Fabric/Paper Challenge

Craft Critique is having their Fabric/Paper Challenge Carnival today. You can go there and be inspired by the dozen or so links to various blogs with projects inspired by quilting and sewing on them. Here is the article I wrote for that blog (it appeared on Monday):

The scrapbooking magazine Creating Keepsakes recently held their annual “Hall of Fame” contest. One of the assignments was called “crafty combo.” The editors asked entrants to, “create a layout in which you couple your scrapbooking skills with another leisure art form, including but not limited to sewing, embroidery, quilting, beading, jewelry-making, painting, drawing and coloring.” This is one of my favorite things to do! Mixed media work is becoming very mainstream. For this article, I thought I’d focus on three easy ways to incorporate elements from quilting into your papercrafts. Two of the three methods involve absolutely no sewing, and one even involves no fabric!

1. Using A Quilting Pattern in Paper.

This is a no sew, no fabric project! In my layout “Love These Girls,” I used the most basic of quilting patterns: the four patch. The four patch is exactly what it sounds like: four equally sized squares sewn together to create a larger square. I grouped my squares by color and used the white of the paper as “sashing.” Here are some tips for taking a quilting pattern into your paper projects:

• You can find quilting patterns online, in magazines, books (most public libraries have a few quilting books).
• They key to beautiful quilting is cutting carefully. The same is true when creating paper quilts. Size matters.
• Use up your scraps! Don’t throw those little pieces away! Cut them into squares to use in paper quilts. Those squares can be used as is, cut into triangles, smaller squares, rectangles, used as diamonds…so many possibilities!
• If you want to add a nod to the sewing world, consider stitching around your paper quilt. Or you can use rub-ons or stamps which mimic sewing.
• And, of course, this project would be beautiful (just a little more shabby chic) with fabric squares instead of paper ones.

2. Using Fabric Instead of Patterned Paper.

This is a no sew project! On my layout “With This Ring,” I used fabric instead of patterned paper. As you can see, fabric creates a soft, romantic feeling. I emphasized the fabric texture by using velvet letters in my title, and several layers of ribbon and lace. Here are some tips for using fabric in your paper projects:

• I like to use a full coverage adhesive like a Xyron machine. But, I have also had good luck with Glue Dots and Hermafix Dotto. I don’t like liquid glues because they make the fabric hard, but that may be the look you’re after. Experiment and see what you like.
• Finding the fabric is easy. You can buy “fat quarters” or scrap bags at many craft and quilting stores. Or consider using old clothes or curtains or leftover upholstery fabric.
• If you like the frayed look, use your fingernail to roughen up the edge of the fabric. You can also make a small cut and then tear the fabric. It will tear in a straight line (with a “hairy” edge) along the fabric grain line.
• If you don’t like the frayed look, use a rotary cutter and some fray stop. Even Elmer’s Glue works to stop fabric from fraying. Put a dab on your finger tips and run your fingers over the edge of the fabric.

3. Adding Dimension and Texture with Quilted Embellishments.

As you can see in the layout, “Silly Bianca,” I created quilted flower embellishments. I love the gentle dimension, scrappy look, and cool texture they provide. I also included some felt flowers to enhance the fabric feeling. Here are some tips for when you create your own quilted embellishments:

• I used felt instead of batting (no need to finish the edges and the pretty orange color shows through instead of white).
• Glue Dots work well to adhere the quilted objects (or things to the quilted objects such as the buttons).
• Use fabric-only scissors for ease in cutting the quilt shapes. Paper dulls scissors.
• Create a quilt sandwich using two different fabrics (i.e. fabric A – felt – fabric B). This will allow you to do the same amount of work with double the choices. You can simply flip your embellishment whichever way you choose.
• Use a different color of thread in the bobbin (just make sure it’s the same weight as the main thread). This will give you two distinct looks (one on each side).
• Don’t have a sewing machine? Buy pre-quilted fabric and cut it up.

These three techniques are simply the tip of the iceberg. There are so many fun and easy ways to incorporate quilting into your papercraft projects! I’d love to see any projects you’ve done which were inspired by quilting! Send me a link!