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Wednesday 24 December 2014

Fabric Sospeso Transparente Tutorial

Altered Bottle
Hi friends I have been singing praises of Sospeso Transparente ever since I got my hands on it.
If you are new to Sospeso Transparente please read my introduction to Sospeso Transparente first : Sospeso Transparente tutorial .The printed films are my favorite for the sheer ease of working with them but for beauty I think nothing can surpass the original Fabric tape designs of Sospeso Transparente !
Fabric Flowers
Its sheer magic to be able to shape a piece of fabric into 3 Dimensional flowers!
Altered Bottle
I altered the bottle above by sponging with white acrylic paint, adding some Spellbinders die cuts and sticking on the Fabric flowers
Altered Bottle
Here is how to make Fabric flowers
Materials
  1. Fabric Tape - there are beautiful designs of these thick cotton cloth ribbon tapes at Crafters Corner
  2. Glue - special Sospeso Transparente glue - use undiluted
  3. Plastic films - special Sospeso Transparente one
  4. Embossing Pad and Embossing Tools
  5. Decoupage Spatula - awesome tool to remove those wrinkles and bubbles in all decoupage crafts not only Sospeso.
  6. Candle - good quality, non smoky variety
  7. Good scissors-Very essential and I recommend my favorite Tim Holtz Tonic Non stick scissors
Materials
There are some beautiful designs of flowers and leaves in fabric and if you are wondering can you use any cloth-- well the cloth needs to be such that it can withstand heating and not fray when you cut the designs.
Fabric tape
I used a single roll of the Gigli Rosa fabric tape to make the flowers in both my projects and still have a couple left over; so yes even though its more expensive than paper veils and printed films ,its value for money and the delicacy and the beauty of the Fabric flowers surpasses the rest
Cut design
Monica Allegro's book [ you can pick up a copy here : Sospeso Transparente book] recommends applying a thin coating of Sospeso Transparente glue on the fabric tape reverse and allowing to dry before cutting the tape to avoid fraying.But I found that when I used my serrated Tim Holtz scissors[ this baby can cut sticky foam tape too without sticking and if you use double foam tape as much as I do this scissors is a must have!] to cut out the fabric flowers , there was absolutely no fraying and you can skip that step!
Arrange on transparent plastic film
Once you cut out your designs [ why cut- to save space on your transparent film and glue!]you are ready to stick them on the transparent plastic film. I like to roughly arrange them and click a picture to refer back to so that when I am gluing I don't have to play jigsaw puzzle to fit all my designs!
Add glue to Stick
Use glue undiluted for fabric [for paper veils you have to dilute: Check Paper veil tutorial ].You can apply glue to the transparent sheet and stick your flower design or you can apply glue to the reverse of your flower design and stick to the transparent plastic.
Glue on fabric
In many ways fabric is easier than paper veils as its so sturdy and doesn't tear or wrinkle much.When you stick on the fabric  you can blot excess glue with a towel or sponge.
Blot with cloth
Get a firm wrinkle free adhesion by running a decoupage spatula over your flowers - the excess glue seeps out and you can blot this away.

Decoupage spatula
Allow enough time for the glued designs to dry. Takes a couple of hours depending on climate conditions.
Dried design
The rest of the steps are the same as in Printed films and Paper veils- cut the design and cut along the petals to the center to allow you to shape your flower when you heat and emboss.
Cut design
I found the Tim Holtz scissors invaluable in cutting the flower designs as you have to cut through a really thick layer of fabric and plastic and you  need a nice thin tipped scissors to reach all the corners too. If you dont have a good scissors you will be frustrated!
Embossing tools and Pad
Heat and emboss the flowers heating the plastic under-surface of the flowers following the Printed films tutorial and Paper veil tutorial. The only difference is that you need to heat a bit longer than you would for the printed films and you need to emboss using more force.
Magnetic Floating photo cube
I had lots of fabric flowers remaining so added them to a floating photoframe I picked up from a local shop. Shalini has brought some beautiful new products to add your Sospeso Transparente flower designs to including:
Necklaces and Chains to make jewelry
and Plastic - metal Brooches [the brooches are super economic too!]
Photoframe
You can even add the fabric flowers to curtain holders and cushions!
Fabric flowers
I didnt get time to add my family photos but you can see the photo-cube twirling

Rotating Photoframe
And here is the cube removed from the frame [ it snaps on via a magnet!]
Photoframe
I hope you enjoyed my Fabric flowers tutorial and altered projects
Fabric Flowers
Do drop a few lines how it has tuned out.
Craft Supplies
Decoupage spatula, brushes
Flower center options : Pollens and fillers
Sospeso Transparente Materials

Sospeso Transparente tutorial links
More Sospeso Transparente on Pinterest: Sospeso Transparente Pinterest

20 comments:

  1. OMG!! wow altered bottle and a rotating photo frame. It is just amazing and unique master peice.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Litasha...wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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  2. Beautiful projects. .loved both creations...thanks for sharing.

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  3. It's a wonderful tute !!! Will try it soon..thanks for sharing

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Arjita...should try Sospeso Transparente Arjita...you will surely fall in love with it!!

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  4. Thanks a lot Dr. Sonia for the tutorial... I just wonder how u manage to create such wonderful and unique things managing ur practice and kid... I being a part time teacher and doing nothing else (as m still spinster and have wonderful multi task handler mom like u) still can't cope up with time... Hats off to u Dr. Will soon post my works of Sospeso together on Fb... Lastly, Greetings of the season to u and all the fellow Crafters out there...

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Madhuri for the heartwarming words. Surprisingly this is the question I get asked most by crafters-- how I manage time to craft! Actually I take days to make a single project and as I get only snatches of time to craft!!
      Cheers
      Dr Sonia
      Cards Crafts Kids Projects

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    2. Would love to see your Sospeso Transparente project. Do drop a comment here too as FB posts are easily missed!

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  5. Amazing as always Sonia. Thanks for the detailed tute and hope to see more of your wonderful creations in the coming year!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Rupa! Have a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic New year
      Cheers
      Dr Sonia
      Cards Crafts Kids Projects

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  6. Gorgeous flowers, The fabric tape has beautiful texture and looks more beautiful than the paper flowers :)

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    Replies
    1. Yes I totally agree Pooja..never would have imagines we could make 3 D cloth flowers at home!!
      Cheers
      Dr Sonia
      Cards Crafts Kids Projects

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  7. Lovely projects Dr Sonia..love the altered bottle and flowers are fabulous.. Thank for the sweet tutorial.. Wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.. :)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Radhika glad you liked the tutorial
      Cheers
      Dr Sonia
      Cards Crafts Kids Projects

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  8. Its really an outstanding post with so much of detailing...I am sure each n every crafter will love this ....
    Lovely work Doc.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Shalini it seems to have got quite a lot of " likes" in the Crafters Corner craft demos at Facebook!

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  9. hi friends your works are very nice
    I use Sospeso, too, but in Italy there aren't blogs on this tecnique, only pages facebook
    I'll come back here, kisses
    Carmen

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  10. Can I use ohp sheet in place of transparent plastic film?

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