Fabric Stiffener Tutorial

Would you believe that Kim Kesti and I are on the same page? Well, we were both thinking about using stiffener with fabric to make it easier to cut and more structured. She posted about it here. This is my first "Tutorial" so be nice about the rough edges. I actually decided to create a tutorial after I had started the project so here it goes...

Pictures are in order from left to right:

1. I suggest you use throw away storage containers for this because the watered down Mod Podge will adhere to the walls of your container. Realized this after I used a nicer storage container.  (I also dipped the white panel to give it some texture on the card.)

2. I used a variety of dies to cut my flower shapes. I backed the fabric with kraft card stock to make it easier to cut in the Cuttlebug. Plus, I can use those shapes later so no waste. (Kim used the stiffener to make using the dies with fabric easier. Why didn't I think of that?!)

3. Once you cut the shapes, dip them in the diluted Mod Podge and shape them by gathering in the center and clipping with a clothes pin. I know I could use a few pictures here demonstrating this process. I'll do better next time.

4. I experimented with creating rosettes and bunting, too. 

5. I cut strips of fabric, dipped the strips in the mixture and then rolled the strips into balls and secured them with straight pins while they dried to create centers for the flowers. 

6. Voila, finished flowers.

Things I learned:

Already told you about the mixture container. When I made the mixture, I added too much water, so I had to repeatedly dip the fabric to achieve the level of structure I wanted. Next time, I would decrease the amount of water so I had a more dense mixture. Keep your mixture stirred, the Mod Podge settles on the bottom. Wear gloves, the mixture will adhere to your nails.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my tutorial. I'd love to hear from you so leave a comment or ask a question. 

Have a great day!