/4" x 3 1/4" panel of Lost Lagoon patterned paper from the Perennial Lavender Designer Series Paper (item 162593); 
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 9 3/8" x 3 3/8" matting panel  for the Perennial Lavender DSP panel, and the three 3 1/8" square matting panels for the three 3" square blocks; 
• Crafting With You dies (item 161225) to cut the scissors (blades from a scrap of silver metallic cardstock and the handles from Basic Black cardstock); the spools from Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) - edges of the spools sponged with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116); and the thread for spools from Pretty Peacock cardstock (item 150880), Wild Wheat cardstock (item 161725), Highland Heather cardstock (item 146986), and Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676); and

Crafting With You dies - 161225

• Adhesive-Backed Texture Dots (item 16338) - one small dot used for the scissor fastener.

Additional supplies used to complete this 5 1/2" square top-fold card with 4" square block with a DSP center shape:

• Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) for the card base, and 4 3/4" square inside panel matting panel;
• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the block's 4 1/4" square matting panel, and 4 1/2" square inside panel;
• Pretty Peacock cardstock (item 150880) for the block's 4 7/16" square matting panel;
• Lost Lagoon cardstock (item 133679) for the block's 4 11/16" square matting panel, and 5" square inside panel matting panel; and
• Linen Thread (item 104199) for the bow tied through the button - center knot secured with a tiny dab of Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

Additional supplies used to complete this 4 3/4" square top-fold card with 4" square block with one DSP triangle:

• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the card base, and block's 4 1/8" square matting panel;
• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the block's 4 1/4" square matting panel, and the card's 4" square inside panel;
• Copper Clay 3/8" Textured Ribbon (item 161629 - currently available on the Clearance Rack) - I wrapped a small length of this ribbon around the block after I had added the Basic Black cardstock matting panel, using double-sided tape (Tear & Tape Adhesive - item 154031) to secure the ribbon, and slightly pulling the edges of the ribbon to slightly fray the ends; and
• Basic Black baker's twine from Baker's Twine Essentials Pack (item 155475) for the bow tied through the button.

Additional supplies to complete this 5" square top-fold card with 3 1/2" square block for which DSP strips were used to fill all triangles on foundation square:

• Cajun Craze cardstock (item 119684) for the card base;
• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the block's 3 5/8" square and 4 1/2" square matting panels; and the card's 4" square inside panel;
• Copper Clay cardstock (item 161721) for the block's 3 3/4" square matting panel;
• Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) for the block's 3 7/8" square matting panel; and the card's inside panel's 4 1/8" square matting panel;
• Pretty Peacock patterned paper from the Thoughtful Journey DSP for the block's 4 3/8" square matting panel; and
• Copper Clay 3/8" Textured Ribbon (item 161629 - currently available on the Clearance Rack) for the bow tied around the block after all matting panels added.

And finally . . .

Additional supplies used to complete this 3 1/2" top-fold card with 3" square block with one DSP triangle:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 3 1/8" square matting panel - edges scraped with the blade of my craft knife; and
• Linen Thread (item 104199) for the bow tied through the button - knotted ends secured with tiny dabs of Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had a lot of fun working on my paper quilting projects and hope you may be inspired to work on a few paper quilting projects of your own!

Unfortunately Stampin' Up! advises that the following supplies I used for my projects this week are not currently available but I have included the date Stampin' Up! expects each to again be available for ordering:

• Changing Leaves dies and Hybrid Embossing Folder (item 164138) - order availability date has been extended to the week of October 7, 2024; and
• Linen Thread (item 104199) - the week of October 28, 2024.

The good news is that the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - is finally back in stock!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin' Up! products I have used in my projects, and you live in Canada and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please do not hesitate to visit my online store found on my website https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/ at your convenience, or simply click under the "Shop With Me" tab on the right sidebar of my blog, which will take you directly to my website and online store.  I very much appreciate your business, and if you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me (lmccoyarchie@gmail.com) - I would be very pleased to be your demonstrator!  The digital version of the May 2024-April 2025 Annual Catalogue is available for you to access at your convenience on my website (https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/) - as is the digital version of the September-December 2024 Mini Catalogue, and the digital only September 2024 Scrapbooking Brochure - the companion brochure to the Mini Catalogue. When visiting my online store don't forget to check out all the products now available as Online Exclusives, and the great deals on the Clearance Rack!  More products were added to the Clearance Rack earlier this week - including the retired Copper Clay 3/8" Textured Ribbon!  Items on the Clearance Rack are only available while supplies last, and quite a few of the items added earlier this week have already sold out!

Have fun creating!

Laurel

*It has come to my attention that quite often email correspondence from me is delivered to the recipient's spam or junk mail folder - if you have corresponded with me I have replied so be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder!  Thank you!! 

Tough decision to make - succumb to the siren call of the nap or go in search of treats?