Both are lovely. I have done the same thing, used the binding for something else. Now I pin the binding to the unfinished quilt so I don't do that again.
I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the second quilt!!!!! Even my son said "Oooooh!" when he saw it! Think I'm going to print this and add it to my "I'm going to make this" quilt pile! Really like it! Great job!