Waste not, want not! Gather up a stash of fabric leftovers to fashion fun and stylish items for your home.
Sweeten up a simple white lampshade (or camouflage a damaged one) with vintage ruffles in saturated pastel colors.
Gather your materials
- Fabric
- Coordinating thread
- Scissors or rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Hot glue gun
and glue sticks
- Lampshade
- Sewing machine (optional)
Cut your fabric into 2-inch-wide strips. Measure the circumference of your shade and double the result to get the length you need for each strip (you may need to sew strips together to achieve the right length). Measure the height of your shade to determine how many strips you will need to cover the shade completely.
Sew with a basting stitch along the top edge of a strip. Pull the thread to create a ruffle. Tie off the excess thread to secure the ruffle. Repeat for each piece of fabric.
Starting at the bottom of the shade, use a hot glue gun to attach the ruffles in layers up the lampshade. Place the next ruffle to cover the stitching on each ruffle below.
Space the ruffles as evenly as possible and finish with the top of the last ruffle just above the rim of the lampshade.
Tip: Paint a lamp base in a pretty color that coordinates with your flirty fabric flounces.
Have a fabric that was received from or reminds you of someone dear? Wrap it on a picture frame that holds her portrait or her handwritten recipe card as seen here.
Gather your materials
- Unembellished frame
- Fabric
- Ruler or measuring tape
- Scissors or rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Mod Podge
- Craft brush
Remove the backing and glass from the frame. With a ruler or measuring tape, measure and cut strips of fabric from a variety of scraps and in different widths to wrap around the frame. Lay out a design in advance or place your scraps randomly on the frame as you work.
Attach fabric pieces to the frame with Mod Podge, smoothing out air bubbles carefully as you go. Ensure that you don’t cover the groove that holds the glass. Let dry completely and go over the entire frame with another layer of Mod Podge. Allow to dry at least 24 hours. Insert glass and artwork, then replace the backing.
Make a plain little accent pillow the life of your decorating party with a generous sprinkling of fabric confetti.
Gather your materials
- Fabric
- Scissors
- Pillow or pillow cover
- Fabric Mod Podge
- Craft brush
This is the perfect way to use tiny bits of leftover fabrics. Pull together a coordinating selection of fabric patterns and colors that work with your room decor.
Cut small triangles from the variety of fabrics. Use Fabric Mod Podge to secure the pieces randomly over the pillow cover or place them in a design first and attach when you’re satisfied with their placement.
When the cover is completely dry, go over the entire front of the pillow with another light layer of Fabric Mod Podge to seal the pieces in place. Let the cover dry before replacing the pillow.
Fabric Mod Podge is washable, but we advise hand-washing the cover.
Scrap Happy Ideas
Adapt these suggestions for other items in your home, too.
Use the pillow confetti technique on a curtain panel or the flouncy lampshade craft on a pillow cover.
Embellish a plain glass vase. Cut fabric pieces into different sizes and patterns. Coat one side of fabric pieces with Mod Podge and apply them randomly over the vase, overlapping for complete coverage. When finished and dry, apply a coat of Mod Podge over the entire vase to seal it.
Cover lighting switchplates in fabric that works with your decor. Cut a piece of fabric to wrap around the plastic plate. Apply Mod Podge and smooth fabric over the plate. With a craft knife, make an X in the hole for the light switch and fold the edges to the back of the plate. Poke holes for the screws.
Let the motifs in your vintage fabric scraps guide where you use them. Florals and geometric designs will work in any room, but use a novelty print such as cooking utensils for the kitchen or cowboy motifs in a child’s bedroom or den.
If you’ve got lots of scraps and want to add variety to your supply, organize a scrap exchange with crafty friends. You may find someone else has just the right pattern for your purpose.
Produced by Jodi Mensing Harris
Photographed by Steven McDonald
© Caruth Studio