cjr

we have been indated with high grade glossy card stock with political ads. I'm saving them to use to cut out trmplates. Like everyone above I use whatever is handy for circles etc. One extra step further : cut circle out of newqspaper first, fold in half then again into quarters, notch at folds then tape newspaper pattern to card and cut out. Notches help in placement on seams.

pal

I like finding vintage plant holders, filling them with sawdust or sand and a piece of steel wool - then covering the hole with a piece of velour or co-ordinating fabric and I have a large, wonderful pin cushion. This is especially meaninful if the planter comes from the home of someone you care about.

coopah

Clever! I had a Big Shot sitting in my closet for 4 years. No one here to scrapbook/make cards with, so there it sat. Then I decided to research dies and am not cranking out 2 1/2" squares frequently! It's smart to adapt old things to new uses! :-)

crafty pat

I use cereal boxes for templates and I keep a medicine bottle with a hole just large enough for bent pins and old needles on my work space to discard old pins and needles. We buy our trash and garbage bags from Sam's Club and the boxes they come in are just the right size to cut the top off cut a u shape down the side cover with a pretty contact paper and I have a wonderful storage box for my magazines and catalogs.

carolynjo

Aren't we creative!! How fun to use something repurposed and not spend our fabric money.

Cybrarian

I wanted to quilt a scallop design on each side of a table runner. Taped together old computer game CDs (knew I kept them for a reason) with duct tape - made a perfect continuous design. I also reuse the Truvia sweetner containers - great for small stuff storage.

quilterpurpledog

I like to use children's coloring books for designs to quilt. They are usually simply drawn so small children can color them and they work well. When I find a design that is too big or too small for my purpose I use the printer to enlarge or reduce them. You can even use the motif in a variety of sizes on the same project.