Jeanne Selep's Selep Imaging Blog: Lace

Showing posts with label Lace. Show all posts

Saturday, January 18, 2025

Cheery Denim Bunting

Image 1: Denim Bunting Banners

I love Denim, the sturdy blue fabric used to fabricate blue jeans. I've crafted multiple projects with denim, but my favorite denim project transforms old blue jeans into decorative bunting.

More on the term bunting below, but I'll briefly define bunting here as a string of triangles (or pennants, or flags) strung in a row to form a decorative garland or banner.

Image 2: Embellished Denim Bunting

Upcycling blue jeans into bunting is satisfyingly fast, and offers lots of options for embellishment. Since I am a fan of vintage laces and linens, I frequently use bits of lace and doilies to decorate individual triangles.

Image 3: Denim Bunting Upcyled from Blue Jeans

I also love plain denim triangles for a simpler look. The details of the blue jeans used and the range of colors stand out when not embellished. Of course, any fabric could be used, but denim has it's own special place in American culture - a love affair resulting in many items created by people reusing this fabric.

Denim Happy Birthday Banner Bunting by Jeanne Selep

Image 4: Happy Birthday Banner (Bunting)

The first bunting I made was for a birthday decoration. I had saved worn out blue jeans for denim projects, and I wanted to upcycle them. Bunting is a satisfying, quick, low tech project (no precision measurements) with a cheery result that has lots of possibilities for embellishment.

Image 5: Denim Bunting

I used white electrical tape to quickly form letters on the banner - this way I can spell out a name, or whatever I want. In the end the words I used most are "WELCOME" and "HAPPY BIRTHDAY". Letters could also be painted or ironed on, or embroidered or appliqued for the ambitious.

Image 6: A Drinking Straw makes the top Sturdy

Bunting is almost intuitive to make, and I will be posting a tutorial soon with tips. (Photos already done! Post started!) But a sneak peak here: for my bunting, I've added one innovation: I put a drinking straw in the top of the bunting to make stringing the triangles fast and easy, and to keep the top of the triangles from sagging.

Image 7: Step #1 Decorated Denim Bunting

I also hope to showcase some other embellishments I have experimented with. Watch for the full tutorial soon, but in the meanwhile I hope this post has inspired you. Up-cycle away!

[Notes: Bunting is a British word for this type of garland made with triangles. Strings of flags, frequently triangular, (called bunting) were used on British Navy ships for centuries. Bunting then found their way into the celebrations of British events as decorations. You might also call them garland, etc.]

[Notes: I stressed for a while to determine the triangle size I wanted. The top of my triangle measures 7.5 inches across, and the top to bottom dimension is 8.5 inches. This allows a template to be printed out on 8.5x11 inch paper, and I have made bunting with paper, which could be a cute project with kids in a class setting.]

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

I blog for fun and my blog is ad free. Comments encourage me, and I sometimes need encouragement. Please leave a comment if you have time! Anonymous comments and comments months/years later are welcome!

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If you enjoyed this post you might also enjoy:

