Spring Fashion

This month we have a special contest going on for you- create a spring fashion-inspired craft with one or more fiskars tools and post in the fiskars gallery by April 27th to enter. The winner will get a box full of some of our favorite new products that have just popped up this spring from Fiskars Brands.

To help inspire you we have created this article for you. Three of Fiskars designers were asked to create hot spring looks inspired by fashion, and brought to life with the help of their Fiskars tools. From a shoe to a shirt embellishment to color combinations and textures, fashion is a great starting place for your next craft project.

Becky Novacek-  Whenever i create an altered piece for my home, i love the flexibility of custom colors and design. Finding inspiration in the fashion world is something i do regularly, because there are so many great online sights, such as www.anthropology.com ! The dress that inspired my framed custom "mat" jumped out at me! i love the flowers and "stitched" leaves (which i took literally, with real stitching), and also the unique striking color combination. Sometimes, (not in the case of this particular dress) there are fashions that i would not personally wear, but i love to translate into funky art pieces. Don't hesitate to let you creativity soar when you look at fashion!

Product Title: Framed Custom *Mat*

Supplies:

Fiskars: 12-99027097 Desktop Rotary Trimmer
Fiskars: 12-72167097 Press Star Now Extra Large Squeeze Punch
Fiskars: 12-73207097 Comma Comma Chameleon Extra Large Squeeze Punch
Fiskars: 12-73187097 Oopsie Daisy Extra Large Squeeze Punch
Fiskars: 12-25637097 Circle Pop-up Punch
Heidi Grace Designs: 12-71676 Flocked Dot Stickers
OTHER: Cardstock, Embroidery Floss, Vintage Ribbon, Black Thread for machine stitching, 8x10 Frame

Instructions:

1. Use Fiskars Desktop Rotary Trimmer to cut a sheet of light blue cardstock to 8x10.

2. Use Press Star Now Squeeze Punch on white cardstock. Punch about eight stars.

3. Use Oopsie Daisy Squeeze Punch on red cardstock. Punch eight daisys.

4. Use Circle Pop-up Punch on gold cardstock, punch eight circles.

5. Use Comma Comma Chameleon Squeeze Punch on gold cardstock. Punch eight commas.

6. Prepoke stitching holes on punched commas down the center. Use red floss to handstitch.

7. Adhere 4x6 photo to blue cardstock background 1.5 inches from left side and down 1.5 inches from top. Machine stitch ribbon around photo to “frame”.

8. Begin layering punches, by adhering red punched daisy to white punched comma, then adhere gold punched circle to red daisy. Add a Heidi Grace Designs Flocked Dot Sticker to the center of the layered punches.

9. After all the “flowers” are put together, begin placing them randomly to create a pattern on background. Feel free to use the sample as your example. Adhere stitched commas first, then add layered flower.

10. After all the layered flowers and “leaves” are adhered, prepoke holes around leaves and proceed to handstitch with red embroidery floss.

Designer: Patti Milazzo

I found so many sources as fashion inspiration for this project.  In fact, I ended up combining two of my finds to create this layout.  The first is a fun sling back shoe with scallop trim, fabric flowers with buttons and lots of stitching.  I also liked the neutral color of the shoe and felt the deep brown would have great contrast with the bold colors I’d chosen from Heidi Grace’s Paradise Point collection.  My second inspiration actually gave me my title and the dragonfly accent I created with Fiskars Shapes & Flowers Template.  Graphic tees are often a fabulous source for inspiration.

Supply List
Fiskars Brands: 94817797 No. 5 Micro-Tip® Scissors
Fiskars Brands: 12-9902 7097 Desktop Rotary Trimmer
Fiskars Brands: 4800 7097 Ultra ShapeXpress™
Fiskars Brands: 4850 7097 ShapeTemplate™ Tool - Circles-1 w/Scallop Border
Fiskars Brands:  12-25937097 2 Piece ShapeTemplate Set – Shapes & Flowers
Fiskars Brands: 8606 7097 12.5 x 12.5 Cutting Mat
Fiskars Brands: 12-25967097 Adhesive Foam Dots
Fiskars Brands: 92017097 Paper Edger - Scallop
Fiskars Brands: 01-000118 Tool Taxi
Fiskars Brands: 23507097 Handpunch 1/16” Circle
Fiskars Brands: 12-7436 7097 Medium Squeeze Punch - Round n’ Round
Fiskars Brands: 12-7424 7097 Large Squeeze Punch - Round n’ Round
Fiskars Brands: 12-7306 7097 Medium Squeeze Punch – Mint Condition
Fiskars Brands: 12-7325 7097 Extra Large Squeeze Punch – Mint Condition
Fiskars Brands: 12-7332 7097 Corner Squeeze Punch - Chip Off the Ol’ Block
Heidi Grace Designs "Paradise point" paper, chipboard, alphabets
Heidi Grace Designs acrylic button, flocked dots
Other: brown cardstock, buttons, embroidery thread (brown), white pen, sandpaper, sewing machine
Computer fonts: Tempus Sans ITC

