One Lucky Day: Curious Halloween Panel

Hello friends,

Todays project is all about using Laboratory fabric from FreeSpirit to create an fun fabric panel.

I am hoping to share some basic information about this project since the project could morph into any shape, size depending on substrate and the amount of squares you want to make. Mine in 9 x 9" as it is mounted on a idea-ology Display Panel. I chose the wood Display Panel so I could use nails to secure the fabric to the panel at the corners.

The backing and all patches were made using the same method so lets start with that.

I added the Tattered fabric to a piece of Warm and Natural cotton batting (I use a fabric spray glue), then quilted the entire piece. I finished by stitching around the edge of the fabric, then taking the tip of the scissors and fraying the edges so the fabric and batting are a bit shredded.

Here's how the edges looked when I was done.

I cut out the black felt letters using the Sizzix Alphanumeric Bulletin die. For now, I have just laid the word on the backing fabric till I get all my patches made. Once I have all my patches, I will go back and use fabric glue to add each letter to the space.

*please refer back to my last post if you want to know about the right kind felt to use for successful die cutting.

LEFT SIDE

The top patch was made with Molecular fabric. I used the same die as "curious", but cut the numbers from white felt. I sprayed the felt with Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain before cutting. I also did not use the border edge as I did in the last project because my patch was too small. The numbers were glued, then stitched to the patch when dry (you don't want to gum up your needle).

The next patch took me awhile to figure out, but once I had the idea it went together very easily.

Spray Bouquet flowers with Villainous Potion Spray Stain, then set side to dry completely.

I added a strip of the Clippings fabric to a piece of vintage lace. Then I made a pocket with the lace over the patch.

I added Collage medium directly over the flowers to stiffen, then dried them with my heat tool. After they were dry, I used Collage Medium to add them into the pocket in a very random manner.

I created the broom patch using one of our old brooms that is more straw like, rather the the current broom that is more stick like. The straw broom is much more flexible, so it can be "fluffed up.

I found a chopped up piece of a spiderweb transparency (I used them all up making idea-ology Halloween projects). But I was determined to use it and it worked out perfectly.

After adding the fabric"patch" to the background on the bottom right, the web transparency did not look so out of place with the bottom right of it missing. It just looks as if the web goes behind the patch.

You might also notice that I stitched the broom and the ephemera to the quilted patch.

This one is one of my favorites!

RIGHT SIDE

Again, I started by making the patches to fit the empty spaces. The Periodic table patch is the only one I was specific with the cut so the word Periodic was at the top of the patch.

I thought it was a bit white, so I splattered it with Antique Linen Spray Stain and dried it with the heat gun.

I had some idea-ology test tubes left in my stash. These are retired, but Simon Says Stamp still has them. I added a bit of Mushroom Alcohol Ink to each test tube. I always add it to the outside so I can control how much use, rather than if you pour it in, it will just coat the inside and may become too dark.

I filled one with cut up bones and the other I just filled it with Mummy cloth.

As you can see in this photo, its more about what is happening on the outside of the test tubes than the inside. I added the idea-ology Entomology bug and more Mummy cloth to the outside, then wrapped them up with black string to secure them together. You could always hot glue them together before wrapping the string tightly around the glass tubes.

As for the patch with the wing, all I did was sew a word I cut from the clippings fabric, then add a wing that I cut in half and melted with my embossing gun. You have to be careful when melting the wing because the plastic gets very hot. I use a wood skewer to hold the wing to the mat while I wait for it to heat up and melt. The wing is glued to the fabric with Collage Medium.

You can see the ripples in the wing much better in this photo!

And lastly, the patch with the bones. I loved the idea that I could hand stitch the bones to the patch. I used Collage Medium to add some shredded and dyed cheesecloth (or you can use Mummy Cloth) to the patch. Once it was completely dry, I stitched the bones with green embroidery floss. I also tucked another clipping strip into the bones. I found if you paint Fabric Glue or even Collage Medium to the back of the strip, then lay it just how you want it, it not only dries exactly how you placed it, but its also sturdier.

You might also notice that I tucked my last piece of my spiderweb transparency behind the cheesecloth. I just love the transparencies over the fabric!

And there you have it! I LOVE this project because it's not precise! You can just do whatever you want, sew how ever you want, and add whatever you want. This was just so much fun!

Simon Says Stamp now carries fabric by the yard OR in a precut Fat Quarter bundle (a Fat Quarter bundle means you get one 18 x 21" piece of each of the 14 Laboratory cotton fabrics.