PrintmakingTutorials

I {Heart} Surface Design: Collaged & Stitched Heart

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

We are collaging and stitching today!  The first step is to pick out some papers that you like or make some new ones.  This project is also great for leftover scraps.

1-Papers-wm
I sun printed some book pages.  (Indoor sun printing is fun and easy and I've got an online class all about it!)

I cut the papers into strips and taped them together (on the back):

2-TapeStrips-wm
By collaging the papers in strips and keeping them relatively monochromatic, a unified appearance is easily achieved.  Then once I had an arrangement I liked…

3-layoutdesign-wm
…I glued the heart to the back of the strips.

4-GlueHeart-wm
Once the glue is dry — it is important that the glue is dry — cut away the excess paper.

5-TrimPapers-wm
5-TrimPapers-wm
Then I made a very simple embellishment.  I cut two hearts from my sun printed papers — one slightly larger than the other.

6-CutHearts-wm
6-CutHearts-wm
Then it was off to the sewing machine!  

7-Stitch-wm
Yes, you can stitch through chipboard, dried gel medium, and several layers of dyed paper.  You don't need a special needle or anything.  You simply need a quality sewing machine and some courage!  Here are my tips:

  1. You can use the same needle you use for fabric. I do change my needle before starting a fabric project.
  2. If you're sewing through delicate paper, consider raising the stitch length. This creates fewer holes in your paper.
  3. Always make sure that glue and paint are dry before you sew through them. They can gunk up the needle — and worst case scenario — get into the gears of the machine through the bobbin case.
  4. You can test thicker materials — like chipboard — by rolling the hand wheel to manually push through it. If you're struggling when turning the hand wheel, best not to try sewing through it. If the needle passes through easily, let's do it!

And here's the result:

Heart-wm
Heart-wm
Heart-wm
There's something about this heart that just makes me happy!  Now, it's your turn to drag out those pretty papers — or make some new ones!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a painter, printmaker, and collage artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Her artwork investigates the interplay of identity and perception, inviting viewers to take a longer look. Julie works in layers, both physically and metaphorically, exploring what is visible and what is concealed. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops and her online classroom at MyArtPractice.com. Julie's achievements include high-profile clients, multiple publications - including her book, “Carve Stamp Play” - and exhibits in New York City and throughout Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Brown University.

You May Also Like

Rainbow Roll Technique

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Direct Cut Around a Stamped Sentiment

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer
A scrapbook page with a large red mosaic heart and a photo of a taxi cab with the letters "NYC" and some writing.

UTEE Heart Mosaic Tutorial

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Foiling Technique #3: Stamps & Glue

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Upcycle a Box for Christmas

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

ScanNCut: Use Up Scraps With the Baseball Field Method

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

56 thoughts on “I {Heart} Surface Design: Collaged & Stitched Heart”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *