Burlap Fabric Blog Hop: Burlap and Denim Sweetheart Wall Banner

I love a crafty challenge! Every once in a while the Designer Craft Connection group of bloggers is invited to participate in a "Manufacturer's Challenge" where we're provided with a new craft product and challenged to come up with a fun project. This month the challenge was sponsored by BurlapFabric.com - makers of all kinds of fabulous burlap based items. Burlap has such an interesting rough texture and I thought that it would work well with the bright color and smoothness of old denim. (I knew there was a reason why I was hanging onto those old jeans! ;) ) So dig out those old pants and transform them into something new by adding some burlap! Be sure to read to the end of the post for your chance to win a burlap prize package worth $100!

Here's how:

Burlap and Denim Sweetheart Wall Banner

Materials:

• BurlapFabric.com Barn Red Burlap - 12" x 12" piece
• BurlapFabric.com Jute Webbing - Black 4" Wide
• Pellon® Lite EZ-Steam™ II Fusible Web
• Old Pair of Denim Jeans
• Black Wire
• Wood Dowel - 11" long

Tools:

• Acrylic Paint - Black
• Paint Brush / Plastic Plate
• Black Paint Pen
• Sewing Machine / Sewing Pins / Black Thread
• Sizzix Bigkick Die Cut Machine / Heart Die
• Wire Cutters / Round Nose Pliers
• Westcott Brand Scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut off one leg from the pair of jeans and then cut along one of the side seams to open up the leg into a large piece of fabric. Cut a 18" x 7" denim rectangle from the fabric.

2. Cut a 18" length of jute webbing and pin the jute webbing down the center of the denim rectangle.

3. Zigzag stitch the jute webbing onto the denim rectangle. Then finish all four sides of the panel by sewing a zigzag stitch 1/2" from the cut denim edges.

4. To make a pocket for the dowel, fold over 1 1/2" of the top edge of the denim panel and pin it in place. Stitch down the length of the pocket 1/4" from the cut edge. (Do not stitch the short sides.)

5. EZ-Steam is a sheet of double-sided adhesive fusible webbing backed on either side by a white release paper. Peel off one white release paper to expose the adhesive and press the adhesive onto the red burlap. Leave the second white release paper in place for now.

6. Cut the red burlap sheet in half lengthwise so that it will fit through the die cut machine. Die cut three hearts. (You can't see it in the picture but the white release paper is on still on the back of the burlap.) Using a die cut machine along with adhesive fusible webbing is a great way cut burlap and avoid fraying the edges!

7. Peel the remaining white release paper from the hearts and press them onto the denim panel, sticky side down. Following the package directions for the fusible webbing, iron the hearts in place by using an iron and a damp press cloth.

8. To add a pretty frayed edging, use a seam ripper tool to "unweave" the edges of the panel.

9. Use a black paint pen to outline each of the hearts and to write the words "Me & You". (You can really go to town here - add extra squiggles and designs!)

10. Paint the wood dowel with black paint and when dry, fit in through the top pocket. Make a hangar by cutting a 3' length of wire with the wire cutters. Fold the wire in half. This will form the top "V" in the heart. Bend the two ends of the wire back down and use the round-nosed pliers to twist the wire into a heart shape. Center the heart shape along edge of the denim panel and wrap one wire end around one end of the dowel. Repeat for the other end of the dowel. Hang and enjoy!

Imagine these burlap hearts in different colors or with monogrammed initials or even in different shapes like circles or owls. It's easy to customize this project for your own special occasion!

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You can see lots more fun burlap craft ideas by following along on the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop. Just click on the "hop forward" or "hop back" buttons on the badge to visit the next site. You'll be inspired when you see all that the Designers have created! And be sure to enter the contest for a chance to win a prize package of burlap goodies valued at $100!