Palette Charcoal

Hello friends,

Let's talk fabric today, specifically Palette Charcoal! After working with so many vibrant colors of the Palette Collection over the last year, I worried that charcoal might feel a bit dull. Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong. These neutrals are a breeze to mix and match! Every single combination was a winner, so in the end, I had to let scale be the tie-breaker for my final project selection.

Speaking of the project. I went with a Display Panel (9 x 9") with a very Halloween vibe! I have to get in all the Halloween makes I can before October runs out! I like this particular one because of the big moon which I colored with something very unexpected (you'll have to wait for that). Now I hope you'll stick around to see how I combined fabric and idea-ology to make something so wickedly fun.

Lets get started with the project!

Start by painting the top and sides of the idea-ology Display Panel with Black paint. Set aside to dry while you work on the fabric background.

For the background, I decided to create a patchwork of three different fabrics: Moths, Map, and Collage. I started with the largest piece (about 6 x 10") I like to cut it a bit bigger than needed so I can square it up at the end. I also cut a matching piece of cotton batting.

Now if you are not a sewer, then this is for you. I'm going to use something so simple to make the diamond pattern. Something everyone has in a drawer somewhere...blue painters tape. 

To get started you need one diagonal line. 

I laid my clear ruler from corner to corner to create that sharp 60 degree angle.

Then instead of using a marking pen, I added a strip of blue painters tape.

I went to the sewing machine and sewed along the tape with rust colored thread.

I also sewed on the other side of the tape. 

Once done, I picked up the tape and moved it (as you see here) so I could continue to use it as a stitching guide.

I kept moving the tape till I had sewing all the way across the fabric. It's just that easy. If you can follow the tape, you can do this.

Back to the table to make another tape line going the opposite corner to corner direction. Then I just started the process over again till I had sewn all the way across the fabric.

When I was finished sewing, it looked like this. All done with a couple pieces of blue painters tape!

Back at the cutting mat, I used a rotary cutter to square up the piece so it would fit panel.

I created two more "patches" to fill in the panel.

As you can see I used the same color thread but sewed different patterns. The bottom windowpane stitching was again created with blue tape as the guide. And the top piece, I just followed the lines in the Collage fabric so it looks sewn together.

I used Collage Medium to glue the fabric patches to the Display Panel, leaving 1/4" around the outside so the painted edge will 'frame' the fabric.

Repeat the process to the add the largest piece (my favorite moths).

This part might look very straightforward, but there are no holes in the display panel for Fasteners and I did not want to punch a hole in the fabric. So in reality, I cut the "legs" off the Large Fasteners before adding them to the panel. Once I had crushed the top with the Texture Hammer, I picked up the Fastener "top", added Collage Medium and replaced it in the divot I made previously. 

*be sure to wear safety glasses when cutting the "legs" off the Large Fasteners.

Next I added a broken window Transparency to a large Baseboard piece, as well as two pieces of ephemera along the bottom.

I want this window to sit away from the fabric so I needed to come up with a way to do that. Enter wood plugs (hardware store). I have a stash of these to use as risers but they were still too big for the top of the window. I used a awl and a hammer to split one in half, then painted it with black paint. Once dry, I was able to add them to the top two corners of the window.

Next up Paper Dolls. Just scribble the color on. It can go on thick, especially over dark clothing. You can see here I have scribbled the green crayon over the dress, but so far, I have only rubbed the crayon with a cotton swab on just the top of her dress. The bottom still needs to be done.

Now there you go. The entire green dress in done.

NOTE: I only used a damp Detailer Water Brush (no water actually inside the brush) to add some Wild Honey crayon accents, like the buttons on the dress and some highlights on the green dress.

Add a set of wings to the mother. Because she needs wings, right? I did cut the halo from the printed wings before adding. It just looks more realistic.

Next is the moon from the Layers Pack. This is heavier weight paper than the Ephemera pack and it has a slick surface. That tells me that Alcohol Ink will color it. So I added Honeycomb Alcohol Ink with a Blending Tool in just one quick go. It worked absolutely perfectly!

Once the Alcohol Ink was dry, I used my fingertip to add very thin random splotches of Glossy Accents over the darker parts of the moon. Then sprinkled some Rock Candy CHUNKY that I had previously colored with 'Gravel" Alcohol ink. Gosh I love how that turned out!

Add the moon to the panel with Collage Medium.

You might not have noticed, but there is a vase of flowers in the window behind the ladies. You will need to add it to the panel before the Baseboard window.

Now add the window to the panel.

Then come the ladies. 

I used 3D Foam Squares on the back so they are raised away from the window.

Now use Collage Medium to add the Gravestone (with Clipping sticker added). You will need 3D Foam squares behind the Gravestone so it will sit upright.

Add some shredded Mummy Cloth below to disguise the base.

Then a sign post from the Baseboard pack.

And a rose from the Ephemera Pack.

I found this sign in the Halloween Ephemera Pack and aged it with some ink and water.

Then added it with a nail, right through the Window Frame.

I also added a few pieces of Cello Tape just for fun!

And there you go! From the Palette Charcoal background to the huge Harvest moon! I love it!

I hope you give Palette Charcoal a go.
These neutrals work so well together for everyday stuff (not just Halloween). Although they would make wonderful treat bags!

now carry on,
paula