Welcome Everyone to my latest tutorial, The Embellished Paper Doily! Over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to show you how to construct and create a doily decorated window box using a vast array of both modern and vintage embellishments and papers. In doing so, I'll share with you some of my favorite, heavily relied upon scrapbooking techniques, including building multi-layered hand-made collages and florals. Because this project is well involved, it's to be presented over a sixteen day period (possibly longer); one doily creation per day. After decorating sixteen ever-so-lovely paper doilies, we'll be adding them to a 12" x 12" window box for displaying in your home! So, let's begin with my providing you with a basic supply list (not all items are necessary, but they sure do come in handy! Also, it's quite possible that this supply list will grow over time, so watch for newly added items with each post!):

 

The Basics: 

 

• Paper Trimmer (I'm almost certain you have one of these!) 
• Scissors (Big & Small - for trimming itty bitty pieces)
• Adhesive (I use Scotch Quick Dry...glue sticks scare me!)
• Glue Dots (Big & Small)
• Foam Core Pop Dots
• Alleene's Stiffen Quik (Fabric - totally optional)
• Circle Punches Galore (Feel free to hand-cut circles if easier for ya.)
• Flower Punches/Die-Cut Gizmo to cut flowers from paper (I own a Slice and am using the Vintage Findings card & Basics 3)
• Martha Stewart Starburst Punch
• Decorative Scissors (Any of them will work..I prefer the scallop & pinking scissors)
• Awl (Can't live without this tool!)
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Markers (Preferably fine-tip in Black & Brown)
• Souffle Pens (Opaque Gel Pens)
• Gold Gel Pen
• Ranger Distress Ink "Frayed Burlap"
• Sponge
• Nail File
• 12" x 12" Window Box
• Variety of Embellishments & Papers (I'll disclose brands as we go along, but feel free to change things up a bit if need be!) 
• Speciality Glue for Adhering Paper to Fabric - "Zip Dry" or other Strong Glue
• Martha Stewart Die-Cut Lace Tags (16 Total)

Getting Started:

 

First things first, locate a 12" x 12" window box. I picked up a window box at my locals Michael's craft store. Even though they're readily available just about anywhere, Michael's typically sells them on sale at 40% off. The one I found was all of $10!!Talk about a steal of deal :) After you've located a window box for the project, bring it home and dismantle it..carefully. Laugh - there are no broken windows allowed here! Set the window backing (interior part) on your desk and store the remaining pieces away until your project is complete. 

Select and coordinate sixteen lace tags on your backing as shown above...placement is key here, so make sure your tags are lined up and look pretty :) (ignore the cute flower in the upper left hand corner) After you've added your doilies to your backing, set the backing aside and do not disturb! We'll begin by working on our first doily.

 

 

 

 

 

This will be the end result of today's tutorial..see above. Let me introduce you to the project before we start working on our first doily; see above. I prefer that you have a general idea of what it is we'll be working on so that you coordinate your items correctly..there's truly nothing worse than glueing bit and pieces of things together and then realizing that the pieces are totally out of order or don't go together at all...please, review the final product before moving forward with the tutorial..thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This flower is fairly easy to make, though can be kind of putsy, so be patient :) Punch a 2" circle from a piece of vintage ledger paper (doesn't have to be "vintage" - any ledger paper will work). Set the circle aside for later use. 

**One little item I forgot to mention - I distress everything, literally. The process isn't all that extensive, though does take a few extra seconds to do. I usually rub a Distress Ink Pad around the edges of my paper and then apply additional ink using a sponge. On occasion, I'll sand the edges of my paper before distressing them with ink..but, that's only on occassion..use your own discretion when distressing items. 

 

 

Fabric stiffner is one of those foreign substances I rarely use because it involves serious patience. Just recently, I located a "spray-on" fabric stiffner at Jo-Ann Fabrics. Because most stiffners are applied via brush and take a long time to dry, I was apprehensive about bringing the spray stuff home. Honestly, I wasn't sure if the product would be a 100% reliable..after spraying a few layers of the stiffner on my fabric and drying the fabric in the microwave (oh yes you can!!), some stiffening did result. I feel comfortable recommending it for this project, but don't feel like you have to run out and buy it..here's what the bottle looks like:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the fabric has had time to dry, hand-trim a 1.75" circle from the fabric using a sharp pair of scissors. Adhere fabric circle to 2" ledger circle from previous step. 

Cut a 2" flower from Turquoise pattern paper ("Kahuna Kiwi"/American Crafts) using either a punch or die-cut machine (again, I used a Slice - this flower is from the Vintage Findings card). Curl the petals of the flower forward using your fingers like I've done below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adhere the turquoise flower on top the fabric circle - apply adhesive on only the center portion of the flower. The petals should remain curled forward (not adhered down). Allow the flower to dry in place for at least five minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love, love layering circle label stickers/die-cuts with punched circles. The key is finding coordinating circle sizes, which isn't always easy. There's quite a bit of trial and error involved in finding the perfect circle combination. Having a large stash of circle labels on hand is always a good idea! Owning multiple size circle punches is also a plus...

Punch a 1" starburst circle from gold crosshatch pattern paper ("Golden Damask"/My Mind's Eye). Quickly outline the circle with a brown fine-tip marker. Fill in outline using a pink souffle pen. The circle doesn't have to perfect..I lack serious drawing skills, even after attending two college level drawing courses. As long as it "looks like a circle", you're good! :)

Add a small felt flower ("Classic K Margo Flower/K&Company)the center of your starburst circle. Adhere your flower/circle creation to a black circle label sticker ("Thrift Shop"/October Afternoon) using pop dots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's a flower without petals? These lovely petals were part of a larger collection of die-cuts from K & Company (Amy Butler). Sadly, They're no longer available..I'm still waiting for that special day when Amy Butler releases another scrapbook collection. Love her style! To complete the look of the flower, adhere a small section of leaves to your lace tag. Curl the edges of the leaves forward using your fingers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is where it all comes together - YAH! Adhere the parts of your flower together as I've done above. Add eight small sequins (light yellow) around the flower's center using small glue dots. Apply a tiny orange rhinestone to the top of each sequin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We'll be creating a patchwork background for our decorated doilies. Find a pattern paper that compliments your doily creation. For this particular doily, I opted to use dark brown/grey pattern paper. Hand-trim a square from your selected pattern paper as I've done above - the square doesn't have to be a particular size. Mine is about 3.5" x 3.5", but not exact. The goal will be for the patchwork to feel "homemade" like an actual quilt. Don't get too caught up in measurements when creating patchwork for the backing of your window box. Also, don't adhere patchwork to the backing until we're close to completing the project. Instructions for creating the patchwork will provided at the end of the tutorial. 

Join me tomorrow evening for doily creation #2...have a great day you guys! Thanks for stopping by!