At Havel’s Sewing, we’re always trying to think of cool projects we can make from our fabric stash. We’re also always thinking about great handmade gift ideas for our friends’ birthdays, anniversaries and housewarming parties. Well, how about making personalized fabric collages. Here’s what you’ll need:
1. A stretched artist’s canvas – your choice of size.
2. A pair of sharp fabric scissors to cut strips of fabric.
3. Carefully chosen fabric from your stash.
4. A quote, message or “rules” printed on regular white paper and cut out to arrange on fabric covered canvas.
5. Mod Podge (Original or Fabric)
6. Artist paint brushes.
7. Acrylic paints in various colors.
8. A staple gun (if you feel better securing the fabric to the canvas by stretching it around and stapling it).
Choose the number of fabric strips you’ll need. That should depend on the quote or message you’ve decided on. You can use one strip per word or one strip per sentence or one strip per rule. Cut the strips wide enough that your words will fit on each strip. Also, pay attention the color of each fabric as you layer them. You can attach each strip of fabric with a staple gun or you can coat your canvas with a layer of Mod Podge and lay your strips across that. Either way, coat your fabric with a layer of Mod Podge after you’ve put your strips on the canvas. Arrange your words and brush a layer of Mod Podge over them. Embellish your words with acrylic paint while the Mod Podge is wet or wait for it to dry for a bolder effect. Let it dry and voila! The entire project takes very little time and trouble.
If you find yourself in love with the ease and finished product of this project, find more inspiration in the pages of Cloth Paper Scissors. It was a story about Anna Maria Horner in an issue of this magazine that inspired us to try these types of fabric collage in the first place!
And, for more advanced techniques, check out Fabric Art Collage by Rebekah Meier.
