More Fabric Inspired Cards

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Cards Inspired by Home Decor
Reported By Colleen Schaan

I love to go to fabric stores! I walk down the aisle dragging my hand over the bolts of cloth; I touch and see and feel the textures and colors…I become ONE with the material. I have always loved the velvety smoothness of satin, the cool slither of silk, even the heavy depth of upholstery.

I was challenged to put my love for paper and my love for fabric together this past week. It was much more difficult than I imagined.


I am just a novice when it comes to sewing. I valiantly decided to make my own draperies for our new house a few months ago, and I did okay (as long as you don’t look too closely…and is Velcro cheating?) With this same determination, I decided to whip out my new machine and put thread to paper. I cut out various “squares” from two different patterns of designer paper. I sewed each piece of paper to the slightly larger cardstock backing (as you can see, I don’t do straight lines or stops and starts very well…) and then pieced them together to create a “quilt-like” layout. I added the sentiment (machine stitched also) because it reminded me of those cross-stitch samplers that are so popular.


The actual fabric I used for our bedroom curtains inspired my second example. The fabric is a thick and elegant in rich browns, golds, and musky blues…(I LOVE it). I wanted to showcase the intricate design of the fabric while keeping the “feel” it creates. I used Chocolate Chip and Not Quite Navy to mimic the colors. I cut a strip from the fabric and used it as an accent behind the main image which is lightly watercolored and distressed. I added faux stitching around the sentiment and main image, wrapped gold thread randomly around it, added a clear button with a gold thread tie, and pulled it all together with a leaf-like image cut from the fabric. I am really excited about the outcome of this card…I think it exudes the warmth and richness that the fabric inspires.

This challenge has made me look at both fabric and paper in a different way. Now when I visit the fabric store and run my hand over the bolts of cloth, I am imagining cards and scrapbook pages as well as pillows and curtains.

For an additional “fabric” inspired creation, check out my blog; Distinctive Touches.