Monday 24 June 2013

Painting on Fabric - inspired by Darcy Wilkinson for Paperartsy

Yesterday, Darcy was welcomed back to the Paperartsy blog for another week of designs - with what she laughingly described as a "simple" project... an apron, that not only did she decorate beautifully but she made from scratch too..... No way could I do that, and I didn't think I'd find one in time to enter the challenge.

So I decided that it would be possible to decorate instead the over-sized man's tshirt that I wear for painting and stuff down at Mum's - though maybe not in future!!

First I had to buy some fabric medium which helps make the paint fast on fabric and can be washed once heat set (iron or tumble dry, Leandra suggests)   That done, I got to work - had to cut a stencil for some lettering as the largest alphabet stencil I had wasn't big enough.

Shock horrors, I decided that the best place to work, was on the ironing board... I laid the tshirt over my larger craft sheets, to stop any paint getting through to the ironing board cover, (heaven forbid that anything I next ironed (!!!) should be contaminated by paint) - and of course to protect the back of the tshirt.

 I used the cardboard backing to a writing pad to draw my stencil and cut it with a craft knife.  I used a pencil and then a Faber Castell Pitt artist pen (which says it is permanent and waterproof) to outline the letters.  I started with just ART and then thought I'd add to it..
 well, that's me, Stamping by H - or Art by H this time!  (I can dream!)
 then I chose my stamps - went for JoFY stamps
 and set to work painting them.
 I mixed the paint/fabric medium on my spare craft sheet, which is the right size to work from on the ironing board (who knew how handy the ironing board could be...)

Then once it was all finished I had to try and photograph it...






which was easier said than done.. so I went for the bathroom mirror....


 ah, back to front of course...




 turned the camera round, trying to line up the tshirt in the view finder/mirror (won't tell you how many I took to try and get this!!)


It's not as elaborate as Darcy's beautiful apron, but it is stamping/painting on fabric!!
Entering this to the Paperartsy blog challenge (which I was a random winner of last week, thanks Leandra and Gillian!!)


12 comments:

Julie Lee said...

Wow! Helen, you are so clever! The mess I would create doing something like this doesn't bear thinking about!!! And well done getting that photo. Love your version of the quote too! Happy creating in your great new art shirt! x

Darcy Marshall said...

Wow !!! Blown away. Unbelievable that you got this made so fast. I am well impressed, but I knew you would rise to the challenge. Love that you personalized the quote. Well done on the modelling too. Going back for another look, so fab!

craftimamma said...

Wow, not Speedy Gonzales but Speedy Helen, lol! This is fab Helen and those JoFY stamps work perfectly. I'd definitely wear at your Mum's next time or maybe even keep it as a nightshirt. Love big baggy Tshirts for lounging about in.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

sam21ski said...

Oooooh am loving your fab design on the baggy t-shirt, great idea and well done for giving it a go!!!

Sam xxx

Lin said...

Wow Helen great bit of improvising!! loving the T Shirt...now you've got something to wipe your painty hands on!!!

Words and Pictures said...

Great design - and it looks fab on! You're not telling me you need the ironing board for anything else, are you?
Alison x

craftytrog said...

It looks brilliant Helen! I'm impressed you were so quick! x

Anonymous said...

Very impressive, it looks great.

Craftyfield said...

What a good idea... god knows how many old tshirts I have knocking around !

Kezzy said...

Wow wow amazing t shirt, I love the lettering and the flowers are beautifully painted. Gorgeous :-) Kezzy xxx

Lucy Edmondson said...

You have done brilliantly! Amazing!

Lucy x

Gillian .... said...

Fab Helen, love what you have done. xx