Fun fabric embellishment tutorial

These little flowers or embellishments are easy and fun. They are made using recycled materials, so the only cost is the glue and your time.

Supplies:
Clothing to take apart, preferably jeans weight
UHU Twist & Glue (or any clear glue, not white)
Scissors for cutting fabric

Using your scissor, cut the double sewn seams from old clothes. Do not use seams where the fabric is simply sewn together. Cut to a desired length.

From these jeans, I got four buttons, one label, and three seam strips. The fabric seam on the left is not double stitched, so if you plan to use it, you will need to glue the sides together. The two on the right are double stitched and work best for this project.

Make sure the end you start with has a straight cut.

Begin wrapping tightly. This is not a bead, so you don't want a hole in the center.

As you approach the end, be sure to straighten the circle.

Add a bit of clear glue continuously somewhere between 1" and 2" of the end. Be sure this end is angle cut.

Hold the two pieces together while the glue is still wet. You might need to hold it up to two minutes. As you are holding the piece, be sure the end adheres well. If done correctly, the fabric will nearly dissolve into itself.

Set aside to dry. This could take up to an hour.

When the edges are completely dry, determine which side will be the back side of your flower/embellishment. I used the selvage side for the back and kept the sewn side for the front. Flood the back with glue, making sure you get bits into the cracks and out to the edges.

Be sure to remove any glue that spills over onto the side. You may need to add glue a second time, after the glue has had a chance to seep in a bit.

Now set them aside to dry. Mine took two days before I felt confident they could be used in a project.

So, how will you use your flowers? Below are some ideas for using them in fabric collages/art quilts. Nothing is glued or sewn together in the photos below. I am still deciding on which design, if any, I will use.

As an embellishment.

As a flower center.

As a flower center.

As a flower center.

As both a flower center and an embellishment.

Today's blog is another that I found during OWOH. It is by the talented journal maker, Patti Edmon who lives in KY and blogs from her Altered Attic. OK, I took a bit of license there, because that's the name of Patti's blog. Wherever she creates her art, it is awe inspiring, full of color, and makes you want to get to your "attic" and spread some paint on something. I can assure you, there is lots of eye candy on Patti's blog, even if you don't make or use art journals.

Fun paper flower embellishments tutorial

As part of my OWOH giveaway, I offered the piece below. Several people asked me how I made the flowers.


Unfortunately, they are not nearly as pretty in this scan as they are once they are fluffed up. Since I had several requests for these, and since it's been awhile since I've actually done a tutorial on my blog, here is how I made them. Although they are easy, they are time consuming. Of course, you can't make just one, either, and I got a bit carried away making them.


Supplies (from top left, clockwise):
Deli paper (I used Kabinet Wax brand by Dixie from Sam's Club)
UHU glue (or any clear liquid glue)
Fluid acrylics (colors of your choice)
Inexpensive craft paint (colors of your choice)
Sharpie pens (various colors)
Craft sheet, or some way to protect your work surface)
Scissors (not shown)
Credit card or paint brush (not shown)


Lay down at least three coordinated colors of paint directly onto your deli paper. Be sure your paper is on your craft sheet. Using either a credit card (my tool of choice) or a foam or bristle brush, completely cover one side of the deli paper with paint. Spread some areas with single colors, others by mixing your colors.


Allow to dry. Don't get too concerned if you have a bare spot or two on your paper. It will never show in the final piece.


Continue making papers with various complimentary colors until you have several sheets completed. Make sure there is a distinct difference in the final pages, even though you use the same paints.


Audition your pen or marker colors and pick a few that compliment or go well with your color scheme.


Write your favorite word or words. I even wrote a few tips I wanted to share. Here are some of the things I wrote.

You can scribble all over the page with words of inspiration and affection because the words get cut around and no one will know for sure what they are or what they read. If your paint colors are dark, you will need to use black or white ink. If the words or sentences don't make sense, it doesn't matter. Use coordinating colors and keep within the same color family. You will want the best looking or least discernible words for the top layer. If you don't like your handwriting, try griping your marker like a child does or use your non-dominant hand.

Write words of inspiration or a favorite sentiment in other colors between the darker words.


Once your pages are finished, grab your favorite scissors and at least four sheets of paper.


