Welcome to the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop featuring the Fabric Elements, Mini paper Quilt Kit by Rebekah Meier. For a chance to win a giveaway prize {see below}, please leave a comment on my blog AND visit the Designer Crafts Connection website and enter using the Rafflecopter widget.

This project was a creative challenge for me because it took me out of my crafting comfort zone but in a most exciting way. Rebekah’s kit had so many elements with so many possibilities. I chose to create a stitched, applique self-portrait using elements from her kit.

To begin with, I followed the clear instructions that came with the kit to create the tissue, fabric background. With that as a blank slate, I decided to add my own artistic elements.

I created foam stamps using adhesive craft foam and two Sizzix Movers and Shapers “Dream” and “Imagine” dies by Tim Holtz. I cut the craft foam using the dies and the Movers and Shapers Tray. I applied Distress Paint in Tumbled Glass and Peeled Paint and stamped on the prepared fabric background. Next, I used the Frameworks, Honeycomb die to cut a mask out of the Idea-ology Mask sheet by Tim Holtz.

I placed the Honeycomb mask over different areas of the fabric and applied Distress Paint in Picket Fence mixed with a bit of Pumice Stone. This created another layer and worked well with the bees on the fabric.

While the paint was drying, I lightly drew a self-portrait on vellum and then used washi tape to position it on the fabric once it was dry.

I carefully stitched on top of the vellum using a medium gray thread. My intention was to remove all of the vellum when I was done stitching.

I began to tear away the extra vellum and decided that I liked the way vellum softened the fabric pattern behind it. I kept the vellum in the center of the stitching and lightly added a little color to the lips and cheeks using colored pencils. I also used an off-white thread to add additional stitching around the hair and randomly around the fabric. Next I used some vintage hand-crocheted lace that I had found at an estate sale and stitched it below the portrait.

I love vintage buttons so I added a few to my self-portrait.

I don’t usually do mixed media like this but I really enjoyed the artistic flexibility.

Please visit the Designer Crafts Connection site to see more projects created using the Fabric Editions, Fabric Elements kit by Rebekah Meier. Also, please leave a comment below AND visit the Designer Crafts Connection site to for a chance to win these amazing products from Rebekah Meier.

NOTE: The Fabric Elements, Mini paper Quilt kit by Rebekah Meier was supplied as an unpaid product for use in this post. My opinions are my own and I was not compensated other than receiving the kit to use.