I was really excited to get my hands on these new whimsy and word stencils because I love stencils and I adore Tam and have taken several of her classes. I love her whimsy style and these stencils make it so easy to add a little whimsy to any project.

I decided to make another quilted wall hanging this week.  I used the Whimsy Town stencil, the Hearts and Stars stencil and the Believe stencil.  I wanted to use the word stardust because who couldn't use a little more stardust in their lives.

Before I started on my quilt I got out a piece of drawing paper and made a quick sketch, so that I could figure out the placement of each element in my design.

Then I started transferring my design to a piece of dark purple fabric that I had dyed in the past.  I keep a stash of dyed fabric so that I have it for any project that comes up.  I used opaque white paint to stencil on the stars, houses, and the word that I wanted to use.  I didn't use the hanging stars and hearts stencil just like it was, but I picked some of the stars out and used them.

After the white paint dried I started painting over all the stars with a mixture of transparent white paint and a little bit of transparent yellow paint. I also painted over the houses with Metamica paints in Moonlight and the hearts in Amourosa and the hill under the houses in Heather Mist.  I used more white on the word stardust.  I put two coats of paint on every element, so that they would have intense color.

I used Pearl-Ex powders over the word stardust and over the stars.  I used macro-pearl on the word and interference gold on the stars.  I mix the powders with clear textile medium and paint them on just like the other paints.  These powders give an intense shine and add beauty to the quilt.

After all the other elements were painted in, I transferred the sketch of the girl to the fabric from my initial sketch.

I painted in the girl with Metamica paints too.  I went with flesh tones for the face, but I had have purple hair to go with the purple theme of this quilt.  I gave her a glow with some more Pearl-Ex powder in micro-pearl mixed with textile medium.

The last thing I added before stitching was the words Live Your Dreams in her neck with a Pentel gel roller for fabric.  I love adding words to my quilts to inspire me.  After the painting was done I heat set the paint and cut and pinned the batting and backing to the front.  Then I free motioned quilted around the houses and stars and filled in the background with swirls.  I used a dark purple rayon thread to match the fabric. I also used a light purple thread in her hair and some silver in the glow around her head.    I used a satin stitch to finish off the edges.  Here is the finished quilt, which is 15" X 14".

Here are a couple of close-ups.  It is hard to capture all the shine and beauty with my camera, but this quilt does sparkle in the sunshine.

Here is my original sketch which I colored in with Derwent pencils. 

I hope that you have a great weekend.
Janelle

This week I want to share a fun and easy project.  We are going to be decorating white ceramic tiles with alcohol inks and stencils.  These decorative tiles make great art for gifts or to display in your home.  I went to my local DIY home store and bought tiles in three different sizes to experiment with, 4 1/4" x 4 1/4", 6" x 6", and 3" x 6".  These plain white glossy tiles don't cost very much so it is inexpensive to buy a bunch and have fun.

I started by cleaning the tile with rubbing alcohol and wiping it off with a clean rag.  I didn't want any dirt or dust on the tile.

Then I chose three or four Adirondack ink colors and started dropping them onto the tile.  There are several different ways that you can blend the inks and get interesting designs.

• You can turn the tile different directions until the inks run into each other adding more as you go until the tile is covered and the inks blend.
  


• Dropping more ink into the ink that is already on the tile will create lighter spots and organic shapes.
  


• You can add the Adirondack alcohol blending solution to lighten the colors and allow them to flow more easily.
  


• You can use canned air or blow through a straw to blend and create interesting patterns as well.
  


• A heat tool also will push the inks around to blend them and to dry them.
  

I used different combinations and kept working the inks until I was happy with the way that the background looked.

On some of the tiles I used a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol to add a fine mist to the ink in select areas. This creates speckles and light spots and will add nice patterns in the ink. You should do this in a well ventilated area or outside and avoid breathing in the alcohol to stay safe. 

At this point I let the tiles sit for a couple of days to make sure that the inks were completely set.

I got out my Artistcellar stencils and had fun picking which stencil I wanted to go with which background.  I laid the stencil over the tile and using my black Faber-Castell Pitt Pen with the brush tip, I filled in the areas of the stencil that I wanted to use.  I used the whole stencil on some of the tiles and on others I only used part of the stencil.  I also used the black Pitt pen to add a word to one of the tiles.

