At J&O we recognize that it is not always easy to find something to do with the fabric scraps left over from a project. That is why we have presenting ideas we have come across while trawling through the Net. One wonderfully simple idea we came across was fabric bookmarks. All you will need:
Fabric remnants
Rubber cement
Cardstock
Ruler
Pencil
Hole puncher
Begin by brushing some rubber cement onto the cardstock over an area larger than what the finished bookmark. Then stick on the fabric and smooth it out. Repeat the process on the other side. Use the pencil and ruler to mark the edges of the bookmark. Your bookmark is now ready to cut out. For added flair punch a hole in the top of the bookmark and loop through some ribbon. You've now made your fabric bookmark.
Posts by J&O
Fabrics StoreLabels: book-mark, book-markers, consumer-savvy-carol, craft-ideas, thrifty
A great way of using your fabric remnants while at the same time personalizing your gifts is to make fabric gift pouches. They are simple to make and make use of items you may have around the house. All you need are a few simple supplies:
Start by cutting a template in the cardboard. Ideally it should be double the size of what the finished pouch will be. Draw the outline of the template onto the fabric and cut out. Cut the fabric into a rectangle. Then fold the fabric in three to create flaps that overlap about 1/2 an inch. Cut a small label in contrasting fabric. Sew along one of the shorter sides of the pouch, making sure to hide the knot in a corner. Sew in the label on that same side. Next, sew the other side. Then place the gift inside the pouch and close with a length of yarn. Finally, add the beads to the yarn ends, knot them and you are done.
9" Pinking ShearsLabels: consumer-savvy-carol, fabric-ideas, fabric-remnants, fabric-scraps, gift-ideas, gifts, remnants
In these economically uncertain times, our survival skills kick in and our natural response is to cut back, cut out and hold our breath while the nightly news reports on yet another mass lay off of jobs. We join the ever growing
population of stressed out worker bees and me-myself-and-I clones in the competitive rat race called 'life', who find truth in the encouraged notion that it is survival of the fittest, with no rest for the weary. It is a delusional and vicious spiral of continuous
fear based responses that chip away at the 'reality' of what it means to be alive.
And while this method works for some, it is not the remedy of choice for everyone. There is another group of people who are ready, willing and able to look at the economic challenge and see an opportunity to create and REcreate their life, and help others along the way as well. They are able to turn their stumbling blocks of lost jobs and income into stepping stones, and their obstacles of financial exhaustion, into opportunities. It is amazing how creative we can be when our backs are against the wall.
What better time than now, to nurture all those gifts we carry but have discarded as silly little hobbies from our younger years. What better way to REcreate our circumstances, than to pull out those carpentry books we tucked neatly away for a rainy day read, take a free class in photography at the community college, or unfold those wisely preserved and still stylish designer fabrics and never used Singer machine that you promised yourself one day you would create magnificent fashions with. What better time than now to put down our worries and fears of what tomorrow may bring, and challenge ourselves to creating the future we want for ourselves.
It really is a matter of perspective, and at J&O Fabrics, we strive to make it our business to tempt you with enough eye catching
fleece,
upholstery,
decorative,
novelty and
organic fabrics to bring out the successful survivor in all of us. Because even if your passion isn't crafting, your creative juices will start to flow in one direction or another. The time is now.
Labels: childrens-novelty-fabric, conservative, consumer-savvy-carol, fleece-fabric, frugal, novelty fabric, resourcefulness, upholstery-fabric