Trendy Tuesday – Fabric Paper

Trendy Tuesday – Fabric Paper
By Colleen Harshaw

I first learned of this trend after CHA winter 2012.   I had read about fabric paper online, and then shortly afterwards I saw some in my local Michaels, and I had to buy some!  Fabric paper has an adhesive backing, which allows you to cut shapes from it without having to apply adhesive to fasten those cut outs to your projects.  The paper can be used with electronic die cutting machines, as well as with non-electronic die cutting machines.  The trick is to find the right ‘sandwich’ combination to get a clean cut with the non-electronic die cutting machines.  This combination is different with each type of die and machine.  This type of paper is also great for covering books, mini albums and three dimensional projects.

First, I would like to share with you some of the varieties of fabric paper that are available on the market, and then I will show you some of the ways in which you can use this product.

DCWV (Die Cuts With a View) offers adhesive backed fabric paper stacks.  These stacks are available in both Pink Floral and Blue Floral patterns, with 12 sheets in each stack.  As with other fabric papers, you peel off a backing from the paper in order to adhere it to your project.  When using the paper with a die cutting machine, you leave the backing on, then cut your shapes, and then remove the backing from your cut out shapes individually (you probably already figured that out…but just in case….).

DCWV Fabric Paper Stack – Pink Floral
Photo courtesy of www.joann.com

DCWV Fabric Paper Stack – Blue Floral
Photo courtesy of www.joann.com

The fabric papers show below are from American Crafts Dear Lizzy Collection.  They are sold by the sheet rather than as part of a paper stack.

American Crafts – Dear Lizzy Collection – Morning Melody 12 x 12
Photo courtesy of www.joann.com

American Crafts – Dear Lizzy Collection – Busy Beetle 12 x 12
Photo courtesy of www.joann.com

Next I have some papers from EK Success to share.  It seems that many of the large manufacturers are getting in on the fabric paper trend!  I found that each manufacturer seemed to have one or two varieties of fabric paper available, but few had more than that.  American Crafts had the largest selection, with several different patterns available as part of their Dear Lizzy Collection.

 

EK Success – Jolee’s Boutique – French General Collection 12 x 12
Photo courtesy of www.scrapbook.com

This next product is an interesting selection by K&Company.  They have chosen to include a sheet of fabric paper as part of a paper pad, along with other specialty papers.  This Engraved Garden Collection Specialty Paper Pad includes 1 fabric sheet, 1 acetate sheet, 2 shimmer sheets, 2 sheets of vellum, 2 silhouette sheets and 18 flat sheets.  This is a nice way to try out these different types of specialty papers.

K&Company Engraved Garden Collection Specialty Paper Pad 12 x 12
Photo courtesy of www.kandcompany.com

This next next fabric paper sample is an individual sheet from the K&Company Engraved Garden Collection, which is available as an individual sheet over at www.scrapbook.com.

K&Company Engraved Garden Collection – Toile 12 x 12
Photo courtesy of www.scrapbook.com

In addition to fabric paper, I also came across plenty of fabric canvas as well.  Fabric canvas is great for altering or stamping upon.  Ranger Ink offers fabric canvas as part of their Studio by Claudine Hellmuth Collection, in both 8 1/2 x 11 and 12 x 12 sizes, and in white or natural.

Ranger Ink – Studio by Claudine Hellmuth Collection – Stick Back Canvas Sheets
Photo courtesy of www.rangerink.com

Next I have some Donna Downey canvas sheets to share.  These canvas sheets are patterned, have a sticky back and are manufactured by Prima.  There are several different patterns available, some of which include Bird Cage, Single Butterfly, Swirls and Poppy.

Prima – Donna Downey Collection – 12 x 12 canvas sheets
Photo courtesy of www.donnadowney.typepad.com

Now for the projects!  I actually had a bit of a problem finding project samples using these fabric papers…at first.  The samples just weren’t posted in the usual places that I look!  After much digging….I think I found some really cute samples that you all are really going to like!

The first project is a card, created with fabric canvas and other Ranger Ink supplies.

Card by Tara Nixon
Photo courtesy of www.rangerink.com

 This next project is a portfolio cover, created using fabric paper from the French General line from EK Success.

Project by Marie L. of www.stitchintime.typepad.com

This next project is a mini album that was created using the DCWV Fabric Paper Stack (Blue Floral) that I shared with you above.  This album is really gorgeous!  If you would like to see photos of the inside of the album in more detail, you can visit Carolyn over at her blog at www.cccscraproom.blogspot.com and look up her post from Sunday, February 5, 2012.

These next two projects are scrapbook layouts using the DCWV fabric papers from the Pink Floral stack and the Blue Floral stack, respectively.

Layout by Jenifer Cowles
Photo courtesy of www.mayarts.com

Layout by Jenifer Cowles
Photo courtesy of www.mayarts.com

This next project is an altered frame.  I found this to be a very clever use of this fabric paper medium!  The end result is adorable.

Project by Lidiya
Photo courtesy of www.the-paperfairy.blogspot.com

This next project is one that I never would have thought of doing.  May used the fabric paper to create appliques on a t-shirt for this little cutie!  This is a great example of how seeing the projects of others can open our minds to so many more things creatively!  I love it when that happens to me!

Project by May Flaum
Photo courtesy of www.mayflaum.com

Before I wrap this up, I just want to mention two quick things.  In doing my research, I came across a web site called www.bluebrit.com.  On this site, the author was testing the fabric paper manufactured by DCWV (as part of the floral stacks….apparently there are some solid coloured sheets in there too!) to see if it could be stamped upon, or printed upon.  In this experiment, the author used an HP Inkjet printer, like many of us have in our home offices.  The photos of the results are below.

Image stamped with Stazon ink
Photo courtesy of www.bluebrit.com

Image printed using HP inkjet printer
Photo courtesy of www.bluebrit.com

As you can see from the images, the results from both of the experiments were quite good.  So, it looks as though fabric paper can be stamped upon, printed upon, sewn onto clothing, used to cover three dimensional objects (the photo frame), and used in scrapbooking and in card making.

I am sure there are many more uses for this versatile product…..how are you going to use it?  Why don’t you leave us a comment, and tell us what your ideas are?  We would love to hear them!