Stack them and begin cutting circles. Keep your pages together to maximize the number of circles you can get from one stack. Alternately, use decorative scissors to cut your circles.


Cut an equal number of large, medium, and small circles. You can make your flowers with four or five petals, but I thought three was a good number.


Since you don't want all your flower petals the same color, leave the largest stack as is. Take the top circle from the middle stack and place it on the bottom.


Take two circles from the smallest stack and place them on the bottom of that stack.


Take the top circle from each stack and place them together, with the smallest circle on top.


Place a small amount of clear liquid glue in the center of each circle. For this project, I do NOT recommend white glue (Elmer's or equivalent) or glue stick. White glue is too wet and will tear the deli paper, and glue stick doesn't have enough surface area for good coverage.


Grab the assembly in the center, then gather and twist until you have the shape you desire.


This is how they will look on the back after they have been pinched and twisted. Hold the flower a few seconds to make sure the glue has started to set.


You now have one completed flower. If you don't like the way it is laying, you can always twist and smoosh some more. Be sure your "petals" are separated, too. Now go make more.


When finished, you will have some darling flowers for assemblages. Or use them in a wreath. Or add a piece of wire to the twisted area and turn them into a stunning bouquet. Or use them to decorate a package or gift tag. I don't suggest using them in an altered book or in any art where they will have to lay flat. They will flatten, like they did on my scanner (see first photo, this post) and you will be refluffing them a lot. They really look best when they are allowed to be themselves.

You can add anything in the center, including a button, glitter, tiny beads, pony beads (what better way to use them up), or leave the center as is.

These took a long time to make, and I stopped after 14 due to time constraints. Although I love deli paper because of its softness, ease of use, and the way it handles, you can shorten the time it takes to make them by beginning with lightweight patterned scrapbook paper, book pages (just make sure the pages aren't brittle), or maps. I hope you have fun with these, and make a few. If you do, I will link your post to this page, which can be found on my tutorial page.

Yesterday I was searching for a blog for the day, and clicked on a random link I found on Lori's blog (Ravenpainting) called Eclectic Visions of an Altered Journey. The owner of the blog is Linda Baldock. What I found was a blog filled with fun, color, and most of all, techniques and art that include paint and resin together, and rust and paint together. There is plenty of eye candy for everyone.

L-UHU-ck of the Irish

Remember the samples I showed earlier this month that you could receive from UHU? Luckily, the gals at UHU sent me a small journal, since I had such a hard time making the Valentine box last time.


For the front, I dyed a book page with two colors of Ranger color wash, then added the shamrock and green paper they sent me.


For the back, I cut up a playing card to place over the colored background that I also added gold leafing pen to. I love the rabbit with the clover.

I also made a book mark using the rest of the supplies they sent me. You can see my UHU write up here, as well as pictures of what the other design team members made from their kits.

And you really need to see what Carol Anne of Carol Anne's Boutique did with the box that UHU sent her. Her box is out of this world. I was blown away when I saw it last night. Stop by and let her know how beautiful her box turned out. Of course, using one of her freebie images she offers to her blogging readers made the project even more special. If you like vintage, you're going to love her box.

Today's blog is one I found during the OWOH giveaway. In order to visit many blogs and still keep some semblance of a life, you really can't stay very long at any one blog. However, Adventures in Mixed Media was one I specifically wanted to revisit. Jennifer Pearson Vanier, who lives in Canada, has an eclectic mix of posts, loves to search for vintage materials, is redoing her studio (and shares some fantastic photos, too), takes her readers on shopping trips, and fixes some pretty decent meals along the way. She also makes ATCs which she often throws into the mix. Her posts are easy to read, fun, and have nice photos to accompany them. I really enjoy reading her blog, so think you will, too.

Do you UHU?

Would you like a free sample of UHU glue? How about a small box or journal to decorate for St. Patrick's Day, along with the items needed to decorate them? If so, UHU is providing these samples this month. Go to the UHU web site to learn the specifics.

I not only snagged the above photo from the UHU web site, I also copied the rules for getting a sample:



"Here’s the stuff were sending (remember a box or a journal - we’ll pick and send out randomly while supplies last). Want some UHU luck? Here’s the drill:

-You must be an active blogger in the U.S. or Canada.

