Happy Tuesday again! It's Stacey here, getting crafty with the new October Afternoon fabric, making machine-stitched, layered shapes for cards (or layouts!). I'll share the steps of this simple process here with some tips on how to make these slightly shabby, just-about-foolproof embellishments.
You'll need your printed fabric (I used the October Afternoon Farm Fresh fabric), plain unbleached muslin (I just used scraps), your sewing machine, thread in a few colors, and an iron (the following is a large, close-up photo of my iron...not sure why it's so big!).
First, just smooth out your fabrics with the hot iron. Layer the printed fabric under two layers of muslin. You can cut rectangles or use scraps, depending on the sizes of your shapes. Since I knew I'd be making smaller embellishments, I just used scraps of muslin.
After ironing, cut a piece a little larger than the shape you plan to make - this is an "eyeballing" situation. Just look at it. If your card is 4"X6", then the shape needs to be smaller than that! It's not a precise science. :)
Now for the stitching. Notice that I do not have a design drawn on my fabric. You could lightly pencil some lines on there to follow if you really want to, but "freehand" stitching the design is easy and makes the process that much more creative! And, besides, you are going for a shabby, intentionally imperfect look, right?
Here's my heart after the first time around.
I ended up going around three times on this one.
Leaving some space between the cut and the stitches, cut out the shape and run your finger around the edges.
I layered the heart onto a kraft card with a journaling card, die cuts, stickers, buttons, twine, and lace from the Sidewalks collection. I love the texture and dimension that the fabric embellishment adds!
Another way to make interesting fabric embellishments is to layer the fabric with two layers of muslin again, but this time machine stitch all over the piece, curving randomly, crossing over, almost "scribbling" on the fabric with the thread. It should end up up similar to this:
Then cut out (again, no pattern, just eyeball it) a couple of leaves and a stem. Do the same with some other fabrics to make flower petals (I did a messy swirl stitching pattern on the flower pieces), and cut those out as well. Adhere to the card, add a button, you have a lovely, layered, stringy, stitchy, one-of-a-kind design!
Here's the card again:
I used the October Afternoon Farm Fresh fabric on this card, too, with paper from Boarding Pass and Thrift Shop. The Sprinkler I used is the new Hopscotch from the Sidewalks collection.
I hope you'll try making some layered fabric embellishments - it's a great way to make a handmade project even more special!
Just lovely! Great ideas.
Posted by: Izzy | September 29, 2011 at 05:52 AM
Wonderful ideas!
Posted by: Jean Marmo | September 28, 2011 at 07:22 AM
Cute!! Great ideas and totally cute cards!!
Posted by: Carol (ScrapMomOf2) | September 27, 2011 at 01:47 PM
I love this idea! Really sweet. Love the fabric collection too. Thanks for sharing these.
Posted by: Cherri | September 27, 2011 at 09:32 AM
stacey this is so CUTE!
Posted by: Lexi Bridges | September 27, 2011 at 09:19 AM
CUTE...thanks for the fab tut!
Posted by: ~amy~ | September 27, 2011 at 07:53 AM
Absolutely stunning, will definately be giving it a try. Thanks for the tutorial.
Posted by: Kerry Bruce | September 27, 2011 at 07:07 AM