Heart Shaped Wreath with Scrappy Batik Fabrics

Recently I saw a beautiful round wreath on Instagram that was made with fabric scraps. I loved the look and thought it was a wonderful idea for using up small bits of fabric scraps. The woman who made her wreath said she cut 1-inch x 6-inch strips of fabric and tied the strips onto the wire wreath frame and packed them tightly. So I decided to use my batik fabric scraps and cut them into the same size strips. I cut everything in my scrap bag that was at least 6" long. I counted the strips as I went (just curious as I had no idea how many strips it would take). I had 755 strips in total, but I didn't cut up the larger scraps in my scrap bag just yet. I placed the strips into a small fabric basket I made and I didn't even use up 1/4 of the strips I cut to make this heart wreath.

I went to the Dollar Tree (DT) store because I remember seeing wire wreaths there. The local DT had a set of 2 round mini size wreath wires only. I bought them since that's all they had. Then while I was out that day, I stopped at another DT to see if they had a large round wire wreath, but they had a heart shaped one and the set of 2 mini rounds ones. I bought the heart shaped one. Maybe one day I will find the large round one, but I did like this heart shaped wreath too. 

I didn't want to use only red, pink or purple fabrics because that would look too Valentine's Day only and while I like those colors, I wanted something I could keep up all the time, so scrappy colors I thought would work best.

I read lots of tutorials and watched YouTube videos about making these fabric wreaths. Each did things a bit differently. Not only did I see the wire wreaths being used, but one person actually bent a wire hanger into a round shape and kept the hook of the hanger in place to hang it up by. That was a great idea and you only had one wire to cover instead of 3 to 4 tiers of wires as in these wire wreath forms.

I also saw some use green Styrofoam round wreaths and tie longer and wider cut strips to the wreath. I saw some cut squares of fabric and push a pin into the middle of the fabric and attach to the Styrofoam so each square had a gathered fluffy look. I liked that look too. FYI: DT also sells the Styrofoam wreath, but they are more medium size.

All the tutorials I read or watched cut different widths and lengths of fabrics, so I guess you have to decide what to cut based on the look you want the size wreath form you buy, etc. 

Then there were several ways of tying the fabric strips on too. There is a simple tie like the first part of tying your shoelaces, just cross the fabric on top of the other and pull it under, that's it. Another method was to tie a square knot: right over left and left over right and pull. There was the loop knot, folding the strip in half and putting the 2 ends of fabric through the loop (around the wire) and pulling. I decided to do the loop method for my first wreath here. What I also read was the loop method isn't as fluffy as the others, but it seemed easier to do. I think on the next wreath, I will do the first method I mentioned above.

I do love how it turned out and I really packed on the strips tightly too.

So there you have it, a great fabric scrap busting project. No sewing involved and it only cost $1.00 for the wreath form at DT. 

To make the fabric cutting easier, I used my Crossover II Die Cutting Machine and the 1-inch strip cutting die to cut a variety of scraps into 1-inch widths first, then sub-cut to 6". It's not an exact science, so if some widths or lengths weren't exactly to size, you wouldn't know in this project.

I used my Crossover II Die Cut Machine.

I used the 1-inch strip cutter.

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Fabric Container to Hold Crafter's Edge Die Cuts & Plates

As a Design Team Member for Crafter's Edge, I am making a project each month using the Crossover II Die Cut Machine by Crafter's Edge and one or more of the die cuts that I have. This month I used several circles from the 0.5" Increment Circles die cuts (there are eleven sizes of circles in the Circle Die Cut set) and I also used the 1-inch strip die cut, which comes in the 1 and 1.5" Strip Cutters. 

I wanted to create a fabric bin container to hold my die cuts, foundation plate, cutting plate and top clear plates for using the cutting dies, as well as the instruction booklet. This way all my items for cutting are in one place and easy to find. I used gallon size clear plastic zip bags to place each die cut in, along with the cardboard information and photo of the die for each bag. 

So here is what I created and I am very pleased with how cute it looks as well as how functional it is too.

The circle die cuts made it quick and easy to cut several circles in various sizes at once. I also cut 1" strips for the stems (I will show at the end how I did the stems). I cut the leaves the old fashioned way by hand, lol!

Inside the fabric container is very roomy. I made a sleeve that I placed a heavyweight Peltex stabilizer inside of to stiffen the bottom a bit.

This is the other side of the container with more flowers and butterflies I cut out from a fabric print.

I added purse feet on the bottom.

I love that background fabric and thought it was perfect for this project.

Here is one of the die cuts I received, the Gingerbread House, that now lives inside the container. (Stay tuned for a project that I am working on using the Gingerbread House die).

Here are the Circle die cuts that I used. I placed this die cut inside a clear plastic gallon zip bag to keep the die cuts and information for it together. I did the same for each different die cut that I received and they now all reside in their plastic bags inside the container I made. I can thumb through them to find the die cut that I want to use.

The plates and dies in their zip bags residing in their new home. 

I can flip through them to find the die cut I need to use.

There is plenty of room for more dies inside. 

I also added a couple of handles to the container to be able to grab it and carry it when needed. A couple of rivets I also added to each side of the handle as well.

Here is how I made the stems~

I cut the 1" strips for stems and pressed 1/4" to the wrong side. I use Elmer's purple disappearing water soluble glue stick to run along the strip and then press in place. The glue holds it well, but no gumming up the needle when sewing.

Next, I pressed the other raw edge almost to the fold  on the wrong side and glued it in place too. I glued the stem in place and blanket stitched it along both sides. I could also straight stitch the edges too.

I did make one stem for the larger flower wider, by pressing the raw edge to the center on both sides, so that the larger stem measures 1/2" and the smaller stem measures 3/8".

After I made this container, I decided to buy a couple of metal tags that Crafter's Edge sells on their website. This one says Made by Hand and has a heart cutout on it. So as an afterthought, I added it on the handle with some embroidery Perle Cotton. The perfect little touch. I love my container!

 My container is both functional and oh so pretty!

I used the 1" strips for making the flower stems as I showed you above.

 And one of the 1.5" strips for the larger stem.

I used a variety of circles from the Circles die cuts to make the flowers.

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