Grab Your Gun and Glue and Let's Go!

This week is my blogiversary! Happy #2 to me!
Unfortunately I have been a

bit under the weather with the flu (yuk) and I wasn't able

 to get a giveaway together in time.

So I thought I would do a little discriptive tutorial for you

instead.

But I am only a few posts away from the big 300, so a giveaway will

be happening by the first of the month! Stay tuned!

I made up a  Applique Work Station

that has a dual purpose.

The backside has a surface to trace on and a fine sandpaper surface for a

applique drawing area. The top side is a

pressing area for starch applique.

This might be useful to you when you attend a class or even in your sewing room.

The total cost for this project was under $5.

 

 Here is what you need:

1  12" square of plywood from the lumber store

(they had a scrap at the lumber store that they cut and gave me for FREE)

1 fat quarter of fabric/from stash

1/3 yd of laminated fabric/purchased

scrap of batting/from stash

1 sheet of very fine sandpaper/purchased

a staple gun

2 velcro self adhering circles/from stash

spray glue

 This is the finished top side of my original pressing board.

 This is the back side of the board. A smooth surface and it covers your

sandpaper surface used for drawing out your applique pieces.

Now, to start the project:

 I used 2 pieces of batting.

Cut one 12" square.

Cut the second one 13" square.

I sprayed glue on the board and then placed the

 12" square on top of my board. Then

place the larger piece of batting on top of that so that the sides go over the edges of the board.

No need to spray glue to make the second piece of batting to stick. It will stay in place.

Next:

Cut your fat quarter of fabric into an 18" square.

With the wrong side up, place the board, batting side down facing the fabric.

Fold the edges over nicely to the backside of your board and staple in place.

The folding is a little tricky. I folded the fabric in at the side of the board and

then folded over to the back.

Make sure it is pulled nice and tight for a smooth surface on top.

(if you prefer, you could always glue it in place... either way works fine)

(this pic is of the new board we are working on)

Cut a piece of the laminated fabric 13" by 12".

Place at the top of your board.

(determine what will be your top of the board by

placing the sandpaper on the back of the board and

make sure which way it covers the fabric best)

Fold under 1" and staple in place along the top edge.

I used a paper

crafting knife to give the laminated fabric

 a creased edge at the top..

Next you will position the velcro circles that hold the laminated fabric in place.

Lay the laminated fabric back over to determine exactly

where you will be placing the velcro circles,nearest the bottom corners of the board.

Well, since they are white you can't really make them out.

But you get the idea.

The last thing you need to do is to cover the fabric on the back of your board by

placing the sheet of sandpaper over it.

Spray glue on the back side of the sandpaper and quickly center it on

the back of your board.

 

There you go! It's light, functional and travels well!

Come back for my 300th post giveaway!