SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
- 9"x12" super thick foam sheet
- Foam sheets
- Variety pack of foam shapes
- Scissors, small trim
- Ruler
- One 1" foam brush
- Variety pack of small brushes
- Acrylic paint in a variety of colors
- Fabric paint for washables
- Multipurpose glue
- Power-Tac adhesive
- Woody nature elements: sticks, seed pods, etc.
- Chenille sticks
- Craft/home elements: foam, yarn, rubber bands, and similar items
- Tote bag: 1/3 yd of natural canvas
- One yard 1" to 1-1/4" white belting
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Thread
- One piece of 10" x 13" cardboard
- Feel free to make the crafts your own and get creative with the materials. If there's anything you can't find, we encourage you to use substitutions.
DIRECTIONS:
- Make foam stamps. Print out a trefoil template on cardstock or draw the image on cardstock. Cut out the image, transfer it to the thin foam sheet, and, using an X-Acto knife, cut the foam.
- Now, place the trefoil on thick foam so it is level with one straight edge of the thick foam and 1/8" to 1/4" from the edge. Trace around the trefoil as a guide for placement. Attach the thin foam image to the thick foam using multipurpose glue. The straight edge at the bottom of the stamp will make it easy to stamp the image level on any item.
- Make natural element, yarn, and chenille stick stamps. Elements need to be of a similar thickness. Apply items to thick foam using a small bead of Power-Tac to each surface that will connect with the foam. Press and let dry. Use an X-Acto knife to cut the thick foam to 1/8" to 1/4" from the stamp image. Use small brushes to gently apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to stamp elements. Let dry.
- Use the stamp. With a small craft brush apply a thin layer of paint to each raised section of stamp. Flip and press straight down onto the surface you are stamping (in this case, canvas). Carefully lift the stamp. Use a soft nail brush to clean stamps under hot water. Most stamps can be used multiple times without cleaning if not overloaded with paint. Apply a fresh layer of paint prior to each stamping.
- Create the tote bag. Cut one 11-1/2" x 31" piece of lightweight natural canvas. Fold the short end in 1/2" and press. Then, fold the same short end 2" and press again. Repeat for the other short end, folding toward the same side. Double stitch both ends close to the folds. This is the top hem of the tote.
- Cut two 18" pieces of belting. Fold over each end 17/8". Pin each folded end, raw edge side to folded top edge of the tote, 2" from the raw edges of the fabric. Do not twist belting. Line up the folded edge of the belting with the lower fold of the tote hem. Sew close to the edge of the belting to secure the belting to the tote. Add an additional diagonal stitch inside the rectangle to further secure handles. Repeat.
- With the wrong sides of the fabric together, sew the raw edge sides of the tote together, lining up the top edges and staying close to the edges. Turn the tote inside out, push the side seams out, and press. Sew the side seams with ½" of extra room between the fabric's edge and the seam (called a seam allowance). This will encase the raw edges. Turn the right side out and press. Insert cardboard inside the tote prior to stamping. This will prevent the transfer of paint to the back of the tote.