Unleash Your Creative Skills with Colored Burlap Fabric

Looking for a simple and inexpensive craft project? With just a few yards of colored burlap you can unleash your creative side for some easy, fun and affordable craft projects.  Burlap is not only inexpensive, but tough, durable and flexible. This great multi-tasking fabric can be cut, fringed, painted, glued, sewn, embroidered and even bedazzled to create unlimited projects.

Made from jute, hemp or flax fibers grown throughout Asia and Central America, burlap fabric is perfect for a wide variety of uses and may be the ideal companion for your next craft project.

Here are five ideas:

Decorative Burlap Candle Holders

Materials:

• Burlap in a variety of colors
• Scissors
• Tape measure
• Sewing machine or fabric glue
• Votive candle holders or clear glass jars

1. Measure the height and circumference of candle holder or glass jar.
2. Cut the burlap fabric into rectangles of this size.
3. Cut out a letter, number or design in a contrasting color of burlap.
4. Place the design in the center of the burlap rectangle, and use fabric glue or a sewing machine to secure it in place.
5. Wrap the colored burlap fabric around your candle holder or glass jar, with the design facing outward.
6. Glue or sew the fabric together at the back, and trim any loose threads.
7. Repeat the process with various letters or numbers to create a special birthday or holiday message. Use candles as a centerpiece for a dinner party, randomly place them throughout your guest area or cluster them on side tables.

Burlap Gift Wrap

Materials:

• Burlap
• Thick colorful ribbon
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Pins

1. Determine the size of bag you want to create. For one 8" x 10" bag, cut out a 9" x 22" piece of fabric and fold it in half, so it’s 9" x 11" when doubled.
2. Pin the side seams together and then sew, so that the top of the bag is open.
3. Turn the bag inside out so the frayed seam edges are inside.
4. Place your gift inside the bag.
5. Cut a piece of ribbon at least 12" long, and tie in a bow around the top.

Burlap Table Runner

Materials:

• Burlap
• Paintbrush
• Acrylic paint
• Scissors
• Newspaper
• Foam stamps – leaf, hearts, stars (optional)

1. Lay old newspaper over your work area to protect the surface.
2. Cut burlap to desired width. (A table runner usually is half the width of the table, and long enough to drape just over each end.
3. Paint the burlap using haphazard brushstrokes, and/or stamp the fabric using random colors. Keep the design simple; the fabric’s rough texture and loose weave makes it difficult to achieve fine detail.
4. Once the paint has dried thoroughly, the runner is ready for your table.

4 - Burlap Placemats

Materials:

• Burlap
• Scissors
• Tape measure
• Acrylic paint
• Potato
• Paring knife
• Newspapers
• Paper plates

1. Measure and cut burlap into 12” x 18” pieces.
2. Pull out random yarns along each edge to create a fringe.
3. Lay old newspaper over your work area to protect the surface.
4. Cut the potato in half and using the paring knife, create a shape (hearts, circles, candy canes, pumpkins, etc.) on each half.
5. Pour paint onto a paper plate, and dip the cut side of the potato into the paint.
6. Press the painted side of the potato onto the burlap. Repeat this several times over the first stamping, so the design shows up clearly.
7. Repeat with various paint colors and shapes across your placemat.
8. Place the mat out of the way to allow the paint to dry completely.

Burlap Christmas Stocking

• Burlap
• Acrylic paint
• Stencils
• Paintbrush
• Glitter pen
• Sequins
• Fabric glue
• Sewing machine
• Pins
• Newspaper
• Small piece of thick ribbon

1. Fold a piece of burlap in half; then cut a large boot shape from the fabric.
2. Pin the two pieces together, leaving the top of the boot open.
3. Sew the two sides together, and then turn the boot inside out so the raw seams are hidden inside.
4. Place the stocking flat on a thick layer of newspaper to protect your work surface. Use the glitter pen to outline the stencils, and then once completely dry, paint inside the designs.
5. Apply glue in desired areas and sprinkle with sequins or glitter.
6. Paint a name or holiday greeting across the top of the stocking.
7. Loop a piece of thick ribbon and sew both ends to the top of the stocking and hang from your mantle.

In addition to these ideas, remember you can stiffen burlap by using starch or acrylic adhesive. This amazing fabric has limitless potential and can be molded for use in sculpture or embroidered to make decorative wall hangings.  Burlap by the yard is cheap, versatile, and can even be shredded into paint to create a rustic texture and even stretched on a frame like canvas. With endless uses, burlap is a sure must for every crafter whether you’re an amateur or a dedicated expert.

This article was Contributed by Kay Kristenson

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