Fabric has never been my go-to when I'm crafting. I'm a paper girl through and through, so when Seth Apter asked if I'd like to play with his newest fabric collection, One Layer Away, my first thought was: can you even use fabric like patterned paper on a card? Turns out, you absolutely can.

Instead of sewing with it, I decided to treat the gorgeous patterns exactly like patterned paper and work them into the layers of three handmade cards. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the fabrics coordinated with my Metamorphosis collection, which made this whole process sew much fun.

Three Ways to Use Fabric on Your Cards

On the first card, I cut it into a strip to add a pop of texture without overwhelming the design. I die cut a piece of purple patterned paper from my Metamorphosis collection using the Tracks Die Set by Seth Apter and a piece of black kraftstock using the Stretchers Die Set by Seth Apter. I combined them with fussy cut Metamorphosis ephemera pieces and some of the A2 sized Metamorphosis patterned papers.

On the second, I used the fabric as a full background layer, letting the pattern set the tone for the whole piece. I then layered on some fussy cut Metamorphosis ephemera and papers along with some more die cut pieces - Stretchers Die Set by Seth Apter and Scrapbook.com Nested Labels Die Set.

On the third, I pleated the fabric before adhering it, which gave the card a whole extra layer of dimension and visual interest. To do this, I simply folded the material over onto itself several times. I then repeated the same process of layering in some of the Metamorphosis papers and ephemera. The die set I used here is the Twisters Die Set by Seth Apter.

Attaching Fabric To Paper

One question you may be asking is how I attached the fabric. I actually used Bearly Art Glue to adhere the fabric to the paper and it worked wonderfully. And you really don't need much adhesive to adhere it, so you can use a light hand when applying it.

Finishing Details

On each card, I tore the edges of the fabric to give it that distressed, well-loved feel that fits right in with my mixed media style. I also saved the leftover threads from the torn edges and layered them into the design alongside my butterflies and a set of vintage pen nibs, tying the whole "in the middle of becoming" theme together.

Along with the fabric, papers, and ephemera, I also used some of Seth's Sizzix die sets to add another layer of interest to each design. Unfortunately the dies I used on the first two cards are no longer available but here is a list of the ones I used:

• Twisters
• Tracks
• Borderlines

Bringing In the Butterflies

The butterflies, ephemera and patterned papers on these cards are part of my Metamorphosis collection, my vintage naturalist-themed digital paper collection built around the idea of embracing the journey of becoming. Pairing them with Seth's fabric patterns turned out to be an easy, natural fit, and it's a great example of how mixing in supplies you wouldn't normally reach for can push a project in a new direction.

Give It a Try

If fabric isn't usually part of your crafting stash either, I'd encourage you to give this a shot. Treating it like patterned paper is such a simple way to bring in new texture without needing to touch a sewing machine.

Supplies

Below you will find links to the supplies I used to create these cards. When you shop through these links—whether you purchase that exact item or something else entirely—you're supporting me at no extra cost to you. The commission I receive helps me cover the costs of my blog and other expenses, and allows me to continue providing you with FREE inspiration and tutorials. If you want to learn more, you can see my full affiliate and product disclosure statement here. Thank you so much for your love and support!