Anyone that knows me can tell you how much I love all things vintage. I frequent flea markets and antique stores looking for old laces, fabrics, and trims. While writing my book Fabric Art Collage, I was able to use some of my favorite finds in really unique ways.
One of my techniques involves using lace or doilies to create embossed quilt batting. Yes, quilt batting! The batting I use is Fairfield’s Nature-Fil Bamboo Batting. It is so soft, embosses well, and also takes dye very nicely. For those of you who have my book, you can see that I love layers and embellishments.
One of my favorite embellishment companies is Vintaj Natural Brass Co. They have a beautiful selection of filigree and findings. For the following project I combined embossed batting and Vintaj findings to decorate a simple composition book.
The best part is Fairfield and Vintaj have generously donated their products for a giveaway for eight lucky winners! Just leave a comment telling about a time when you used a quilting or crafting material for a purpose it isn’t intended for and you’ll be in the running for one of five sets of Vintaj findings and three bags of queen size Nature-Fil Bamboo Batting. Comments will close at 9am PST on Monday, November 30th and we’ll announce the winners later that day!
I hope you will enjoy making this project below and check out my book for other creative embossing ideas.
Elegantly Embossed Batting Journal
Materials:
- 1/3 Yd. Fairfield Nature-Fil™ Bamboo Batting
- Vintaj Natural Brass Co. Findings: #C4H20, #DP45, #F420, #F285
- Composition book
- Metallic acrylic paint in several colors (Liquitex® or Jacquard)
- Pearl Ex pigment powder, Brilliant Gold
- 12” lengths of lace (various widths)
- 18 Kt. Gold Leaf pen
- Textile medium (Liquitex® Fabric Medium)
- Fabri-Tac™ Fabric Adhesive
- 1 sheet decorative scrapbook paper with script design
- Pigment ink pad (optional)
- Iron
- Water
- Spray bottle
- Baking parchment paper
- Other supplies: Decorative edge scissors, lace, ruler, scissors, cosmetic sponge, flat paintbrush
Instructions:
- Cut a piece of batting slightly larger than the size of the composition book.
- Mix 1 part textile medium with 1 part water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
- Cut 2 pieces of parchment paper slightly larger than the size of the batting.
- Place the batting onto the parchment paper and mist it with diluted textile medium. The batting should be moist but not saturated.
- Place lengths of lace or vintage doilies onto the misted batting.
- Cover the lace with parchment paper. At this point, the batting and lace should be sandwiched between 2 pieces of parchment paper. With iron set to cotton setting, press the parchment paper, ironing firmly onto the batting. Turn the parchment/batting over and press again.
- Remove the parchment paper. Gently pull the lace from the batting to reveal an embossed lace image.
- Mix 1 part acrylic paint with 1 part water. Spray the mixture onto embossed batting. Let dry. Keep spraying layers of acrylic onto embossed batting until completely covered, letting each coat dry before adding the next. Several colors of acrylic can be used when layering. When dry, pigment ink can be sponged across the embossed batting to highlight the embossed design.
- Using a disappearing marker, trace book onto the wrong side of embossed batting. Cut on traced line with decorative edge fabric scissors and adhere to book with Fabri-Tac. Edge journal with gold leaf pen.
- Repeat steps 2-8 completing one 3” x 4 ¼” and 4 ½” x 6 ½” size pieces of embossed batting. Pieces can be cut with decorative edge scissors. Paint batting with contrasting colors of acrylic paint. Edge pieces with gold leaf pen.
- From script paper cut one 5 ½” x 7 ½” and 2” x 2 ¾” size pieces. Edge papers with gold leaf pen.
- Refer to photo, adhere completed layers onto the front of journal.
- Refer to photo and adhere Vintaj findings and lace embellishments onto the front of journal. Using flat brush, dust Vintaj findings with Pearl Ex Brilliant Gold pigment powder.
36 Comments
This looks like fun. Would enjoy trying the bamboo batting.
Oh my! I am so impressed! The bamboo batting sounds interesting, but the embellishments makes me drool! Thanks for the instructions , plus the chance to win!
Nice, especially the findings. I once used 100 yards of 22/32″ cotton piping as the major part of a flying spaghetti monster costume (if I ever try that again, I really need to fraycheck the ends, but it went over incredibly well).
A flying spaghetti monster costume!!!!! I HAVE to see what a flying spaghetti monster looks like. Please email a photo to the blog editors! editors (at) ctpubblog (dot) com
Wow, sounds really different to use batting in the was you’ve described. I like to use fabric for different purposes such as fabric postcards. I’m planning on making some up as Christmas cards.
I’m not really creative, about the most I have done is tie quilts with buttons. LOL!
Do scraps count? I use my scraps to add extra padding (during the wrapping process) to breakable gifts. Not very creative, but great reusing!
I just used an old CD as a template. I’ve used regular paper and freezer paper for quilting patterns. I take pictures from coloring books and use them as templates for quilting designs.
