EMBARK Canvas Cloth

Hello Friends,

Grateful to be here today sharing my first make for the Embark Fabric release.  I love mixing idea-ology and fabric so this was a match made in heaven!

Lets start with the shaped center piece. 

I used the shield shape from the new Etcetera Facades as a template, to cut one piece of fabric and one piece of matching Warm and Natural (cotton batting).

You can see that the shield shape has a hole in the middle - I'm going to fill that with the circle that comes in the same package (the shield can always be used with or without the center piece). 

FYI: I wanted more of the fabric to show, so I decided not to cut away the center.

FYI: If you are looking for "craft" size fabric pieces, Simon Says Stamp sells a pre-cut 6 piece bundle.  The bundle contains the 6 different canvas cloth designs of Embark, each cut square measuring approx. 10 x 10"  for $9.99.  They also sell previous collections - just type in Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements and they will populate.

This is a totally optional step - but I sprayed the batting piece with Sulky, a temporary adhesive to help the two pieces stay in place while I sew them together.  If you don't have this - just pin the fabric and batting together.

1.  Go to the sewing machine and stitch the two piece together around the outside edge.

2.  Stitch a diagonal line across the center. Use that stitching line to guide the presser foot, creating all the other lines.

You can see from the back that the lines are evenly spaced apart.  That is only because I use the edge of presser foot as my guide.

Use Collage Medium to adhere the fabric piece to the Facade. Press down until secure.

Turn over and replace the center circle.

I am using a small Etcetera Tag as the base for the project.  This paper is from Backdrops 4.  

Adhere paper to the small tag with Collage Medium.

Use a cutting knife to remove the excess paper.  

Add a layer of Collage Medium over the top to seal the paper.

Once dry, scribble Distress Crayon over the edges and rub in with damp fingers. Use a wet wipe to mottle the crayon and get rid of any fingerprints.

Use Collage Medium to add two of the "riser" sticks (they come in the Facades package) so the shield will sit up, off the tags.

Add Collage Medium to the "risers", then add the shield Facade. I put a book on top and let it sit for a bit till I knew it was secure.

I painted 3 Hardware Heads with Old Paper Distress Paint (one of the "from the vault" colors). Once dry, I pounced Mushroom Alcohol Ink over the top, then added them to the Facade with a dot of Collage Medium.

So, I have a couple more things to prepare before we can put it all together.

1. Industrial Gears: each have been randomly painted with the three colors of Distress Paint shown here.  Once dry, drip *Smolder Alcohol Ink over parts of the surface (*remember to shake first).

2. Paper Dolls Groups: I chose these boys for the focal point.  Quickly colored them with Distress Crayons and a Detail Water Brush to give some visual texture.

Now to put it together!

Add the Quote Chip "Labels" to a Label Frame and add to the top with Collage Medium.

Add a piece of idea-ology Layers Ephemera (I got this piece from the Layers Collector pack) to the fabric with Collage Medium.

Next up is to add the Paper Dolls. 

I doubled up on Foam Squares so the boys would sit higher than the Industrial Gears.

NOTE: the gear you see here has not been glued yet, it's just there so I know where to place the boys.

Start with the small gear. Use Collage Medium to adhere any heavy metal, as it will dry like cement in a few hours.

Then add the second gear so it fits right under the boys arm on the left.

I chose a Number Strip from the snippets pack and stitched it on one end.  My sewing machine made a big knot and left a bunch of string (as it does sometimes) - which was awesome in this case, since it looks as if I did it on purpose.  I wiped Collage Medium on the strings so they would stay in this crazy formation (something I do regularly with thread and string).  Once dry, I added a thin Foam Square .04 to the back and placed on the boys.

Well, thank you for stopping by!  Glad you are here to see this sample, as many more Embark samples to come in the next couple weeks - some need more skill than others and one is even no sew!  

now carry on,

paula

Everyday Art - Elements Stencils

Hello Friends,

I am so happy to be sharing one of the makes from the Stampers Anonymous release! I made this 4 x 4" zig-zag book using stamps and stencils from the new release. The little book is easy to make by layering up a couple stamps, then using a rainbow of Oxide Inks with the new Everyday Art Element Stencils. We previously have made Elements Stencils with numbers and even words, but never a multitude of shapes that can be used in so many combinations. It really was fun! Enough talk...lets get started!

These are the 7 stencils from the pack that I used in this project.  Each Element stencil pack has 10 mini stencils.  As you can see there, are so many stencil shapes that the ideas are really endless.

To start, we have to make the little zig-zag book.

Cut three pieces of Distress Mixed Media Cardstock 8.5 x 4".

Cut one piece 8 x 4".

Score one end of the three 8.5 x 4" at 1/2". This 1/2" is where the tape will go to combine the pages.

Now score each piece in the center (each page will be 4 x 4" when folded)

Add Scor-tape to the scored ends of the three 8.5 x 4" pieces.

Combine the 4 pieces to create the zig-zag.

Just like this!

Now time to start stamping.

I used Milled Lavender Oxide Ink and the Tiny Prints stamps for the background.  I only want to print on the edges of the paper, so I only inked one side of the stamp (the uneven ink was done on purpose so it does leave a straight line).

I misted the stamp with water before stamping along the edge.  Then just repeated the process till I got to the end.  You can stamp from the bottom as well.

I used Antique Linen Distress Spray over the top to add a bit of color.

Then used Hickory Smoke Archival Ink to stamp Floral Trims on every other page, starting with the cover.

For the stenciling, I used Oxide Ink, Blending Tools and multiple foam pads.

This part is pretty self-explanatory.  The photos will show you what stencils and colors of ink I used.  The blue post-it notes help to keep the excess ink off the background.  There is no set pattern, just stenciling intuitively where I thought the shapes should go.  I think once you pick a palette of colors to work with it gets easier.  

Aged Mahogany was the wild card here.  The leaf stencil looked good in pink, but when the Aged Mahogany was added over the top, it was even better. 

Don't be afraid of mixing colors!  These large rectangles really lent themselves to using two colors due to size.  

A Stabilo Pencil was a fun addition.

A little water makes it smear quite nicely.

I stenciled some hearts in varying sizes and colors, then cut them out.

The new Photomatic SKU was perfect for this project!  Bigger than Photobooth, Photomatic was just the right size for the 4 x 4" pages.

Now start adding the photos and cut pieces.

Add Clipping Stickers for words.

and a bit of stitching...

The rainbow on the cover, the hearts and small scallop are the pieces I stenciled and then cut out.  

Here is how it turned out page by page!

I thought she needed some gold dots on her hat to go with the Clippings Sticker so I used a piece of wire to make dots of varying sizes with Foundry Wax.  They turn the most beautiful gold when heated!

The added ribbon on one end is the closure. It will wrap around the book and tie in the front.

I hope you like my little book as much as I do.  I LOVED making it!  Super fun with the Oxide Inks and a modern take of the Everyday Art Element Stencils.  I am ready to make another one!

now carry on,

paula