This background was a bit dark for the black pen to show up so I went over the lines with a white Sakura Gelly Roll pen.  I also added hair with a water-based Sharpie Paint pen in white. I added color in the lips with a red and pink gelly roll pen and added some sparkles to her face with a clear Stardust gelly roll pen.

I used these stencils on the tiles:

Pari  
Tumbling Pods
Petite Pods 
Coy 
Hemp Flower
Apparatus


I am going to seal these tiles so that the inks don't lift off or get scratched.  I want them to be durable and last for a long time.  I'm still experimenting with what sealant works best for me, so I can't share that information yet.  I'll try and share later after I figure out what works the best.

I have done some experimenting now with two different products.  I used Liquitex pouring medium and triple-thick crystal clear glaze spray by Krylon.  

The spray is easier to use and worked well.  I followed the directions and put four layers on each tile.

To use the Liquitex product, I set the tile slightly above a level surface and carefully poured on the medium.  It isn't always easy to get the whole surface covered without the pouring medium flowing off the edges.  I let it cure for several days.

I tested them by wiping with a wet cloth, letting water set on top of the tile, setting a cold drink on it, and setting a hot drink on top.  The inks stayed put and the water wiped of easily in all the tests. The glaze spray and the pouring medium did melt when a hot drink was set on top of it however.  If you want to make coasters for cold drinks or make a back splash these would both work well.  The spray is easier to apply though.  I haven't yet found something that won't melt if it exposed to heat from boiling water.  



Here are a couple of the other tiles that I decorated.

I hope that you have some fun decorating tiles either for yourself or to give as gifts this upcoming holiday season.
Janelle

I'm going to show you how I use stencils and stamps and found objects to decorate a table runner that is perfect for autumn.

I started with a rectangular piece of cotton that I had snow dyed for the base.  If you are interested in reading more about snow dyeing you can find that here.  My fabric is 9" wide by 63" long. I wanted a piece that was large enough to go across a long table.

I sewed around the edges so that the fabric wouldn't fray when it was washed. Then I started layering with the Classic Pods stencil. I added leaf and acorn stamps around the stenciled image.  I carved these stamps myself.  I like carving my own stamps so that I don't have to worry about copyright issues and so that I can get unique stamps.  You can find the supplies to carve your own stamps here.

After the first layer dried, I added overlapping images next by stenciling through a piece of punchinella and stamping with the bottom of a takeout container. Found objects also make unique stencils and stamps to add more layers.

The last layer I added was a small leaf stamp in some of the white areas.

When I layer on fabric I use a mix of transparent and opaque paints to add more depth to the piece.  On my table runner I used a mix of metallic and flat paints to also add depth.  I love using the Stewart Gill Metamica paint on fabric.  It doesn't bleed, so you get crisp images and it stays soft on the fabric. I used these colors for my table runner.  Sugar Plum, Peach Blush, and Amourosa.  I also used a gold, white, and transparent brown fabric paint.  Don't forget to iron the fabric according to the directions after the paint is dry so that the table runner can be washed.

I hope that you try this project and decorate your home for each season.
Janelle

I made some throw pillows this week using sun printed cloth that I created this summer.   Stencils are a wonderful way to get pattern on fabric through sun printing.  I love how throw pillows add color and make any space more cheerful.

I used the Amiens Plan cathedral stencil, the Hemp Flower stencil and the Bodacious Pods stencil.  For the hemp flower and the pod stencil I traced the stencil onto freezer paper.  I only used part of the hemp flower stencil so that I could get individual flowers.  I traced all the lines and then cut out around the outside of each shape.  I saved these shapes for the sun printing.

Start with a washed piece of white piece of cotton in your desired size.  Don’t use fabric softener or dryer sheets because they will repel the paint. Keep in mind your end product, because I had to add strips of fabric to the sides of my painted fabric to make it big enough for the pillow size I wanted. They looked nice with the extra fabric strips, but if you don’t want to do extra sewing start with a larger piece of cotton.

