Make it: Stretched Fabric Art

Stretched Fabric Art

Materials:

decorative fabric
wooden stretcher frame (available at art-supply shops)
staple gun
picture-frame hanger
beads, sequins, buttons, needle and thread (optional)

Steps:

1. To assemble the frame (if stretcher frame came preassembled, skip ahead to step 2), fit together the four sides of the frame by sliding the flaps into grooves at the end of each section. Using a staple gun, put a staple into each of the 4 diagonal seams.



2. Measure the fabric to fit the frame and add 2-1/2" per side to allow the fabric to wrap over the sides of the frame. Cut out the fabric; if necessary, iron it to remove wrinkles and creases.

3. Lay the fabric face down; center the frame on top of the fabric, front side down. Starting at one corner, fold the fabric over the frame and staple in place. Repeat on the other corners, making sure to stretch the fabric taut. Next, fold and staple the fabric back along all sides of the frame. To ensure that the staples stay in place, use a hammer to secure them.

4. Optional: Sew sequins, beads or buttons to the fabric to accent pattern elements; choose colors that complement the fabric. Attach a hanger to the frame.

Make it: Modern Grass Painting

Modern Grass Painting

Create a modern grass painting with a unique painting process that combines strips of shelf liner with warm green paints.

Materials:

20"x20" square prestretched canvas
self-adhesive shelf liner
scissors or craft knife
metal yardstick
self-healing cutting mat
Folk Art Acrylic craft paint: 2 oz. each olive green and white
gel medium
100% cotton rag
picture hanger

1. Roll out the shelf liner and tape down. Using a yardstick, mark points on the contact paper that are 17", 14", 11" and 9" tall . Next, using a craft knife and a metal yardstick, cut the paper at marked points. Line up the yardstick at the center of one of the paper’s boxes and cut down to the base at a slight angle. Doing this on both sides will leave a long, thin triangle shape. You will need 6 strips that are 17" long, 20 strips that are 14" long, 15 strips that are 11" long and 10 strips that are 9" long. The strips should resemble large blades of grass.

2. Attach the strips to the canvas. Beginning with the longest strips, keep layering until the canvas is covered. Wrap the widest part of the strips around the bottom of the canvas; pointed ends should be facing the top of the canvas.

3. Pour a small amount of olive green paint on a plastic plate. Add an equal amount of gel medium to the paint and mix thoroughly.

4. Wet a rag and wring it out. Forming it into a ball, dip it into paint, blot off the excess and begin painting at the base of the canvas. Paint the darker color 1/3 of the way up from the base of the canvas. Add a drop or two of white paint to the olive paint and blend to create a lighter shade of green. Continue painting the canvas with the lighter shade, blending the two colors together about 2/3 of the way up the canvas. Add more white paint to create a very light green shade and continue painting to the top the canvas, blending as you paint. Let the canvas dry.

5. Carefully remove the shelf liner paper and add a picture hanger to the back.

Make it: Mapped Out Art

Mapped Out Art

Materials:
Basswood Country Planks (this project used a 16"x13"x11" Walnut Hollow platter)
Small map of Italy (printed from the computer and enlarged to fit base of platter)
60- and 120-grit sandpaper
Folk Art Acrylic craft paint: cream (Linen), butter yellow (Morning Sun), spring green (Forest Moss), robin’s egg blue (Light Blue), tan (Buckskin Brown), chocolate brown (Dark Brown)
foam paintbrush
small round paintbrush
low-tack masking tape
pencil
matte clear sealer (varnish)
picture hanger

Steps:

1. Sand any rough edges and clean sanding dust off the tray.

2. This project is about painting in layers. Using a foam brush, apply 2 coats of cream wash (1 part paint and 1 part water) to the top surface of the platter and let dry.



3. Next, apply a coat of spring green wash to the inner base of the platter and let dry. Apply a coat of butter yellow wash to the inner base of the plank and let dry. Apply a coat of robin’s egg blue wash to the inner base of the plank and let dry. Apply a coat of dark brown wash to the inner base and let dry.

4. Cut out the map and position it in the center of the painted platter. Lightly secure the map to the platter with low-tack tape. Trace around the map with a pencil. Pull up the map to reveal the country outline.

5. Using a small round paintbrush, fill in the map outline with tan paint (not wash) and let it dry. Let the platter dry thoroughly before sanding.

6. Using 60-grit sandpaper, sand the entire platter. Sand lightly on some areas of the platter and more heavily in other areas to expose different layers of paint. Smooth out sanding lines with 120-grit sandpaper; wipe the surace with a rag to remove sanding dust.

7. Optional: add extra embellishments such as map symbols or sayings to the platter.

8. Using a foam brush, coat the platter with matte-finish clear sealer. Secure a picture hanger to the back of the platter for hanging.