Canvas Corp Brands Crew – Crafts with Denim

We all love denim! Many of us wear it just about every day of our lives.  We at CCB challenged the Crew to create projects with all kinds of denim: old denim, new denim, worn denim, dark denim, distressed denim, etc. We thought it would be fun to see how good denim looks dressed up by our crafts.  The Crew took this project and ran with it, and they had great stories to share.  

Denim was invented by Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss in 1873.  For those who will wear nothing but Levis, you have tapped into the source.  Denim was developed at the time of the Gold Rush in the western United States as a way to provide the workers sturdy long-lasting attire.  Here is a bit more of the history of Jeans.  Today jeans are worn at work, dressed up, dressed down, on the job site, by our kids and also found in home decor pieces like sofas, pillows and curtains.  Denim is usually 100% cotton, except the denim that stretches and moves which has a little help with some additional material.  Denim takes on a life of its own when worn or crafted with, distressed in certain areas, altering in color when washed and all the while holding up just like it did for prospectors of the Gold Rush.

Before you throw away your children’s jeans or donate them to a local charity consider crafting with them. For example, take the pocket off of your grandfather’s jeans for a great memory of him or buy a yard of denim and make your own history.  Here are some great projects by the Crew where denim is king and they show ideas galore.  

7gypsies has a collection of Dungaree (another word for denim, overalls or blue jeans) products in their line including journal covers and scrapbooks. Also Canvas Corp offers flowers, fringe, fabric and even a new tote with denim and burlap(we love the combo!).  To see a wide range of denim products visit the Canvas Corp Brands Shop

Denim & Canvas Sailboat by Jennifer Hottinger-Sloan

Here is a great idea for beach house decor, nautical room or make them for a little boys room with jeans from when they were little.  

DIY sailboat decor made from drift wood and cast off denim jeans. The drift wood was picked up during a walk on the beach. The sails were cut from old pair of jeans and a little Canvas Corp Canvas. The wooden boat number represent the year our sailboat was made.

Canvas Corp 12×12 Canvas; Waxed Cord- White ; Mini Shapes – Flag; 7gypsies Nautical Charms; Grommets; Wood Numbers

Li’l Man Handmade Card by Patti Senter 

 This is a simple, quick card that captures the wonder of a newborn. Starting with a stitched denim & kraft card base made by  Canvas Corp, which has the denim denim stitched onto the kraft cards.  The cards come in a set of 4, so why not make several for all those new bundles of joy coming into your world.  The denim is great for baby boys, western theme or sassy girls.  New arrivals bring out the smiles in all of us, and when we get invited to baby showers and gatherings to welcome them into our world, why not make something handmade that they will treasure. I’m sharing a special card to welcome a little baby boy. Share this card with a new Mother or Grandmother and you are sure to melt their hearts.

Canvas Corp:  It’s A Boy on Ivory (also available on Mix & Match Pad – Snips & Snails); Stitched Greeting Cards Kraft w/Denim; Mini Clothespins – Chocolate; 12×12 Burlap – Chocolate; Jute Ball – Natural; 12×12 eflute – Kraft; 7 Gypsies: Gypsy Moment Tags – Happy Birthday; Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist – Iridescent Gold Tim Holtz Distress Ink;  Tim Holtz Distress Marker – Ground Espresso; My Sentiments Exactly – Welcome stamp; Spellbinders Celebra’tions Berry Black ink; Beacon Adhesive; Ivy Hollow Scrap Fusion glue; Gathered Twigs to the line Distress Ink

Denim & Ticking Mixed Media Canvas by Zuzia Bodakowska/Zuziucha

Denim is almost a neutral and looks terrific when paired with neutral tones, blues and browns.  The blend of of denim and ticking looks terrific together and adds such nice dimension to Zuzia’s canvas.    

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist: Icicle Blue, Crushed Shells, Kraft, Partridge in a Pear Tree, Chalkboard Mist – French Vanilla ,
Canvas Corp: Small Stretched Canvas;  Extras: Gesso, pieces of fabric, string, a vintage button

Denim Pocket Purse by Jennifer Hottinger-Sloan

Jennifer shares a clever and creative idea for housing your cell phone while it is charging and then toting it off when you do not have pockets for the day.  You can wear it cross body and have your hands free.  This is also a great idea for a craft at a kids birthday party, school craft or other event. Have each of the kids bring in an old pair of jeans and you can share the pockets.  A terrific idea to make for Mom for Mother’s Day, especially if the pocket is from the jeans of their children.  

