Sewn and Painted Patchwork Christmas Trees

Painting on canvas has become a favorite crafting project of mine. When I recently received these canvas sheets from Canvas Corp, I knew I could make some cool custom fabric using Jacquard's Lumiere and Neopaque Paints.

First, I cut my sheets into rectangular shapes measuring about 5" x 7" using a rotary cutter and mat.

I used a template but a clear cutting ruler designed for quilting would work as well. Once you get your canvas shapes cut, paint them in Jacquard Products Lumiere and Neopaque paints.

The canvas will likely curl while it is drying so dont be alarmed, you can press it flat once it is dry.

Once you have your sheets base coated, add some interesting patterns using the Neopaque and Lumiere paints. I opted for red polka dots, which I created on the Citrene Green rectangles, created with the end of a pencil.

I also created an interesting pattern using swatches of paint and stamped over them using a paint lid. Dripping paint over a metallic silver rectangle creates yet another cool yet easy pattern.

On the turquoise rectangle, I opted to create a script background using a tee juice fine point marker.

This technique is easy. Simply start out with a letter and end keep going using squiggly lines so that the script is illegible, but looks real. Once you have your desired patterns in place (at least four), cut the rectangles into random pieces using the rotary cutter and mat.

To create the patchwork patterns, sew the wrong sides of the strips together using a sewing machine, thread and straight stitch and press the seams open with an iron set on steam.

Trace a rounded tree pattern on the right or wrong side of the patchwork rectangle.

You will need two pieces- one for the front and one piece for the back. Once you have the two pieces cut out, join the wrong sides together and sew using a sewing machine and straight stitch, about 1/4" from the edges. Leave the bottom open for stuffing.

Lightly stuff the tree and sew the bottom together, leaving a 1/2" opening in the center. Paint a 1/2" dowel that has been cut to about 4"-6" and a doll pin stand Neopaque brown.

Insert the dowel into the small opening at the bottom of the stuffed canvas tree and secure with glue. Finally, insert into the doll pin using some glue to secure.

I chose to dry brush the tree stands with Lumiere in metallic silver and use some of Canvas Corp's fun burlap to change up the look of the tree collection.