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I am linking up to these parties:
Sum of their stories: Handmade Mon 407 (Entry 2x of 86x.)
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop 344 Mon 4a (Entry 49 of 188.)
Mostly blogging: Inspire me Mon 9a (Entry 17 of 48.)
My Random: Anything Goes 439 (Entry 5 of 59.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 20 of 28.)
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 10x of 26x.)
Holly pinklady: Hello Mon (l Entry 19 of 26.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party Mon 563 (l Entry 14 of 60.)
Keeping it Real: Party (Entry 11 of 41.)
Kristin-Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Monthly 328 (Entry 1 of 129Feb.)
* Marty at Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 761 3p (l Entry 1 of 119.)
Karins Kottage: Linky party 3 (Entry 6 of 112.)
Jenerally informed: Happy-now Link-up 460 (m Entry 8 of 85.)
My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry 23r of 116r.)
Stonecottageadventures: Tues with a twist 613 (l Entry 26 of 30.)
Stonecottageadventures: You're the star (l Entry 76 of 105.)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 628 5p Tues (l Entry 3x of 99x.)
Eclectic Red Barn: Wonderful Wed (Entry 19r of 138r.)
Pennys Passion: Think Out Loud Th (m Entry 2 of 44.)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 436 Wed (m Entry 10 of 64.)
Artsy mama: Artsy Party Wed 10a (Entry 12 of 108.)
Simple Life Mom: Homestead Blog Hop 532 (Entry 8 of 88.)
Fifth Sparrow No More: Whimsy Home 118 (Entry 8r of 86r.)
My Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm 474 Wed (m Entry 12 of 97.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style 448 (Entry 15 of 32.)
For the Love: Lets grow Together Wed 346 (Entry 17 of 78.)
Try It Like It: Creatively Crafty 378 Th (Entry 11 of 44.)
KatherinesCorner: Th Fav Things 10a (Entry 30 of 154.)
Also Follow the yellow brick: TFT 10a (Entry )
Its a small town life: Thankful Th (Entry 4?)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 514 Fri (s Entry 4r of 67r.)
Answer is choco: BFF open house Thur (Entry 3 of 63.)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic 525 Thur 8p (i Entry 15 of 124.)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Sat Sparks 652 Fr 8a (L Entry 18 of 117.)
Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 382 (Entry 11 of 116.)
Shelbee on the Edge: Spread the Kindness 740 (Entry 18 of 38.)
Momfessionals: Fri Favorites (Entry 34 of 45.)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe 227 (L Entry 21 of 60.)
Shabby Art boutique: Create-grow-gather 660 (L Entry 24x of 55x.)
Crazy Little Love Birds: Link party Fri (Entry 19 of 33.)
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged Fri 762 (Entry 5 of 16.)
Pams Party: Dare to share 456 Fri 11p (m Entry 1 of 96.)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 232 7a (Entry 36 of 113.)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 288 (l Entry 19 of 138.)
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun even 653 4p (l Entry 3 of 120.)
Jaipur Gardening: Garden Affair Sun (Entry --)
Sew can do: Craftastic Mon Su (Entry 5 of 106.)
Labour Love: Happiness Homemade 568 Sun a (Entry 11 of 108.)
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (monthly)
Sticky Mud+Belly Laughs: Mon Morn club (Entry **)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry monthly)

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Bunting, Awesome bunting flag Birthday bunting

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Valentine's Day Cards

Happy Valentine's Day! Valentine's Day is an easy holiday to love, even without vacation days and special meals. (Do cookies and deserts count?) Valentine's Day is especially favored if the colors pink and red make your heart sing; and if flowers, hearts and lace appeals to your soul like it does to mine.

Valentines Day Cards

A friend held a small Valentine's Day card making party/workshop at her house, sharing some of her supplies. Together three people made a stack of cards. Today I am sharing the cards I made on that fun creative day.

Six Valentines Day Cards

It surprised me how long the first cards took to make - there were so many beautiful materials that choices overwhelmed the mind. (and sometimes I was literally only combining 2 or 3 elements to make one card!) I think finishing the first card took over 1 hour, but it was also a time spent enjoying the beautiful papers and embellishments. As we got into the swing of things, the following cards became easier and faster. Creative design takes time even with/especially with tons of materials at hand, and the results were worth it.

Valentines Day Cards

I wish you a Happy Valentine's Day! It's a fun time to enjoy Valentine's posts. Consider this post my virtual Valentine to you, and you just got 10 Valentines, if anyone asks...

Note: The cards are made with mostly Anna Griffin papers and embellishments and some vintage lace. I photographed the cards on a vintage tablecloth.

