B - I - N - GO

Did you guess it? Did you find the clues? For those that did, thank you for keeping it to yourself. But, YES, we are planning a BINGO game for our 2012 MAY FOR ME. And the reason we are starting early - you are going to make your own BINGO card. Yep - that's what you heard. I know it is a ways to May, but we want you to have time to make your card, and then there will be a period to link your card up with us as an entry. Time will fly. And I am going to share a tutorial on how to make your card - of course, you are free to add your own personality and creativity - but this will help you along.

TUTORIAL

You are going to need twenty five (25) 2.5" squares. B is going to be Blue, I is going to be Yellow, N is going to be Red with the black center, G is going to be Green, and O is going to be Purple. Now don't fret if you don't have a lot of fussy cut prints - use your imagination. I had a yellow duck - even though on green background, I am using him as my yellow. Stars are good, but use them in only one color choice. A Paisley, a dot, or a stripe will work, but again, use them in only one color choice. You have lots of time to find your squares - jot down what they are - you will see why later.

I am going to show you a way to sew small squares into a block with a technique called 'webbing'. Match your column one (blue) with your column two (yellow) squares and chain thru your machine - DO NOT CUT THREADS.

Now match up column three (red with black center) to your yellow and chain thru again - DO NOT CUT THREADS.

Yup - match that next column - # 4 is the greens and chain thru your machine - DO NOT CUT THREADS>

And then your last column - the purples - chain thru and DO NOT CUT THREADS. You now have your BINGO card block in a web.

You can use your iron to press the rows in opposite directions or finger press ( which is what I did) and then match up your seams, pin, and sew. Repeat with each row. The 'web' structure helps with the matching up. Then press your completed BINGO card block.

We are going to make a mini-quilt sandwich. And you can finish off your card how ever you like. I added a skinny black sash. Then stitched 5 scrap lite squares and used my perma pen to write B - I - N- G - O. This is your card - this is only a helpful suggestion, but complete this as you desire. A backing, batt (use up those scraps) and quilt stitch in the ditch or what ever your fancy. Leave raw edge, pink edge, rick rack, or binding to finish. This is your card.

Remember I said to keep a list of what each block represented? This is why - we need a printed sheet with your list just like I show here. This is not only to help you remember when it comes time to play, but when you link up, it will help Tonya make the master list for when we pull BINGO names. So yes, we need it large enough to read it when posted with your card. As you can see, I pinned mine right to my card for safe keeping. Hey - my card has been made and hanging since right after Christmas! So when your card is made, hang it up and admire.

And this is how you are going to mark your card - BUTTONS. Now if you don't have a dozen button tins like I do, there is time to gather. I am actually up-cycling some shirts and removing their buttons - they are small and have a textural color/look, so I am going to use these. And if you have never sewn on a button - time to learn. And this is for fun, no stress!!!! After we are done playing BINGO, I will be offering a tutorial on how to turn your card into a mini wallhanging to keep and cherish - or gift.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to check out my co-conspirators - they made their own cards (and I haven't seen them yet either so going to visit them) :

Tonya of HillBilly Handiworks - she may be sharing some rules, too.......

Marcia of Marcia's CraftySewing - she has lots of good ideas for inspiration in finishing and quilting....

Snoodles of LilyPad Quilting - she just learned about fussy cuts and can share on a first hand experience.....

We all are here to help if you have questions and will pop in to remind you of progress...... Looking forward to MAY FOR ME and BINGO!!!! And if you were with us last year, you know there were lots of give aways - hey, May is my Birth Month - and I share my celebration all month long!!!!

Sincerely Yours,
Sharon