You have to start with transparent fabric paint for this process to work.  Opaque paint or thick paints won’t sun print.  Setacolor by Pebeo or Profab by Pro Chemical and Dye transparent fabric paints both work well.  I haven’t tried out other brands, but any thin paint should work.   Mix your paint with water (2 parts water to 1 part paint).   Place your fabric onto a plastic covered surface that you can move around.  I used a small table.  The plastic makes clean up much easier.  I anchored the plastic with bricks so that any breeze would not blow the plastic up over the fabric.

For this next part you have to work quickly so that your fabric stays wet. I sprayed the fabric down with water so that it was very wet.

Then I applied the fabric paint and water mixture to the fabric in the shade.  Paint the fabric with two to three colors and blend the edges.  I sprayed the fabric with extra water to make the paint blend better.

While the paint is very wet place your stencil or freezer paper pieces on.  I placed the freezer paper pieces in a random pattern across the fabric.  Make sure that they are pressed down and are making full contact with the fabric.

Then move your surface into the sun and wait for the fabric to dry.  When the fabric is dry you will have the outline of the stencil printed onto the fabric.  After the paint is completely dry, heat set the fabric with an iron.

Next I placed the stencil back onto the shapes on the painted fabric and traced all the inside lines of each one.

I placed the fabric onto a piece of white flannel that was slightly larger and pinned it down with quilting pins.  The flannel will add a slight loft the quilted piece without being too thick or puffy.  I did not use a backing fabric since this piece will be the inside of a pillow cover and won’t be seen.

I picked a coordinating thread for each piece of fabric and free-motion quilted the shapes and the negative space.  For the cathedral I only did select lines, and for the others I followed the basic shape of the inside lines of the stencil.

Then I squared the quilted pieces and sewed strips onto each side.  I wanted a piece that was big enough to fit and 12” X 16” pillow form.  I added a zipper to the bottom edges of each pillow cover, so that they could be removed for cleaning.

Here are some links that explain how to sew a pillow cover if you want more information.

http://www.designsponge.com/2010/03/sewing-101-zippered-throw-pillows.html

http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2013/02/zippered-pillow-cover.html

http://www.houseonhillroad.com/photos/put_a_zipper_in_your_pill/index.html

Here is a link to another sun printing tutorial that explains more of the possibilities of this wonderful printing method.

http://www.dharmatrading.com/home/sun-painting-101-a-tutorial.html?lnav=home.html

I hope that you can find a way to brighten up your living spaces this week and maybe even make some pillows that you designed yourself.


Have a great weekend,
Janelle

I got to use the new Jane Girls Petite Series stencils this week.  I adore Jane and her art and I'm thrilled to get to use these new stencils.  I decided to use the front facing stencil to make an art quilt.  The stencil allows me to focus on the details and not worry about getting the face drawn just right.  I went back in time to my girlhood and explored the world of daydreams.  My girl is dreaming about who she could be.  Where will you allow your dreams to take you?

I started with a piece of white cotton that was 16" X 34".  I divided the space into a grid and placed the stencil into each one.  I lightly drew the lines of the stencil with my Bohin mechanical extra fine marking pencil for fabric.  Then I sketched the rest of each girl.

I layered my batting and backing fabric and pin basted it.  I used free motion stitching and stitched over select lines of the quilt with cream colored thread to give it some form and to stabilize it for painting.

I used Derwent Inktense blocks and pencils to paint the quilt.  I painted in a small area with transparent textile medium and then while it was wet I used the Inktense to apply the color. Then I used more of the textile medium to blend the color.  It is possible to get a wide range of colors using this method, from very intense to very light depending on how hard you press the block on the fabric.  You can apply a light layer of color or a dark layer of color.  On my quilt the color was lighter after it dried than when it was wet.  If you want part of the painting to be more intense you can add more color while it is still wet.  It is also possible to add more layers of color after it has dried.   I went section by section until I had painted the whole quilt. After it had dried I heat set, by ironing with a dry iron each part for a couple of minutes, to make sure that the color was completely set.  Each textile medium has instructions on heat setting, so follow the guidelines for the one that you decide to use.  There is a great article in Quilting Arts Magazine, issue 64, explaining using the Derwent products on fabric in more detail.

After the painting was done I used more free motion stitching to make the girls come to life.  I used a mix of rayon and cotton threads.  I love the shine of the rayon threads.

