{capture the moment}

Senior DT Challenge: Fun With Fabric!

I've mentioned many times in the past how fascinating it is to me the way so many handcrafts and their individual supplies are now merging into one another.  One of which is fabric.  This pliable medium is SO fun and easy to incorporate into paper crafting, offering you so many new levels of exploration with the supplies you already have on hand.

The challenge this month was to stamp on fabric and then integrate it into a project. While I was experimenting with some different techniques, I accidentally left the cap off of one of my Copic markers and it had bled onto the fabric I was working with.  At first I was frustrated with what I had done to my work in progress, but then decided that I actually liked the look and would embrace the technique!

The fabric I used was an old white bed sheet that I have been saving for ages, thinking I would one day have a good use for it!  If you don't have any old ones, you can get a new sheet at any big box store for a bout $5.  I used a ruler and various Copic markers (aqua mist, ocean tides & spring rain) to create a series of stripes.  I chose to use the broad tip, but either one would work depending on the final look you were going for.  One thing I LOVE about this technique is the color coordination.  Since I have Copics that coordinate with our colors, I am able to create stripes in dozens of different combinations that coordinate with our products too.  What's not to love about that!

I love how *artistic* the stripes look, almost like some kind of watercolor paint technique, only without the mess!  After I completed the stripes, I adhered a piece of white cardstock to the back of the fabric using Heat n' Bond.  If you don't feel like getting the iron out, you could also use wide pieces of Scor-tape.

The cardstock provides some stability so that you are able to get a more defined cut and a bit of the embossed look when using Nestabilities.  Here I have used Labels 1.  You can run the fabric back and forth through your machine several times for a clean cut or just a few times for something it bit more rough, like I did here.  I used my fingernail to pull a few of the threads loose around the edges to help reinforce that.

 

(click photo for a larger view)

Once the die-cut shape is integrated into a project, it really adds a little bit of zest that it would have been lacking without the pretty patterned fabric.  The aqua mist cardstock was embossed with a paisley embossing folder from ProvoCraft.  Spring Rain Twill was used as a border through the center of the card.  Polka Dot Basics & Fresh Snow ink were used on the lower portion of the card. 

 

(click photo for a larger view)

Spring Rain buttons and embroidery floss with a few bitty cardstock leaves thrown in, make up the focal point created on top of the die-cut fabric.  The sentiment (from Vintage Picnic Sentiments) was stamped in True Black ink directly onto the fabric.  Overall, just a fun little card to brighten someones day!

I challenged the senior design team to take a new look at fabric in their stash and incorporate it into a fun project.  You won't believe some of the incredible things they have come up with!

To read more from Heather Nichols, CLICK HERE.



To read more from Lisa Johnson, CLICK HERE.

To read more from Michelle Wooderson, CLICK HERE.

To read more from Lauren Meader, CLICK HERE.

To read more from Becky Oehlers, CLICK HERE.

 

To read more from Wendy Sue Anderson, CLICK HERE.

Want more?  Here are a few other projects I personally have done in the past that execute some of the ideas surrounding today's challenge...

To read more about these rustic fabric flowers, CLICK HERE.

To read more about how to construct this simple fabric purse, CLICK HERE.

To read more about stamping your own custom t-shirts, CLICK HERE.

I hope you enjoyed all of today's inspiration!  So what are you waiting for!  Go grab some fabric, experiment and have fun!  You never know what you'll come up with!  I'd love to see what you create!  Please feel free to leave a link in the comments section!

Stamps: Polka Dot Basics, Vintage Picnic Sentiments
Ink: fresh snow, true black
Paper: aqua mist, spring moss, classic kraft, stamper's select white
Other: spring rain vintage buttons, spring rain twill, scalloped scissors (Fiskars), DMC embroidery floss, Labels 1 Nestabilities.
Finished Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

THIS is where I'll be for dinner Saturday night, along with three additional days & nights, basking in the Florida sun.  David & I are going away on an *official* honeymoon, to compensate for the one we never had.  This summer marks our ten year anniversary and he planned this special getaway to celebrate.  I am really looking forward to it.  The blog will be a bit quiet in my absence, but I will have plenty to share when I return the 25th!

Have a great week!

June Honorable Mentions

Well, it was another amazing batch of entries this month for Guest Star Stamper!!!  I am really pleased to announce all the winners and honorable mentions!

Tracey Cuccia chose to use the popular black & white with color pop look that is so trendy right now.  And I love the way that the trend pairs with Star Prints!!!  The large flourish from Fancy Flourishes provided her with the perfect framework to *dangle the stars from.  What a fun way to break in several different patterned starts from the set all at once too!  I just love this project!!!

Lizzie Jones hand-crafted this INCREDIBLE wrath for the upcoming July 4th holiday!  Talk about easy and inexpensive!  A bit of ribbon and some paper and you are good to go!  Having the coordinating punch makes it a snap to prepare all those stars for their masterpiece!

Kara Vrabel developed this adorable baby gift that includes a card and *wish in a bottle*.  I really appreciated the clean simplicity of it and the heartfelt thoughts behind the special wish.  Definitely something unique to bring to a baby shower!

