Grateful Quilt Layout with Changing Seasons Kits

This post is a story about using a main and junior kit together which truly worked in perfect harmony! It is also a story about moving out of my mixed media comfort zone into the totally new (for me) zone of using cut files and absolutely no paint- not a drop!  Here is the cut file I used!

It could be an actual quilt pattern...and it gave me a new appreciation of the talent (and patience) that quilters have! Backing this file with patterned papers took me through about 3 consecutive episodes of watching my shows on Amazon Prime...but it was totally relaxing! This cut file is exclusively available in the Changing Seasons kit right now but will be for sale a la carte at My Crafty Corner on Etsy when the class is no longer available. 

I'm not gonna lie- it did occur to me that I could machine or hand stitch the entire quilt pattern. As you can see, I decided against it. I am not sure that my sanity would have been able to withstand that endeavor. 

The die cut embellishments (you get 3 packs!) in the Changing Seasons Junior kit are so cute and the colors work so well with the papers in either kit! My favorite is the pack of vellum leaves! 

Here are more close ups!

Of course- there are things I learned in the process of backing this file that I would do better next time and I will share them with you so you can think about your design in a smarter way than I did!

1. Choose 3-4 patterned papers and vary the scale of the pattern also. I talked to my friend who is a quilter and she says that when choosing fabric she likes to do this and also to choose at least one fabric in a color that has strong contrast against the other patterns. So applying this to the paper patterns sounds good!

2. Be symmetrical: In this "quilt" there is a pattern in each of the 3 rows and columns. Try to back each one of those rows and columns in a way that is congruent or mirror images on each side. I was symmetrical by rows (horizontally) but by columns (vertically) not so much.
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3. Once you have backed your cut file, most of the layout is done! Do not overdo the embellishments because the quilted pattern will move the viewers eye all around the page with lots of interest minimizing the need for more stuff! 

For finishing touches, I varied the height of the embellishment clusters with foam tape and added some random copper metallic thread messy knots to the page! I had printed my photo in black and white but used an iOS app called Color Pop  to recolor just the boys' pumpkins to emphasize the memory in the photo. This app is available for Android also.  

I hope you enjoyed this post and layout! I'll see you again soon!
​-xGia