Next I added metallic paints to highlight certain areas and to add some sparkle.  I used Stewart Gill Metamica paint and Lumiere paints by Jacquard.  I also mixed Pearl-Ex powders into textile medium and painted that in some areas.  I love adding a lot of sparkle and shine to my art, especially when I'm painting a fantasy world.  When the paint dried I heat set it according the manufacturer’s directions.  I always heat set the paint on my textile creations just in case they are ever washed.  I don’t want the paint to wash out and heat setting prevents this.

After all the painting and stitching were done I squared up the quilt.  I sewed a satin stitch around the edge to finish off the quilt.

I love that Artistcellar stencils are perfect for all kinds of art.  I can use them in my textile art as well as in my art journal.

I hope that I inspired you to go out and make something and to allow your dreams to take you away every now and then.


Janelle

This week I created an indoor rock garden.  I love looking at beautiful scenes to inspire me and remind me of the things that I want to remember.  I have really been into encouraging words lately and they came out again for this project.  I decided to use rocks that I collected this summer along Lake Michigan.  Some of the ones that I collected are very pretty and I just wanted to leave them with their natural beauty.  I collected other rocks because they were smooth and would be easy to create art on.   I selected a few of the smoother rocks, some modeling paste, and some of my favorite Artistcellar stencils.

I made sure that my rocks were clean and dry and then I applied modeling paste through select parts of the stencil onto them.  I wasn't trying for a perfect impression because that's pretty hard to get on a curved surface.  I let the modeling paste dry naturally before I moved on with the project.

Next I used Golden Fluid Acrylics to paint the modeling paste.   Let it dry.

I used a white Sakura Gelly Roll pen to write words and painted in parts of the rocks and let it dry.

I added doodles with Faber-Castell Pitt pens too.

I sealed the rocks with glossy gel medium to give them a lot of shine and to protect them.

I put the natural rocks into an old pan that I painted and placed my decorated rocks on top.  I added a package of the Pacific Fiber Mix around the edge to give it a little flare.  This fiber mix goes well with the rocks and brings out their beauty.

I can add more rocks with important concepts as time goes on.  This will give me a visual reminder and provide a little beauty to my home too.

I used these stencils: Cherry Blossom, Paris Cathedral, Ocean Waves, Apparatus, Petite Pods, Runes, and Rivermap

Here are the rest of the rocks that I painted.

Have a wonderful creative weekend and go out and create something.
Janelle

I made an inspirational quilt this week.  I love adding uplifting words to my art that remind me of the good things in life.

I started with a piece of white cotton fabric with a tight weave so that it is easy to paint.

I painted loose flowers in light purple, let them dry and then heat set the paint.  I did the same for the dark purple flowers and the turquoise flowers

I painted inside the dark purple and turquoise flowers with Stewart Gill Metamica paints in Moonlight and Heather Mist and the centers with a silver Lumiere textile paint.

I stenciled the open area with the Amiens Plan Cathedral stencil with Stewart Gill Metamica paint in Moonlight.

I let that paint dry and then heat set.  Heat setting between layers keeps the colors from mixing together when I want them to stay separate.

I colored in the open areas with Derwent Inktense pencils and activated it with textile medium.  I left the light purple flowers white.  I let that dry and then heat set again.

Next I squared up the dry fabric painting and cut a backing and batting.

I bagged out the quilt to finish the edges.  I basted the batting to the wrong side of the backing fabric.  Then I placed the right sides of both fabrics together and stitched a narrow seam all the way around except for an opening on the bottom of the quilt.

I trimmed the batting close to the seam lines and cut off the corners at a diagonal.

I turned the quilt the right side out and pressed it.  I removed all the basting threads.  I pressed in the fabric edges on the opening too.  I slip stitched the edges closed.

Next I used free motion stitching to sew with a dark purple thread around my painted flowers and I thread doodled in the open areas.

I sewed around the light purple flowers with a turquoise thread and I thread doodled swirls in the petals.

I wrote words on a piece of tracing paper and cut them out.  I used these to figure out the word arrangement.

When I was happy with the arrangement I used a fabric pen to write words on the stenciled side of the quilt.

I used free motion stitching to write over the words in a thick variegated purple thread.

I free motion stitched, with a blue thread that matched the Metamica paint, around the words.

I steam pressed the whole quilt to smooth out the wrinkles.

I hope that you go and make your own inspirational piece of art.

