Your Digital Scrapbooking Supplies: Printing on Fabric for Spring

Your Digital Scrapbooking Supplies: Printing on Fabric for Spring!

guest blog post by Melissa Oh

Hi, I'm Melissa Oh from the Pink Paper Peppermints blog and I'm so happy to be helping Melissa with another guest post today!

I recently discovered printing on fabric using freezer paper and I got so excited with all the new ways I could use my digital scrapbooking supplies combined with this technique!

Today I'll be sharing with you some creative ideas for printing your digital scrapbooking elements and papers on fabric to create gifts and decor perfect for Mother's Day or just for crafty fun!

What You Need to Get Started

Supplies

Digital Scrapbooking Papers and Elements (I'm using a kit I designed called "Peace in the Storm"
Inkjet Printer
Photo Editing Software (such as Photoshop or Photoshop Elements or even Microsoft Word)
Plain cotton fabric
Rotary Cutting Blade
Clear Grid Ruler
Self-healing mat
Freezer Paper
Needle & Thread/and or Sewing Machine

Optional:

Patterned Cotton fabric
Polyfill Stufffing
Ribbon
Sequins, Beads

Printing Your Supplies On Fabric

There are so many fun new ways to use your digital supplies when you print them on fabric! Today we'll be making little stuffed ornaments as gifts for Mom, but you could also make pillows, sachets, framed art, and most any decor or gift item that wouldn't need to be put through the wash!

Prepare the Fabric for Printing

To print your supplies on fabric you'll first need to prepare your fabric to run through the printer.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Some people have had problems with the fabric getting stuck in their printers so try this technique only if you are confident that your printer can handle it (or if you like to live on the crafty edge like me, ha!) and you're ok with the risk. I personally have never had the fabric get stuck, but I'm careful to follow the instructions below. I use an Epson Workforce 3540)

First cut your freezer paper to letter-size (or A4).

Next trim your plain white fabric (a white muslin works well) to just slightly smaller than your freezer paper. Being careful to trim the edges well so that there are no ragged edges or threads sticking out.

 

Now center your fabric on the shiny side of the freezer paper and press it with a hot, dry iron for a minute or two until the fabric is fused to the paper.

Once your paper is cooled and you've made sure there are no ragged edges or loose threads, place your paper in your printer tray so that the fabric side receives the printing. For my printer I need to place it fabric facing down, but this will vary from printer to printer so check your printer to make sure.

Printing Your Digital Elements

The process to open your digital files varies depending on the software you're using (I'm using Photoshop Elements 12 in the image below) but in most programs you'll go to File-> Open and then navigate to the folder where your digital supplies are.

Open the files you want to use (usually by double-clicking) and then click and drag on to your 8.x5 x 11 canvas. (For more details see my other guest post here at Digital Scrapbooking HQ on How To Use Digital Scrapbook Supplies to Decorate Your Holiday Packages)

Since you'll be cutting the designs out to sew, be sure to leave plenty of room around the edges of your designs.

Because all printers are different, you'll need to experiment to see which settings work best with your printer. On my printer I use the highest print quality and choose "photo paper glossy" as seen below.

Choosing Backing Fabric

Now that your images are printed it's time to remove the freezer paper and cut them apart.

 

 Look at the lovely texture of the fabric coming through the image!

To separate your fabric from the freezer paper, just take a corner in one hand and slowly peel upwards, holding the freezer paper down with the other. Take your time with this so you don't stretch the fabric, and your design in the process.

 

 

Once you have removed the freezer paper, cut your designs apart, leaving plenty of room for a seam allowance if you will be making an ornament like we are today. Now is a good time to stitch on any embellishments you might like to add such as sequins, beads or embroidered words.

Next you'll choose the fabric that will be the back of your ornament. I selected some pretty, vintage dots that I had in my scraps.

 

Stack your backing fabric, right sides together, with your printed fabric to create a "fabric sandwich". Remember that you want the pretty sides on the inside (just like a sandwich has the good stuff on the inside).

To add a little loop of ribbon for a hanger simply fold your ribbon in half and place it at the top, in the middle of your "fabric sandwich".

You'll want to line the raw edges of the ribbon up with the raw edges of the fabric so that your ribbon is pointing downward into what is now the inside of your "fabric sandwich". (This will ensure the ribbon is on the outside after we sew the pieces together and turn everything right side out)

Now pin your "fabric sandwich" together and we're ready to sew!

Sewing Your Fabric Ornament

If you're creating an ornament with straight sides, like the little girl with the umbrella, you'll simply sew a straight stitch about a 1/4 of an inch from the sides all the way around, leaving an opening at the bottom for turning it right side out and stuffing it.

If you're creating a shaped ornament like the angel, you'll want to either cut the shape out, leaving about a half an inch all the way around for stitching. Alternatively, (and what I usually do) rather than cutting around your design, you can sketch your sewing line with a pencil, about a 1/4 of an inch around the edge of the design as below.

If you go a little wide, don't worry about it, just re-sketch the line like I did above. Now sew over your sketched line with a straight stitch, remembering to leave an opening at the bottom about 1-2 inches wide.

 

 

When you're finished sewing, cut your ornaments out about 1/4 inch away from the stitches, clip the corners of square ornaments and snip little notches in the curves of shaped ornaments, being careful not to to come too close to your stitches.

Now it's time to turn your ornaments right side out and see how pretty they look!

Once they're turned right-side out, you'll want to lay a cloth over your ornament (to protect your design and your iron) and press the seams flat with a hot iron for a nice crisp edge, before stuffing them.

Stuffing Your Fabric Ornament

 

All that's left now is to stuff your ornament with poly-fill stuffing (or you can use potpourri if you want to create a sachet), and then stitch up the opening by hand with a blind stitch. (You can search youtube for help with a blind stitch if you haven't done one before.)

 

 

I hope you have fun with this technique and I'll bet you'll come up with even more ways to use digital designs printed on fabric! If you do, I'd love to see them! Tag me on instagram: @PinkPaperPeppermints or leave a comment below!

One Last Thing

Before I go, I want to thank Melissa for inviting me once again to be a part of Digital Scrapbooking HQ! I always have so much fun!

I also wanted to offer you a little discount code to my shop through the end of the month! Just use code: DSHQ_905 for a 30% discount on anything in my shop, including the Peace in the Storm kit I've used today!

Do you think you'll try printing your digital supplies on fabric? Have you come up with any fun, new ways to use your digi supplies?

Let's talk about it in the comments!

♥ Melissa Oh~

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Who is Melissa Oh?

Melissa is currently a full-time, homeschooling mom and the author of Pink Paper Peppermints blog,  as well as a digital and mixed-media artist, creating bible journaling, scrapbooking and paper crafting kits.

She's been involved in the paper crafting industry for more than fifteen years, working as an instructor, writer and product designer and has taught paper crafting and art classes at local stores and national conventions both in the USA and Canada.

She dreams in color wheels and papery things, but her real passion in life is to see every person realize the width, depth and breadth of God's extraordinary love for them. ♥