Homemade Gifts: Velvet Journal
These velvet-covered journals are easy enough for even young kids to help make, yet they look delightfully fancy.
Materials:
Blank hardcover book or notebook
Ruler and scissors
Velvet
Fabric stamps
Ironing board and iron
Tacky glue
Flat ribbon
Step 1: Measure the cover of your book, then cut out a piece of velvet that's just slightly smaller.
Step 2: Place the fabric stamp on your ironing board with the stamp side up. Put the velvet over the stamp, fuzzy side down, then spritz the back of the fabric with water. With the iron set on high, press down evenly for about 25 seconds (a parent's job). Carefully lift the iron, peel the fabric back from the stamp, and let the fabric dry. To add more patterns, repeat this process.
Step 3: Put glue on the back side of the velvet and attach it squarely to the front of the journal. Cover the rough edges of the velvet by gluing a strip of flat ribbon on top of them.
Tips:
Although cotton and polyester velvet do work, rayon and silk velvet make the best prints. Use fabric stamps (which cost about the same as rubber stamps) because they are tested for use with high heat.
