2016 #12 Floral ATC's {by Wanda Hentges}

 2016 Topic 12: Fabric

Hi everyone!! It's Wanda here. I'm thrilled to be back tonight for the topic of Fabric and I've decided to make some ATCs. Now I really wouldn't call myself a "sewer" but I do like fabric - even if I don't really "know" fabrics - and I do like stitching. I even like stitching on a paper project. However, even if you don't sew, either by hand or machine, you can still use fabric and have lots of fun!!

I'm using Kay Carley's beautiful stamp sets for this project - EKC01 and EKC02. I've also used Sara's stencil PS026 on one of the ATCs.

I received my shipment of Infusions shortly before I needed to get to work on this project and thought they would be a great place to start. I tore a piece of natural muslin large enough to get 9 atc-sized pieces from it allowing a little extra in both directions. I went back and forth spraying water and shaking on infusions. The colors of Infusions used are Golden Sands, Royal Blood, A Bit Jaded, Orange County, Emerald Isle, and Lemoncello.

As it got more wet I began to dry it with the heat tool and in some areas, while they were still damp, I'd shake on a bit more infusions, allow just a smidge of time, and then continue to dry. This gave me some areas that have blended color with speckles over the top.

Once I decided I was done adding color and had it all dried, I tore it into 9 atc-sized pieces. Of course, they didn't all tear exactly but that was totally fine. So far I've used 4 of these pieces and will continue to make more as time allows.

This first ATC is made thinking of the person who doesn't want to do any kind of sewing. I tapped across the muslin with an anti-static bag, stamped the large flower with Versamark Ink and embossed with Wow White Puff Powder. Even using the anti-static bag I had some powder stick outside the image. Some of it (larger areas) was brushed off with a small paintbrush and some specks I left. I think you can even tell in the picture how the powder puffed up... very cool!!

EKC02

I stapled (idea-ology tiny attacher) the muslin atc to a white paper atc blank that was cut a little smaller than the muslin piece. The smaller flowers are stamped with Fresco Finish Cheesecake mixed with just a bit of Banana. "dreams" was stamped on a left-over scrap of brayered paper (see this post) with Archival Ink Jet Black, cut out, edged with Distress Ink Fired Brick, glued to white cardstock, cut out, and glued to the atc. Fired Brick Distress Marker was used to make the dots above and to the right of the large flower. 

Here is the second ATC. For the flower, I stamped it on Crinoline Fabric with Jet Black and cut it out being really careful with the stem. I then painted the flower with Glass Blue, watering the paint down a bit, and started to paint the stem with Hey Pesto. I managed to break off the flower right away. No worries, just changed my plan a little. I then stamped the flower directly onto the muslin piece and painted it in with Glass Blue on the flower and Granny Smith on the stem. To add to the background a bit, I stenciled (PS026) the dots with Granny Smith and dried it.

EKC01 

A piece of White Craft Felt was cut and I sewed the muslin and felt together using a zigzag stitch around the edges and also sewing by the stem with a straight stitch. I glued the Crinoline Flower directly over the flower stamped on the muslin only gluing at the base of the flower and slightly up the narrowest petal so it wouldn't get torn off. This allows the petals to lift. Crinoline is somewhat stiff and even when it softens while wet with paint, it goes back to being stiffer when dry. I added a brad at the top of the stem, mostly to hide where the Crinoline stopped, but it was also a nice added detail to the design. A white gel pen (Gelly Roll) was used to add the white to the flower and to the stenciled circles. A scrap of white cardstock was painted with Granny Smith using a baby wipe, dried, dreamy stamped onto it with Jet Black, cut out, and glued on as shown. 

For this third ATC, I stamped the flower with Snowflake directly onto the muslin. I decided maybe that wasn't what I wanted so I used my finger to dab Snowflake directly over the flower I'd just stamped, dried it, and stamped the flower again with Archival Ink Manganese Blue. I have some stiffer fabric (I think it's some kind of interfacing) that is not real heavy so I cut 2 pieces and used them as a backing for sewing this ATC. I used a straight stitch around the edges and up the stem a few times. The muslin went a little wonky - I told you I'm not a sewer. I colored the individual flowers and circles in the flower head with Wink of Stella Gl. Red.

The other flowers were stamped with Autumn Fire and it was also painted on the big flower somewhat following the little lines. Next I decided to finally concur the French Knot. It's always given me trouble and I usually just give up, but You Tube to the rescue. I figured it out!!! Embroidery floss was used to sew a French Knot in the center of each of the little flowers in the big flower. "thinking" was stamped with Archival Ink Orange Blossom on a scrap, cut out, and the edges inked with Archival Ink Aquamarine. The butterfly was stamped with Jet Black, cut out, colored with Distress Markers Dried Marigold & Salty Ocean, and glued on as shown. 

More stitching!! I switched to red thread and sewed the muslin piece to white felt going around the edges and then randomly over the whole piece. The flower was stamped onto White Felt with South Pacific, cut out, and additional color added with watered-down South Pacific, keeping the paint very light (this part looks much better in person). After drying, the flower was attached to the ATC with a heart brad. Distress Crayon was used to highlight the words on the idea-ology Word Band and then it's sewn on with Metallic Embroidery Floss.

Even the sewn ATCs were then backed with a piece of cardstock. This makes it easier to slide them into card pages and it hides all the threads on the back. It was really fun making these!!!! I hope you are inspired to get out some kind of fabric and play. You could even tear/cut up an old sheet or pillowcase that is bound for the trash.

Have a great weekend!!!!
~Wanda

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Thanks Wanda, these are superb. I think my favourite piece is number 1, the puff embossing stands out brilliantly. The infusions have created a really subtle,variegated and unique background. ~Darcy

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