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Quilted Postcards - have you made them or used them?

16 years ago

Has anyone ever made quilted post cards? I have seen the patterns but wondered about making them - and what exactly can you do with them??? do you write a message with permanent markers? and how do you mail them???? The patterns I have seen are all very pretty but not sure whether it would be a waste of time.

Thanks :)

Sue

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Comments (17)

grammyp
16 years ago
I have made some but only mailed one. I write a message in permanant marker, then put a piece of freezer paper on the back and zigzag around the edge to attach it. I put the address on this and mailed it. I think it went to Red, but I do remember it arrived just fine.

beverly
allycaz9
16 years ago
Funny you should ask - ha ha. I have bought three books over the past year on the technique, but for some reason haven't tried one yet!
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redpenny
16 years ago
Yes it arrived great Beverly and I kept it it's here somewere......I also made them thanks to Beverly.....I made Christmas postcards and emboridered ornaments and added them to my postcards they all arrived safe.
Red
User
16 years ago
I've made a few fabric postcards using the tutorial below. The first one I did was sent to my nephew for his 12th birthday and he was so impressed he took it to school for "The Board." My sister and I assumed this was a place of honor, so I was very pleased.

I developed a template in my MS Publisher program for the back so there's no writing involved in mine. I print out my message and address directly onto the fabric backing.

They travel through the mail perfectly. So far.

Dianne

Here is a link that might be useful: Red Shoe Ramblings Fabric Poastcard Tutorial
Rene54
16 years ago
Oh Yes, I have made dozens, and mailed them. Most of the time they are embelished a lot, so I make an envelope to mail them in. Rene
P.S. the ones I don't like I cut up and make" inchies". They are little 1 1/2 in squares that you decorate, and often trade. Just another way of sharing our passion for quilting.
idahoqltr
16 years ago
I have participated in two swaps. This is one set that I made.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wizard of Oz swap
toolgranny
16 years ago
Wow. Do I see a "lesson" coming up for next year, Rene? Or even a swap once we know what we're doing? Any volunteers? I could see a postcard swap being fun. I'd participate, even host one, if I could learn how to do it.
Linda
patruth
16 years ago
I have been trying to make a birthday greeting card to go in my birthday block swap. I haven't made any to mail separately. I try to stick to the color and theme of the block as requested by the birthday person. So far I have had good comments and they are usually fun to make but time consuming. If you were already late with their block you probably wouldn't bother making a card. Pat
maryliz
16 years ago
I have not made any quilted postcards, nor have I seen any in person. Just in pictures.

Nearly 20 years ago, when I was a college student, I made a series of unusual postcards to send to friends. (I actually mailed them.) Mostly paper collage on cardstock. My favorite was made with clear contact paper. I pressed yarn to the sticky side. The yarn was variegated bright pink, and thick & thin. Can you imagine that from my description? After the yarn, I pressed SESAME SEEDS onto the contact paper. The brown and pink looked very nice together. I wrapped the seed-encrusted contact paper around cardstock, then attached another layer of cardstock to cover up the raw edges of the contact paper.

It's amazing what can go through the mail without incident.
new2quilting
16 years ago
I took a fabric greetings class at Quilt U. Here are a couple I made (I was still learning to use my zigzag stitch!):

Cupcake:

Balloons:

They're fun. A swap would be good, but they do take a while, so maybe a direct swap with just one partner to start. --Amy
toolgranny
16 years ago
How about one of you do a lesson, I'll manage a swap, and each person send me one card labeled with name, a litle about yourself, maybe why you chose design, etc. I'll put them in a bin, draw them out and send each of you one back, not your own.

But, first I need to learn how to make the darn things. Anyone else game??
Linda
cannahavana
16 years ago
I made some about a year ago while participating in a swap that had a daylily theme. I have them around here somewhere. They are neat to make!

Diane, I nearly posted a link to the same tutorial that you posted. It is a hoot to read!
new2quilting
16 years ago
Dianne's link is the same one I was going to post, too. It seems to be one of the better ones. I'm just learning this, so I wouldn't feel comfortable teaching a class just yet. But doing a swap would be fun.

Linda, you wouldn't even have to deal with the postcards, just swap addresses (like for Red's surprise your partner Christmas swap) and then each person could send directly to their partner. The postcards can be mailed without envelopes and should be taken to the post office and hand cancelled (with a letter stamp, 41 cents at the moment), but sometimes they want more for embellishments, etc. That would be a hassle for you to mail them all. Much easier for the swappers to just send them directly.

Maybe a New Year's swap? I just think I'd be too booked up before Christmas. -_Amy
nana24
16 years ago
I have not mailed any but I have made a few. There was a class at our LQS and there were some examples posted. I just tried them on my own.

I started several by printing on fabric "When life gives you scraps make quilts." Then I generally crazy quilted around them. The pink one with Happy Birthday was just stitched on the machine. It is in a clear envelope given to me by my DD who makes cards and other paper things. It would work to mail cards with embellishments that might otherwise get caught on something in the mail.

Sally
nana24
16 years ago
These are a little closer view.

Sally
toolgranny
16 years ago
It's a plan! Let's do a swap in January. Everyone can send me their details and I'll circulate back to you a partner secretly. I'd make each receiver different from senders so you aren't swapping with same person sending to you. Surely by January I can figure out how to make something.

Don't panic now. Just brush up on it and I'll send out a thread first of the year. Okay?
Linda
polardream
Original Author
16 years ago
wow! Ask and you shall receive ... thank you everyone for the pictures and directions! They are awesome and I think I am going to give these a try. I noticed there is another thread started about this now too.

Dianne, love your directions! I especially like the optional equipment required to construct the postcards ;)

Sue

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