Seven Creative Ways to Use Felt Scraps and Be Happy!

As a crafty content creator and a long-time lover of felt, I’m always looking for ways to repurpose felt scraps into beautiful and practical projects. If you’re like me, your craft room may be overflowing with small, leftover pieces of felt—bits that are too small to use for big projects and yet too good to throw away. Well, don’t fret! There are endless possibilities to upcycle these scraps into something special, all while engaging in soothing, creative activities.

Hello! This is Lorrie Everitt from Make and Merry Co and I have always believed that crafting is not just a hobby – it’s self-care, a creative escape, a way to unwind and relieve stress. In this blog post, I’ll share some easy and beginner-friendly project ideas that will help you use up those scraps, create thoughtful handmade gifts and be transported to a place of calm. Plus, I’ll offer my tips on how to store your felt scraps to keep them organized and tidy!

1. Hoop Art Featuring Felt Scraps and Embroidery

One of the easiest and most rewarding ways to transform your felt scraps is by creating hoop art. Using a wooden embroidery hoop as a frame and fabric as a base, you can arrange felt scraps in a variety of shapes and colors to create small handmade pieces of art. The best part? You can enhance your design with some simple embroidery stitches, such as a running stitch, satin stitch, or French knots.

These mini art pieces are not only fun to make, but they also serve as a great stress reliever. The process of arranging felt scraps into patterns and stitching them together is repetitive, meditative, and deeply satisfying. Hang these hoops on your wall as little bursts of creativity, or share them as heartfelt handmade gifts.

2. Felt Finger Puppets

Felt finger puppets are a wonderful way to let your imagination run wild and create playful characters for storytelling, role-playing, or even entertaining kids. These little puppets come together quickly and are made from small scraps, making them perfect for using up those leftover pieces.

To make felt finger puppets, simply cut out basic shapes for the body, ears, and any other fun details you want to add. Stitch the pieces together, then create a small opening at the bottom for your finger. You can make a whole cast of characters, from animals to people, and watch them come to life during story time.

3. Felt Bookmarks

For book lovers, felt bookmarks are both a practical and enjoyable project to make. A few small scraps of felt are all you need to create personalized bookmarks that add a touch of whimsy to your reading experience.

To make two felt corner bookmarks like mine, cut felt into three 4” squares and then cut one of the square diagonally to create two triangles. Embellish the felt triangles with embroidery floss, beads, sequins or tiny felt appliqué. Sew each triangle to a square as shown, leaving the long edge of the triangle open. These bookmarks make lovely, homemade gifts for friends, family, or fellow bookworms!

Creative Tip: Stiffen the felt bookmark by spraying it with hairspray. It makes it easier to add the bookmark to your book page, especially if you are using acrylic felt.

4. Elastic and Felt Book Bands

Speaking of books, a great way to use felt scraps and make something functional is by creating felt book bands. These easy-to-make bands can help keep journals, notebooks, or planners closed securely while also adding a touch of flair.

To make your own felt book band, simply cut a length of elastic long enough to wrap around the book when slightly stretched, and then sew on a fun felt embellishment, such as flowers, animals, or maybe a donut! You could also make a felt “pocket” using rectangular pieces of felt, to hold a pencils and pens for journalling. It’s a super quick project, perfect for beginner crafters, and a great way to organize and personalize your stationery!

5. Felt Wands for the Holidays

Felt wands are a magical and festive way to use up scraps during the holiday season, but they can also be made for birthdays or other special occasions. These charming little wands are perfect for kids or anyone who loves a bit of whimsical fun.

To create a felt wand, cut two matching shapes from your scraps and layer them together. Add some embroidery floss, beads and whatever you wish for decoration. Attach the layered shapes to a wooden dowel or stick and if desired, add a little “stuffing” using your tiniest felt scraps. Tie ribbons and yarn to the stick for some extra twirling fun! Felt wands make adorable holiday decorations, and they’re perfect for creative playtime too.

6. Sew Embroidery Floss and Felt Scraps on Photographs

If you have a favourite photo that you want to add a personal touch, consider sewing embroidery details and felt scraps onto it! This project allows you to combine photography with embroidery and felt, creating unique pieces of art that are full of character and creativity.

Simply print out your favorite photos onto heavy weight paper or cardstock and then cut small pieces of felt to sew onto the picture. You could stitch flowers, leaves, stars, or even create little felt appliqué shapes that complement the photo’s theme. This project is a great way to give new life to your photos and add some handmade charm to your décor.

7. Felt Gift Tags

As the holiday season or a special occasion approaches, making your own gift tags with felt scraps can be a creative way to add a personal touch to gifts. Starting with plain tag shapes made from paper, wood, or felt, it’s fun to create tags that are unique and reusable.

These bunny gift tags could be used for Easter, a child’s birthday or a baby shower gift. Cut the felt into a simple bunny head and use embroidery floss to create the bunny’s eyes and mouth. You can paint the tags before gluing the felt bunny in place. Embellish the tags using scraps of ribbon and twine. These gift tags make wonderful keepsakes that can be reused for future gifts!

With so many amazing projects to create with felt scraps, it’s important to keep your materials organized so you can easily access them when you’re ready to start crafting. A simple solution is to store your scraps in large, reclosable clear bags. Clear bags allow you to see the colors and sizes of your scraps at a glance, making it easier to grab exactly what you need.

Another tip is to sort your scraps by color or material type. For example, you can have separate bags for acrylic, wool blend and 100% wool felt. This organizational system will make it easy to find the perfect piece of felt for your next project and reduce stress during the crafting process.

I store all of my bags of felt in pretty baskets that can either be tucked away or left out to become part of my craft studio’s décor.

Beyond the creative satisfaction, crafting with felt scraps can be incredibly beneficial for your mental health. Crafting is known to relieve stress, improve focus, and provide a sense of accomplishment. Many people find that crafting offers a therapeutic escape from daily worries, helping them unwind and connect with their emotions.

The repetitive motions of cutting felt and stitching on felt can be calming and meditative, helping to ease the mind. Plus, creating something beautiful with your hands gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment, making it a wonderful way to boost your mood.

Whether you're a beginner crafter or a seasoned pro, working with felt scraps opens up endless possibilities for creating charming and functional handmade items. From hoop art to finger puppets, bookmarks to felt wands, there’s something for everyone, no matter your skill level. And with the added bonus of feeling calmer and more centered, these projects provide the perfect balance of creativity and emotional support.

So next time you find yourself with a pile of felt scraps, don’t throw them away! Grab your scissors, needle, thread, and some fun embellishments, and dive into one of these simple, relaxing, and rewarding craft projects.