-You must promise to post your project/review and abide by federal guidelines that we’ve sent you the UHU and project materials in exchange of your honest (good or bad) review

- let us know via email or a comment on the blog when your project is posted. Linking back to the UHU blog is very much appreciated.

- Send us an email and remember to include your mailing address and blog url. We’ll send out on a first-come, first-served basis.

-If you’ve received a sample before and haven’t sent your review to us - let us know before you ask for more UHU please!"

There you have it. I hope to see your project on your blog soon. I just received mine this weekend and will be working on it soon.

Today's blog is by my hero Halle. Thanks to Halle at Halle's Hobbies, because of her capable help, I was able to get my comments numbered, at least sort of. The numbers start over again after 200, which is the number allowed on each page. But this was a tremendous help, and Halle did a fine job of finding my code and fixing it for me. Since Halle's OWOH giveaway ended at midnight, I didn't violate any self imposed rule that no one who was in the OWOH giveaway could be my blog person of the day. So hats off to Halle. Thanks for making my giveaway counting so much easier.

My revised UHU clipboard

I've never made a secret of the fact that I sometimes get things wrong. So I decided to revamp my UHU clipboard. Although I finished covering it awhile ago, I wanted to show how I did it and what I turned it into.

To cover the clipboard, I used UHU STIC. I covered the entire piece using a piece of lovely paper gifted to me by Donna of Findings Art.

You can see I completely covered the clipboard, carefully cutting around the metal clip.

I decided to add a piece of rick rack using the UHU permanent glue roller. I began by measuring the rick rack by folding it around the clipboard, then cutting, leaving a tiny tail.

The idea is to place the glue roller onto the rick rack. Be sure to get good coverage and press well. This could take a few minutes. Don't glue too far ahead, and press firmly as you go.

I used a drop of Twist & Glue to adhere the edges of the rick rack together.

I held the completed piece together with the tail still intact using a clothes pin until it was dry. When the Twist & Glue was completely dry, I cut the excess rick rack away, making sure both ends of the rick rack lined up properly.

I decided to not add alcohol inks to the metal clipboard because I don't want added color to distract from the piece. It now hangs on my wall and has become a piece where I can display art.

Here it holds the piece I made and showed yesterday. It will now hold weekly art that I make for inspiration, or a prototype for a swap. What better way for an artist to use the clipboard than a design or display board?

If you live in the US or Canada and have an active blog, be sure to go to http://www.gluewithuhu.com/ for your free Saunders clipboard and this month's sample: UHU Glue Stic. Tell them Bleubeard and Elizabeth sent you, then have fun decorating your own clipboard. When you've finished, be sure to send a link to your blog, so we can see how you used your clipboard.

Crackle with UHU

I created this tutorial for UHU, using my favorite UHU product: Twist & Glue.

Materials:
Heat tool
UHU Twist & Glue
Cheap acrylic colors of your choice
Old brush of your choice
Card stock, color of your choice
Craft sheet or other heat resistant surface

TIP: If using dark card stock, use light paint, if using light card stock, choose a dark paint color.

Cut card stock to size.

Liberally apply Twist & Glue to part of the card stock.

For this piece, I applied the glue loosely in the shape of a tree.

Immediately apply paint over the glue. Use more paint for smaller cracks, less for larger ones.

Using your heat tool, apply heat until the cracks begin to appear. Do not overheat or you will get bubbles, which may be a look you like.

The finished product looks a bit like a tree, but I fear I got too much paint on the piece because the paint bubbled before it cracked. In places where I applied less paint, I got really good cracks. Click to enlarge.

I decided to try a second piece and use less paint. I also decided to not try to paint an image. Cut card stock to size.

Liberally apply Twist & Glue to part of the card stock. Leave a border around the glue.

Apply a small amount of your choice of paint. For this project I used "warm milk" acrylic paint.

Using your heat tool, apply heat until the cracks begin to appear. Since I used less paint on this one, the cracks began to appear soon after I started heating the piece.

Allow to dry completely before using. I was happier with the results from this piece, although it was rather boring. I did convince myself that you can get a crackle finish that is as good as some of the commercial ones and I didn't get as much warp as I got with a commercial one I used recently. However, as you can tell if you click on the scan, I did get some warp, which I hope will go away after a few days under a heavy book.