Inspired to Create by Rachael Merrick

I’m often drawn to fabrics which are more like little painted canvas art pieces than just patterned fabric.  This range especially called to me, and I was thrilled when Sarah suggested that I use some to create my own piece of artwork for this month's project.  For anyone who has visited my blog, you will know that I was first a scrapbooker, way before I dabbled in trying to teach myself to sew.  I use fabric, ribbon, buttons and all sorts of haberdashery items in my pages. There is very little actual sewing in this months project, which will only take you an hour to create.  It makes a lovely piece to hang in your own creative space or perhaps a lovely personalised last minute gift for someone special. 

 Materials:

•        Canvas (I’ve used on a similar size to A4 paper)
•        1 fat quarter of Lantern Bloom fabric
•        1 fat quarter of fleece or wadding of choice
•        1 chipboard birdcage.  I’ve used A to Z scraplets cage and bird
•        Glitter spraypaint
•        Acrylic paint to match the colours of the fabric
•        Silver spraypaint
•        Hot glue gun
•        Stick on gemstone.
•        Mini alpha stickers and a found quote to use

Step 1  - begin by trimming back your fabric so that it is slightly bigger than your canvas.  Make sure the fabric will fold around the canvas and to the back side .

 

Step 2 – Cut fleece to the same size of your fabric. 

 

Step 3 -  this step is optional – I’ve chosen to stitch around the cages in the fabric, with the fleece behind.  This will add a small amount of detail to your finished canvas. 

 

Step 4 – Its now time to hot glue your fabric to the canvas.  Begin by laying the fabric face down and place your canvas down on it.  Start with your corners.  Be careful – hot glue is very hot, don’t touch it!  Have a bowl of ice water on hand in case you do get some on yourself.  Apply the glue to the corner of the canvas and pull the corner over and hold down for 15 seconds.  Repeat for all 4 corners. 

 

Step 5

Repeat the hot glue process with the middle of each side.  Gently stretch the fabric as you glue it down.

 

Step 6 – Finish off by adding glue to the corners and sides.  You will use a lot of glue to secure it all down.  Don’t worry too much about the look of the back side of the canvas –you want to concentrate  on how the front looks.  It should be firm and even. 

 

Step 7 -   Take some acrylic paint that matches the tones of your fabric covered canvas.  Choose a section of your canvas that is ‘blank’.  This is where your quote and chipboard will go.  Apply a small amount of paint to the chosen section, and quickly spread with a foam brush.  Paint will soak in quickly so don’t leave it too long in one place.  Allow to dry for several minutes.

Step 8 – Spray paint your chipboard.  I’ve chosen silver and used a shoebox to place the chipboard in to paint it.  This will avoid overspray and getting paint all over you.  If you wish, you may like to also spray your canvas with glitter paint.  Allow everything   to dry for several minutes.

Step 9 – attach your chipboard to the canvas, over your painted area, with your hot glue gun. 

step 10 – use adhesive gemstones in similar tones to your fabric, to add sparkle and dimension.  I’ve added them to the flowers and branches. 

 

Step 11 – finally finish your canvas by adding a quote that inspires you.  I’ve used tiny alpha stickers for this.