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

I blog for fun and my blog is ad free. Comments encourage me, and I sometimes need encouragement. Please leave a comment if you have time! Anonymous comment are welcome, even months/years later!_____________________________________

If you enjoyed this post you might also enjoy:

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I am linking up to these parties:
Imparting grace: Grace at home 455 (Entry 110)
Artsy mama: Artsy party Th 7a (Entry 98)
My Slices of Life: Hearts+Home Handmade Th 6a (Entry 73)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks 501 (L Entry 11 of 100.)
Eclectic Red Barn: Thurs Favorite Things Th 7a (Entry 189)
Also KatherinesCorner: Th 7a (Entry 189)
Also Follow the yellow brick: Th 7a (Entry 189)
Life beyond Kitchen: Creatively Crafty 314 Th 4p (Entry 23)
LeCultivateur: Wonderful Wed 43 (m Entry 173r)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters Fri 366 (s Entry 1r of 112r.)
My Hubbard Home: Fri with Friends (Entry 30)
Pennys Passion: Fri Favorites (Entry 20)
Pams Party: Dare to share 506 Fri 11p (m Entry 26)
Its a small town life: Thankful Th (Entry 15)
Simply Beautiful: Funtastic 371 Thur 8p (i Entry 7)
Also Two Chicks and a Mom: Funtastic Thur 8p (i Entry 7)
Country Road 407: Farmhouse Friday 240 (L Entry 33)
Ohmyheartsiegirl: Wonderful Wed 267 Party (s 192)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe 75 (L Entry 27)
Shabby art boutique: Create-bake-grow-gather 506 (L Entry 40x)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 80 (Entry 6)
Ducks n a Row: Happiness is Homemade Sun a (Entry 66)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it 136 Sun 3p (l Entry 45)
Grammys grid: Valentines themed linkup (Entry 49)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul 1st Sun 10p (Entry )
Franca: Keep Calm and Carry On (Entry )
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (m Entry 57)
My Random: Anything Goes 319 (Entry 40)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 10)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 29x)
Anitaojeda: Inspire Me Mon 4p (s Entry )
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Mon 2-4p (m Entry 74)
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me 204 Mon 3p (l Entry 31)
Common Ground: All About Home Mon 6p (l Entry 13)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 411 Mon 1p (l Entry 5)
Across the Blvd: Beautifully Made 202 Tue 8a (Entry 13)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home 252 Tue 9a (m Entry 11)
Karins Kottage: Centerpiece Wed (Entry 16)
My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry 87)
LeCultivateur: Wonderful Wed 44 (m Entry 36)
Faeries and Fauna: Waste not Wed 198 (l Entry x)
Stonecottageadventures: Tues with a twist 460 (l Entry 34)
Gingersnap crafts:Wow me Tue 541 7p (Entry 8x)
Karins Kottage: Cottage Party Wed (Entry 54)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 475 Wed (l Entry x)
My Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm 324 Wed (m Entry 29)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 283 Wed 4p (m Entry 29)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style Wed 6p (Entry )

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Sunday, March 7, 2021

Spring Mini Album

Image 1: Page of Spring Mini-Album

I am in the process of making a mini album for displaying and storing sets of tags I have made. Today I am sharing two spreads I finished from the Spring Mini Album I am creating.

Spring mini album spread 1 by Jeanne Selep

Image 2: Spring Mini Album Spread 1: View 1 without tags

I designed the two page spread above to display and store three spring tags. This kind of album could also be used to store vintage postcards.

Spring mini album spread 1 with tags by Jeanne Selep

Image 3: Spring Mini Album Spread 1: View 2 with three Spring Tags

The spring green and pink color combo is one of my favorite color combinations. There are pockets sewn on the paper with translucent fabric, so you can see the bottoms of the tags peaking through the fabric.

Spring mini album spread 2 by Jeanne Selep

Image 4: Spring Mini Album Spread 2: View without tags

The second two page spread (above) also displays three spring tags. This spread started with the same background papers, but used a different color scheme and style. I love the using a mini-album like this to experiment with materials, color schemes and styles.

