Who would have thought you could use your computer for gift wrapping AND for making gifts? With the help of a CD-ROM called "Dazzle Daze," from DJ Inkers, designs may be put together in the computer and then printed onto fabric. With a little sewing and stuffing, the fabric and image can then be made into a pillow. Using the same designs printed on paper instead of fabric, a gift box can be wrapped to complete a matching set and to provide a unique gift. Christmas and baby themes were featured on the show, but many variations are possible.
Materials
fabric for pillow*
matching thread
gift box
polyester fiberfill
freezer wrap
optional: colored marking pens
optional: ribbon or fabric for ruffle on pillow
Ultimate Craft or Prismacolor pens
Dazzle Daze CD-ROM from DJ Inkers
*Fabric can be taffeta moire, faille, cotton, etc. Also available are fabric pieces cut to size and backed with stiffening so they are printer-ready.
Steps
- Iron the fabric to a piece of freezer wrap.
- .Cut the freezer wrap/fabric piece to the size of the printer paper.
- In the program on your computer, select a grid and fill in the spaces with selected pictures. If desired, color the pictures via the computer or print them in black and white and color them in after printing (see Note, below).
- Print everything onto selected fabric. Peel freezer wrap from fabric.
- Cut a second piece of matching or compatible fabric the same size as the first and stack them together with right sides facing. Stitch around, leaving a small open area for stuffing.
- Optional: Should you care to add a ruffle around the pillow, gather a length of ribbon long enough to go around the perimeter and place it between the two layers of fabric with the gathered edge lined up with the edge of the fabric pieces. Stitch all three layers together.
- Clip the corners to eliminate bulk, turn the fabric and stuff it to the desired thickness. Hand
- Select a plain white box. Print out another grid with pictures but this time print it on plain paper. Glue to top of gift box.
- Optional: If desired, color the border of the box to match one of the colors in the print. Tie with a narrow ribbon.
Note: If you will be coloring in the pictures after printing them it is suggested that you first print them onto bright white paper (90 plus). To color them in, use either Ultimate Craft Pens or Prismacolor pens. They will give you the most brilliant colors. Scan the pictures into your printer and then print them out onto the fabric. Do not worry if the alcohol-based inks tend to run a bit on the paper. In spite of the fuzziness this causes, the scanner seems to turn out crisp copies.
Resources The Ultimate Craft Pen
American Crafts
Orem, UT
Phone: 801-226-0747
Toll Free Phone: 800-879-5185
Wholesale orders
Website:
www.ultimatepens.com
Dazzle Daze
D.J. Inkers
Coalville, UT
Toll Free Phone: 800-325-4890
URL:
www.djinkers.com
dual-tip markers - Prismacolor
Sanford
Website:
www.sanford.com
Also in this Episode
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