Getting Organized: Sewing

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As I've admitted, I'm a big remnant bin shopper. This leaves me with lots of random rolls of fabric. I can put them in a drawer and awkwardly sort through them once I've come up with a project, but I knew there was a better way. While cleaning up my closet I came across a shoe organizer I no longer have a need for. In all honesty, I have big feet and I can't fit all that many shoes in it anyways. 

So a method of fabric organization was born!

 

 

Depending on the thickness of the fabric, several rolls can fit in each slot.

 

 

It also makes it easy to see which fabrics would work well together. You could even keep the fabrics meant for specific projects together in their own pouches. Having them out and visible also keeps me thinking about what I can do with them, so hopefully I'll be encouraged to find some time to use them.

As you can see, I'm a fan of using what I already have laying around the house. I happen to have a bunch of pill organizers laying around. Seriously, my Grandmother was getting rid of several and my husband figured we could find a use for them. I mean, really, who couldn't use five pill holders? Well, they happen to make PERFECT bobbin holders!

 

Seriously, it is pretty similar to what they sell in the store for that.

 

Just a few simple things that can make a sewing area that much more enjoyable and productive!

 

 

Christmas Thank You Cards

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'Tis the season for thank you notes!

The past two years I've turned our thank you cards into a fun project I can do with my daughter.  Last year was potato stamps, this year we reused some wrapping paper.  I saw a neat idea for cards using old wrapping paper here, but I knew it would be asking a bit much from a two year old, so we did our own version.

 

We started out with our old paper.  I gave Little Lady a pair of kid safe scissors and told her to cut away and also gave her the option to rip it up into little bits. 

 

 

 

 

She opted for the scissors, since they were a novelty.  In reality, I made most of the scraps. She was pretty into those scissors.

 

 



This is a really great project for getting some "destructive" energy out.  Let them rip up the paper to their hearts content!

 

Next, we grabbed some big index cards (5" x 8"), and folded them in half.

 

Then give the kiddos some glue sticks, or a bottle of glue and have them spread it all over the front of the card.  A glue stick is probably best, but I somehow couldn't find ours when we were doing this.

 

Have them pick out scraps to place on the card.  While they are doing this you can ask what colors are on the scrap of paper or what shapes - use it as a teaching/learning project too.

 

Some of the pieces they put on will overlap the edge, just trim along the edge once everything is dry.

 

 

You'll then have a bunch of cards to let dry.  Admitedly, she did eventually tire of putting the paper on and wanted to go back to cutting with the scissors, so I finished up the last couple.

 

While they dry, hop on your computer and print up a sheet with a bunch of "Thank You" on it, in whatever font you want.  You can also just hand write it too, whatever works for you.

Cut them out, again, have fun with it.  I obviously did the cutting, Little Lady isn't quite there yet, but if you have an older kid they can do this part too.

 

I then pulled out the Modge Podge and did a quick covering over the front, "unifying" the papers on the front and the "Thank You" tag. 

Kids can help out with that part too, but I did it after Little Lady was in bed.

 

There you go!  The finished project - you have a pretty easy kid craft and personalized thank you cards!  Just stick them in some 4.375 x 5.75 envelopes and mail them off! 

 

 After you write in them, of course.