Star Quilts Into Wall Art

Years ago I went through a little Americana fixation. 

It all began with this quilt made by my super Mother-In-Law.

She made the quilt for my son to match his nursery. 

The night I went into unexpected labor a month early,

I was roaming the aisles of Home Depot looking for a dowel

to hang my beloved star wall hanging in the perfect spot in his nursery.

I had some serious "nesting" urges going on! 

I love how the squares are off just a little and the stars are scattered across. 

 Looking closely you see the quilt pattern of how it all fits together. 

Quilt patterns are so intriguing. 

It's the same pieces, but with different fabric and rotated. 

I've vowed that one day I'll learn to quilt! :)

For a while now I've wanted to try the same pattern

with wood for a wall hanging for my son's "older" room. 

I traced the pattern onto some mdf scraps and I used the scroll saw to cut.

It's so easy to use, it reminds me of a sewing machine. 

Nicole is really the master on this thing.

I am definitely an amateur... but practice makes perfect!

If you are careful and go slowly, you could easily do this with your jig saw.

I traced each piece onto scrapbook paper and cut it out.

I tried something I have never done. 

 I couldn't find my glue or mod podge, so I used my Gorilla Glue Wood Glue. 

I do have to say it worked really well, especially with the thick heavy scrapbook paper. 

Gluing scrapbook paper to wood surfaces is hard

because you have to make sure you have a really thin

layer of glue so that the paper won't buckle.

 I smoothed it out with my fingers to make it nice and even,

and it went on like a charm! 

 

Make sure you rub all over the paper for good contact!

I even used a pencil to smooth out those bubble pockets.

 

 

I built some frames with a 1x2's and thin plywood backing.

 

I took each block and sanded the edges where the paper overlaps. 

I did add some stain,

which I would recommend doing before you put the papers on.  :)

 

Then I put the puzzle pieces "back" together. 

We've been watching a lot of tiling shows on DIY lately

so I wanted a gap between that mimicked the feel of tile.

I ended up chopping a few chunks of extra wood and adding them

underneath certain squares to give it height and make them pop. 

 

 

 

My Mother-In-Law's quilt is pretty fabulous....

 

and I think....these will compliment it well!

 

If the older boys don't like them, thank goodness the little ones do!