IHP April Design Team Challenge: Felt

It’s time once again for the i {heart} papers Design Team Challenge, and we’re honored this month to be joined by a special Guest Designer, Karolyn Loncon.

For this challenge we are all using the sumptuously gorgeous 100% wool felt that Kate picked up at CHA this winter. She’s got it in 18 beautiful colors, and let me tell you, this stuff cuts like a dream! The rolled roses (Heliotrope Pink) on this frame were cut with the Scalloped Posie rolled flower die, and the leaves (Moss) were hand-cut.

I started with a dollar wooden frame from Michael’s that I had in my stash. I cut strips of paper from one of the 8x8 Teresa Collins Fabrications pads (which is apparently out of stock at the moment, but any subtly printed paper would do just as well).

Before adhering the paper to the frame, I went over the edges of the frame that would remain exposed with a Copic marker that coordinated with the paper, in this case YG93. My product of choice for this type of paper adhesive is Royal Coat Clear Satin Finish, a decoupage glue. I also used it to adhere the delicate lattice strips that I cut with the Tessatina Border Die. I particularly like the satin finish because it doesn’t show up shiny when it dries in the wrong place (if you know what I mean).

Two tips for cutting with this border die: 1) make sure you use relatively new cutting plates in your machine for best results, and 2) place a little strip of waxed paper between the paper/cardstock and the cutting plate. It provides just the tiniest bit of extra resistance for a cleaner cut, and seems to make the little inside pieces fall out of the lattice more easily. It also peels easily off the back of the finished die-cut piece. The strips produced with this die are 5-1/2” long, but because of the design you cannot tell where I joined them. (I had to do a little fudging on 2 of the corners, but they are hidden by the flowers and leaves –shhhh!.)

As a side note, just in case you didn’t know, the insanely adorable baby in the picture is my little granddaughter, Lilia. My heart swells every time I look at her, and I’m so excited that she’s coming to visit this month! Michigan is just tooooo far away from Grandma Cupcake in Brooklyn!

OK, enough chit-chat! Go see what the rest of the Design Team, including our special Guest Designer did with this yummy felt:

• Guest Designer Karolyn Loncon
• Carolyn (that’s me!)
• Deb
• Gretchen
• Loretta
• Lori
• Lynn
• Tracy
• Kate

Happy hopping!