J&O Fabrics Store Newsletter

With the lazy, hazy days of summer slowly coming to an end, and the colorful display of autumn only a few weeks away, it’s time to start thinking about school again. From shopping for school supplies, to shopping for the latest fall fashions, the back-to-school ritual can be found in kindergarten classrooms and college dorms across America as students young and old stock up on the trendiest folders and backpacks, and the hottest jeans and sneakers. And what is school without books. From American history to Great English literary works, if they are not used for digesting large amounts of spoon fed material, they certainly are good for the daily graphic art entry as you dreamingly pass time waiting for the final bell to ring.

Yeah, these seemingly illegally heavy, extremely thick and often times extremely boring mandated books are the first and last thing to leave your possession once school begins, but they don’t have to be that dreaded; Especially when you have cool book marks to hold your place between studies. I don’t just mean any book mark either. I am talking about the wild and beautiful one-of-a-kind book marks hand crafted by you with the help of J&O Fabrics.

Fabric book marks you say. How ingenious! Well, maybe the concept has been around for awhile, but never before have you created your very own unique book mark with fabric from J&O; and never have you crafted one that is so reflective of the many faces of you. Until today! Why buy standard manufactured one with little or no personality, when in just a few simple steps, you can have the perfect page saver. With just a inexpensive supplies and a little imagination, your wonderful Romeo & Juliet book marker will be adorned in retro prints, extreme sports or your favorite Hannah Barbara character in no time. While these cool page savers may not make your reading any more enjoyable, they certainly will add a little color and spark to an otherwise dull page of black and white.

Supplies

Cardboard

Fabric

Elmer’s glue (or alternative fabric seam adhesive)

Scissors

Needle & thread (optional)

Decorative trim (optional)

Instructions

Step One

Cut your piece of cardboard to measure about 7” x 2”.

Step Two

Cut your piece of fabric in a large enough rectangular piece so that your cardboard marker will be able to fit inside the enclosed fabric sleeve once sewn.

Step Three

Fold your fabric in half (right side in) and sew from the top opening of the long side around to the folded end of the bottom. When completed, turn inside out so that the right side of the fabric is now on the outside. If you would prefer not to sew, place the fabric right side out. Fold the open sides of the fabric and use an alternative seam adhesive to secure the sides of your sleeve. Remember to keep one short side open to slide your cardboard piece into.

Step Four

Once cardboard is snuggly inside the fabric sleeve, secure the top by folding the edges in, and either sewing, gluing or using a fabric spray adhesive to finish it off. Add your own little decorative touch by applying fabric paint designs, attaching tassels or adhering cool mini beading and ribbon to your final design.

Now, take a step back and pat yourself on the back for a job well done. If it’s your first, it will surely not be your last. Make great book marks for all your literary works both scholastic and recreational. Even give as gifts for family and friends. Encourage the love of reading in your children with fun Angelina Ballerina and Sesame Street print book marks too. From young to old, fabric book marks are a unique and great way to personalize your cherished, or not so cherished literary works.

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Posts by J&O Fabrics Store

Labels: back to school crafts, book mark, book markers, children's crafts, fabric book markers, fabric crafts, jandofabrics

It’s Halloween, and the children are all dressed up in their hand-crafted, store bought or make-shift costumes waiting for the festivities of the day to begin. Perfect Peggy is practicing for the bobbing for apples contest that could win her first place and an extra bag of treats. Little Johnny is placing a ‘kick me’ sign on the back of loud mouthed Marvin’s cowboy vest in hopes to see some great responses from his classmates. And Simple Sally is all giggles as she juggles oranges in her Homey the Clown outfit.

Before the festivities begin, the teacher has all the children gather together to make holiday crafts. Today’s project is Halloween cards. A simple assignment involving poster board, glue, markers, crayons and an assortment of holiday fabric; these cards will make a great gift to bring home for family and friends.

To start, the teacher hands each student an 8½ x 11” sheet of manila poster board. This will be the foundation for the card. The poster board is folded in half to look like a blank card. In each card, the teacher has the student write their own personal message to their friend or loved one for the holiday.

Next, the teacher supplies the class with an assortment of colorfully printed Halloween and harvest fabrics to select for the cover of their cards. From funny monsters, haunted houses, and scary witches to flaming skulls, dancing ghouls and jak-o-lanterns, there is something for every kiddy bopper in the room. Big Betty finds a Betty Boop Halloween fabric that she says reminds her of herself, well, at least her name. While Gentle Jane nurtures her soft spot for cats with a black cat and pumpkin fabric.

With a good pair of children’s scissors and some Elmer’s Glue, the children cut and paste images from their fabric, and in some cases, the whole piece, right onto the poster board. The teacher encourages her students to let their imagination run wild as they combine different prints and designs into a collage fashion across the 8 x 5 ½” card cover. Some wrote “Happy Halloween” on the top half and placed their material on the bottom, while others cut out individual creatures of the night and created a spread of horror around their blank canvas to make unique works of art. At the end of the day, each child had a truly one-of-a-kind Halloween card masterpieces to bring home with them.

Here’s Sweet Susan’s card. She said it reminded her of her and her twin brother Shawn. Maybe later on when the sun has cast her warm orange glow across the sky, and the bright moon has awoken to offer his light in the dark night sky, they will go out trick-or-treating in merry fashion.