Fabric Collages
The idea for this card came from the pile of fabric scraps that I have. I began to wonder: could I use these instead of papers to create fabric collages?
Fabric Collages – A School Project from the Past
I also remembered one happy moment from the childhood. I was about 10 years old. A teacher asked us to bring fabric scraps to school. We were asked to cut the fabric into pieces and create a collage from them. My schoolmates were not excited but I was thrilled. I cut the fabrics into tiny pieces and began to glue them on a paper.
When I had finished the collage, I was very pleased with it. I had also had such a good time. Little did I know that I would be cutting tiny pieces whole my life – that the moment I picked the scissors was to follow me many times afterwards!
1) Cut and Glue the Fabric Pieces
The supplies for fabric collages are simple: scissors, glue, paper, fabrics.
2) Add a Layer of Gel Medium
Because my collage was small, I wanted to add some fine details and extra layering. To be able to do that, I covered the first layer with the gel medium. When dried, I would be able to doodle with markers and create dimensions by adding more layers.
My favorite is Golden Soft Gel Gloss but any gel medium will do. Even if I am not a big fan of buying more stuff, purchasing this is a good investment. You can use gel medium not only to create surfaces but also glueing paper pieces when making paper collages.
3) Add Doodling
When gel medium dries it becomes transparent and you can doodle with thin markers or gel pens on it. Make sure to dry it first throughly!
4) Add More Details From Fabric Pieces
After doodling on the first layer, I wanted to add details like the house in the middle. After constructing the house with fabric pieces and glue, I added gel medium to the details to add some doodling on them.
The photo below shows how the fabric is layered. A part of the card is covered with gel medium and feels like plastic. There are also fabric pieces without any coverage on the top and they feel soft.
You do not need a sewing machine to enjoy working with fabrics!
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24 thoughts on “Fabric Collages”
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Fabulous!
Thanks, Janet!
Your delightful work inspires me time and again! I look forward to your posts. They have helped me so much in the past few months to discover the joy of making art that just flows out of my fingers as if it has a life of its own, just waiting to be freed!
Thanks so much! Great to hear that the posts have been helpful to you! Have a lots of creative moment and welcome to upload to the Flickr group: https://www.flickr.com/groups/peonyandparakeet/
Absolutely beautiful and so unique!
Thank you, Peggy!
I love your blog…thanks for sharing your creativity!! 😀
Thanks, Susan! That means a lot to me!
You’re an inspiration, thank you so much.
Tanja, thank you! Have fun with your scraps!
Love this! Thanks for the inspiration today!
Thanks, Lynda! Have a creative day!
Have a bag of scraps, now I have something to look forward to and get them used up! Look like so much fun, can’t wait to try!
Mary, I thought I must not be the only one looking at that growing pile scraps! Have fun!
Thank you so much for all of your inspiration. I always look forward to your postings. 🙂 <3
Dianne, thanks so much! It feels so great to know that the blog has a meaning for its readers. And even more important, it’s great to know there are similar minded people in the world.
I have so many scraps of fabric that this will be a perfect project to try. I have used the scraps with a sewing machine to do collage, but I like the idea of the gel medium and the doodling on top. Thanks!
Christie, thanks for the comment. I love my sewing machine but when there’s limited time or when it is good to work in small steps, this technique requires so much less space and is easy to pick up again and again.
If you could see my fabric stash you would know what my next project is. Thanks for another fantastic idea. I can only imagine that when you sleep your mind is hard at work creating more wonderful ideas. You are so talented. Thanks once again for sharing. Sharon
Sharon, thanks! Yes, the best ideas do come in the morning after waking up. I have so many ideas in the queue, can’t wait to blog those. Have fun with your fabrics!
Thanks so much for this tutorial! I am going to make one today, and then gather up some fabric scraps to take with me the next time I visit my little grandchildren who are 5, 3, and 2–we will have so much fun!
Wendy, thanks for your comment! I do not have children of my own but I always try to find out ways to introduce creating art for the children too. I think that enjoying art should not require a certain age, in the eyes of Imagination we are all equal! Have fun moments with your grandchildren!
Wow! This is a great idea that leads to many more. Thank you!
Thanks, Nancy! Have fun!