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It’s March! Spring is here in for us in Arizona and just around the corner for the rest of you. As a child back in Oregon, I used to spend hours hunting for the elusive four-leafed clover with my grandmother. I guess because of that shamrocks are rather special to me. My kitchen needed a little green, so I made this shamrock tea towel using DecoArt’s Ink Effects, which is a fabric transfer ink that you can paint on to plain paper and then iron on to fabric. Fun, huh?
Now, Ink Effects is meant to be used on fabric that is less than 30% cotton for a more saturated transfer, but the towels that I used are 100% cotton and gave me this watercolor effect that I love.
Supplies: DecoArt Ink Effects in green, teal and blue, Ink Effects Base Coat, paint brush, plain copy paper, cotton dish towel (here), shamrock template or stencil, iron.
Start by tracing or stenciling the shamrocks. I just traced around these felt ones that I bought. I traced lots and lots of different sizes. I also did an image search and traced some shamrocks right off of the computer screen. I guess I could have just printed them, silly me.
Once you have quite a few shamrocks it’s time to start painting. The color of the paint appears really dark on the paper, but don’t worry, it will match the color of the cap of the paint. I promise.
I painted the clovers in a thin layer of paint, then let them dry for an hour. I used way more green than teal or blue.
Once the paint is dry, spray the towel with the Ink Effects Base Coat. The Base Coat helps the ink transfer better to fabrics that are less than 40% synthetic material. Let the Base Coat dry for a few minutes while the iron is heating up. Heat up the iron to the hottest non-steam setting it has. I found a little travel iron that has a switch to turn off the steam and still be on a cotton setting. Between that function and its little size, it worked perfect for this project.
Cut around a shamrock or two, and lay the paper painted side down on the towel. Place a blank piece of paper on top of that and start ironing. The transfer needs about 3 minutes of heat from the iron. Make sure that the steam is off and to move the iron around so that you get an even transfer.
Take off that shamrock and iron on another. I used some of the shamrock transfers more than once to get a lighter transfer. The effect looks like watercolor and I love the blues and the greens.
I read that on cotton the colors will fade a bit in the wash, even with the Base Coat. So I hand washed it in cool water and it faded very slightly. Yay!
If you look closely, there’s a lucky four-leafed clover in there for you!
Bye for now!
Jessa
So pretty! I love the blue and teal with the green. I found some really nice bar towels recently (4 for under $4) I might get the paint and try to do this on one or two!
That’s so pretty! My name is Katie and I host Inspired Weekends. All entries get pinned. I would love to have you link up! This week’s round is still open!
Love the watercolor look of the tea towel. Very pretty. Pinned. Visiting from Nifty Thrifty Sun link up.
That’s really cool! I’ve linked to your project on Craft Gossip:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-falling-shamrock-watercolor-tea-towel/2014/03/11/
–Anne
I love it! I would wear it on a T-shirt 🙂
This is lovely! I have never tried Ink Effects before. This project really makes me want to give them a try. I love that you put a four leaf clover in there too. If you have a minute, I would love it if you came by and linked up at The Makers party going on over on my blog. 🙂
So pretty! I love the palette and the watercolour effect!
Looks amazing, have had fun with this paint too…..thanks for sharing on craft schooling sunday!
Very pretty! Would make a nice, handmade gift for someone. Also love your green retro chair! Visiting from Inspiration Galore party.
Cute, love the watercolor looking print. I just spent my evening stamping shamrocks too!
This is such a COOL idea. I’ve never heard of this stuff before but I love the final product! Thanks for sharing with us at Family Joy Blog linky party:)
This is gorgeous! Such a fun project. Pinned and sharing. Thank you for joining us at Family Joy Blog Link-Up Party. I hope you will join our next party starting Sunday at noon EST.
What a cute tea towel! I absolutely love the shamrocks 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing with us at Dishing It & Digging It & congratulations on being featured this week!
Interesting technique! Very creative, I would enjoy making this for sure.
Thanks for sharing at #bloggerspotlight
So pretty! Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight Party @DearCreatives Pinned & shared.