Grandma's shadow box

My lovely Grandmother has recently moved into an assisted living home.  The apartment that she moved into has a shadow box outside the door, that you can decorate any way that you like.  I was asked to decorate it for her.  It took me a while to think how I was going to do it.  I think I felt it had to be just right for her and I was a bit intimidated with it.  I finally decided on an Irish theme.  Grandma is 100% Irish through and through and loves to let you know.  I wanted to use some pictures of her life, and I settled on these three.  The one on the bottom is Grandma and Grandpa. Then I used a wedding picture because she is just so pretty in it. The smaller picture is her with her sisters and brother.  I really hope she likes it.  The part I thought you might be interested in is the paper quilt square.   This idea was a technique challenge a long way back at my favorite stamping website www.splitcoaststampers.com.  It is really quite easy, yet so pretty.  I cut 3/4 in. squares from different patterned papers in shades of Garden Green.  You can use larger or smaller squares depending on the size of your projects. I sketched out my pattern on some graph paper.  You can find some great quilt square patterns on quilting websites if your stuck for an idea.  I then started placing my papers onto the sketch.  Once your happy with your pattern, you can start gluing them down. 

Glue them right onto your graph paper, it will help  you keep them in line.  I made a heart and a shamrock because I couldn't decide which one I wanted to use.  Once  you've got it all glued down, you can trim around the graph paper.  This looks really nice even if you stop right here, but if  you want to kick it up a notch, run the whole quilt square through an embossing folder. I used the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder on mine.  I put my square on a Chocolate Chip square, and then added a scalloped square in Garden Green. 

I had made a few squares as I was trying to figure it all out, so with the left overs I made up a couple cards.  I turned the shamrock into a birthday card.  My moms birthday is in March, and being Irish too this card will be perfect for her.  And Im actually several months ahead of schedule

which it insane for me!  I left the heart blank for now, you never know when you may need a card, and it will work for many occations.  Thanks for stopping by!