DIY Fabric Bolts {Mini Tutorial}

For the past 6 months we have been working on redoing our (well really, let's face it MY) craft room. I have looked at ALL things organization and a few months ago one of my favorite blogs, Smashed Peas and Carrots did a post on studio organization and mini fabric bolts. As soon as I read Maggie's post I knew this is what I needed to do in my craft room! Then, recently, I saw that Budget Wise Home who has kicked off the new year with all things organizational did a post as well. They featured The Little Green Bean who had cleaned up there fabric piles with DIY Fabric Bolts as well with a fabulous tutorial!

Coincidentally, over the Holidays I finally finished my DIY fabric bolts! Depending on how much fabric you have will depend on how long this takes! I had received some free foam core a while back when my office building was moving. The foam core had some dents in it and they were in a trash pile. Me, being the apparent hoarder I am, and knowing that foam core can get quite expensive piled as much as I possibly could into my car to bring home. It found a home in our attic, and we've used it for a few Halloween projects! A few months ago I cut up the first board of bolts, but with a dull exact-o blade they came out rough and rigid! I wrapped a few fabrics, and instantly was over the fabric organizational project! I'm not sure if it was me persuading Mr. Woodsy to do some cutting or at the fact that he was tired of looking at a mound of fabric, but on a whim during our holiday break he had {within minutes} cut up some foam core, and brought me a pile of "fabric bolts"... and within a half hour I had used them all up and needed more cut! Ultimately, I think I filled almost 50 bolts on my book case. 

I don't believe that there is a standard size for this project. Depending on your shelf space will depend on how large your bolt can be. I wanted to be able to see a little bit of the white foam core and I wanted it to fill the shelf from top to bottom. My foam core bolts measured to be just shy of 12 inches tall by 6-3/4inch long. I had a few that were smaller only because we were trying to use up all the foam core! I do have some extra left over in case I get more fabric; however, now having all my fabric neatly organized I can see that I truly have no need to buy more fabric any time soon. In fact, my goal is to try to use some of this fabric before I go out and buy any more (that's going to be the challenging part--fabric calls my name)! I have quite a few cute projects in mind, and if I ever want new fabric I better use what I already own!