Are you on the list?
Sign up for emails with hot news on what's up and what's next.
Your privacy is protected.
Office Perks
Are you a crafty businesswoman?
Put a fresh spin on desk-side staples with these
simple and creative cotton project ideas.
POST WITH THE MOST
IDEA: Cover a plain cork bulletin board with stylish damask fabric. Top with criss-crossed sateen ribbons for a French memo board twist.
YOU’LL NEED: Cork board, fabric, scissors, staple gun, ribbon and upholstery tacks.
HOW-TO: Cut fabric so that it is 2 inches wider than the board on all sides. Lay fabric face-down and cover with board, also face-down. Use staple gun to fasten fabric edges to back side of board, pulling fabric taut on all sides as you go. With board face up, arrange ribbons diagonally in desired pattern. Secure ribbons to board with upholstery tacks.
YOU’LL NEED: Cork board, fabric, scissors, staple gun, ribbon and upholstery tacks.
HOW-TO: Cut fabric so that it is 2 inches wider than the board on all sides. Lay fabric face-down and cover with board, also face-down. Use staple gun to fasten fabric edges to back side of board, pulling fabric taut on all sides as you go. With board face up, arrange ribbons diagonally in desired pattern. Secure ribbons to board with upholstery tacks.
COOL CLICK
IDEA: Use an eye-catching fabric to dress up an ordinary mouse pad. For best results, test the mouse on the fabric first to make sure the weave or pattern doesn’t interfere with function.
YOU’LL NEED: Mouse pad, fabric, fusible web and an iron.
HOW-TO: Iron rough side of fusible web to back of fabric. When cool, trace mouse pad onto paper backing and cut. Gently peel off paper backing and position fusible fabric, web-side down, onto mouse pad. Cover with a damp cloth and iron until fabric is fused.
YOU’LL NEED: Mouse pad, fabric, fusible web and an iron.
HOW-TO: Iron rough side of fusible web to back of fabric. When cool, trace mouse pad onto paper backing and cut. Gently peel off paper backing and position fusible fabric, web-side down, onto mouse pad. Cover with a damp cloth and iron until fabric is fused.
CAN “DO”
IDEA: Turn your trash can into a treasure using luxe-looking jacquard fabric and the magic of decoupage.
YOU’LL NEED: Metal or plastic wastebasket, fabric (try old cotton napkins or curtain panels), decoupage glue, paint brush.
HOW-TO: Cut enough fabric to cover the outside of wastebasket. Use paint brush to coat wastebasket with decoupage glue. Wrap fabric around container. Top with 2-3 coats of decoupage glue for a smooth (and easy-clean!) finish.
YOU’LL NEED: Metal or plastic wastebasket, fabric (try old cotton napkins or curtain panels), decoupage glue, paint brush.
HOW-TO: Cut enough fabric to cover the outside of wastebasket. Use paint brush to coat wastebasket with decoupage glue. Wrap fabric around container. Top with 2-3 coats of decoupage glue for a smooth (and easy-clean!) finish.
ALL THE TRIMMINGS
IDEA: Add personality and punch to drab shelving by lining the edges with colorful twill ribbon.
YOU’LL NEED: Ribbon, double-sided tape, pencil, measuring tape and scissors.
HOW-TO: Use measuring tape to determine length of shelf edge from left to right. Mark length onto ribbon with pencil and cut. Carefully apply double-sided tape to back of ribbon. Moving slowly from left to right, affix ribbon to shelf edge, pressing and smoothing ribbon as you go.
YOU’LL NEED: Ribbon, double-sided tape, pencil, measuring tape and scissors.
HOW-TO: Use measuring tape to determine length of shelf edge from left to right. Mark length onto ribbon with pencil and cut. Carefully apply double-sided tape to back of ribbon. Moving slowly from left to right, affix ribbon to shelf edge, pressing and smoothing ribbon as you go.
BOOK SMARTS
IDEA: Personalize journals, notebooks and even plastic checkbook covers using durable, heavier-weight fabrics such as denim, canvas or corduroy.
YOU’LL NEED: Pencil, scissors, fabric and spray adhesive.
HOW-TO: Lay fabric face-down and place open book on top. Use pencil to trace the top and bottom edges of the open book onto fabric. On both top and bottom edges, add approximately two inches on either side for flaps. Connect top and bottom lines on both sides to create rectangular pattern and cut. Lay fabric face-down and spray with adhesive. Center open book on fabric and press, smoothing out wrinkles and making sure fabric sticks to spine. When dry, fold remaining material inside front and back cover and attach with spray adhesive.
YOU’LL NEED: Pencil, scissors, fabric and spray adhesive.
HOW-TO: Lay fabric face-down and place open book on top. Use pencil to trace the top and bottom edges of the open book onto fabric. On both top and bottom edges, add approximately two inches on either side for flaps. Connect top and bottom lines on both sides to create rectangular pattern and cut. Lay fabric face-down and spray with adhesive. Center open book on fabric and press, smoothing out wrinkles and making sure fabric sticks to spine. When dry, fold remaining material inside front and back cover and attach with spray adhesive.
