Indoor Summer T-Shirt Project - Great for a Child's Party

After a morning outside in the Summer heat I thought it would be a good idea to have an indoor project  ready for the girls.  Pentel Arts - Fabric Fun Dye Sticks and white T-Shirts were the answer.
This would be a great party activity and becomes the party favor for attendees.  (I just remembered the first time I did this for a party was at Bella's Momma's Baby Shower 4 years ago!)

Fabric Dye Sticks - T-Shirt project - ©2012 Cindy Rippe

It's best to pre-wash the shirts or use an older shirt with stains that you want to cover up.  Prep the shirts by ironing a large sheet of freezer paper inside which will stabilize the fabric and create a smooth surface for drawing.  Then just let the kids draw whatever they want with the Fabric Fun.

I used the Gel Roller Pen for Fabric to write names and add a few simple details (or in Bella's case, helped her write her own name).

These Dye Sticks can be washed out of fabric before they are heat set, if there is a mistake (or they end up somewhere they don't belong), which makes them perfect for kids.  The Gel Roller Pens are permanent immediately so are NOT so good for kids to use on their own but are great with adult supervision.

After the artwork is completed, set the dyes by ironing for a few minutes while the kids eat dessert. (Use a pressing cloth or paper to cover the drawings and protect the iron , use a hot setting - cotton). When the shirts are cool the kids love to peel the paper off and will probably put the shirts on right away!

©Bella's Happy Colors - 2012

A happy heart makes a face cheerful.  Proverbs 15:13

Bridesmaid Purses instead of Flowers

Personalized Purses with Fabric Paint - ©Cindy Rippe 2012

Our theme this month for the Designer Craft Connection Blog Hop is "SUMMER CRAFTS".  Since this seems to be a popular time for weddings I thought I'd share this fun idea for Bridesmaids.

You can purchase an inexpensive clutch and decorate it with Fabric Pens and Paint.  A purse with a personalized design that matches the theme of your wedding could be carried down the aisle instead of flowers. These would be perfect as a gift for your attendants or the Mom's too.

I sketched the designs free-hand but you can copy a pattern and use transfer paper to apply it to the purse. Trace the linework and then fill in with fabric paint if desired.  I used a Pentel Gel Roller for Fabric and DecoArt So Soft Fabric Paints.

Make sure you click through see more creative ideas from the other Designers on the Hop! Click the logo in the right column or go directly to the next Designer here.

There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.  Martin Luther

Painted Wedding Shoes - Wedding Week Part Three

After I painted the Wedding Dress with Dahlias (previous post - Wedding Week Part Two) I decided to paint a pair of matching shoes.  What woman doesn't want a pair of beautiful shoes?  My SIL, Elena, very kindly gave me a pair of shoes to decorate.

Wedding Shoes painted with Dahlias-copyright Cindy Rippe 2011

I used the Pentel Red Gel Roller for Fabric again.  The only problem I had was that after I sketched the flower on the first shoe I had to get the pattern off of it and reverse it for the other shoe.  (Reminder to self: Don't free hand a design on an uneven surface if you need to repeat it.)

I added Black Satin Ribbon and a bow using my favorite glue for fabric -  Beacon Adhesive's Fabri-Tac.  It grabs hold right away and stays on.  Perfect for a pair of shoes that would probably see lots of dancing at the Wedding Reception!

Close up of Dahlia on Dyeable shoes - copyright Cindy Rippe 2011

The music may have stopped but my heart beats to another tune, this rhythm called love.  ~A.C. Van Cherub

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Painted Wedding Dress - Wedding Week Part Two

I decided to continue with Wedding Week for the DESIGNER CRAFTS Blog Connection.  There are so many great ideas.  Don't forget to click on the link below to see them all.

Red is such a strong color trend I thought you'd enjoy seeing a Re-purposed Wedding Dress that I painted.

