It's Day #3 of the Fabric Printing at Home Blog Tour! Today I'd like to introduce surface designer, author, and paint flinger, Lynn Krawczyk.
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| Lynn Krawczyk |
I’ve spent
the last fourteen years exploring every facet of fiber art before finding the
sweet spot that makes my artist heart feel home: surface design and collage. I
print fabric because it’s the most honest part of my day, when paint meets
fabric and a piece of artwork begins to build. It’s a simple act that is true
and the definition of who I really am.
I also write – to teach art techniques, to paint a picture of people, to give clarity to the quiet parts of my creative self. The more I move into this creative life, the more precious it becomes. Writing is like breathing for me, it holds me together in small brief motions that add up to the sum of the whole. http://smudgedtextilesstudio.com
Lynn is feeling particularly generous today! She is offering TWO copies of Fabric Printing at Home PLUS a set of her wonderful stencils as giveaways! So be sure to stop by her blog today to leave a comment.
Heart to Heart Fabric
It's getting closer to Valentine's Day and I'm planning a number of Valentine's-themed projects for the Blog Tour. Today I want to tell you how to make a quick Valentine's day cloth using scissors, a craft knife (X-acto), an iron and freezer paper (it also helps to have a cutting mat). For those of you who haven't used freezer paper, you can usually find it in the wraps and foil aisle at your grocery store. Its original purpose was to wrap and freeze meat but now it's often marketed to crafters. Freezer paper has a paper side and a plastic-coated side. When the coated side is warmed it can stick to fabric...and that's what we're going to do!
1. Remember folding and cutting paper hearts? Well, that is the first step in this project. Fold freezer paper (paper-side out) and use scissors to cut different-sized heart shapes.
2. Open the heart shapes up (uncoated paper side up) on a cutting mat and cut designs out of them. I spontaneously cut designs...almost like doodling...with my craft knife. You could also use a pencil to draw designs before cutting them out.
3. Arrange the hearts with the plastic-coated side down on a piece of colored fabric. I used a piece of cotton fabric that I painted with red fabric paint.
4. Carefully place your fabric with freezer paper hearts on an ironing board or pad. Heat the iron to the cotton setting (since we're using cotton fabric) and iron over the freezer paper designs. If you're worried about getting any of the coating on your iron, place a piece of parchment paper or a Teflon sheet over the fabric first. The hot iron will warm the plastic-coated side of the freezer paper and the hearts will adhere to the fabric.
5. Mix up some opaque fabric paint. I used a mixture of white and blue Pebeo Setacolor opaque fabric paints.
6. Use a foam dauber or stencil brush to apply paint through the cut away designs in the hearts and around the heart shapes.
7. Pull off the freezer paper designs and voila! you have your Valentine's Day heart fabric!
Today's giveaway is a brand new X-acto knife with #11 blades! You'll find this tool very useful for designing freezer paper masks and stencils, cutting corrugated cardboard for print blocks and designs out of recycled postcards and many, many more techniques that can be found in my book, Fabric Printing at Home.
Leave a comment by 11:00 PM (Eastern USA time) for a chance to win this giveaway prize.Your comment also enters you in the final drawing on February 15 for a free copy of Fabric Printing at Home: Quick and Easy Fabric Design Using Fresh Produce and Found Objects.
And now for the winner of yesterday's giveaway (a Linoleum carving tool set)....congratulations to PK Sews! Please email me with your contact information (threadborn@cox.net) so I can send off your prize.
Tomorrow, it's time to visit fabulous fiber and mixed media artist, Jane Davila.
Be sure to visit all the stops on the Tour:
February 2: Lisa Chin
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| Be sure to stop by Lynn's blog today to have a chance to win this set of her stencil designs. |
Heart to Heart Fabric
It's getting closer to Valentine's Day and I'm planning a number of Valentine's-themed projects for the Blog Tour. Today I want to tell you how to make a quick Valentine's day cloth using scissors, a craft knife (X-acto), an iron and freezer paper (it also helps to have a cutting mat). For those of you who haven't used freezer paper, you can usually find it in the wraps and foil aisle at your grocery store. Its original purpose was to wrap and freeze meat but now it's often marketed to crafters. Freezer paper has a paper side and a plastic-coated side. When the coated side is warmed it can stick to fabric...and that's what we're going to do!
1. Remember folding and cutting paper hearts? Well, that is the first step in this project. Fold freezer paper (paper-side out) and use scissors to cut different-sized heart shapes.
2. Open the heart shapes up (uncoated paper side up) on a cutting mat and cut designs out of them. I spontaneously cut designs...almost like doodling...with my craft knife. You could also use a pencil to draw designs before cutting them out.
3. Arrange the hearts with the plastic-coated side down on a piece of colored fabric. I used a piece of cotton fabric that I painted with red fabric paint.
4. Carefully place your fabric with freezer paper hearts on an ironing board or pad. Heat the iron to the cotton setting (since we're using cotton fabric) and iron over the freezer paper designs. If you're worried about getting any of the coating on your iron, place a piece of parchment paper or a Teflon sheet over the fabric first. The hot iron will warm the plastic-coated side of the freezer paper and the hearts will adhere to the fabric.
5. Mix up some opaque fabric paint. I used a mixture of white and blue Pebeo Setacolor opaque fabric paints.
6. Use a foam dauber or stencil brush to apply paint through the cut away designs in the hearts and around the heart shapes.
7. Pull off the freezer paper designs and voila! you have your Valentine's Day heart fabric!
Leave a comment by 11:00 PM (Eastern USA time) for a chance to win this giveaway prize.Your comment also enters you in the final drawing on February 15 for a free copy of Fabric Printing at Home: Quick and Easy Fabric Design Using Fresh Produce and Found Objects.
