Mini Paper Quilt

If you haven't noticed I have a thing for quilts. Remember the Podunk Quilt ? I also have a very special one on the our bed inside Sunny. While I haven't had the courage to tackle making my own quilt (yet), I thought it would be fun to make a tiny one out of pretty paper! Good practice, right? 
Here's how I did it:

You will need: Cutting mat, decorative paper printed on both sides (I used 5 sheets of 7"x7" scrapbook paper), one small 6"x6" canvas, ruler or other measuring tool with a straight edge, an Xacto knife, modpodge.

Using ModPodge, decoupage a 6"x6" piece of simple colored paper onto your canvas and set aside. 
We are going to cut and assemble all of the other pieces BEFORE gluing  This will allow you to test fit all of your pieces before sticking them down...like a puzzle;)

Cut a 2" x 2" square. (This will end up making up the very center of the "quilt")

Measure corner to corner (twice) cutting an X, creating 4 triangles. 

You will be flipping two opposing ones, revealing a different pattern on the back (see above).

Choosing a different patterned paper, cut four 1" x 2" rectangles. These will border your center square.

Next, from your third pattern of paper, cut four 1" x 1" squares. These will be your corner squares completing the border on your center square pattern.

From your fourth pattern paper, cut two 1" x 6" rectangles. Measure 1" in on the bottom and slice from the corner to that 1" mark on each end. This will create the trapezoid shape for two opposing sides of your final outer border. SAVE the little triangles you have trimmed off and add them to the one by one corner squares (see image below):

Cut two more 1"x 6" strips to complete your outer border. (I cheated here, and didn't cut this second set into trapezoids. I simply slid them under my other border pieces to give the illusion of a mitered edge;)

Now you can begin to glue! Start with the outer border, it makes it easier to align things and make sure they fit!

 Once you have all of your pieces glued into place, give the whole thing a coat of modpodge to create a protective coating.

 I love the way my mini paper quilt came out, it makes me smile...
Wouldn't it be cute to make a few more and hang them in a set on the wall??

Have you ever made a real quilt? Should I be as nervous as I am at the thought of it? 

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