Repurposing things
 

I have been looking for stencils to mark for free motion and not having much luck. It hit me today that I had a bunch of scrap booking shapes that I have not used in years, dug them out and surprise I found circles, diamonds and several sizes of wavy designs. Tired fitting them on a quilt I have ready to go and they are just right. At least now I don't feel so bad about having them sit in the cabinet.

Great idea and glad you could use them. I repurpose stuff too, cookie cutters for applique and shapes, old lids or cd's for circles...it's amazing what we can come up with if we use our noggins!!!!

Look around. All kinds of things can be used for quilting motifs and appliqué. I found some great foam shapes at the dollar store that I have used. Isn't it fun to find an old thing that becomes a new thing in a different setting.

I found that I had some really cute gift candy tins I put on the end of the ironing and cutting boards. They make great thread catchers. Decorative and functional.

Hmmmm, maybe I should go look in my scrap booking tote.......

Cookie cutters in the shape of --- hearts, dog bones, lips, gingerbread persons, trees ect..ect...

what awesome ideas. sometimes i am so linear. those never occured to me. thanks.

Great ideas! I like to repurpose what I can...

I got a 3/4" hex punch at michaels in the scrapbooking dept, i cut my paper pcs. out of old manilla folders.

I come from a family with many artists that draw and paint. I did not inherit that gene. When I was learning how to quilt I was taught to use household items for templates. Cups, saucers, plates, cookie cutters and just about any other kitchen item. Over the years I have used many things to trace around for making templates. My favorite shaped leaves for applique started out as a trace around a bic lighter. I even used one of my dad's ties and a juice glass to create my first Dresden Plate template.