Fun Transfer Technique -- Creating A Bird Cushion

I have been having great fun with a new transfer technique using CitraSolv that many bloggers are doing right now.  Citrasolve is a cleaner degreaser that  I was able to find in a health food store.

Graphicsfairy has wonderful graphic pictures and I downloaded a few of her bird pictures.  For this transfer technique you need to use a laser printer and not an inkjet printer.  Something about the kind of ink in the laser.  I cut the bird pictures to size.

I chose a plain white cotton fabric and placed it on a pile of newspaper.  Then I placed the bird picture upside down on the fabric and taped it to the fabric very close to the edges of the picture. 

I used a brush to brush the back of the picture with the Citrasolv.

I used a good heavy spoon to rub the back of the picture VERY hard, all over and over.  Don't miss any areas.

When you remove the tape voila the picture is transferred to the fabric.

I got so excited with this first attempt I tried it again with this sweet pair of birds.  This time I made sure I really rubbed hard (but don't tear the paper) and the end result was even better.

When the fabric dried I placed an older cloth under the transferred fabric and ironed on the right side of the picture to set it.  There are so many things you can do with this fabric.  With one of the transfers I made a cushion which I edged with a light green fabric and sewed a lightly patterned white fabric for the rest of the  front and back.

I made it such that the opening at the back overlaps and a cushion slips in nicely..

This was so fun!  Dancing with the Stars and American Idol won me over tonight so I didn't get a chance to get creative with this further because I HAD to watch them both tonight.  

 I guess I'll have to wait until these shows are over for the season. 

Hope you've had a fun day... Judi xoxo

Handmade Christmas Bear Cushions

In between making products for Christmas sales....like these soy tealights for example,

I've found a little time to make Christmas Bear cushions. They come 4 different bears in a panel.

I just loved the vibrant happy Christmas colours.

I sewed them into cushions and tied up little bows and sewed them on the ribbon pictures on the pattern...... This one is a Christmas plaid ribbon ...


that is the same fabric as the back of the pillows....


This one has a wired ribbon that I already had that goes perfectly...

I added on a red button and a fancy gold button...

I think they would look cute if I used some of that sparkly fabric paint that comes in a tube and wrote Merry Christmas on the bear's bib.

These are going to be little Christmas warming gifts for our children for their homes. The little ones will like them I'm sure.

I'll bring one to my girlfriend next weekend when we visit for the American Thanksgiving...

Geez its hard to concentrate on the work part of my creations with projects like this...Judi xoxo