Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 223

Our challenge this time is for Anything but a Card. Any theme, any technique.

When I stopped work, I joined a craft group. Such groups are extremely rare around here. (In fact, this is the first one I've come across which in any way meets my interests, and that's mainly because they're interested in crafts in general!) A session earlier this year was based around fabric painting. This isn't something I've tried before, and since I've got no artistic skills at all, I decided to play to my 'strengths' as a papercrafter. I bought a few Versacraft inks and raided my stamps for ones I could use which had nice, clear open areas for painting. The stamps are from Sizzix, Hobbycraft as well as a variety of others from my collection whose origin is lost due to my lack of making a note before storing on A4 stamp sheets. Versacraft ink is water-based, but should become wash-resistant once it's heat set.

I used the ink, with a little water added, to paint the images after I had used my heat gun to set the images. I was quite pleased with the result, but felt it needed something more. So, once I ot it home, I looked out Exquisite Trims in Thread Crochet by Caitlin Sainio. I chose a two-toned pattern as I just happened to have both pink and royal blue thread in my stash, and completed two borders which I then stitched in place.

My only issue with the finished result is the fact that the Hobbycraft bag is very course and uneven in colour, but that would be remedied by getting a better quality item to start with. I definitely think I'll be using these techniques again.

I hope you can join us this time!