I’d love to try bamboo batting. Please count me in.
Your insights and this book look delightful too. Thanks for sharing.
Some of the most unusual places I’ve used batting for are: Creating fabric frames, making headboards, creating a beach scene (helped to look like sand in a photo), window insulation drapes, in making 3-D quilted items such as flowers or balloons, multi-media greeting cards, and making quilted slippers.
SewCalGal
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
I’ve used rubber letter shapes to emboss velvet before, but have never thought of embossing batting. This opens up lots of possibilities!
Your work is beautiful!
Looks like some interesting stuff. Nice site and lots of things to see. Wish had more time to try some new methods. Thanks for sharing.
I once used a quilting batting material to create snowmen Christmas ornaments and tea dyed them to make them look vintage.
I have batting under my sewing machine to level it with the table.
I use batting to wrap my polymer clay pieces in during baking. Helps to keep them from getting flat spots and preserves the texture.
edie
I have used batting for stuffing pillows. It is really a nice filling and stays lofted even in seat cushions.
I have used wash away stabilizer in my ink jet printer to get a pattern for quilting, applique and free-motion stitching. I have used batting for sheep appliqued in a “primitive” design on a sweatshirt. I have used miles and miles of thread left on bobbins and snipped in the process of embroidery to make fabric. I have applied fabric scraps and the sleeves from a man’s shirt to a sweatshirt to make a fun jacket. I have used strips torn from a t-shirt tied to a CD and then tied to the fence around my flower garden to scare away the deer.
I love the Fairfield Bamboo Batting and so does my cat. My stash of batting was disappearing and I couldn’t figure out why. A couple of times I thought I had some and it wasn’t there. I had to buy more. I found out why – my cat, Onnie, was stealing it and making a nest under the stairs. So it wasn’t me making something unusual – it was my cat.
I used my batting scraps from quilt making to make a valentine wreath with my special education students. We just tied the scraps on a wire clothes hanger shaped into a heart. It really turned out cuter than it sounds! Nancy
I have used batting to make little sheep ornaments, snowmen and as Santa’s beard and mustache on quilted wallhangings.
I would love to try the bamboo batting, I hear it is wonderful.
This is totalky cool and it would be grat to make now. Great gift too.
Who could guess batting could be so elegant.
Never even thought of embossing batting….
I have dyed it and used judicioulsy in certain
pieces.
Fantastic! And what a give-away…
I have used fabric scraps and batting in my art and mini books.
Thanks for the chance.
What a creative & clever use for batting, I’ve never tried this before but would love to give it a go!!! Please enter me for the drawing…keeping my fingers crossed!!
Cat
What a wonderful giveaway! I’ve been wanting to try to Bamboo batting since I first saw it advertised, but it isn’t available in my area.
The only thing I can think of as far as using a craft/quilting item for something other than its intended is is when I used some heavy duty interfacing to make shoe inserts for my husbands work boots.
I had not idea you could emboss quilt batting. Fantastic idea. I would love to get my hands on some bamboo batting. I have never tried it but am always looking for more environmental options in everthing I do.
I have used layers of batting under my sofa slipcovers on the cushion area. It keeps the slipcover from slipping and hides the crease where two cushions meet.
This is an absolutely beautiful project! I would never have thought of embossing batting and like the fact that you’re using Fairfield’s Bamboo batting. And how I do love the Vintaj line and that you’ve used the three of their items to embellish your work. I’d love to win!!
I’ve use leftover scraps of batting as cushions between my china to protect them while storing. I cut them into circles a little smaller than the plates.
I would love to try the bamboo batting.
The card is so beautiful! Love the idea of embossing the batting. I’ve used fabric scraps and feathers in a mixed media collage. I’ve used CDs as the clacker (the item at the bottom of the cord that holds the item that hits the aluminum tubes) when making wind chimes. I’ve used rubber stamps to emboss velvet….. hmmm wonder if they would work with the batting as well. Thanks for the chance to win.
I love you idea, I will have to get this book.. I am a quilter, and paper artist too, I have lots of batting pieces left over from projects, I have never used the bamboo, but have seen it. Does it work on reg. cotton batting as well? Just beautiful ..
This is getting the creative juices going. I have tea dyed batting and used it for card making. Years ago I made a little teddy bear out of batting,just so soft and cuddly. Happy days.
I was just this moment flipping thru the Google Preview of your book and put it on my list for shopping tomorrow (Black Friday)!
A supply to play with would be great!
I can’t wait to get your book – it’s my birthday gift to myself.
Sincerely
Suzanne G in NC
Picture link sent, Danielle!
i use my quilting material and batting to make cards, i use spray starch and iron so its crisp looking put glue on the back and i some times sew around the edges to make it pop, its look’s so nice and people are just crazy about it . i also use the fabric and batting to make frames for my cards, i glue the batting on card stock and then the fabric on top of that and glue to the card or sew, it makes a very interesting card or art as some people say.
Love the project!!