Pin Up Girl

Good morning! It is (hopefully) another sunny day here in Canberra. As usual I am actually typing this post just before I go to bed and scheduling it to appear first thing in the morning :o)

Today it is time for a new challenge at Magnolia Down Under Challenges and this week we are looking for LACE AND RIBBONS... easy peasy.

I decided to make something a little bit different for a change. I was sitting at my desk hunting around for a packet of pretty pins I had stashed somewhere. I don't know about you, but I have packets everywhere.  I was in need of a pretty storage solution for them - and a child safe one in case my little boys broke into my craft area (hmm... yes, it does happen!).  And then I thought back to my sewing and quilting days and went on the hunt for some pretty quilt fabrics I knew I had somewhere.. yes, another treasure hunt :o)  I have stamped and coloured on fabric before knew it could be done so I thought this may just work...

PIN CUSHIONS!

I actually made a few because I thought I would like to post some off to friends. They are stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa onto pre-washed Calico and coloured very quickly with Copics. I then added some pretty fabrics, lacce, ribbons, buttons and charms to girly them all up. Each pin cushion has a little loop of ribbon at the top so it can be hung up nice and high.

When colouring on fabric, it is important to prewash the fabric to remove the 'size' (the chemical added to the fabric during manufacture). It is also important to know that the copic ink tends to feather very quickly so you have to work fast. Normally when colouring faces I use five different colours to blend. On fabric because you are unable to blend as effectivly, I used  R21 for the cheeks and then only three shades for the skin. Try to stay a little further away from the stamp lines than usual until you are comfortable with how far the ink will feather.  The only other tip I really have for you is that these are not wash proof... if you wet them, the ink will run and create quite a pretty faded rainbow :o) So it is best only done on items that don't get washed... such as these pin cushions.

This last one isn't quite finished as I ran out of stuffing. It is a bit larger and more embellished. 

I have used some of my favourite stamps on these pin cushions:
Beautiful Tilda and Tilda with Lace Jeans - Butterfly Dreams Collection 2011

Tilda with Hearts - Love Collection 2009

Lovely Tilda - Cozy Autumn 2010

We would love for you to join us at Magnolia Down Under Challenges this week for our challenge. We always love to see what you create to share with us. 

Thanks for checking out my little project today - enjoy the rest of your weekend!