This quilt still needs a name.  If you have a suggestion you could leave me a note in the comments.

After I decide how I want to hang this quilt and finish that portion this beauty will be for sale.

Have a creative weekend,
Janelle

This week I am sharing a mixed media project that uses fabric, stenciling and stamping all in a layer of beeswax.   This is a good way to use up small bits of fabric and lace and to make your own greeting cards.  The best part is the lovely smell of the beeswax.

I started with cardstock card blanks.  Heavier cardstock will hold up better to the beeswax.

I cut pieces of fabric and lace the length and width that I wanted for the first layer.  I choose fabrics from my stash that reminded me of the beautiful colors of autumn.

Layer the fabrics and stitch them to the cards when you are happy with the placement.  Use a long stitch length so that the cardstock doesn’t become perforated and rip.

Using the stencils from the playful pod series I added designs beside the fabric layer.   I use browns and greens to go with the autumn theme.

I also used a hand carved leaf stamp to add designs on some of the cards.

I used Distress Ink pads in wild honey, vintage photo, and tea dye to stamp the leaves.

I used a hand carved acorn stamp to stamp images on some white tissue paper.  I used a

StazOn ink pad in timber brown.  Later I added these to the cards between layers of beeswax.

I used a quilting iron to start adding beeswax over the entire front of the card.  I held the iron onto the wax until I had some drips on the card and then I smoothed them out with the iron.  When I had a nice layer of beeswax I placed the pieces of the acorn tissue paper on some of the cards.  I added beeswax over the tissue paper to seal it to the card.

I went over the entire card again with the quilting iron to smooth out the beeswax.   I also hit it with my heat gun to make sure that everything was fused.  Don’t worry if it isn’t completely smooth, the texture is part of the fun of using beeswax.

I sprinkled on some Pearl Ex powder in interference gold to parts of the card, rubbed it in with my finger and went over it with the quilting iron.   I wanted to fuse the powder to the card, but I didn’t completely cover it with the beeswax.

I rubbed Inka Gold onto the edges of the card as well.  I love the shimmer that the gold adds to the card.  Gold just seems to go well with autumn.

Inside the front I glued on another piece of white cardstock.  I glued a piece of painted paper to the center of the cardstock.  After the glue was dry I rubbed a bit of Inka Gold onto the painted paper.  These extra papers protect the stitching, cover the beeswax that leaks through the paper, and makes the inside of the card extra pretty.

For the last step I sprayed some copper glitter spray to the inside of the card.

I didn’t add a sentiment yet, I’ll wait until I am ready to send the card.  That way I have cards that I can use for any occasion.

Here are the five cards that I made.  I hope that you go and make some unique greeting cards of your own.

Have a great weekend,
Janelle

I am on the design team for Artistcellar for the next six weeks.  I made a back-to-school project for my first post.  I’m always looking for ways to individualize school supplies and make them more interesting.  I’m going to show you how to make a pretty cover for a composition notebook.  These directions would work for any type of hardbound journal though.

Start by laying down your notebook on a large piece of paper and making a tracing of the cover.  Trace one cover and then the middle and then the other cover.  That way you have the complete size of the cover.  Add about three inches to each end to make flaps.  This can be adjusted for personal preference.  Add ½” all the way around for a seam allowance.  Cut out your completed pattern.

Use this pattern to cut out two pieces of fabric.  I used cotton fabric that I snow dyed for the outside and a store bought piece of cotton for the inside.   Both pieces of fabric are the same size.

Take the piece of fabric that you want to be on the outside and a stencil and add a pattern.  I used black fabric paint and the rivermap texture stencil  and the cherry blossom stencil to add a random pattern and a few other stencils.  You can cover the whole piece of fabric, or you can just add bits of stenciling her and there.  Let the paint dry and then heat set it according to the manufactures directions.

Put both pieces of fabric together with the right sides on the inside.  Sew around the piece at the ½” mark.  Leave a gap of a few inches on one of the short sides open so that you can turn it right side out.  I trimmed the corners at a diagonal and the seams so that they were narrower.

Press all the seams and then turn it right side out.  Make sure that the corners are pushed out all the way so that they look neat.  Slip stitch the opening closed.  Press the whole piece again so that the edges are all nice and neat.

