My current obsession is sculpting fabric with Helmar Fabric Stiffener and Draping Liquid This product is easy to work with and very versatile. I created this nautical bowl to showcase shells and other beach souvenirs – my husband and I have traveled extensively through
The cast of Characters:
Helmar Fabric Stiffener and Draping Liquid
Cheesecloth (from fabric or kitchen store)
Rope trim (fabric store)
Corks (big box craft stores)
A bowl to use as your mold
Plastic wrap
The How To:
- Invert bowl onto a protected surface, cover with a piece of plastic wrap
- Squeeze some Helmar Fabric stiffener and draping liquid into a separate bowl (a glass/ceramic bowl is easiest to clean up)
- Dip pieces of cheesecloth (I cut my cloth into about 12 inch pieces) into the liquid, moistening thoroughly and then wring out
- Drape wet cheesecloth around your inverted bowl covered in plastic wrap.
- Let dry overnight, lift your new cheesecloth bowl off the mold and then pull the plastic wrap off of your new bowl.
- Squeeze a line of Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive around the upper edge of your bowl.
- Gently press the rope trim into the line of adhesive, making sure to leave at least a 6” tail of trim before you start gluing it around the rim, and at least a 6” tail of trim on the other end
- Tie a knot in front of your bowl with the “tails” of your rope trim.
- Slide a bead or cork (I used corks that I drilled a hole through with my Dremel) onto the rope trim and knot.
- Dab a touch of Helmar Fray Stoppa on the ends of your “tails”
- Fill with your beach memories.
My next example of using the Helmar Fabric stiffening and draping liquid is this flower embellishment for a scrap book layout:
The Cast of Characters:
Helmar Fabric Stiffener and Draping Liquid
Fabric remnants
Ric Rac, button, brad to use as flower center
Machine Stitching (optional)
Foam paint brush
Glass/ceramic plate for drying
The How To:
- Cut flower petal shapes from fabric remnants (I free hand cut mine, but you can use a pattern such as a flower coloring book page)
- Optional Step: Stitch around the edges of each petal
- For each petal, using a foam brush, brush the stiffener and draping liquid on both sides of your petal
- Mold, scrunch or create the shape you want and place on glass/ceramic plate to dry
- After petals are dry, attach to your scrapbook page using Helmar Premium Craft Glue
- Attach a button, brad or whatever you fancy as a flower center using Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots to add a little "pop" (I have used ric rac, gathered with a running stitch as my center)
To celebrate my first post on the Helmar Blog, I get to give away a prize pack of my favorite Helmar Products! Please leave a comment on this post by next Friday September 4th for a chance to win my favorite Helmar products:
