:: two ::
Use layered templates as patchwork patterns. The cushion below was designed
using an Ali Edwards template from Designer Digitals. I re-sized it in Photoshop, and then printed out the
pieces individually to make paper patterns, adding a 1.5cm seam allowance
around all sides. You could just as easily adapt the same idea to create blocks for a patchwork quilt, or to make a patchwork-style collage from patterned paper.
:: three ::
While you’ve got your needle and
thread out, digital brushes, elements and dingbat fonts can also make great
embroidery patterns. The bird on my cushion is from this brush set, and the deer on the scarf below is from the Kitschy Digitals
Woodland kit. They were each worked in slightly different ways – the bird was
printed onto plain paper and traced through the fabric with a water soluble
pen, while the deer was printed directly onto the fabric – but both options
make for really straightforward stitching.
:: four ::
You remember my sellotape tutorial,
right? I still love this idea and have a couple of sheets of tape-strips
printed up and stashed away for Christmas. I’m also planning to print up a
couple of wider strips from the same product,
maybe using this picture font, and wrap them around plain drinking glasses to use over the
holidays.
:: five ::
Make your own custom-designed
fabric by printing digital papers onto inkjet cotton or linen.
If you’re not planning to wash the fabric (e.g. if it’s for a collage or a
scrapbook layout), you can alternatively use normal fabric. Spray a sheet of
copier paper with temporary adhesive and press your well-ironed material down
on top, making sure it doesn’t overlap the edges. Run it through your printer,
as normal, and then peel away from the paper backing.
:: six ::
Think clearly, and design your own
acetate overlays or transparent elements. I did this with the feathers from
another Kitschy Digitals kit, and used them to make the napkin ring below, but
they’d also work beautifully on cards, layouts or as pages in a mini-book. For
plenty of acetate-y inspiration, you could do much worse than browse through
the Hambly Screenprints blog,
and while I’m not about to suggest you try resisting their gorgeous overlays,
there’s no good reason you can’t use those and print your own versions at home, too.
:: seven ::
The Kitschy frames below were
printed on to sheets of plain white card, and the pictures then made on top,
filling in the centre part of each frame. By adding a bulldog clip to the top,
or fixing them in place with a magnet, you can turn your artwork (or your
children’s) into an instant, framed gallery. Alternatively, you could print
off a whole selection on slightly smaller sheets and clip or bind them together
to make a 'framed' sketchbook, ready to be filled with all kinds of doodled,
painted or collaged masterpieces.
:: eight ::
Thanks to email, Twitter, Facebook
and mobile phones, most people don’t use as much stationery now as they once
did, but it doesn’t stop me (and I’m guessing quite a few of you, too) loving
fancy paperie. Put your digital kits and favourite fonts to work designing all
sorts of personalised pieces, from invitations and notecards to tableware for
your next party.
:: nine ::
Inkjet transfer sheets (often sold
as t-shirt transfer paper) allow you to add digital designs to almost anything
made of fabric. The pyjama top below combines the Kitschy deer (again!) with a
cute, cross-stitch font and took all of ten minutes to print out and iron into
position. You can obviously make your designs as simple or as complicated as
you like, depending on the kit and the item you’re adding it to. (Find a quick tutorial for the whole pyjama project here.)
:: ten ::
Maybe it was just me, but I always
loved name-tapes when I was at school. Getting a new set because my mum had run
out of the old ones wasn’t quite as big a thrill as the twice-yearly trip to
buy new shoes, but it was definitely up there! With a little help from your printer
and a bit more of the inkjet transfer paper, it’s not too difficult to make
your own version of name tape, guaranteed to be even more exciting because
they’re personalised. Type the relevant name in your favourite font, then add a
small digital stamp or dingbat alongside it – something from these David Walker
collections for girls or boys would be perfect. When you’re done print the design onto the inkjet sheet
(don’t forget to reverse the text), and iron onto a strip of cotton tape. Snip
the tape into shorter pieces and fold over the ends to stitch into clothes,
just as you would a normal name tape.
If you don’t have any need for name
tapes, you can still use the idea to add words, images or printed designs to
other projects. I ironed a length of digital lace onto some cotton tape for the
layout below, which also features the same product printed out as an acetate
border strip, a length of sticky tape and a set of shrink plastic buttons. If that doesn’t count as
getting the most from a kit, I’m not sure what does!
SUPPLIES
:: First of all – obviously! – I’m going to direct you to
Kitschy Digitals. As well as Danielle’s wonderful kits, there’s also heaps of
inspiration on the Kitschy blog and in the Flickr group.
:: Some of the Kitschy kits are also available in the Two Peas
digital store, along with a really wide range of kits by other designers. I
love the range Shimelle has been developing (especially the Trip to Nature
papers,
and am also head over heels for Jill MacDonald’s hand-illustrated kits.
:: Designer Digitals is always a
good bet, too, especially as everything in their store (everything!) is on sale at the moment. I’m especially smitten
by the Andrea Victoria patterned papers and calendars.
:: And last, but not least, the
rather smaller but no less pretty kits at KI Memories, which are every bit as
colourfully wonderful as their printed papers. As well as more Jill MacDonald
goodness, there are also a couple of older Love, Elsie lines and some
exclusive-to-digital Elsie elements, too.
x
PS. If you want the chance to win some Kitschy goodies, it’s not too
late to sign up for the 12Days workshop, which also features a healthy
selection of digital downloads and other goodies!