Guest Kathleen Alonzo demonstrates how to take several different colors of felt and create a mosaic pattern around a picture frame. Inspired by the tile mosaics found in Mediterranean countries, Kathleen draws a grid, cuts the felt into pieces, and arranges it into a mosaic pattern for a delightful effect. Painted pieces of colored felt creates the illusion of "suede" tile.
Materials:
Kunin Rainbow felt
- 18" x 18" steel gray
- 9" x 12" ruby
- two, 9" x 12" leaf green
- 9" x 12" fuchsia
- 9" x 12" grape
- 9" x 12" butterscotch
- 9" x 12" wheat.
Deco Art Easy Blend stencil paint
- baby pink
- dioxazine purple
- lavender
- calico red
- yellow green
- holly green
- ice blue
- snow white
- cadmium yellow
- antique gold
2-1/2-inch convex molding paper mache frame
stencil brushes
Heat 'n' Bond Ultra heavyweight fusible web
black fine-tip permanent marking pen
voile*
white chalk pencil
pencil
scissors
iron
*Voile is a fine, soft sheer fabric used especially for women's summer clothing or curtains.
Steps:
- For the background, cut four pieces of 18" x 18" steel gray felt to fit the frame. Miter the corners. The gray color will look like grout between the brightly colored "mosaic" tiles.
- Fuse web to one side of all the felt pieces (figure A).
- Fuse the steel gray background color to the frame. Trim the corners and fuse excess to the back of the frame (figure B).
- Draw a grid using a pencil and ruler. Mark a one-inch square grid on the other colors of felt. On darker colors of felt, draw the grid on the paper backing of the fusible web.
- Use the stencil brush to paint the felt, applying the paint by pouncing up and down on the grid lines (figure C). This method shades the outer edges of each square and is used for painting with one color. Use the following paint/ felt color combinations, using a clean, dry brush for each color:
- grape felt: baby pink and dioxazine purple paint
- fuchsia felt: dioxazine purple and lavender paint
- ruby felt: calico red and dioxazine purple paint
- leaf green felt: yellow green, holly green, and ice blue paint
- butterscotch felt: snow white, cadmium yellow, and antique gold paint
- wheat felt: snow white, cadmium yellow, and antique gold paint
- If two or more colors are desired, pounce the colors sparingly so the original felt color is still visible. Let each color dry at least 24 hours.
- Cut the felt into squares following the grid lines (figure D). Remove the paper backing and cut some of the one-inch squares into four pieces for 1/2-inch squares.
- Transfer the pattern by placing a piece of voile over the original design. Trace the design with the black marking pen, and place the voile on the felt (figure E). Trace over the design with a white chalk pencil, and remove the voile. Create an original pattern or use the pattern provided (figure F).
- Create the mosaic patterns by using one-inch squares for large areas of the design and the 1/2-inch squares for small designs. Shape the felt pieces to fit into the design, and try to keep as close to the design shape as possible. Leave small equal margins (spaces) between the pieces (figure G).
- To attach the mosaics to the frame, set iron on polyester setting. As each piece is cut and placed in the design, fuse it with the iron. Do NOT use steam, and do not lift the iron straight up when removing it from the felt. Press down and slide it back, then pick it up. To remove a piece, heat with the iron and simply peel it off.
- When the design is complete, iron the entire piece, making sure all pieces are fused (figure H).
Resources felt--Kunin
Available at Jo-Ann Etc. and Wal-Mart.
Kunin Felt / Foss Manufacturing Co.
Hampton, NH
US
Phone: 603-929-6100
Toll Free Phone: 800-292-7900
E-mail:
kuninfelt@fossmfg.com
Website:
www.kuninfelt.com
DecoArt Easy Blend Stencil Paint
DecoArt Inc.
Website:
www.decoart.com
Heat 'N' Bond Ultra Hold
Available at Jo-Ann Etc., Michaels, Wal-Mart, Rag Shops, AC Moore, Hancock's.
Therm O Web
Website:
www.thermoweb.com
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