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Daisies & Roses: Towels & Cards

March 15, 2015

By Judi Kauffman

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I’m glad to be back as today’s Guest Designer. My projects: A pair of kitchen towels for our neighbor to thank her for hosting our morning coffee hour and a quartet of simple cards that incorporate the same peel-offs that I chose to use as stencils for the painted and stitched towels.

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Here’s the how-to:

  1. Wash the towels to remove sizing (no fabric softener). Iron the towels (even if they are never ironed ever again…).
  1. Open the towel so it is flat on the table. Measure and center an outline peel-off on the towel about 6” from the bottom hem. Use painter’s tape to mask off a rectangle around the peel-off. Add a trio of outline peel-off bees or butterflies within the rectangle. Make sure all peel-offs are pressed firmly in place. I chose ovals with flowers, but you could pick circles with owls or dragonfly ladies or flower or any other shaped (enclosed) motif(s) you prefer.
  1. Cover work table with plastic bag and newspapers. Spread out the towel so it is flat and smooth. (Option: Tape the towel in place so it won’t move.) Following paint manufacturer’s instructions for using fabric medium, mix Black Plum acrylic paint and fabric medium together on a palette or disposable plate. Using a stencil brush to apply paint/medium mixture, fill the rectangle around the peel-offs, taking care not to let paint seep underneath the lines. Tip: Stencil brushes have stiff bristles and are used with a pouncing motion, paint is applied a little at a time – not in thick swashes like a regular paintbrush.
  1. When the paint is dry, lift up and discard the painter’s tape. Very carefully lift up the outline peel-offs and move them onto A-2 Kraft Brown cards. There will still be adhesive on the back; the outlines will now be matte Black Plum instead of shiny Black.
  1. To get the most from the peel-offs use a Sticker Transfer Sheet to move the negative pieces (leftovers) from the sheet onto two more A2 Kraft Brown cards.
  1. Use 1 strand of white Perle Cotton #5 to add touches of embroidery to the towels. I chose a mix of French knots, running and straight stitches.

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  1. Use black and white pens to add doodles and details to the cards.

Supplies: 

Elizabeth Craft Designs:

2558 Daisies in Oval peel-offs in Black

2559 Roses in Oval peel-offs in Black

600 Transfer Sheet

 Other:

Dunroven House – Kitchen towels

Note: Dunroven House cotton kitchen towels are available in many solid colors as well as checks and stripes. If you choose to paint over a pattern, make sure to pick one that is pale and subtle, almost tone-on-tone rather than sharp and bold (pale yellow and white, ivory and light tan, etc.).

DecoArt – Americana Acrylic Paint in Black Plum, Fabric Medium

Sakura of America – Gelly Roll Medium pen in White, Pigma Micron 01 pen in Black

DMC – #5 Perle Cotton in B5200 White

Stencil brush

Palette or disposable plastic plate

A2 note cards in Kraft Brown

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  • KWylie March 18, 2015 at 11:21 am

    These cards are striking! Please tell me if all the white including the solid white flower petals was done with the white gel pen? Thanks!

  • christinepooler March 16, 2015 at 8:12 pm

    What a nice gift idea – so creative

  • Mary Prasad March 16, 2015 at 6:35 pm

    Great projects! I especially love the cards – so striking!

  • Christine Kosmak March 15, 2015 at 7:21 pm

    Oh dear!! I’m barely able to keep up with all of the projects and crafty things that I want to do, and now I have more added to the “never ever gonna end” wish list!! What an inventive idea of using the peel offs as stencils! Incredible! And thank you, I think!! LOL!!

    • Judi Kauffman March 16, 2015 at 5:35 pm

      Christine, the cards are really easy to do and it’s a portable project. Just a baggie with a card with peel-offs in place, and a couple of pens.

  • ScrappyKsue March 15, 2015 at 5:58 pm

    The towels came out so cute but OMG! I LOVE these cards. I have GOT to try this. Love it on kraft.

    • Judi Kauffman March 15, 2015 at 6:21 pm

      Thank you, SCRAPPYKSUE. Definitely – try it! A tip: Start with a little motif on the back of a card or a scrap of cardstock and see what kind of doodles and lines you like best. The Gelly Roll Medium white pen I used also comes in a finer nib if you like finer scale marks, the Pigma Micron black pen comes in both finer and broader nibs as well as brush so there are lots of options there, too.

  • Frances March 15, 2015 at 5:10 pm

    cool idea to use the peel 0ffs as stencils to decorate the towels.

    • Judi Kauffman March 15, 2015 at 6:18 pm

      Thanks, Frances. Even with the peel-offs pressed firmly in place, once they’re pulled off the fabric there’s still enough adhesive to work on a card project.

  • Raquel Mason March 15, 2015 at 3:19 pm

    Great idea to use the Peel-offs as a stencil! I love how you used the Peel-offs on kraft cardstock and accented with a white gel pen.

    • Judi Kauffman March 15, 2015 at 6:16 pm

      Thanks, Raquel. Kraft cardstock in my paper crafting is like black slacks in my wardrobe – a versatile staple!

  • paulaj March 15, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    Judi, awesome idea to use both parts of the great stickers. Oh, my ANOTHER set of projects to add to my ever lengthening list. Ty for the great ideas.

    • Judi Kauffman March 15, 2015 at 6:15 pm

      Thank you! A long list of projects to try is a very good thing – it means you’ll never be bored.

  • Debra Hensley March 15, 2015 at 12:12 pm

    I absolutely love this Judy! Such a unique and fun way to use the Peel-Offs. I’m definitely going to try the card techniques!

    • Judi Kauffman March 15, 2015 at 6:14 pm

      Thanks, Debra. The trick to the cards is to think of the doodling as if it’s embroidery stitches.

  • Bibi Lindahl March 15, 2015 at 9:09 am

    The towels make such a sweet gift! Great idea to use the peel-offs as masks and paint over them. I will certainly try this. Maybe start early with Christmas gifts, since you have so many nice Christmas theme peel-offs! Oh, and maybe Owl peel-offs for my owl collecting niece, with a matching card of course. I think I’ll make some flower peel-off towels for myself while I’m at it … Thanks for sharing!

    • Judi Kauffman March 15, 2015 at 6:13 pm

      Thank you, Bibi. I’m glad you’re going to give the towels a try. I used Perle Cotton, but if 6-strand embroidery floss would work, too, and so would Kreinik #16 Medium Metallic Braid if you feel like something sparkly (a towel for a guest bathroom instead of hard use in the kitchen).

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