Create a mini purse with a denim pocket taken from an old pair of jeans. Decorate with a handle from scrap fabric and pin it  on with a 7gypsies antique pin. Edge the pocket with natural canvas that was made into a fringe by pulling out 5 rows of thread to add extra fray. Use a pre-made flower or make your own with an old scarf, piece of fabric or even an old t-shirt and add a metal charm like this bug or an old piece of jewelry.  This pocket holds a cell phone as it is charging, and can be hung up near the plug and then can be carried with you when you do not have pockets.  You can make the strap long to wear it as a purse and then tie it into a knot if you need to hang it near the plug.

7gypsies: Antique Pins; Canvas Corp: Canvas Fringe-  natural; Old jean pocket; Beacon 3 in 1 adhesive; Blake Riley fabric by Kelly Panacci; Prima flower

Memorable Mother’s Day Gifts by Alison Osborn

Alison took this project to a great place by making amazing gifts for Mother’s Day.  Here is a sneak peek, stay tuned for an upcoming blog post with all the details.  

Recycled Denim Check-folio by Monica Edwards

Here is a fun project to make good use of a pair of jeans you might be ready to toss or a piece of denim you picked up from Canvas Corp.

Start with a piece of recycled cardboard from a discarded box or packaging and cut it to size.

Cut the denim to make the front cover of your check book cover.

Cut slots or glue the back of the checkbooks into your book.  This is great when you have a small business and personal check book and need to keep things straight.

Decorate the outside with your favorite things, like the nautical touches Monica choose.

Canvas Corp 12×12 Denim Sheet;  Twisted Hemp Rope; Sand and Sea Fabric Panel; 12×12 Burlap – natural; Tattered Angels High Impact Paint White; metal accents; fabric glue

Sugar & Spice Layout by Christine Santos

Denim might be a go to supply for a baby boy and little boy projects, but we love how Christine incorporated it into this layout.  Little girls love their blue jeans too!!!!

The Canvas Corp Beans & Bags Collection is perfect for a little girl’s tea party and works terrific for a layout featuring sweet little girls having fun.  The neutral color of the collation lets you add colors such as pink, yellow and blue to match your photos and color palette.

Canvas Corp:  Beans & Bags papers: Black & Ivory Tea Cups Rev; Fill The Cup On Kraft; Coffee & Tea Labels On Ivory; Black & Ivory Zig Zag Rev; E-Flute Black; Solid Hot Pink On White; It’s A Girl Sampler On Ivory; C-Flute White ; Journal Lines On White;  Baby Girl Printed Tags; 12×12 Denim Sheet; Yellow Canvas Flower; Brown Waxed Cotton Cord Tattered Angels materials: Marigold Glimmer Mist; Night B4 Christmas Glimmer Mist; Graphite Glimmer Mist; Hot Pink Stained Glass 7gypsies Charm: Paris Other Materials:; Chipboards; Gesso

Baby Girl Journal by Kyriakos

Pink and Denim just work too.  This book looks like a baby girl outfit but with paper.  Stay tuned for a blog post featuring this mini book.

Denim Mini Journal by Kimberly N.

Denim and lace look terrific together!!!  How about a mini journal that is clean, simple and handmade.  

You can alter any little notebook using the lovely fabric sheets by Canvas Corp brands and a little glue. I love how it makes my lil notebook personal. I found a few scraps to add that show how adorable the paper looks in journals, and I left a lot of blank pages for notes, etc. My lil notebook fits nicely inside my purse and the denim makes it more durable.

Locate a journal or cut cardboard and fill with blank pages to make your own. Then cover with  denim.

Decorate the pages with “naked” items from 7gypsies because they have that great manila look. Cut pieces from Gypsy Moments, American Vintage and Wanderlust paper.

Distress the edges with distressing ink or a neutral Tattered Angels Mist.

Add fun little items like ticket stubs, buttons or other trinkets from the trip.

Canvas Corp; 12×12 Denim fabric sheet  7gypsies Wanderlust Open New Doors , Express Yourself Gypsy Moments ; Lace Trimmings ; Tickets; ATC Naked File Folder; Fabri-tac glue; Tape Runner

Little Man Layout by Marie Nicole

Denim really is a great backdrop for scrapbooking layouts and little boy projects. 

This layout features photos that I took of my son when he turned 8 months. I used a 12×12 sheet of denim as the background to build upon and I love the look and texture it brings to this layout!

Enjoy creating with denim!!!! 

Happy Creating!!!

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