A Sunflower Tote Bag

Did you know that there are several colouring mediums that we use that can be heat set onto fabric? Inktense blocks and inktense pencils are the ones I tend to reach for when crafting with fabric and  decorating items like bags. I made myself a bag recently using some supermarket fat quarters and added a sunflower pocket. 

Here is what I used:

XL Doodle Art sunflower stamp

Versafine Clair ink

Calico 

Inktense blocks

Embroidery thread

5 coordinating fat quarters (Mine were from Aldi)

Braid

Material for straps and lining (I used a pillowcase) 

First I stamped the sunflower using the Versafine Clair ink onto the calico. I find this easiest to do using a stamp press as the magnets secure the cloth at the right tension. Versafine Clair isn't advertised as an ink to use on fabric, but having dropped a stamp inked with it on my jeans, it hasn't washed out after 3 washes, so it is fine to use! 😂 Then I painted the sunflower with the inktense blocks and a water brush (inktense pencils would work equally well). Once this is complete, iron it to heat set it. 

Next I cut 4 different strips from the fat quarters each 55cm x 10cm and sewed these together. I added a 10 cm strip at the top and bottom too, adding some braid over the seam. 

I attached the sunflower panel to a 17 x 25cm rectangle of the fat quarter using blanket stitch and made a pocket on the front of the bag, before sewing up the side seams.

Finally I made straps and a lining from a pillowcase and attached around the top. 

Here is the finished bag.

I fancy making a few more of these - I'm thinking a seaside themed one next! 

Thanks for looking! 

Playing in my Art Journal

 Hi there! Thought I would share with you my first finsihed journal spread in this lovely 14cm square journal that I had for Christmas. My journal has a couple of other pages with backgrounds but nothing else finished yet.

You can probably make out that the colour in the background was brayered (Chalk finish acrylic) - just me cleaning my brayer before using it in another colour. I was rather pleased with the result. I also put a stencil (paint side down) onto the right hand page , and you can just about see the gold just behind the boat. Having seen a fabulous demo from the lovely Isa, I decided to use the 'of the sea' stamp CI-559 designed by Sharron Bates to make a seaside scene.

Before stamping the boats, I used quite a few background stamps to add to the background. CI-017 - french script was stamped in broken china distress oxide, as was the number from CI-397. The circles from CI-540 were stamped in cracked pistachio distress oxide. After that I added the grey crackle CI-116 and the mismesh pattern CI-542 around the edges. 

I stamped the boat (with frame removed) onto my page and then again 3 more times onto some mixed media paper. I painted them with my dewent inktense blocks and cut them out. This one had an extra layer for the lower part of the boat and the one above was made from parts of one cut apart. I also stamped, coloured and cut out a seagull from white card. I stuck these in place and applied a layer of Tim Holtz Distress Collage Meduim of the crazing variety (LOVE this stuff!) and added some Prima Finnabair small art stones below the boats. I added more colour to ground them using the inktense blocks and finally added the verse from CI-397. 

I definitely need to do more of this sort of thing! I really enjoyed it and it came together so well. Almost as refreshing as a stroll on the beach! Before I go, here is a date for your diary - Jean is on Hochanda next on 12th February at 10am and 2pm. I can tell you now that the new stamps are absolutely gorgeous!!! Got a feeling they will sell very well indeed!

Thanks for looking and I hope you are keeping well and finding solace in your crafting! 

                        Sally x