Christmas Keepsakes Blog Tour and Giveaway!!!

Today is my stop on the Christmas Keepsakes Blog Tour hosted by Shabby Fabrics.  This is their very first blog tour and I am so excited to be able to be a part of it!!  

Christmas Keepsakes is the new Block of the Month exclusive to Shabby Fabrics.  It is a 10 month program offered in both Laser Cut and Traditional Applique.    This  quilt measures 36" x 36" featuring 9 adorable eight inch appliqued blocks.   

As part of the hop, we were asked to play with a block or two and share our experiences of using Laser Cut Applique.   And let's just say, I love it!!!!   I got to work on the Bell and Gingerbread House blocks.  And didn't they turn out so cute!!!

So let me share with you a bit about my experience with Laser Cut Applique!!!   To start, I received two lovely packages in the mail.  Each package had a wonderful set of instructions, and when I turned them over, I shrieked!!!  Oh yes, those are all of the applique pieces already cut!!!   

I opened the package to find that not only are the pieces already perfectly cut out for you, they also have fusible web on the back of them.   So basically, I had to trim my block background to 8 1/2" square and head over to the ironing board.   So easy!!!

Using the position guide sent with the packet, I placed all of my applique onto the block.  

And then simply pressed and fused the applique in place.   So my applique was ready to stitch about 5 minutes after opening the package.   I am so loving Laser Cut Applique!!!

The Gingerbread House had a few more pieces to place so it took me maybe 8 minutes from the time I opened the packages.   I found it helpful to use a ruler to make sure my windows and doors were all aligned nice and straight.  

So with that, 15 minutes later I was ready to stitch, which is my favorite part of applique!!!  I decided to add my batting before secure stitching all my applique so that each piece would really pop.   

I opted for a blanket stitch in black.  I think the black really complemented all of these beautiful Christmas Fabrics ;)  I find secure stitching applique to be so relaxing.

And the gingerbread house was so much fun to stitch.   So many fun little pieces!!

After everything was stitched in place it was time to quilt the background.  I did a micro stipple to add lots of fun texture.  It's been a bit since I quilted something on my home machine, I was a little rusty ;)  

Then just trim the excess batting and add on all the perfect little finishes.   Buttons, ribbons, and stitching, oh my!!!   

Then a quick binding (using some of my leftover scrappy bindings :) and in a hour and a half  from start to finish, I had two adorable Christmas mini's!!!!    

The Bell!!

And the Gingerbread House!!

So ya, pretty safe to say that I am hooked on Laser-Cut Applique!!!  It takes out all of the not so fun part of applique and leaves you with the totally fun part!!!    I can't wait to do more!!

So if you want to give the Laser-Cut Applique a try, or if you want to do the Traditional Applique, here are a few more details on the quilt.  

size: 36” x 36”

sign-up cost: $10

Traditional: $14/month

Laser-cut: $17/month

US shipping: $3/month

International shipping: $7/month

10-month program

starts in January 2015

runs through October 2015

Be sure to follow along with all of the other stops along the blog hops way.   (There will be a giveaway at each stop!!!)

Monday, October 6th

Shabby Fabrics - Kick Off

Tuesday, October 7th

Paula @ The Sassy Quilter

Erin @ Stay at Home Mummy 

Karin @ Leigh Laurel Studios 

Wednesday, October 8th

Melissa @ Happy Quilting You are Here

Kristyne @ Pretty by Hand

Thursday, October 9th

Erin @ Why Not Sew? 

Caroline @ SewCanShe 

Friday, October 10th

Shabby Fabrics - Wrap Up

And let's get to that Giveaway here!!!   Shabby Fabrics is giving away a $25.00 Gift Certificate to one lucky Happy Quilting Reader!!! 

To be entered to win, Simply leave me a comment telling me what your favorite block in this adorable Christmas Keepsakes Quilt is ;)    

That's it, super easy!!  One entry per person and international entries are welcome.  The giveaway will be open until October 15th, and I will announce a winner the morning of the 16th ;)

Thanks for stopping by and have a very Happy (and Merry) Quilting Day!!