DIY with Skinny laMinx

Getting Crafty with Up in the Air

I recently had some fun with the lovely Up in the Air fabric from the Up, Up and Away range by Skinny laMinx for Cloud9 Fabrics. As you know I am a HUGE fan of Heather's creativity and I was inspired by her 'Making Friday' to create a few of my own projects to share with you. 
This mood board idea was super easy. I only needed a few pins, scissors, a sheet of polystyrene and ribbon. I cut the fabric into a square and wrapped it around the sheet - much like wrapping a gift, but I used the pins to secure it tightly to the back. It's a fun and quick DIY to add a bold print to a room or to match other decor elements like cushions. I hope to use this one somewhere near our front door for quick notes, reminders & coupons or important receipts.

With all the snail mail correspondence I have been taking part in lately, I have been searching for an appropriate and creative way to showcase South Africa. Sadly, many store bought postcards don't depict our creative side. What better way could there be to share a bit of SA with my faraway friends than a fabric Skinny laMinx envelope. This project was once again ridiculously easy. I unglued a paper envelope and pinned it to the fabric and just cut around it. I then folded it and ironed it into place. I avoid sewing where I can as my skills leave much to be desired, but if you are skilled with a needle and thread this can take on so many more dimensions. I can now proudly send off something with my packages that is quirky and creative.
I often send small papery elements and buttons with letters and often search for cute or pretty packets to send them in. I decided to create this little pouch bag. I used my trusty glue gun to secure the back and bottom and added an array of bright cards and buttons to send off to a very special friend.
These clips were a treat to make and all I needed were buttons to cover which I found at a craft shop and two bobby pins plus a bit of glue. I covered the buttons and made a little set and once done I fitted the clips through the button hole on the back and added a little bit of glue to ensure they were sturdy. During my December trip to Cape Town I picked up a few postcards from the Skinny laMinx shop, I added a message and the clips to the cards and wrapped them in some tissue paper - which is also from the shop. This is a small, crafty and affordable gift with a personal touch.
This year I have made a point of going back to books and not only reading via the Kindle app. What I love most about papery books is the addition of a bookmark. I created this one with a bit of cardboard, string, thread, double sided tape and the fabric. The cardboard served as a base which I added the fabric to. Once again an easy and inexpensive project which took me about 20 minutes including the tassel.

I hope these easy projects inspire you to spend a few minutes getting creative. I found that using an iconic designer's fabric like that of Skinny laMinx added not only to the quality of my projects, but also to the value. Heather reflects the best in local design and what better way to share it than through craft!

You can view more Skinny laMinx fabrics and products via the site or view the Skinny laMinx and Cloud9 Fabrics here.