These paper-and-fabric greetings are quick and fun to make. In fact, no sooner will you have finished one, than you'll want to make another. Use leftover scraps from other projects or slice off narrow lengths from your favourite vintage fabrics. Don't worry about frayed edges or having perfectly straight strips. The appeal of these cards is in their one-off variations of colour and texture.

You can make these cards in any size. Consider making tiny gift tags or give a set of gift-wrapped Dis-cards along with a beautiful pen to a friend who likes to write personal notes.

Finished size: 4 1/4 inches by 5 1/2 inches

What you need:
• A variety of colourful fabric scraps, enough to create several narrow 6-inch-long strips
• One blank folded card, 4 1/4 inches by 5 1/2 inches (or a 5-1/2-inch-by-8-1/2-inch piece of card stock folded in half, then creased)

Step 1
To create the strips for the card front, cut the fabric scraps in widths ranging from 1/4 inch to 1 1/2 inches. You'll need enough strips to cover the front surface of the card.

Step 2
Arrange the strips in a row, with right sides up, working from right to left, to create your design.

Step 3
When you are happy with the design, lay the open card right side up and position the first strip flush with the right-hand edge of the card. (The strip ends may extend beyond the top and bottom edges of the card, but you'll trim them later.) Stitch the strip to the card along the outer edge, backstitching at both ends to secure the stitches (Figure 1).

Step 4
Working right to left, position the next strip alongside the first, overlapping it slightly. Stitch through both strips (Figure 2). Add a third strip and continue until you reach the fold at the centre of the card.

Step 5
When you reach the card's fold line, stitch through the fabric just short of the fold line (Figure 3). This will secure the left side of the outermost piece.
Step 6
Turn the card wrong side up and trim off any stray edges with a rotary cutter and ruler, being careful not to cut the card. Fold the card in half, and with wrong side up, trim the fabric along the fold, being careful not to cut into the card (Figure 4). Stitch along the top and bottom edges of the card.

Step 7
To "quilt" your card, topstitch it with straight lines or stitch horizontal and diagonal lines, allowing them to intersect. For a stitching design that will contrast with the inside of the card, use a contrasting thread. For a design that you want to blend with the inside, use thread in a colour that matches your card. Snip thread ends close to card's surface.

Note: Change your needle after stitching card stock, as it can dull the point. Consider reserving needles to be used only for stitching cardboard or paper.

BUY THIS BOOK
Excerpted from 30 Colorful Quilt and Patchwork Projects by Denyse Schmidt with Bethany Lyttle. Copyright 2005 by Denyse Schmidt. Excerpted with permission by Chronicle Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.