Fabric Bangle created using the Arianna Blooms Collection from Heartfelt Creations

I used shrink plastic and the Arianna Blooms Stamp and Die Collection to create some lovely beads to embellish a bangle. I was delighted with the results – I hope that you like it.

Heartfelt Creations Materials:

• Arianna Blooms stamp set (HCPC-3608)
• Birds and Blooms stamp set (HCPC-3644)
• Leafy Branch stamp set (HCPC-3645)
• Arianna Blooms die set (HCD1-748)
• Birds and Blooms die set (HCD1-756)
• Leafy Branch die set (HCD1-757)

Other Materials used:

• Translucent Polyshrink Plastic (2 X A4 sheets – approx. 21 X 29.5 cm)
• Evolon Standard weight – non fray polyester mix fabric (Colourcraft)
• Wire bangle frame approx. 4.5cm deep (Beads Direct)
• Multi-Surface Acrylic Paints (Martha Stewart – Green Curry, Folk Art – Aqua)
• Acrylic Textile Paint (Vallejo) – Black
• Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers (Crafters Companion) – blues (IB1, IB3 and BT5), pinks (CR3 and 6), yellow CT1, green (LG5)
• StazOn Inkpad (Tsukineko) – Jet Black
• Cut-N-Dry Foam (or sponges)
• Fine needle, sewing thread and strong beading thread (Nymo D) to co-ordinate
• Approx. 3mm beads (large enough to cover hole in flower centre) and size 11 seed beads (yellow)
• Card – shim for die cutting
• Hole punch
• Fabric glues – Fabric to Fabric Matte Decoupage Medium (Martha Stewart), Stick & Spray for Fabric (Crafters Companion)
• Pink velvet ribbon approx. 4cm wide (for backing)
• Organza gift bag (optional)

How to make it:

• Stamp the shrink plastic with StazOn ink. Colour the back with alcohol inks, 3 sets in blue and 3 sets in pink. Cut out with the dies. Tip: add a sheet of card over the plastic when die cutting. This gives the die something to ‘crunch’ into and ensures that the plastic cuts right through. Keep the card cuts for another project.

• Punch the flower centres to create a hole and heat shrink with a heat gun. Tip: They will curl up wildly at first, but keep going and they will flatten out when fully shrunk.
• Colour a piece of Evolon with green paint and stamp with the floral branch and extra leaves using black acrylic paint. Tip: clean the stamps quickly with water to prevent acrylic paint drying in the stamp crevices. Cut out with the matching dies. Add a bit of shading with the green alcohol pen. Tip: using a card shim also helps when cutting out fabrics.
• Colour another piece of Evolon with aqua paint, large enough to cover the bangle with a wide margin to wrap over the wire edges.

• Plan out the design area by creasing the fabric over the wire frame. Snip the floral branch and lay out pieces and extra leaves along the middle of the Evolon. Glue down using Stick & Stay spray glue. This is great for flat gluing and it dries quickly.
• Layout and stack the flowers to work out their arrangement. I took a quick picture so I could remember where to sew them down. Wrap the wire frame and use spray glue to hold the fabric in place. Stitch all around the edges with sewing thread. Make the stitches neat on the front but don’t worry about the back (this will be covered).

• Sew on the flowers with beading thread. Attach them down by sewing from the back, through the centre hole, adding a larger and small bead, and then going back down the larger bead and hole to the back again. For strength stitch through a couple of times and anchor the thread somewhere under the flower (i.e. where not seen on the front) before moving to the next flower.
• Finally glue down the ribbon to finish the back of the bangle using the decoupage glue. Leave to dry overnight.
• I used a couple of spare leaves and a flower to decorate an organza gift bag to match.