We’re back on track with the Martha Project!

Today we take fabric flowers (oh, yes, my friends, we are STILL on fabric flowers) and stick them on some blank, canvas-covered books.

But first, you know what’s coming.  It is inevitable.  We almost cannot complete a Martha Encyclopedia project without it:

FRUITLESS SHOPPING.

Oh heavens, people, the hours I have wasted shopping for things that simply cannot be found.  Things that should be easy to find.  When I retire, I’m going to open a store that stocks only airmail envelopes, organdy, 300 lb cardstock, and canvas-covered books.

Because it is impossible to find canvas-covered books.

For this craft, Martha wants you to punch out some fabric flowers and glue them (more on that detail later) to a plain, fabric-covered blank book.  Or a fabric-covered box.  And I simply could not find them anywhere.  First, I tried for the fabric boxes; I looked at Cost Plus and at Pier 1.  I feel like I’ve seen those there before, you know?  Nothing.  So then I decided to focus on the books.  I used to have a bunch of blank books—back in the 80s, mind you—that I used as journals, and they were virtually all covered in fabric (albeit patterned fabric).  So they must still exist, right?  I tried stationery stores.  Nope.  While I was there I tried Cost Plus and Pier 1.  No.  I tried Michaels.  I tried drug stores.  I even tried the interwebs, people.  For Pete’s sake, you can’t even order these puppies on the internet.  Finally, FINALLY, I found one at Blick art supply—I think it’s intended to be an art journal, and you are supposed to paint the front.  So that’s what I bought, and that’s what I fabric-flowered.  But it cost me $11!  Just for the book!

Someone help me here.  What am I missing?  Shouldn’t these be easy to find?  Where should I be looking?  What keyword am I not typing into Google to get the results I want?  Have you seen these around?

Now, back to the gluing.  The instructions here are to coat your fabric with stiffener as before, punch out your flowers, and then glue them to the book with a glue stick.  Seriously, Martha?  A glue stick?  Like, the thing I had to buy for my kindergardener to use at school?  I just spent $11 on a canvas covered book and now you want me to glue stick things to it?

I don’t know.  Do I have a glue stick prejudice?  Am I being a craft elitist?  It just seemed kind of preposterous.  Is that really gonna hold after I throw my blank book into my backpack or purse or wherever?

Anyhoo, I did it.  Here you go.

Yup.  That’s it.

Another note here: I did NOT use the Martha flower punch (although I calculated for it in the cost since you’ll need one if you don’t have it).  I used my die cut machine flower cut.  I just never liked the Martha ones and I found they were hard to work with on fabric.

TIME INVESTED

Oh, this category is never really true to time since I don’t take into account shopping.  I should probably do that.

About 30 minutes

DIFFICULTY

For the project?  Easy.  Locating supplies?  You need a research librarian.

TOTAL COST

• fabric charm pack, $9.99
• fabric-covered book, $10.99
• fabric stiffener, $5.00
• Martha Stewart flower punch, $9.99

Total cost = $35.97

WAS IT WORTH IT?

No.  The end result is cute, I’ll give you that.  But is it worth trying to find these fabric books?  No.  Not that cute.

See you soon, raccoon, with another Martha project!

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