MASON JAR CRAFTS — FABRIC FRAMES
As a crafty kind of person, you probably have a bunch of fabric scraps that you adore. You are always happy to find another way to display and enjoy them instead of keeping them in a bin somewhere. Here you go: Repurpose Mason jar lids and bands into an embroidery hoop-inspired fabric display.
Materials:
- Mason jar lids and screw bands left over from other projects
- Cardboard
- Spray primer gloss white enamel
- Chalk pencil
- Treasured fabric scraps (or some other thing that you want to frame and display in multiples, such as vintage ephemera, scrapbook papers, kids’ art, cool looking packaging, etc.)
- Thin quilt batting
- Scissors
- Glue gun
Step 1
Bring the screw bands outside and lay them on cardboard, right side up. Spray them with primer and let them dry. Spray them with gloss spray paint and let them dry.
Step 2
Using the lid as a template, trace a circle with chalk on the back of each piece of fabric that you want to frame. Lay the fabric scrap, traced wrong side up, on top of a sheet of quilt batting and pin to batting. Cut the double layer of fabric and batting about an inch outside of the traced circle.
Step 3
Repeat this for the rest of the fabrics you will frame.
Step 4
Place the spray-painted screw band upside down on the work surface. Place the fabric circle face down on top and lay the batting circle over that. Make sure both layers are centered over the screw band and lay the lid on top of everything.
Step 5
Press down to push the fabric and batting toward the lip of the band. Pull both layers taut. Look at the front and smooth out any wrinkles.
Step 6
Glue the excess fabric down to the back of the lid. If you still want to be able to use the treasured scrap later on, use low-tack masking tape to secure the fabric to itself across the back of the lid. (I do this because I know I’ll want to change it after a while.)
Crafty Hint: Not that it matters because it will be against a wall, but if it bothers you that the glued-down fabric is unfinished on the back, you can glue down a circle of felt or card stock to cover it. If this is a gift for someone, I would do this, but if it is for my own personal use I wouldn’t. I’m just not that fussy.
Move the display around on the table until you have created an arrangement that pleases you. No hanger is necessary as the frame pops right on a thumbtack, pushpin, or small nail. Hang your treasured fabric gallery.
Step 7
This mason jar craft is excerpted with permission from DIY Mason Jars: Thirty-Five Creative Crafts and Projects for the Classic Container
by Melissa Averinos and published by F+W Media.