10/5/09

Mixing Fabrics and Stamping

I have always loved fabric and learned to sew when I was a teenager. When my girls were young I made them matching Christmas dresses and at Halloween I made them each a special costume, and some years, even made their American Girl Dolls matching costumes. You can fall in love with fabric the way you can pretty paper! In fact, many well know paper companies make fabric too, including Basic Grey.

My Favorite Thing in having a Guest Designer Challenge this month and the challenge is to incorporate fabric into your project. I have been wanting to give this a try for a while so the challenge was the perfect push!

For my project I made a little gift set with a card and a little wooden box to hold a small gift. I think the box could be put to many uses. In fact, I like the way this came out so much I think I might just keep it! The stamp set I used is MFT's Grow, Love, Plant a tree.

If you look closely, you can see that the majority of the card is done with fabric. First I stamped the pointed tree on a MFT paper panel in cream, a second time so that I could cute out the trunk, and a third time on the fabric.

Hint: I like to use a very light weight fusible web, the kind that can be used for sewing. I ironed the web on the back of the fabric, then stamped the image, and cut it out. The webbing gives your fabric a little more stability, keeps it from fraying as much, and it will go through your die cutter much easier. After you cut out your stamped piece, peel off the iron on backing. At this point you can iron your fabric onto the paper with your iron on the silk setting, or just glue it down with your favorite adhesive.

The hill are cut freehand. I laid out the first hill and attached with a zig zag stitch, then I stamped the second tree, and applied the second hill. To do the stitching around the trees, I used my paper piercer to make the holes and used embroidery floss, all six strands to do the stitching. I also used fabric on my background. After finishing up my stitching, I applied lace to the bottom. Then I made a couple of fabric yo-yo's. Here is a tutorial if you want to give them at try.
This little wooden box I purchased at Michael's for a dollar. I painted it black and then I wrapped fabric around it, glueing it down with Tomboy liquid glue. I made the tree as described above, wrapped a ribbon around the box and tied it in a bow, and attached a second yo-yo.

I really enjoyed working on this project! Be sure to join us in the MFT forum at Splitcoaststampers for the big release party on Wednesday at 8:00 pm EST!

Thanks!
Melody

10 comments:

  1. Melody this is fantastic, I use to do alot of applique when I was quilting.

    --So very striking.

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  2. Hey Mel nice job! Your card and decorated box looks so rustic and has a "folk art" feel. Love it ! :o)

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  3. WOW! This is 100% totally amazing, Mel! I love all the added stitching and the lace. You do a wonderful job with that lacey antique look. I don't blame you for wanting to keep it! I would too!! :)

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  4. I love IT! I did not know that many paper companies did fabric, it makes sense, what a cool fact! I do have some pretty fabric scraps saved in my studio, you've inspired me to pull them out!

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  5. This is GORGEOUS ! Melody, this is my first visit to your blog and what a treat it has been ! You do beautiful work !

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  6. So pretty Melody! First time stopping by your blog, and I must say....wowza!!! Your creations are just gorgeous!

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  7. This is stunning Melody!!!Gorgeous!! Love the fabric!! The use of fabric adds so much elegance!! Beautiful work!!

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  8. Oh my word! That's fabulous! They'd be stupid not to pick you for guest DT! WOW!!!!! I see that you need to teach us to make yo-yo flowers at TNT. LOL

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  9. My first reaction was - is Melody crazy?! LOL This is stunning and I'm so amazed! They remind me of my son's books by Clare Beaton who uses felt, beads, etc to illustrate her books. Just fantastic, Melody!

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  10. Wow, this is beautiful!! I just love your blog, its full of yummy eye candy!!
    hugs
    Latisha

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