Ivory Wedding Dress Painted with DecoArt Fabric Paints - copyright Cindy Rippe

I really had fun with this project.  I used DecoArt So Soft Fabric Paints and and a Gel Roller for Fabric Pen by Pentel Arts.  After I sketched the flowers with the pen, I used the fabric paint to add shading and reinforce thick lines.  I also painted few of the flowers on the bodice and made a wide sash to update the look. (one of my few sewing projects)

Close up of Dahlia - copyright Cindy Rippe

Border Close up - copyright Cindy Rippe

This design would be nice for a Bride born in August.  It's the Flower of the August Birth month.

True love stories never have endings.  ~Richard Bach

Follow Me at   FAVECRAFTS - Finished on the 15th
and

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What's New? Products from the CHA Show, a Cricut Expression Giveaway and a New Blog Hop!

Introducing the Designer Crafts Connection and 365 Days of Crafts!

A group of Designers from the Creative Industry and a monthly Blog Party full of inspiration. 

One lucky Blog Hopper will win a fantastic prize (the info is at the bottom of the page) and you'll get a sneak peek into what goes on at the world's largest Craft & Hobby Trade Show. So appropriate for National Craft Month!

This week the Designers are sharing their reviews and photos from the Winter CHA Show and Conference. I wasn't able to attend but checked with a few of the companies that I've worked with in the past to see what new products they introduced at the show.  I paint and draw on a variety of surfaces for and these are the new products that I'll be using in my designs this year.

New Americana Acrylic Paint Colors for 2011

The Americana Acrylics work great as Acrylic Wash in Pen and Ink Designs and as base coats under colored pencil in my Multimedia Botanical drawings.

Transparent Gloss Enamels

I've been using the original Gloss Enamels and look forward to painting on dinnerware with the new Translucent Colors.

SoSoft Fabric Paints

The SoSoft Fabric Paints are really nice on Table Linens and Baby Clothes.  I really like them and wonder how the Fine glitter will work. 

Walnut Hollow Innkeeper Sign

Wood pieces for my "Front Door Decor" designs. 

Basswood Canvas

Walnut Hollow is also making a nice Basswood Canvas surface that looks similar to the size of stretched canvases.  I've always loved the quality of their wood products so I'm sure I'll like these.

Loew Cornell Sketching Set

I've used the Drawing Sets from Loew Cornell for my Drawing Classes in the past.  This one looks good too.

I was only able to share new products from the companies that I currently use in my designs after searching for "New Products" on their web sites and following the blog posts of my CHA Designer friends that did attend the show. (disclosure note: I did not get paid for this post)

For more information please continue through the entire Blog Hop.  There are 36 Designers participating.  You can go to the main page at 365 Days of Crafts Blog Hop

or on the Designer Crafts Blog Connection Logo below. Click forward to go to the next Designer's post.  Keep clicking until you get back here and you will have seen all the wonderful ideas this week.

Be sure to check Julie McGuffee's Blog Life in the Craft Lane  for an exciting
Cricut GIVEAWAY

and come back on March 13 when the Theme will be WEDDINGS with wide variety of projects suitable for weddings and anything connected with weddings.

The world is but a canvas to the imagination.
-- Henry David Thoreau

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Sizzix Triple Play Blog Hop Week 3 - "Celebrate" Pennant Banner

Here we are at Week 3 of the Sizzix Triple Play Blog Hop.  I made a multi-purpose Pennant Banner.  You could use this design for Birthdays, Showers or Spring Parties.  It would also be cute in a child's room with the letters of their name.

Our challenge, this week, was to create something with pieces cut using the Sizzix Flower, Beauty Bloom, Originals Die #655455 by Brenda Pinnick. 

I received this package of pre-cut flower shapes. My kit included Felt, Fabric and Card Stock. (Although I didn't use it yet, isn't the Pink Striped Fabric adorable? Not only did Brenda design the Die shape she designed this fabric as well!)  

To create the pattern I designed the basic pennant shape and letters and then traced the cardstock die cuts to draw the flower shapes. I cut out 9 pennant shapes from white fabric and used a light box to draw the design on each pennant with the Pentel Fabric Pen.

I used the DecoArt So Soft Fabric Paints to fill in the shapes.  In addition to the basic colors, there are Glitter and Pearl paints which add some glitz to the design.

