Free Patterns from Paper and Piecings

Hoping that the new year will allow us to spend more time on our sister site, paperandpiecings.com. Patterns are plentiful but finding the time to piece and prepare them for distribution in our online store is a struggle. In the meantime, to those of you who have subscribed, hope you enjoy the freebies we are sending out tomorrow. We’ve used the cat in a Valentine, and the cardinal and reindeer in Christmas tags. A little late for this year but you can always get an early start on next.

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Happy New Year!

Cardinal Christmas Tag

This little paper-pieced kitten is one of three free pattern downloads paperandpiecings.com is sending out this week. (Be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already!) Though I initially wanted to use Mr. Cat in a Valentine, I’ve used it as a birthday card for the Mojo Monday challenge. Typed the sentiment on computer: Hope your day is purr-fect - and inside - Just like you! Happy Birthday! I used Very Vanilla StampinÚp cardstock to piece the cat;  Pink Passion and Pink Pirouette for the card.

Just like you! Happy Birthday!

Picked up several Christmas  ‘pickles’ when I was vacationing in Nova Scotia this past summer.  Wrapped these up tonight for Christmas gifts and decided to incorporate the legend into a Christmas card. Turned out pretty good except I realized I had a typo after everything was put together and had to start all over again. Ignore the error. It should read:

Long ago in Germany

the legend came to be:

the story of a pickle

hidden in  a tree.

Why we are not certain,

but this we know is true:

this simple Christmas tradition

is enjoyed by me and you.

Deep inside the branches

of every Christmas tree

hides a simple pickle,

camouflaged in green.

Try to find the pickle,

but keep your hands behind,

for if you touch the Christmas tree

you’ll lose the prize in mind.

Oh, but if you find it,

how lucky you will be!

For you a special present

is tucked beneath the tree.

The Christmas Pickle