Spring mini album spread 2 with tags by Jeanne Selep

Image 5: Spring Mini Album Spread 2: View with tags

This project has been fun - a flurry of laying out and choosing papers, fabrics, laces and needlework. The mess has flooded the 1st floor, especially the dining room table that we eat on. The layouts are small but took me a large amount of time, spread out over multiple days.

1+ days: I found and picked papers, lace and fabric bits. (I don't rush picking paper, I look through stacks of paper I might never look at again, and couldn't possibly ever all use.)

1 day: I cut papers to size and assembled into a "signature". Then I collapsed exhausted because I actually had to make decisions.
(A signature is group of printed sheets that are folded and stitched together.)

1 day: I painted vintage music and other vintage papers with acrylic paint.

1 day: I experimented with coloring lace.

1 day: I made the hearts.

1 day: I reinforced the hearts so the paper doesn't crumble.

1 day: I stamped the pink ribbon and green paper (and a bunch of other stuff.)

1 day: I assembled layout 1.

1 day: I assembled layout 2.

As you might have guessed, I am not very efficient at the process. But I love the creativity involved and taking my time thinking about what I want to do next.

Image 6: Heart and Lace detail

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The story - Why did I create my album?

I enjoy making sets of tags to display seasonally in a framed display I have. (See this post here). In theory I change the tags displayed as the seasons change. Practice is more problematic.

Image 7: My Original Spring Tag Collection

Since I made my 1st set of tags in 2015, I have lost tags and sets of tags multiple times. I have issues keeping them together and finding them again. I've taken them down, put them in a plastic bag and lost the bag. I have worried the tags got tossed. Tags get bent. I take a tag out for some reason and the tags get separated.

In the meanwhile, Scrapbooking has been evolving, expanding, morphing and merging to include creating Art Journals, Altered books and Book Binding, Collages, Junk Journals (reusing ephemera and found materials), and more. Magazines and videos have been enticing me to try these techniques, and so I came up with the idea of storing the tags in a beautiful hand-created mini-albums or books, and this post is showing the start of that project.

(If this post is getting too long, skip the rest below - It is just tips for crafters.)

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Tips:

I'm not a tutorial wizard, there are many talented tutorial people on the internet, but I have tips I'm sharing that I want to remember for myself as well.

Tip 1: Vintage papers are fragile and crumbly, so I used the PH Neutral PVA glue I like to glue the heart (or other) shapes to index cards which I then cut out. A better order would be to glue the paper to the index card and then cut them out. (Sometimes I learn from doing it wrong!)

Image 8: Tip 1 and 2: Reinforce vintage paper

Tip 2: I put a coat of Liquitex Matte Varnish over the top of the painted cutout shapes.
These two steps make the most fragile papers fairly strong. The varnish in particular makes the paper almost waterproof. It leaves a bit of a texture (which I like) and using Varnish works best over water-proof paints or inks. Test on a sample piece if you are not sure if your paints or inks are waterproof. Many / most aren't waterproof (The pink color on the hearts above weren't waterproof, so the color smeared.)
The darker heart on the far right above isn't backed yet, and it wants to curl up. It is basically unusable without reinforcement.

Image 9: Hearts in process and in use - The extras for other projects!

Tip 3: I make bunches of shapes I like on the same day, (cutout; glue down to paper; paint/stamp/embellish; optionally varnish). This can increase options and productivity on other days.

Tip 4: I work on multiple projects at the same time - I also created other signatures (one for Autumn and one for Travel) at the same time. It keeps me engaged when I hit a drying spell (pun intended) or when I just want to use a different material, etc. This works for me but might not work for everyone.

Album pages with vintage Easter postcards

Tip 5: What size? I decided on sheets 11 inches wide x 8 inches high folded in half and sewn into signatures. 11 inches lets me use 8.5x11 inch paper folded in half and cut down. Also, many resale shop hard covered books would easily contain the signatures if I decide to bind them together. If creating a mini-album to display vintage postcards, I would recommend a wider size.