A Personalized Memory Game!

I saw this in Stitched in Time craft book by Alicia Paulson.  She has a whole bunch of easy, fun projects for beginners, so I would recommend getting it if this project is about your level of sewing.  I made some changes as well as an addition to this particular one, and she doesn't have any photos or illustrations in her book except for the final product, so this is for the visual learner :).

Using the free Picasa photo software (thanks, Ann) you make a collage of 6 photos, adding space in between the photos to give you room to cut.  Alicia did hers square, but I couldn't figure out how to do that without printing each photo separately, so mine ended up being 4"X 3 1/2".  Print them on photo transfer paper, inverting the images if necessary/wanted. 

Alicia used wool felt as her center layer, but I was hesitant to use my expensive, colorful, wool felt for such a lowly role.  So, this is what I used:

Top layer:  a SMOOTH batiste (cotton), which will take the image well (I used an off-white) Iron your images to this

2nd layer:  A natural, cotton batting that is pretty dense and smooth

3rd layer:  a very stiff interfacing (not the iron-on kind)

4th layer:  facing OUT, a cotton with a small, frequently repeating pattern, or a solid color

Make sure to iron your layers flat separately before assembling

Stitch around each image, matching top thread to top layer and bobbin thread to back layer.

Start in the middle, and it's helpful if you can lower your machine to table level or have a platform you can add--or pin around the edges and in the middle.

When turning corners, keep your needle in the down position.

Using your pinking sheers (or borrow your mom's, because everyone's mom has some, right?) and cut straight down the middle first.  That will be your guide as to how much white border you will leave on ALL the sides.

Bag Tutorial

I decided such a beatuiful stack of cards needed a matching bag to keep them together when not in use, or easy to take on a trip.  

The width will be the total of the card circumference plus 1" (mine was 4 + 4 + 3 1/2 + 3 1/2 + 1 = 16")  The height will depend on how many cards you make.  You can always trim it down, so be generous.  

Fold the lengthwise in half, right sides together 1/4" on 2 sides, leaving 1/2" open (back-stitch on either side) about 1 " from the top of the bag.

Press the bottom into the side to made a triangle.  Mark a line that will measure 3 3/4" across the triangle and sew.  Repeat on other side.

Fold the top of the bag towards the inside, making sure your opening in the seam is on the right side.  Stitch around the top of the bag on either side of that opening, creating a casing for your ribbon to thread through.

Some of the photos I used were my kids' favorite toys, images of trips we've been on, cousins, grandparents, and photos that I just loved.  I have already imagined doing this project as a black and white series, or you could even let your kids in on the fun and let them take some photos.

email me if you have any questions!