Quilted Tyvek Squares

I love to design using different techniques and materials - mixed media & skills.

Here are some sketchbooks I have decorated with quilted Tyvek squares

These spiral-bound Pink Pig sketchbooks, stocked by Colourcraft, have handmade coloured silk covers (front and back) and 35 leaf quality 150gsm cartridge paper (made from acid-free pulp purchased from accredited and sustainable resources). 
This picture does not really show how fabulous the silk cover design on the notebooks is, you really do have to hold one in your hands to appreciate it!
They come in some gorgeous colours, I've used the Berry and Lime Green, and a wide range of sizes, I've used the 21cm square. 
Not all the sizes and colours that Colourcraft actually stock, are listed in their website dropdown options so give them a ring if you want to order from the whole range.

For this project, I started with a couple of squares of Tyvek fabric.

These were stamped with a couple of my favourite polymer stamps:  patterned heart and leaf. I mounted the polymer stamp on a acrylic block and inked them with StazOn ink. As the ink is solvent-based, I can paint the Tyvek squares straight away using eco-friendly acrylic paint in leaf green and purple

While the slightly diluted paint was still wet, I sprinkled on a little Brusho SprinkleIT: iridescent violet on the leaf and metallic pearl on the heart.

Once this was dry, I layered the Tyvek on top of black cotton fabric with some quilting batting behind. I chose a couple of variegated threads.

I sewed around the outside of the Tyvek squares with a zig-zag stitch. This holds it firm for the next stage: free machine embroidery of the heart and leaf.

Then it's time to heat distress the Tyvek, using a heat gun. NB. Work in a well-ventilated area. 

I made a heating mat from a folded newspaper covered in kitchen foil. I used a couple of pins to hold the quilted squares to the mat. 

Once cooled, I flattened the squares with my hands, before trimming and using double-sided tape to mount them on the sketchbooks.


For more detail, on this process, you can watch the film from my YouTube Channel.

Tears of Gold with Suzi

Good Day All, I'm here today to share with you my last project as a member of the ColourCraft LTD Design Team, I've had a wonderful two years working with the wonderful people and products from ColourCraft LTD.  

As it's my last post I wanted to create something that I truly love, so I've painted a portrait, I've done a couple over my time here but today's is a little different as I've used Metallic Acrylic Paint, Acrylic Inks and a Koh-I-Noor Progresso Aquarelle Pencil with Matte Medium.

Here's a little snippet, scroll down to see how I created the finished painting;

I took a 10 x 14 inch canvas and sketched my portrait;

Once I was happy with my sketch I took a Koh-I-Noor Progresso Aquarelle Pencil and using Matte Medium to activate it, I darkened my lines.  Once dry the pencil is permanent if you use Matte Medium to activate it instead of water.

I then added my first layer of colour using Metallic Acrylic Paint in Bronze;

My next layer was added using Metallic Acrylic Paint in Pink;

I then added a layer of Metallic Acrylic Paint in Silver;

Then I added a layer of Metallic Acrylic Paint in Gold to the hair;

Next it was time to darken some areas of the painting, so I used the Koh-I-Noor Progresso Aquarelle Pencil and Matte Medium again;

I then added more layers of colour using Metallic Acrylic Paint in Copper, Gold, Silver and Pink;

It was now time to add details to the facial features and hair using Acrylic Ink in Dark Brown and Black.  I also added some highlights with a white pen;

At this point I left the portrait overnight, so I could look at it with fresh eyes the following morning.  I really liked her, but she was missing something.  She reminded me of an angel, but she looked so sad, so I decided she needs some tears.  It only seemed right that an angel would cry tears of gold, so I added a few drops of Gold Metallic Acrylic Ink and sprayed with water, so it ran down her face.

The Metallic Acrylic Paints are beautiful to work with, they add such wonderful colour and shine to your projects.  I've tried my best to show their wonderful shine in these pictures, but they look even better in real life.  If you are not confident in your drawing skills you can still create a similar effect using a stamped image or digital stamp for your initial line work.  Make sure you stamp in waterproof ink; If you use a digital stamp leave it to dry overnight and add a little water to the image to see if it runs, or apply a thin coat of clear or white gesso to seal your image before using the paints.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing how I created this project, and all my projects over the last two years.  It's been my pleasure to share them with you all, thank you to all those that have left comments for me, I really appreciate them.

That's all from me, 

Happy Crafting

Suzi

xxx