Marblized Paper and Fabric Bag Inspired by Bibliocraft

Yesterday I introduced you all to Bibliocraft, a new STC/Melanie Falick Book including a collection of 20 craft projects inspired by library collections. You can read more about it here and enter the giveaway. The opening "library inspired design" in the Projects section of the book was based on marbled paper. It is a small sewn bag made of ink jet printed fabric.

 

I've been in love with marbled paper for many years. On a business trip to Florence many years ago, I visited one of the beautiful stores that specialize in stationery products and more made from handmade marbled paper. I bought some pencils that I still use today. Here is the section where marbled paper are explained. You can download one of the designs from the STC site once you buy the book. 

The designer Jodi Kahn scanned some marbled paper and then printed the scanned image on fabric that can be run through an inkjet printer. She then laminated the fabric with a vinyl iron-on product called Heat'n Bond Iron-On Vinyl.

I just happened to have some marbled paper that I many years ago when we had an "art group" in our little town. The art group is mostly defunct now - but back in the day, we would meet at a different home every month. The host would prepare some kind of artsy project for us all to do. At Merry Lien's home we made our own marbled paper. We followed a technique just like I found on the Martha Stewart website here. I could never bring myself to use the paper because it was so beautiful. 

Upon seeing the Marbled Fabric Pouch in Bibliocraft, I decided to give it a try. I found my paper which is quite amazing -- if you saw the piles of stuff I have in my studio/home. I need to make some more of this paper. It is so pretty and it was so much fun to do. I found a kit for sale which would be a quick way to start. 

I have always heard you could print fabric on an inkjet printer by ironing fabric to a piece of freezer paper to make it sturdy. I had a free moment and gave it a try. I scanned my marbled paper. I cut a piece of freezer paper to 8 1/2 x 11" and ironed to white 100% linen fabric. Fingers crossed, I sent it through the printer and here's what came out. You can see my marbled paper on top and 2 pieces of fabric on the photo below. If you look close, you'll see a difference in the color in the two fabrics - the yellow ink was low on the first piece. I fixed that and the colors were more true to the original piece of paper. Pretty cool I must say.

I did this knowing my fabric will run. I did not use a product called Bubble Jet Set which sets the ink. I did not know what I was doing nor did I go ahead and research and buy proper supplies. Maybe someone who reads this blog is better informed about printing on ink jet printers onto fabric. (Hint hint - add a link in the comments and I'll it to this post at the end about printing on fabric.) From what I can tell, you need a dye based printer as opposed to a pigment based printer to make the fabric safe for washing. My printer is an Epson Artisan printer and I have a strong suspicion it is pigment based as opposed to dye based. I was just trying to experiment and have some fun. 

I used a product called Heat'nBond and fused my marbled fabric to a piece of linen to make it stronger and thicker. I like Heat'nBond a lot - very useful and it made my linen fabric more substantial. Then I followed the directions sort of - I improvised some and made this little bag. With an orange zipper.....

I'll use it for my crochet hooks. Hope I don't get it wet or need to wash it. I suppose the vinyl fabric laminating sheets would solve that problem because the fabric would then be protected from water. Another thing to look for. 

I don't have a lot of time to be fooling with new crafts and projects but this was a fun break from my normal stitching. I'm not sure I'll be printing fabric again on my printer but I can see how I can use the scan and send it over to Spoonflower for them to print. Their fabric is washable.

Thanks to Jessica for Bibliocraft, to Jodi Kahn for the idea, Merry for the original class in marbled paper and STC/Melanie Falick Books for supplying the book for the giveaway. Enter here before the end of the day Monday. 

Good luck everyone.