Turning fabric scraps into bespoke greeting cards

This week I managed to sort through my fabric stash. It is now beautifully organised and arranged so that I not only know what I have but can find it! In the process I realised I had lots of small pieces of fabric, ribbon, wool, felting, lace and other miscellaneous sewing accessories. I'm sure many other sewers have very similar collections.

I needed a birthday card and decided that rather than buy one, I would make it using my fabric scraps. This is how I made them:

materials:

• fabric, ribbon, wool and thread scraps

• old buttons and zippers

• burlap

• plain cards or folded craft cardboard

• unbleached calico for a base layer

• different colour threads

• craft glue or glue gun

I cut a small base layer from the calico and used this as the foundation for the card. This was glued onto the card when it was completed. I also found that I really liked the first layer to be burlap. This could be frayed easily and gives a very bohemian look, so I did use that for many of the designs.

The process involves building up the layers using materials and stitching. I use the decorative stitches on my sewing machine to anchor pieces as well to provide contrast and texture. I also collect all the cut off pieces of thread which I often use as a base and sew over them with decorative stitches. I also use techniques such as burning and distressing the fabric, bonding different fabrics together, using insertions, reverse applique and couching.

You can use any patterns or designs and make it as simple as you want or as complex.

I find it is a good idea to layer your materials how you want them, take a photo and then start sewing from the bottom up.

This is an easy activity for young children. They love creating things and are not stymied by preconceived notions of what a thing should look like so they often create quite inspirational cards! I have added some photos here and there are also more under the portfolio tab.

Happy creating!