After the base colors were dry I added strokes of the Pearl and Glitter paints on the large flowers and each letter.  I also painted some of the card stock and felt flowers with the Pearl paints.

I used the Fabri Tac to glue the banner and flowers together and Gem Tac to adhere the buttons.

Here's my Supply List with links to the sources:

Sizzix Flower, Beauty Bloom, Originals Die #655455 by Brenda Pinnick
Sizzix Big Shot
Felt – National Non-Wovens
DecoArt So Soft Fabric Paints
Pentel Gel Roller Pen for Fabric
Loew-Cornell Round Stroke Brush
Beacon Adhesives - Fabric Tac and Gem Tac
Sew Classic Bottomweight- Rodeo Cotton Solid White Fabric
Sheer Ribbon and Vintage Pearl Buttons from my stash

Have fun looking at all the creative ideas on the rest of the Hop!

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Painting Pears on a Napkin

I taught a workshop to the Quilting Ladies at church and they loved using the Fabric Fun products!  They use their napkins as placemats for lunch each week.  Well, one of the ladies couldn't make it to the workshop so I made one for her! Easy and fun!  Just sketch (or trace) and color. Blend with a brush and iron to make the design permanent.  Hope she likes it.

"There are only ten minutes in the life of a pear when it is perfect to eat." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Vintage Napkin Care

I love shopping for linens at resale shops and garage sales.  Most of the time I find single napkins that someone brought home from a restaurant but once in a while I hit upon a real bargain.  Many people get excited about their tablescape and buy a new set of beautiful napkins. They use them, wash them and freak out after they come out of the dryer. I'm sure that's what happened here.

But at the bargain price of $2.00 how could I resist?  I sure don't mind painting or sewing designs on something that costs about 17 cents!  And, with 12 in the set I don't worry about ruining them. In fact, if there is a small stain I can cover it with paint or embroidery.

In fact; one the the reasons I buy the napkins at this price is that if they get ruined in the washer/dryer I don't mind so much.  I don't want to use them if I can't easily clean them, which brings me back to the ironing dilemma that brought this set to the resale shop in the first place.

Here's my technique for quick napkin care.
1. After the party  I wash them in cold (or warm) water with a little Borax or Borateem added.
No...I don't always do it the same night. If you are worried about really messy stains rub in a little dishwashing liquid. Wash the napkins the next day. Think about it - dish soap is designed to remove food.
2. For napkins that need to be ironed I toss them into the dryer for about 10 minutes while I'm setting up my ironing station.  I have a large old beach towel, folded in half, that I lay on top of the dryer.  This gives me a large surface to work on so I don't to move them around to fit the top of the ironing board. (that takes extra time!)
3. Stretch out each napkin and iron it while it's still slightly damp.  This takes an average of 20-30 seconds for each one!  If you want crisp napkins use a little spray starch.  I like them soft.
4. I stack the flat napkins on the washing machine while I work.
5. Finally I clip them together on a pants hanger to store them. 

Part Five - Baby Shower - Beaded Bracelet Theme - Games

I thought I'd finish out the posts on this Baby Shower with the games. 

 Elena created the a guessing game with really cute Scrapbooking supplies. I don't remember the designer or manufacturer but would love to update with that information if you know it.

We made a 15 minute Diaper Cake (really....I forgot to put it together until the last minute!) so it's a little shabby looking but Sarah liked it anyway.  We rolled up the diapers, tied ribbon around the layers to hold them together and decorated the cake with Scrapbook stickers.  For a nicer version of the diaper cake, check out my article on the Creative Home Arts Club website.

I set up a station in the back of the room with Fabric Painting supplies, onesies and bibs. This is Suzanne painting a Onsie for the baby's first 4th of July. (We go to her house for the parade each year.) The guests could wander over there and spend a few minutes making the baby a personalized memento and play with the Fabric Fun Dye Sticks and Gel Roller pen for Fabric. One of my favorite products. So easy to use and very permanent.  Look for my original designs and patterns soon.