Twinchies are two (2) inch by two inch squares of paper (or fabric, fiber or other materials) that contain small art, collaged or hand-drawn and are often traded with other artists or crafters.
Quilting has been a long-time favorite passion. Wikipedia shares this introduction to an article on quilting: “For much of its history, quilting was primarily a practical technique to provide physical protection and insulation. However, decorative elements were often also present, and many quilts are now primarily art pieces.”
Some quilts were even listed in medieval inventories – quilting in the US during colonial times were often used as decorative pieces to showcase the fine needlework of the maker.
Have you ever looked at a quilt and wondered about the possibilities of what it might look like in paper form? Even more, in a mini quilt? Foundation piecing blocks are very transferrable to paper quilts and is a great way to use scraps you have on hand.
Combining a quilting pattern and the size of a twinchie, the mini quilt created here is a group of pieced paper blocks using one simple pattern – each block being 2 inches square.
For the same look as for this art piece, you’ll need:
Digital background paper collections from Twelve Papers
And this doodle collection for “stitching” ideas
Additional supplies include:
- Paper trimmer
- Printer
- AC cardstock
- SCAL 5 – used to create the 6 inch printable squares
- Gel pens
- Ink and blending tool (Ranger Distress Ink – Old paper was used for this project)
- Embellishments as desired. Glass hearts were used for this sample
- Mounting board or canvas to display finished blocks (optional)
- Painter’s Tape
- Mechanical pencil
- Ruler
- Craft knife
- E6000 glue
- Liquid glue (Lineco)
- Scor-Tape
Choose and print desired images for your “quilt” pieces. Print each image as a 6-inch squares. Some printers allow you to print custom size papers. If yours does not, you can print a 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock, you can use your SCAL 5 to do so. Five (5) different images were used for this modified Friendship Block pattern
For each block, cut from printed papers:
1 piece – 1 x 1 inch
1 piece – ½ x 2 inches
2 pieces – ½ x 1 ½ inches (two different patterns)
1 piece ½ x 1 inch
From white cardstock, cut a 2 x 2 inch square for each block you wish to create. 12 blocks were created for this mini quilt.
Ink the edges of the strips and square if desired for a little more vintage look.
Refer to the image below to place pieces. You’ll be working from right to left.
Following the images above, glue each of the pieces to the white cardstock 2-inch in the order shown in the pictures above to form a block. If you need to, trim any excess away so you have a 2-inch square. Ink the edges. Add any “stitching” details you desire at this point using complimentary colored gel pens. A gold and white pen were used in this project.
Make as many blocks as you would like and create a mini quilt using 9 or more blocks. The size or your mounting board is dependent on the number of quilt blocks you want in your finished project.
For this project, the mounting board is a 9 x 12 inch flat wrapped canvas. Remember, there are multiple ways of arranging your blocks. If desired, paint or cover your canvas. For this project, the canvas was left blank.
Using some painter’s tape, block out the outside borders (about 1 inch on top, bottom and sides. Arrange the blocks as desired. TIP: Do not burnish the tape, you don’t want to leave any adhesive residue unless you wish to leave the washi tape as “borders” for your quilt.
Once you have placed the blocks, you can begin using the glue, and adhere the blocks. The glue will give you some room to move the block if needed for alignment.
Once the blocks are placed and the glue has dried (allow about 2 hours), you can remove all the tape from the canvas.
Add additional stitching around the blocks if desired. Use the doodles in the 60 Decorative Borders for ideas.
Add any final embellishments which could include, add buttons, beads, pearls, ribbon, etc. as desired to complete your paper quilt. Secure with a sturdy glue. E6000 was used to adhere the glass hearts* in the 1-inch square in the center of each block.
Cut additional ½ by 3 inch pieces for the outside border of your piece. The corners are mitered, but that finish is not required. Ink the edges of the matted piece.
Sign your work – frame if desired and enjoy your new piece of art.
OR If you don’t want to mount the blocks …. a trio of blocks would look great on a slimline card as shown below. A vintage button is used in place of the glass heart and a Print and Cut sentiment is used in the block centers for two (2) if the blocks.
BONUS TIP: *Glass hearts
The imported glass hearts are approximately 5/8 inch in width and height. To add the word backing, open SCAL 5 and using heart #2 in the SCAL basic shapes library, resize to 0.625 inches. Copy and paste a heart for each of the blocks. Using a fun script font – Bride Chalk from Creative Fabrica is very similar to the font used in this sample. Using the Type tool in the software, create words to use. Size of the text was set to 0.30. Words used in this quilt were: Inspire, create, believe… etc. Set each word to Print and cut in the Style palette.
Size if needed and center one word in each heart. Once that has been completed, using the Print and Cut feature in SCAL 5, print on desired paper and then following the directions for your cutting machine, cut the heart shapes.
Using some Mod-Podge place a light coat on the back of the glass heart and place a print and cut heart with the word facing the back of the heart. Let dry. Glue to the center of your pieced block.
Thanks for stopping by and if you choose to create something similar, please feel free to share. We love to see what you create!
Be sure to check by Jan’s Author page for more inspiration or visit her blog.
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