Flat Dolls

Flat things usually leave me - well, flat.  I really like dolls because of their three dimensions.  I get on with fabric journaling because it isn't totally flat.  But I've never been into quilts, for example.  So the idea that flat dolls have gotten a lot of attention lately (largely due to Elinor Peace Bailey, Patti Culea, Betts Vidal, Barbara Willis amongst others doing flat doll days) leaves me feeling oddly repelled and attracted at the same time - it's flat, but it's a doll.  I don't know whether to clap my hands in glee or run away. 

But when I saw Patti's article in Stitch magazine on how to create fibre postcards using her fantastic stamps I thought they would be a fun way to make a flat doll - one that could be used as a bookmark. 

I used Patti's Kessa stamp on ivory Pimatex with a brown pigment ink stamp (as opposed to a dye based ink pad).  I then drew a body for the stamp.  If you fancy giving it a try you can download my body drawing here for free:  Download bookmark_flat_doll_body.pdf .  I also haloed the stamped head with a circle so that the shape would be easy to stitch around at the end.

I outlined the drawing using a pigma pen in brown.  Then I stamped some patterns on the dress with the same brown ink pad, using tape to cover areas I didn't want covered by the stamped pattern (like her hand and arm for instance).  I then bonded the stamped fabric to double sided bonding sheet (like Wonder Under or Steam a Seam 2), peeled off the paper side and bonded that to a piece of Pelmet Vilene (Timtex would work too). 

I painted the body and face as advised in Patti's article and I used a mix of Sakura gelly rollers and fabric paint to colour in the stamped motifs. I also used a silver ink pad to stamp words on the dress (they are barely visible but add some texture).  I then free motion machine embroidered over the stamped designs with metallic thread. 

When I was happy with the front of the bookmark, I ironed some double sided bonding sheet to a fun printed cotton and ironed that onto the back of my stamped and drawn image.  I then cut out around the image and machine zig-zagged around the raw edge.  

Lastly I added a flat sun motif hovering over her hand and added some bling to the flowers with stones.  I think that she makes my Harry Potter look even more tempting, don't you?

   

Comments

[Romona]

Hi Colleen,
Thanks again for the tutorial. I will definately use it as it's just so simple and effective. Did you love the last HP book as much as me...lol... Thanks again, Romona

[Jenn Jenn Bo Benn]

Magic Bean - your stuff in BEEEE-utiful! I'm going to put a link to you on our blog, because I think you ROCK!

xoxox
Jenn Jenn

[shashi]

This is lovely and a great idea to use it like a bookmark. Thanks for the pattern. I find that even though flatties are not my cup of tea it is good to get away from 3D stuff and come back to it refreshed.