Jennifer Holmes created a baby announcement that is so completely beautiful, it just makes me swoon!  Every little detail is just perfect in every way, just like the 10 little perfect toes she is celebrating here!

Suzanne Dean used bright vibrant colors and our new Day at the Beach set to create this super summer-y ensemble.  She adapted the Lolli-pop Along template to suit her needs beautifully.  I love the colors she used for all of those tropical fruity drinks.  And the little bit of shimmer & sparkle she added to them really took it up a notch as well.

Leigh Ann Baird got super creative and made these fun vintage style fans, perfect for those hot summer days out on the porch!  Let Freedom Ring made the perfect patterns and accents fro her *cool* project!

Resqbarbie altered Recipe Wrap-Up to be the perfect postcard portfolio for her daughter to use while vacationing this summer.  Images from Day at the Beach adorn the cover while the pockets inside hold everything she needs to keep in touch with friends & family.

Kelly Eubanks kept it simple with this sailboat card using Men of Life.  I like the way she wrapped the twine around the turquoise mat along with the subtle distressing around the edges of the kraft card base.

Shannan Teubner made this pretty little number using Damask Designs paired with a sentiment from Mega Mixed Messages.  the pattern she built is impeccable and I just love the stitching detail she added around the perimeter of the mat.  The black stripes in the background really help to ground everything and maintain the focus on the patterned element.  Well balanced and perfectly executed!

Travelingmama did this super sweet & simple card using the little chickie from Birds of a Feather.  I'm thinking of all the images out there that you could create a similar card with for the same stunning results!  In less than ten minutes nonetheless!

Regan D'Agostino used one of my favorite images for baby cards, the nest & eggs from Birds of a Feather.  Her bow created with ripe avocado stitched ribbon is perfection (perhaps I need to beg her for some private lessons!)

Lisa Henke's colors and overall layout really caught my eye.  Everything is perfectly balanced without being too much or too little.  Plus, who can resist an adorable little strawberry trio from Green Thumb?

Catherine (Dancing Pear Designs) created this stunning flameless candle holder.  Doesn't it just scream beachy summer to you?  She assembled the For Keep{sake} box from clear cardstock.  It was accented with Background Basics: Text Style.  Fluffy fibers and silver sea-themed charms intertwine around the top of the delicate looking construction.  The tag is stamped with Star Prints and is the perfect message to keep things low-key and take time to savor the days of summer. 

We look forward to working with Catherine as a guest on our template team this month!  So if you liked her project today, you will be seeing more from her in one of next month's new template design downloads!

Even though only one Template winner receives the top prize of earning the guest position on our template team for this month, there are three other wonderful projects that I thought deserved special mention!

Julia Aston designed this patriotic version of our Captured Card Case to be used as a fun cookie box, complete with a star shaped window.  The same idea could be executed for a variety of holidays!

Tracey Cuccia used Basket Basics to create this elaborate money bouquet.  Butterfly Kisses provided the perfect images to intermingle with the *cash* flowers.  What a fun gift this would be to receive!

Yvette Farrell gave Let's Do Lunch a fun & fresh makeover!  I loved all her bright colors and the way she creatively cut a flower to frame the latch.  A perfect use for large buttons is integrating them into template projects, like Yvette did here.  Lunch with all the *trimmings*!!!

So there you have it!  Didn't everyone do an AMAZING job!  I just feel so blessed to have so many talented stampers utilizing our images in so many fabulous ways.  Thank you to each and every one of you for sharing your art with us!

Want to see your project highlighted here next month and perhaps win a prize?  The categories for this month's Guest Star Stamper Contest can be found HERE!  You have until July 13th to complete your projects, so you have plenty of time to think it over and put something fabulous together!  I look forward to seeing all of your amazing entries!

These three...

• 3 laughs, each distinctly different and contagious.
• 3 smiles, that inspire me to do everything in my power to make them happy.
• 3 important reasons to keep focused on the true meaning of life.
• 3 of my most prized processions, all in a row.
• 3 blessings that bring me more happiness & joy than my heart can hold.
• 3 little people that will make a big difference in this world one day.
• 3 sets of eyes that sparkle when I walk into the room.
• 3 reasons to fall in love with being a mother all over again, just like it was the beginning.

*official* June Release Party Contest

This month has been full of food related projects and images.  That got me to thinking about how some of my favorite foods & recipes ARE my favorites because of a happy memory associated with them.  Do you have any memories associated with a particular dish or recipe that you still eat today?

As always, we are giving away the June "I Want It All" prize package to one lucky winner tonight (a $176 retail value!!!).  All you have to do to have a chance to win is answer the following question...

"What's your favorite memory associated with a favorite food?"

Contest closes at 11:30pm EST.  The winner will be randomly chosen and posted here shortly before midnight.  Please play nice, only one entry per person.

Good luck to everyone!

THIS CONTEST IN NOW CLOSED

 

Congrats, Jodi!  Please contact customer service with your shipping information so we can get your prize package out to you.  And thanks to everyone else for playing!  So many fun answers to read through.  I truly enjoy getting to know each of you a bit more on a personal level like that! 

Have a wonderful week!