DIY decorating: Fun with felt

Craft queen Tara Dennis shows you how you can make fun felt accessories.

Butterfly how to
1. Print out the pattern from the butterfly template (below), glue to a thin piece of card and cut out to create a template.
2. Iron HeatnBond (see top tip) to different coloured pieces of felt and draw on as many butterflies as you can fit.
3. Cut them out, remove the backing paper and iron on to your accessories.
TIP: Always use a piece of baking paper to protect the felt from the heat of the iron.

Fun projects with fabulous results

1. Placemats


■ For each placemat you’ll need to cut two 30cm squares of felt.
■ Cut a piece of HeatnBond paper the same size as the felt pieces and iron it on to one of the squares.
■ Remove the backing paper before ironing the two felt squares together to form a placemat. Decorate with coloured butterflies (see left to make).

2. Coasters


■ Iron HeatnBond to different coloured pieces of felt and draw around a saucer to create circles. You’ll need three circles, two with HeatnBond on them and one without.
■ Remove the backing paper, add a butterfly and stack the three circles together before ironing to bond them.

3. Cushions


■ Remove the filling from the cushion before laying the cover flat on a hard surface. Arrange the butterflies evenly across and iron to heat set them.
TIP: HeatnBond can be reactivated with heat, so for a more permanent result use fabric glue – as well as or instead of – when sticking down your butterflies.

4. Notebook covers


■ Plain notebooks can be decorated in a flash with these removable felt covers.
Measure your notebook and cut a piece of felt to suit.
■ Cut two extra strips and glue them to either end to form pockets.
■ Iron on your butterfly decoration and tuck the notebook inside.

Top tip
HeatnBond is a bonding paper that fuses fabric when you iron it. You can buy it
from fabric stores for about $7 per metre. You can also use craft glue instead.

To make your butterfly template, download the pdf file below.

Download butterfly template pdf

What we used: Pink carnival felt, 79c per A4 sheet; Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, $6.99 per 50ml, both from Riot Art & Craft, www.riotstores.com.au Cream and brown felt, from $6.99 per metre; HeatnBond, $7 per metre, both from Spotlight, 1300 305 405 or www.spotlight.com.au

Photos Martyn Rushby