APRIL 2025 - TABLE SCRAPS Challenge - Link Party

Welcome to the APRIL 2025 edition of the TABLE SCRAPS Challenge here at the Joyful Quilter!!  I'll start with a little backstory, in case you are new here.  (Apologies to my regular readers since you already know all about it.) I'm a scrap quilter who had been setting up individual challenges for several years in conjunction with Angela's (RSC) Rainbow Scrap Challenge @ So Scrappy.  Participants from around the corner, across the country and around the world have been having SEW much fun and we all have MORE scraps to use, so I am pleased to offer the...

In 2025, we have a broad range of quilted items that are appropriate for linking to the Challenge.  Baskets and bins, along with pillows and pin cushions, are all qualifying projects.  Not just the toppers, runners, and mug rugs.  Basically, ANY quilted item qualifies.  The main premise is that you USE the (new or old) SCRAPS from your cutting table (or your friend's cutting table - since that's where the majority of my scraps come from!)

There will be a prompt each month to help get your creative juices flowing.  While you are NOT required to use it in your project, the guiding word will be revealed at the end of each month's LINK PARTY post.  Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the following month's focus.  It, along with the RSC Color of the Month (as soon as Angela releases it - around the 1st of the month.) will also be added to the 2025 TABLE SCRAPS Challenge page at the top of the blog.

The theme for APRIL was:

RAIN

Why, Joyful???

We all know that April showers bring May flowers, right?  I thought that might be a fun prompts, so I went with it!

But...

When I saw this fabric scrap at my friend Tiffany's house after she finished the new curtains for her camper, inspiration struck:

Thanks for sharing, Tif!!!

Just LOOK at this sweet RED dog:

Now, I just needed to search my RED Quilted Scrap Basket to find a few friends for those puppies, along with something for a background:

Oh!  Thank you to the lovely quilter who shared this off-cut with me:

These kitty paws should work nicely, as well:

WAIT!!!  Where are the RED scraps???

No worries!  I didn't forget them...

Here I am sewing it all together:

I decided that a good way to add a few more RED scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge would be to add some scrappy borders:

Once the top was done, I found a scrap of batting and backing that worked then layered it up:

What does all this have to do with the RAIN theme, Joyful???

Stick with me, if you haven't figured it out yet!  The photo below shows the final quilting.  If you zoom in on the photo, you'll see how it relates:

Once the threads were trimmed and the binding was selected,  I set to finishing the quilt....

I'm pleased to present my completed APRIL 2025 TABLE SCRAPS Challenge quilt which I'm calling "It's Raining Cats and Dogs".  I did some stealth quilting and you might be able to make out the words along the top and bottom borders:

In retrospect, it might have been better to quilt the words in black, but it was too late by the time I figured that out.  Let's just call it a little surprise for in-person viewers.  :o))

What's next, Joyful???

I'm guessing that Angela will announce the Color of the Month for May on her Rainbow Scrap Challenge in the next few days or so.  I'll post an update as soon as she has made her selection:

GREEN

MAY's theme is:

FRESH CUT GRASS

NOTE:  Like the last one, I realize it might be an odd prompt for a quilt, but there are so many directions it can be taken.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you are inspired to create!  While I look forward to seeing what you might make using the prompt, you are NOT required to use the suggested theme!!  The main goal is using up some of your scraps.  Like last month, I'm not really sure what I'm going to do yet. Only time will tell!

And now...

It's time for YOU to link up your RAIN and/or RED project in the LINK PARTY below.  All entries MUST be submitted by Wednesday, May 7th @ 11:59PM (EDT).  That means there's some extra days built in since the last Friday of the month was so early.  Have fun with it!

Until next time...

USE those table scraps!!!

#tablescrapschallenge2025