This project was designed and demonstrated by Maryse Carrier. These instructions and materials will create a 4-1/2" x 5-3/4" finished piece.
Materials:
various card stock
various rubber stamps
various coordinating colors of pigment inks
paper cutter or cutting mat
craft knife
quilting ruler
a sheet of adhesive*
*available in the Bargello kit; not sold separately
Steps:
1. Cut six 3/4" x 5-3/4" strips in various colors of papers.
2. Add color to each strip with the Direct-to-Paper technique: Rub pigment inks from a stamping pad directly to the paper (figure A). The results will vary according to the way the strokes are made, but all results are good. Each strip should be different and the colors chosen should work well together.
3. Once all six strips are colored, stamp images on them (figure B).
4. The strips now need to be positioned one next to the other on an adhesive backing (figure C). Place strips very close one next to the other, making all the edges straight. Press hard to make the adhesive stick.
5. On the back, draw a diagonal line from one corner to the other. This will help you place the strips back in order once cut.
6. Using a quilting ruler and craft knife or a paper cutter, cut the strips down to 1/4- to 1-inch strips. To make this paper quilt design, you will need the following measurements: two 1-inch pieces, two 3/4-inch pieces, two 1/2-inch pieces, and five 1/4-inch pieces (figure D).
7. On a large piece of cardstock that will only act as a base or support to the pieces, start positioning the small pieces of the strips. Start with the first 1-inch strip on the left. Remove each piece, and position one underneath the other. This is column one.
8. Now place the 3/4-inch piece. Do not align this piece to the top of the first, but one level lower (figure E). Place one underneath the other. The last piece goes back to the top to fill in the space you skipped (figure F). This is column two.
9. Place the 1/2-inch piece, again one spot lower than the piece next to it (figure G). Place one underneath the other. The two last pieces go back to the top to complete the row. This is column three.
10. Place the 1/4-inch piece, starting one level lower again. The last three pieces on the end will go to the top, too, completing column four.
11. Repeat one level lower with the next 1/4-inch strip. This is column five.
12. Repeat one level lower with the third 1/4-inch strip.This should place one piece on the last level and all the other pieces on top. This is the sixth and middle column.
13. The next 1/4-inch strip will start going upwards, so instead of one level down, move the first piece one level higher (figure H). The curve will start to appear. This time, the remaining piece goes to the bottom instead of the top. This column will look exactly like column five.
14. The last 1/4-inch strip goes one level higher again. This column will look exactly like column four.
15. The other 1/2-inch piece should be placed one level higher, and continue to go one underneath the other. This column should look exactly like the other 1/2-inch column (column three).
16. Place the 3/4-inch piece one level higher, and continue to go one underneath the other. This column will look exactly like colum two.
17. Finally, position the last 1-inch strip, starting from the top of the finished piece (figure I). This column should look exactly like the first column.
18. Trim off any excess card stock edges from the support/base piece.
19. Mount this piece onto a larger piece of card stock.
Tips and Suggestions:
- It's very important that all cuts are as close to perfect as possible. Strive to make each edge straight. This will help you achieve a more coherent look.
- If the majority of your strips are in dark tones, work on a dark cardstock support . If the majority of your strips are light, work on a light colored support.
- If your strips are not perfectly straight, you always have the option of leaving all the pieces in their proper order and thus creating a wavy piece of Bargello.
- Once the piece is finished, you can add more stamped designs, metallic lines , fibers, beads or wiring to make it more personal, and then frame or mount it on a piece of black foamcore for a final elegant touch.
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