Turn the flap area to the inside, the same measurement on both edges, and press with the iron.  Double check that the fit will be snug against your notebook before you press it.  When you have everything lined up correctly and have the edges even stitch across the top and bottom of each flap.

Slip each cover of your notebook into the flaps and your notebook now has a pretty cover.

The rest of the covers are shown here on the website on the journal page.
Now you know how to jazz up your plain notebooks and journals.  I hope that you go out and make a cover for your notebooks and journals.  Have a creative week and make some pretty school supplies.
Janelle

Last Saturday I was the guest blogger for Artistcellar.  They sell all kinds of supplies for artists and they have some truly wonderful stencils.  You can read my post here: http://artistcellar.com/wp/2013/03/making-decorative-sachets/ 
I had fun making these sachets.  I will post the tutorial here on my blog for anyone who wishes to make one of these..  I’m going to share how I make decorative sachets so that you can fill your drawers and closets with wonderful scents and pretty bags.  These sachets will add a pretty accent to your wardrobes.

I started by cutting muslin fabric or other plain colored cotton into a rectangle.  I cut mine   5 ½” X 11” which includes a ½” seam allowance.

I took my muslin and used stencils to cover the whole piece with a pattern.  I used Dylusions ink sprays which will spread and bleed if you spray too heavily.  I also used                                                                                                                                                 Silks acrylic glazes and fabric paints.

Next I took dry tea bags that are opened up and flattened and used the stencils plus Dylusions ink sprays, Adirondack color wash sprays and Adirondack distress stains to get a pattern.  I love using tea bags because they give an instant aged grungy look.  When you spray the tea bags you need to spray lightly and from a bit further away so that the ink doesn't spread too much or you will lose all the pattern from the stencil. 

I used these stencils on the tea bags and on the muslin:  Ocean Waves and Cherry Blossom from the Traditional Japanese Series; Hemp flower from the Japanese Geometric Series;  Roadmap, Runes, Romans, and Rivermap form the TEXTures series.

After everything was dry I heat set the muslin and then I cut the tea bags in half and positioned them on the muslin.  To get the correct placement I folded the muslin in half and positioned the tea bag in the center bottom near the fold.

Then I unfolded the muslin and sewed the tea bag down.  Next I cut ribbons, lace, and threads from my stash the width of the muslin.  I used Artistcellar fibers too, from the Blueberry mix and the Mulberry silk fibers.  I sewed these down above the tea bag.

Next I made a focal image to go on top of the tea bag. I used four different methods to get a focal image.  I like to have some variety and to try out different ideas.

The first way was using stamps.  I stamped one of my hand carved stamps onto thick paper.   I colored it in with Derwent Inktense pencils and let it dry and then painted over the top of that with the Silks acrylic glaze.  I colored in the background with colored pencil and I inked the edge with a Ranger distress ink pad for contrast.  I then sewed this onto the tea bag.

The second way was making a focal image by laying down a thin layer of Stewart Gill Glitterati Fibers and melting them between two sheets of parchment paper. After they cooled down I cut out a heart shape from the fibers and also from muslin.  I layered the fibers on top of the muslin and sewed that to the tea bag.

The third way that I created a focal image was by embroidering hearts onto the tea bag through the tea bag and the muslin. I outlined each heart with a Pitt pen.

The last method that I used to create my focal image was to draw or stencil an image onto deli paper using Pitt pens. I colored in my images with Derwent Inktense pencils and I added a bit of glitter gel pen and metallic paint to the images.

To create the bags I folded them in half with the design inside. Then I stitched down each side ½” from the outside edge leaving the top open. Then I turned it carefully so that the right side is out.  I filled the bags with lavender or rose petals.

You could use any type of herb or potpourri to fill the bags with. After they are filled you turn the top to the inside about ½”and stitch across it.

This project could also be made using pre-made bags; you just need to slip a bit of waxy paper inside before you stencil the bag.   That way the paint or spray doesn't go all the way through the bag. Just be aware that if you glue on the elements instead of sewing them that the ink sprays will reactivate and bleed if they get wet with the glue.

You can view more photos from this project here.

These six sachets are now for sale.  The first four are filled with lavender and the last two are filled with rose petals. You can contact me for details. 

I hope that you have fun making some sachets.

Janelle