And now for the winner of yesterday's giveaway (a Linoleum carving tool set)....congratulations to PK Sews! Please email me with your contact information (threadborn@cox.net) so I can send off your prize.
Tomorrow, it's time to visit fabulous fiber and mixed media artist, Jane Davila.
Be sure to visit all the stops on the Tour:
February 2: Lisa Chin
February 5: Carol R. Eaton
February 6: Judy Gula
February 7: Susan Purney Mark
February 8: Teri Lucas
February 9: Jennifer Coyne Qudeen
February 10: Deborah Boschert
February 11: Lynda Heines
February 12: Cheryl Sleboda
February 13: Terri Stegmiller
February 14: Jackie Lams
Even though I have used freezer papber to make patterns to cut shapes, I never thought to use them like this. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHope you try this technique, Janice...you can get very detailed results.
DeleteHi, Julie. Your blog post today reminds me of a question--can you use freezer paper cut out more than once? I know I could just try it, but I haven't yet, so thought I would just ask.
ReplyDeleteHi Marcia- I find that you can usually get at least one more use out of the freezer paper once it's been ironed.
DeleteWow that's a super simple technique Julie with fantastic results and thanks for explaining what freezer paper is, must look for it.Don't think we have it in India.
ReplyDeleteHi Maya- I'm providing a link to the company that makes it. I'm pretty sure that some craft companies are marketing it too. I'll see if I can find out more for you.
Deletehttp://www.reynoldskitchens.com/products/freezer-paper/
Hi again- Dharma Trading Co carries it and C &T Publishing also makes some. Here is the Dharma link:
Deletehttp://www.dharmatrading.com/transfers/freezer-paper-sheets.html
Beautiful print!
ReplyDeleteLove the heart fabric. And what a great way to print.
ReplyDeleteHi Tassie- I really enjoyed cutting out all the little details from the heart shapes...it truly felt like "doodling" with a craft knife!
DeleteI haven't thought about using paper stencils in this way. Great idea and something to keep my hands busy at night cutting them out!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean--love to keep my hands busy cutting stencils and carving blocks...a bit of a meditation.
DeleteThanks for a great tutorial - I shall definitely be trying it!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you're up for giving it a try!
DeleteFreezer paper stencils! The possibilities are endless and you creative ideas have sparked some ideas of my own. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou're right! Endless! That's what I love so much about using simple items to make new and interesting fabric designs.
DeleteGreat idea!
ReplyDeleteI love freezer paper stencils! Some times I use them with Shiva paintstiks! Can never have enough exacto knives!
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa- I've also tried them with Shiva Paintstiks. I especially like blend the stik paint over stencil/masks to reveal some beautiful effects!
DeleteThis is a fun blog hop! Thanks for dreaming it up.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol...it's been a lot of fun for me..esp. when the other bloggers on the Tour share their "take" on a technique.
DeleteI went looking for my supply of freezer paper just the other day to make some quilting piece templates, but couldn't find it, so it's on my grocery list now. Fun heart fabric, but I don't think one gets to that level of "free hand" cutting expertise without lots of practice!
ReplyDeleteAh...but the great thing about freezer paper is that it's translucent so if you don't want to "free-hand" cut you can put it over a design and trace!
DeleteHave you ever used Deli paper for painting on or stencils?
DeleteThanks for the giveaway! Great Inspiration
Crazy cute valentine cloth! Love to design fabric!
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy- I think designing fabric is just the best! I never get tired of doing it.
DeleteHi again and congrats! You are the Day #3 giveaway winner! Be sure to send me an email with your mailing address (threadborn@cox.net). Hope you continue to follow the Tour...lots of great info and more giveaways!
DeleteI am loving this hop and the book. Your ideas are great.
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise...I've been having a lot of fun seeing how the other artists interpret the techniques fr the book.
DeleteThis is so so simple. Inspiring and doable. Thanks so much for the instructions. I like your foam dauber. Norma
ReplyDeleteHi Norma- Thanks, I hope that you give the freezer paper a try. The dauber is just upholstery foam and a rubber band!
DeleteThank you for a great giveaway - both the knives and book. The book looks fantastic. I've also shared your giveaway on my Giveaway List for sewers & quilters at wowilikethat.com. Thanks again. (debbie at wowilikethat dot com)
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie-thanks for sharing the giveaway and Blog Tour info...the more the merrier!
DeleteLove the heart designs!
ReplyDelete(This is Jan but it looks like I am Walt.
Hi Jan- Thanks for following along (even though you already have a copy of the book!). I'll continue to have tips and projects so stay tuned!
DeleteReading your book will give me wonderful idea to be able to create my on unique fabrics. Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi Bonnie...that is my hope...to give folks a book full of ideas to make their own fabric...and using things you have around your home.
DeleteMore wonderful ideas! Thanks! Can't wait to see the book!
ReplyDeleteThanks Deborah- I find it an exciting challenge to keep coming up with new ideas (or new takes on old ideas). Stay tuned and keep coming back through Feb 14...more giveaways, projects and tips!
DeleteSuch neat hearts! I would love to win!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maeve- This was a fun project for me...let myself really go with all those crazy heart designs!
DeleteLove the hearts. Going to try them with some of my clients who love fabric and paint!!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent Carolyn! Have fun with all those hearts...more hearts to come in future posts!
DeleteLike your work - very nice!
ReplyDeletemumbird3(at)gmail(dot)com
That looks so neat - this book would be so fun to try out!
ReplyDelete