Get Textured: Fabric

Fabric is all the rage right now...just as it should be.
What else is so amazingly versatile (besides paper that is)?
There are so many ways to incorporate fabric into your paper crafting projects.
Fabric can be used in most of the ways that paper can (looks like I just found a new excuse to shop at the fabric store right after I stop off at my LSS).
It can add dimension, warmth, interest, color, or a neutral palette to jump from

Let's get started!

Nicole Pomeroy illustrated this wonderfully with her layout, "There's no place like home". I love that she mounted her photo on plain muslin. It adds an earthy element that both grounds her photo and draws your eye right to it.
 

Adding dimension with fabric is now easier than ever with so many companies creating ready to use products. One of my new favorites are fabric/ribbon roses like seen on Courtney Meyer's page, "Your favorite summer dress".

You can also buy an assortment of individual fabric flowers, canvas accessories, and crochet flowers/doilies. Doilies can add instant dimension and can be found cheaply at most thrift stores (or for you crafty ladies out there-made pretty inexpensively).

They can be stamped, sprayed, dyed, inked, embellished, ect.-until your hearts content!
I love the simple elegance Stacey Hansen added to her page with her use of a doily flower on her layout, "Everyday Bravery".
 

Fabric can be hand made into almost any embellishment. Any fabric or ribbon scrap that you have on hand could add a punch to your layout.
Besides the things listed above fabric can also be used for:

• Shapes (like leaves out of felt for a tree)
• Puffs (gather the center and leave ends out-great for lightweight fabrics like organza and tulle)
• Letters
• Tags (great for heavier weight fabrics-especially if writing on or stamping)
• Journaling spots
• Handmade embellishments
• Thread or Twine for journaling lines
• Sewing scraps on to pages
• Folding
• Twisting
• Triming around a photo or whole page

One of my most favorite techniques right now is making ruffles (although for those who don't want to make their own their are plenty of pre-made ruffles on the market right now). I loved the way Nicole Pomeroy used ruffle layers as a background for her adorable 'little bubba' photo on her page, "Sew Clever".

Gina Johnson also used a folding or ruffling technique on her page, "You named me".  I love how she layered hers with scallop trim over the top for an extra punch.  You could also mimic Gina's page with scalloped ribbon, and applique or iron on stitched flowers.
 

Courtney Meyer's also used folding on her layout, "Pool Boy".  I think the ribbon really made her sun embellishment pop and added extra visual interest.
 

Lastly...on my Halloween page I used scrappers floss and a hole punch to make spider webs, a fishnet stocking that I found at a thrift store to add a little spooky dimension to my journaling spot, and layered ribbon to pop my quote block.

(If you tend not to use fabric because it is hard to cut you can stiffen it with Mod Podge or similar products, or because it is hard to attach you can use spray adhesive/ribbon tape/hot glue/glue dots/brads/clips.)

I hope all of these amazing projects have got you trying to find ways to add texture to your pages.  Thanks for sticking with me through our 3rd and last week of adding texture to your paper projects...I hope you had fun and have been inspired to try something new.

Remember, all you need is a little paper, fabric, or charms and you can take your pages to a whole other dimension---pun intended ;0).

Happy Crafting!!
Liz

(p.s. Send pictures of YOUR projects to submissions@ellapublishing.com, and you might just end up as my November Love!)