Servus and welcome to some grungy Halloween crafting (or upcycling) fun, dear creative friends!
Today's project is actually not only awesome fun to make or a great way to upcycle boring cotton bags (like I did), but you can use the technique shown to create your own grungy and fun (or any other style) stencilled and embroidered patches to apply to any kind of project you want! You can even create the patches and use these as a give-away on special occasions (in my case on Halloween for example...).
The stencils I have used were designed by the wonderful Roxanne Coble. I just adore her sense of humor and quirky designs!
and
Especially stencils that provide a mask that matches the inner detail design are the ones you should go for with this project! But also for example designs like these (designed by amazing Laurie Mika for her "
Alchemy" stencil) work brilliantly!
All you need to create your own patches:
- stencils
- a cotton bag (you could even use one from a store where you would cover up any print you do not like) - but you can apply the patches to something else of course
- left over fabric scraps ((I have used an old kitchen towel and some left overs from shortened curtains)
- embroidery yarn, needle, scissors
- acrylic paint and fabric painting medium (or fabric paints of course)
- stencil brushes in various sizes
I have used DecoArt Fabric Painting Medium and "heritage" Chalky Finish paint. If you use a different fabric painting medium, just follow the mixing advice shown on the label.
I started with roughly cutting my patches to size (eyeballing and using the masks as a measure) and then frayed the edges to give them a worn look.
I used the mask of the rat and the stencil of the rabbit to create my first layers.
The rabbit's silhouette was stencilled using PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paint "Squid Ink". I mixed the fabric painting medium and paint on my palette using a palette knife and then applied the paint through the stencil with a wide stipple or stencilling brush.
To create the rat's shape I used the mask and stencilled around it. This way I got a kind of smudged and fading orange outline that contrasts the blue fabric.
I used my heat tool to quick dry the paint on the patches before I continued. As a next step I added the bones and innards by applying DecoArt beige Chalky Gesso through the according stencils. Afterwards I heat dried again.
My plan was to embroider the rabbit's innards using red embroidery yarn. To avoid any white paint showing through I painted the innards by hand using a detail brush and PaperArtsy Fresco Finish "London Bus" paint - a bright red.
You can of course embroider more sections than I did. The rabbit's spine for example. Or the rat's skull and ribs. Just make sure you leave some areas "un-embroidered" - otherwise your patches will look too neat ;)
I also wanted to add a rough bling-y texture to the mix as that would kind of contrast the worn look and also add some really cool interest.
I chose orange Glitz Glitter Gel that I applied through the according stencils using a bristle brush.
I head dried again. Finally I sprinkled on various tones of spray paint left overs for some additional grunge and set my patches to the side to dry. (I could have used the heat tool again but it was time for coffee break ;)
I used more embroidery yarn to wild-stitch the patches onto my cotton bag. I made sure I didn't work anything close to neatly to add to the worn and grungy look of my Halloween-style patched up cotton bag!!!
I just love the result! And I think I will do some more patches to give to my sister and niece. Oh...and I could sew another bag from that old pair of jeans I will never wear again and add a flaming heart patch to that one...aaahhhh....the possibilities!!!!
Thank you all so much for stopping by! I hope you have enjoyed your visit and leave inspired!
Hugs and happy crafting!
Claudia
Claudia - Love how your ideas turned out - I'm thinking on my jeans! Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteThank YOU, Linda, for the kind words! Have fun with your jeans! ;) xxx
ReplyDelete