Paper Bag Ornament
It’s amazing how you could create art from almost anything.
Organizing my kitchen and deciding what to keep and what to put in the
recycling bin I decided to experiment with brown paper bags. Playing around
with markers, paint, newspaper and metal tape I came up with these Angel
Christmas ornaments.
Let the base Evolve
Take a paper bag and cut all the sides so you can have a
flat surface to work on. With a black marker start writing on the plain
unprinted side of the bag. Enjoy this liberating moment and write your emotions
don’t worry what you write because at the end your words are not going to be
legible.
When
you are finished paint on top with white gesso mixed with a little water,
making sure you do not cover all the black lettering. Once dried choose two
acrylic colors, mixed each with some water and start painting half with one
color and the other half with the other color.
Once dried stamp all over with the stamp of your choice, I used a stamp with letters and black ink. While you wait for it to dry cut little designs with punchers or cut free hand hearts, flowers, circles, etc. from the newspaper.
Mix white gesso with a little water and paint the face. Choose a scrap of fabric for the hair, iron ‘Steam a seam” on the back. Trace the hair pattern, cut and iron in place. With a thin black marker draw the eyes and nose and with a red marker the mouth. Paint with pink colored pencil the cheeks.
Cut a long piece of metal tape. With your pencil start
writing. Again, enjoy this liberating moment and write your emotions don’t
worry what you write because at the end you will cut it in thin strips. Once
finished cover it with black acrylic paint immediately after wipe with a paper
towel. You will notice that only the words stay black and that’s what you want.
Cut a long strip for the bottom and two short ones for the sleeves.
Once dried stamp all over with the stamp of your choice, I used a stamp with letters and black ink. While you wait for it to dry cut little designs with punchers or cut free hand hearts, flowers, circles, etc. from the newspaper.
In this case I decided to use stars and circles. Start
pasting these shapes with liquid matte medium over your base. Once dried iron
interfacing, I like to use Sf 101, shape-flex interfacing by PELLON, to the back and take your piece to the sewing machine. Choose free
motion stitching or straight lines to decorate and give texture. Your stitches
not need to be perfect, it’s a good opportunity to practice your free motion
stitches.
Make the Angels
With a glue stick paste the base fabric to a
piece of felt and cut both the same size. Trace the pattern with a marker or
chalk and sew on the line. Turn it over and cut close to the line
Mix white gesso with a little water and paint the face. Choose a scrap of fabric for the hair, iron ‘Steam a seam” on the back. Trace the hair pattern, cut and iron in place. With a thin black marker draw the eyes and nose and with a red marker the mouth. Paint with pink colored pencil the cheeks.
With the end of a toothpick pick little paint and mark dots
around each newspaper shape. Cut the letter “O” from old magazines for the
crown and paste them in place with matte medium.
Cut from cardstock words-I use my slice machine- or use
already made letter stickers. If you chose cardstock paste the letters with gel
matte medium.
Sew a button or two in the middle and a string over the
head. Now you have beautiful paper bag
ornament waiting to be sent to the people you love.
