Tuesday 20 August 2013

Carol Quance Project #3 Flower Canvas And Tags ....

So technically this is Carol's final Guest Designer post, but i think you have busted us, and know to expect her back tomorrow with a surprise! ...so we'll reserve our proper goodbyes till then! Here she is...... (drum roll)....Carol Quance...

"I think this is my favourite project during my time as Guest Designer. I hope you like it too."


I started by stamping flower images from ELB01 and ELB03 onto some heavyweight cotton canvas in StazOn Black.  I re-inked my pad before doing this to make it more juicy because the cotton canvas is quite thick and it helped with the absorption of the ink into the fabric. I also found that if I held down the rubber stamps for a while longer than usual it gave a stronger image. 

Next I painted the images with Fresco Paint.  I added some water to the paint to help it spread into the fabric but not too much as I didn’t want it to bleed. A pointed paintbrush was helpful at this stage for accuracy. I started with the flower accents in the centre. Then dried.

I painted a border round the edge of the images about 4mm (quarter inch) so that when cut out they would still have a coloured edge and not a white fabric border. Make sure you dry the fabric before switching paint colours, or the 2 colours will merge. If you dry after the first colour, then that will contrast nicely with the second colour.


  I painted up some leaves and branches too.

Next up, I cut out the different painted shapes and layered them up with some soft curtain interlining.


 I then used some plain cotton for the backing.


You don’t have to use curtain interlining – just whatever is to hand but make sure it’s not too thick.   As you can see, I didn’t cut them out particularly carefully.


Out came the sewing machine.  I set this up for free machine embroidery and with some gold thread, stitched round all the borders and highlighted the inner areas where I felt like it.


I did not tie off any loose ends of thread.  I made sure I re-stitched over the beginning and ends of my stitching lines and just cut them off. 

Once all the stitching was complete, I carefully cut round the edges. 

I didn’t like the white edges that were left after cutting out the flowers so I painted round them with watered down Fresco Paint in a matching colour.


Because the Fresco Paints have a high pigment, you don’t lose any of the depth of colour by watering them down.  It also makes it easier for the colour to absorb into the fabric.

Next I sprayed a piece of 25 x 25 cm piece of cotton canvas with dye inks. 


Finally it was a matter of placing the flowers and leaves on the canvas until I liked the layout. I only attached them lightly to the canvas with the sewing machine so that the edges were free and gave a more dimensional look. I also added a few beads to the flower centres for added texture.  Some words from the ELB03 plate were stamped onto a plain piece of canvas and stitched in place.   I backed the picture with another piece of cotton canvas and roughly stitched all round the edges to hide where I had attached all the flowers and leaves. 


Side project – canvas tags.

I had a lot of spare leaves and flowers left over and made some tags with these.  If you don’t fancy a full sized canvas, this is an easier way to go.  The tags can be cut out with the Tim Holtz tag die or cut from a template. I really enjoyed painting the canvas with the Fresco Paints because it worked so well. I liberally watered them down and the colours blended beautifully. As I mentioned previously, because they have a lot of pigment, the colour stays strong. 


  And this is the result.


 I also painted the edges and the backs.




 I attached the flowers/leaves and words as previously and here is the finished result.


This is my final project for PaperArtsy this semester. I have had a fabulous time. The PaperArtsy products are such fun to work with and I have been on a creative roll with them. Thanks to Leandra and Gillian for inviting me to a fun filled and exciting few months.

Leandra Says: Such a great idea. I love how you have used the little flower head 'upside down' it works really well that way! Adding a bit of 'puff' to fabric through stitching and the interlining giving depth really gives some real life to the flowers. Fantastic. Thanks Carol, you projects have been amazing this semester! It's been so great having you share with us all. Thank YOU!

Gillian Says: I think I have to agree with you Carol, I adore how you have combined the Fresco Paints with Lin's stamps onto these fabric works of art. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL. It has been a real pleasure seeing you create over the last few months. xx

Don't forget that if you want to join Carol in this week's challenge, then please why not have a go re-creating, or twisting-any-idea Carol has presented this week, and link your creativity here. Winners get to choose an A5 stamp set from PaperArtsy of their choice. We love to see how our designers inspire you! So join the fun!
 

27 comments:

Helen said...

these are gorgeous, Carol!! I don't know if my hand sewing will be up to this (in fact I know not, as I am hopeless even at sewing on buttons..) but I'll have to see what I can rustle up...

Lin said...

Wow Carol these are lovely!!! that fabric hanging is gorgeous and those tags...love them!!!great to see the sewing machine come out can't wait for the finale!!!

sam21ski said...

Great fabric makes Carol

Sam xx

Unknown said...

That's cool! Brilliant project Carol! Especially love the tags. xxx

Anonymous said...

Such beautiful projects, the hanging is gorgeous. Not sure I'll be able to attempt anything remotely close to them, but I'll certainly add them to my list of projects to try one day.

Darcy Marshall said...

Beautiful, I think this is one of my favourites.

massofhair said...

Fab projects, love using fabric with Fresco Paints. Definitely my fave projects so far this week! :-)

Paula Pascual said...

These are so beautiful. The colours are so pretty!

yoursartfully said...

I can't tell you what a thrill it is to see how you've used my stamps Carol. As you know, they were originally designed to be used on fabric and you have done it so well. I agree with Leandra that it was a genius idea to use those solid tulip heads as upside down, hanging flowers, I'll have to try that myself.

Lin

Unknown said...

These are absolutely beautiful. I love the idea but know my sewing is not up to scratch!

Emma

Julie Lee said...

Wonderful colours and the stamps are so suited to the projects. Totally inspiring week! Thank you for sharing your creativity; it's been brilliant. Julie Ann xx

Alison said...

They're all absolutely gorgeous Carol! xxx

Carol Q said...

So glad you liked this project Lin. I hoped you'd be pleased with the results x

joanne wardle said...

OMG as if the tags are a side project! the tags alone are gorgeous! but the canvas is fantastic. love it when you combine sewing with stamping.

craftimamma said...

Wow, these are gorgeous Carol. I'm kicking myself as I've given my sewing machine to my DD, lol!

The upside down tulips are brilliant and the colours stunning. Fabulous inspiration from all your projects this semester Carol, thankyou.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

nefertiti said...

Wow!!!it's gorgeous project Carol!! very great work!! bizz

Lucy Edmondson said...

Such wonderful projects, Carol! Lin's stamps are perfect for this and look so dimensional. You have used them in such an imaginative way.

Lucy x

ionabunny said...

Love the leaf and flower embellishments. Not on best terms with my sewing machine but might have to have a go at this. The canvas and tags are gorgeous

Trish said...

They are so fab Carol! I am not sure my control over my sewing machine is good enough to achieve this, but I may have to try and see!

Michelle Webb said...

Wow Carol, these are gorgeous! Love them lots. Michelle xx

Suzanne C said...

Love the stitched/quilted effect! Beautiful!

Inkypinkycraft said...

this is a gorgeous project, really gorgeous x hugs trace x

Gio said...

Love love them! So colourful and beautiful!

Words and Pictures said...

How lovely your fabric flowers are, Carol - I love those little tags!
Alison x

Linda M. Cain said...

Gorgeous, over-the-top work! LOVE it all!

~Linda

Dawn Louise said...

The work gone into this is tremendous and it shows how brilliant it is x

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow I have really started to love stamping on fabric recently and the paints and stamps work so well together but this Carol is truly awesome, thank you for your amazing inspiration. Kezzy :-) xxxx