Let's talk pillows. These pillows are made with a simple stencil. All you need is a design you like, poster paper, disposable razor knife, cheap stencil brush, craft paints, black liquid embroidery. (this is paint in a squeeze tube) Look around on the web for a design. I buy coloring books, sticker books etc for designs I like. Put your design on poster paper and cut it out. See the muslin lines between the butterfly colors? That is the paper you left. You must have interstices between each piece. Stretch your ironed muslin on a board or cardboard by tape on the back. I use the bright blue tape you get at hardware stores because it doesn't leave a residue. Stencil one color at a time, dip stencil brush in paint then tap on a paper plate to take off excess and start tapping it on your fabric. No painting experience required just neatness. Before moving stencil gently blow dry it. Simple stencils can be made in one piece like this phlox because the colors are far enough apart. More complex ones are made a seperate stencil for each color. These designs were from a wildflower coloring book. Take your pic to the copy store and have it enlarged to the size you want. After these were painted I took them outside, thinned the paint and spattered them with a toothbrush. When all your paints are dry (24 hours) Take your black liquid embroidery and start outlining everything. This gives a nice look and sharpens your design. Let dry 24 hours. Now take off the cardboard and tape and heat set your material. This will make it washable. Iron medium hot. Lay an old cloth over your piece for this. Now make your pillow and stuff. Aren't you clever? This rattan peacock chair cover is made the same way. I taped newspaper together and then pressed it to the chair back to make the pattern, then printed it the same way and then machine quilted it with some batting. These wicker covers were made with old curtains that were tea dyed and made into covers and Then printed so the leaves would be accurately placed. Then I threw paint at them. It's fun. These Kittys are made with only liquid embroidery. Put your pattern (you may have to outline in black marker) under your stretched muslin and apply liquid embroidery colors one at a time, drying between colors. No heat set needed. Now move on to bigger things. Take some old woven type drapes (yard sale)Cut away seams. Iron. Get a piece of plywood and stretch tightly with a staple gun. Now prime this using any light colored latex paint you have laying around. You can use a sponge brush for this. Wrap your brush in plastic wrap between coats so you don't have to wash. Put five coats on this, drying between coats. Gently sand. Now put your lines on, like round placemats. Now you can decorate, paint background, sponge, ragroll etc. Then stencil on design. Dry. Now use water poly to coat. Then with sharp razor knife cut your piece from the board. This picture is glued to a thin board. The shading on the bird is done while the paint is wet. Simply dip your wet brush in a darker color and apply. This is a little junk table. This is my dining table, you can see one chair seat at the bottom. Water poly makes things waterproof (no coasters needed) and washable. Leftover pieces can be made into bookmarks.
Bethie you make it look so easy.I use to embroidery paint all time but my hands are not that steady anymore thats what age does to you.Those are so pretty.You have a talent I admire very much.
Very beautiful Bethie, especially the table, that is awesome. I just don't have the time and patience anymore.
These look great Bethie and what a fabulous tutorial When did you first start doing this? Was it tricky initially? BTW I added some more text to the topic title so searchers will be able to find it easier. Is the text ok? Thanks for the time you took to write this, we really appreciate it!
Just in time Bethie. :-D I have cushions I need to replace and I want them to look origional + I need a new project for the shorter days and longer nights!! An excellent tutorial and you've certainly given me some great ideas!!
The text is fine. I don't remember when I first started doing this and all craft things come easily for me. I have a "can do" attitude. When other little girls were playing with paperdolls I was making giant paperdolls with jointed legs. I was definitely the cuckoo in the nest at my house. 8)
Those are all simply wonderful! I particularly adore the foxgloves on the pillow. Now I really could find somewhere for them!! When I was in my teens I went on a workshop day to learn to stencil and made several cushions which mum still has on her bed, but they are not a patch on yours. Fabulous!
