Monday, August 22, 2016

My Other Creations: Fancy Fabric Fish

For this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme, which is "Go Fish," I decided to whip out the sewing machine and make some fabric fish.  I can't follow a pattern to save my life (too much like math...or hieroglyphics perhaps?), so I just free-styled these with a hand-drawn fish template that I traced onto fabric and sewed around.


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 One of my favorite crafty techniques is to stamp onto fabric.  On the "joy" fish, which started out as white fabric, I stamped the tail with a Writer's Block stamp from ArtFoamies.  I added numbers from Tim Holtz's Sideshow set and the flowers on all three fish are Prima Documented flowers which I've added ink to.  I also smudged Distress ink on the fish's body using Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade and Ripe Persimmon.  I added some background Washi tape for the stripes and for the Joy sentiment.


On the "grateful" fish, I used Tim Holtz's dictionary fabric, but I turned it inside out for a more subtle pattern.  I stamped additional patterns onto the fabric using Dina Wakley's Scribbled Text set.  I used Distress Ink in Twisted Citron and Peacock Feathers to add more color to the fabric and stamped a piece of fabric with pink polka-dots.  The sentiment and stripes are Washi tape.
 

 The third fish, "love," is made the same way.  I started with white fabric and added Distress Ink in Salty Ocean, Shaded Lilac and Wilted Violet.  I stamped the fabric with Dina Wakley's Borders stamp set and My Favorite Things' Whimsical Wishes.  The sentiment and stripes are Washi. 


For each of my fish, I drew the eyes on white fabric with a Sharpie pen.  I glued everything together using Aleene's Turbo Tacky Glue.  People ask me what type of ink is best to use on fabric.  For fabric you won't be washing that's decorative only (like these fish), I don't care much which ink I use.  But if I'm stamping on clothing or something I'll need to wash, I like to use Memento Luxe ink, which is fabric-safe.  You do still have the "set" the ink by ironing the stamped fabric before washing, but it works well and maintains its colors nicely.

As for these little fishies, I made them a nice tin to rest in while they wait for their next adventure!


Here is a visual list of the main supplies I used:


You can get these fabulous supplies from Simon Says Stamp:



I am excited to see your interpretation of "Go Fish"!  Be sure to upload your projects to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog to inspire the rest of us and to give yourself a shot at winning the $50 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store!
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http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
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