Potato printing

I have been keeping myself busy and inspired by using the WEA adult learning website. https://www.wea.org.uk/

So far I have done paper mache,needle felting, mixed media and rag rugging (hence the rag rug flower)

Today was printing....with potatoes!!!

I used acrylic paint mixed with system 3 block printing medium from Specialist Crafts. You use 1.5 parts medium to 1 part acrylic paint, I used galeria opera rose.

https://www.specialistcrafts.co.uk/system-3-water-soluble-block-printing-medium-each

My first print run was a little disappointing 

I then mixed in some red acrylic paint Daley & Rowney system 3 in Cadmium red.

Much better,let the playing begin.....

What a fun way to spend a cold blustery June afternoon. Time for tea and biscuits now.

Rag rug flower

I’ve been playing with rag rugging flowers, something I first did when my craft group yarn bombed the centre of Peterborough in 2016 and they needed large fabric flowers quickly. I don’t have the pictures in situ but these are the flowers I made. 

 These are made by using the rag rug technique, basically pulling 1cm strips of fabric through hessian and building up the flower shape. You do not need to knot the strips in this case as the tightness of the strips next of them hold them in. It’s important therefore to keep your strips very close together. I did cheat later and use glue!

I stuck a Pom Pom in the centre and glued the back to strengthen.

Here the flower is almost done but needs a trim.

I use netting as the last two layers to give the flower some extra floof!

When finished take the flower out of the hoop and trim the hessian.

Glue the ends of the hessian at the back and cover with felt.

Turn over and your flower is finished. It could be used as a fascinator, brooch or framed

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Recycled tin shrines

I am playing with the idea of using recycled tins to make mini shrines. My first mini shrine is from a sardine tin. It’s the perfect shape.

Sardine tin shrine

You will need

Cleaned out sardine tin.

Gesso

Household emulsion

Glitter glue(optional)

Mini paper flowers with wired stems (I used 16)

Religious icon, puffy sticker, I got mine from Poundland a couple of years ago (you could used a printed image instead.)

Mini Pom Pom trim.

Glue gun

Method

Paint the inside of tin with two coats of gesso to help the paint stick.

Paint 3 coats of emulsion letting it dry thoroughly between layers.

Paint with a layer of glitter glue.

Stick image in bottom of tin.

Twist the flowers together in a small oval, with glue gun, stick flowers around inside edge.

Stick Pom Pom trim around edges.

You could glue craft felt on the back and sides but I like the kitchness of the tin.

I am now looking at my tins in a different way. My next shrine is in a lid from a pickle jar!

                          Flowers twisted into a wreath

 Pom Pom trim and braids.

Finished mini shrine, who would have thought this was from a lid off a jar of pickle!