Start off by prepping your fabric for the embellishment wrapping. Stamp with fabric inks, and layer different colours. Don’t be a numpty like me and ensure to heat set the ink before moving on…

• Versacraft ink pads: Real Black / Chocolate
• Carabelle Studio cling stamp: Un regard sur mon histoire [SED0003]
• Hero Arts rubber stamp: Italian Poetry Background [S1832]
• Natural calico fabric

Using a coarse paintbrush (to get enough medium laid down), apply matte medium to your cardboard shape. Stick to the front before trimming around the shape leaving about 1 cm of fabric. For curved areas, add notches to the border. For corners, trim off the corner of the fabric to avoid bulk. Fold round and stick to the back. Once you’ve stuck everything down, use a fine brush to cover the front with matte medium just to help seal it.

• DecoArt Media matte medium
• 1mm greyboard shapes (self-cut)

I had some linen-type ribbon handy, so I stamped onto that using fabric ink. Don’t forget to heat set.

I pre-cut some coordinating scrap fabric into squares. After choosing the order of the squares I stuck them down with matte medium – first to the page, and then with a loaded brush over the top to ensure it’s stuck down and sealed.

You can dry with a heat tool, or take a break and allow it to dry naturally (or on a radiator). Once the fabric is at least touch dry, trim off any overlaps. I recommend a rotary tool and ruler for a smooth straight cut.

There were a few gaps between the fabric squares so I decided to add faux stitching with a paint pen. Word to the wise – make sure the matte medium is completely dry otherwise you *will* clog your nib.

• Posca PC-1M: black

I wasn’t sure what would work over the background, so I auditioned the various embellishments I had prepped as well as some I hadn’t. After choosing what I wanted to use, I covered them as described above.

While they were drying, I used a border stamp to add a bit of interest to the edge of the page. I used a little strip of masking tape at 45 degrees to the corner to mitre the stamping and get neat joins at the corner. If you mis-stamp, just add another over the top…

• Stampers Anonymous / Tim Holtz cling stamp: Ornate Trims [CMS326]

For added interest, I overstamped the fabric background with a few ‘ghost prints’. I used the same ink pad and heat-set it. You can also use any permanent ink now that the fabric has been sealed with matte medium.

• Hero Arts rubber stamp: Long Writing Background [F2674]
• Stampers Anonymous / Tim Holtz cling stamp: Ornate Trims [CMS326]

Add a bit of bling if you like – I used it for the centres of the flower shapes. To augment this, I added shading with paint pens and shading with diluted black pen paint. Smudge with your finger to blend and also dot the pen nib into wet areas for a bit of bleed.

• Posca PC-1M: Brown / Black

Time to stick down all the embellishments. Use some more matte medium for ribbons, glueing behind as well as across the top.

For the card embellishments, use a strong glue. Clamp the pieces in place until they are dry.

That’s it, you’re done 🙂

• Aleenes liquidFUSION clear glue