Instructions:
1.Cut 1”x 11” strip of blue floral print (paper pack); trim one end with Scallop Paper Edger; hole punch 1/16” circles in each scallop section; and adhere to page with scallop edge near bottom of page.
2.Cut ¼” x 10 ½” strip of Mix Floral (green side); adhere on top of blue floral print and machine stitch along length.
3.Use Scallop Border of Circle Shape Template to cut scallop edge on yellow stripe paper (paper pack); then trim to 3/8”W x 11; adhere to bottom of page – 2” from bottom.
4. Cut 1 ½” x 11” strip of green print (paper pack); adhere overlapping and slightly to left of yellow scalloped strip; machine stitch across overlap area.
5. Adhere 5 x 7 photo 1/8” from corner where strips meet – leave top right corner a loose to tuck in tag.
6. Cut 3” x 6” piece from Mono Floral (words); Squeeze Punch top corners to create tag shape.
7. Cut 3” x 2” piece of Pinstripe; adhere behind and at bottom of tag; tear bottom edge.
8. Cut  1 ¼” x 3” piece of Pinstripe; fold in half; tear one end; then adhere to top of tag.
9. Machine stitch along bottom and top of tag where Pinstripe and Mono Floral prints meet.
10. Adhere tag beneath top right corner of photo.
11. Apply rub-ons, stickers and use Adhesive Foam Dots to create title on green strip below photo.
12. For large flower - Squeeze Punch 4 Large Circles from deep red cardstock (paper pack); sandpaper edges; roughen up edges with craft knife; then machine stitch around each circle.
13. Assemble flower petals at bottom left of photo; use embroidery thread through button and adhere to flower center.
Note: To give the acrylic button a colored background; Squeeze Punch a Medium Circle from yellow paper.
14. Create 2 smaller flowers in the same fashion using the – Medium Circle Squeeze Punch; and adhere one near the larger flower and the other near the end of the title.
15. Squeeze Punch 2 Extra Large leaves and 1 Medium leaf from Mix Floral (green); distress edges and adhere near flowers as shown.
16. Create the dragonfly by cutting out 4 paisley shapes (2 small & 2 large) using the Shapes & Flower Template and Ultra ShapeXpress Tool.
Note: Be sure to flip your patterned paper over to create the wings for both sides of the dragonfly.
17. Assemble dragonfly wings on page; apply Flocked dots for body; and use white pen for antennae and flight pattern from flower.
18. Journal on cardstock strips and adhere in space near bottom right of photo.

Designed By: Tia Bennett

 Project Title:  “Woven Journal Cover”

Inspired by this Tracy Porter coat- Piece together patterned paper with zig-zag stitching in a contrasting color, and finish it off with a chenille border in a matching shade for a beautiful Nepalese look.

Supplies:
Fiskars : 12-9793 7097 Comfort Grip Rotary Cutter
Fiskars : 12-8371 7097 18 x 24 inch Cutting Mat
Fiskars : 12-8733 7097 6.5 x 12.5 inch Ruler
Fiskars : 12-9297 7097 Forged No. 4 Scissors
Fiskars : 44114097 Wire Cutter
Fiskars : 01-000068 Stamp Block Set
Fiskars : 2350 7097 1/16 inch Circle Hand Punch
Fiskars : 01-002269 Heidi Grace Dreamer Clear Stamp Set
Heidi Grace papers
Other: ½ yard lace, red sewing thread, red embroidery floss, red chenille pipe cleaners (4), sewing machine with zig-zag stitch function, chenille sewing needle,
brown stamping ink, white acrylic paint and paint brush, transparent tape

Directions:
1. Determine the size of your journal cover and cut a pattern from a piece of scratch paper.  This will be a simple rectangle that should equal the size of your journal cover when laid flat.
2. Using the cutting mat, rotary trimmer, and ruler, cut and piece the flocked patterned papers so that they fit within the rectangle pattern you created.  It is up to you how much you decide to cut and piece…you can stay simple or get very intricate!
3. With a watered down white acrylic paint, gently brush the liquid onto several areas of your flocked paper pieces.  You will see how the diluted paint soaks in to the flocked areas and changes the color but retains the fuzzy texture.  Experiment with other colors, too! Lay flat to dry.
4. Use the corner stamp in the Dreamer Stamp Set to create intricate cross shapes on one of your papers for a different textile look.
5. Adhere transparent (gift wrap) tape to the underside edges of all your pieces.  This will stabilize the paper for all the holes your sewing machine will be creating.
6. Keeping track of where all your paper pieces belong, begin stitching them all together at the seams with a zig-zag stitch on  your machine.  Set the stitch very wide and yet still close together to resemble an appliqué stitch. 
7. Continue until you have a full rectangle sheet of your paper piecing that equals the pattern you made from scratch paper.  It may be necessary to trim some edges if pieces slipped or moved during the stitching process.
8. With the circle hand punch, create a border of little holes ¼ inch from the edge and ½ inch apart all the way around the perimeter of the rectangle.  These will act as a stitching guide for attaching the chenille edging.
9. Bend and fold chenille pipe cleaners to frame the large rectangle, trimming when necessary with wire cutters.  Nudge edges of pipe cleaners right up against one another when building the frame.
10. Hand-stitch chenille to paper edge with embroidery floss and chenille needle (it has a larger eye and accommodates the full floss piece very nicely) with a basic button hole stitch or even whip stitch.  Tie square knots to secure ends and snip close to knot with embroidery scissors.
11. Finish cover by adhering several matching punchboard pieces.  Fold and affix paper cover to outside of book and wrap with lace.  Cover will hold it’s shape nicely with the help of the wire in the pipe cleaners.**

**you may also choose to reinforce the paper cover with chipboard or book board sheets inside of it,  and use it on it’s own for the cover, adding pages to the inside with running stitches along the spine.

By Fiskars 15