Hello!

Well, after a week of promises, here is the freezer paper stenciling tutorial.  I took these pictures as I was making the "In Like a Lion" tote bag that appeared in our March 2010 issue. It was lots of fun! Here's how I did it.

What you'll need.

1. First things first, assemble your tools. I found the plain canvas tote bag, heat-set fabric paints and paint brush at my local DeSerres. (Similar options are also available at Michaels, and probably at your local independent art store, too.) The freezer paper is in the plastic wrap/foil aisle at the grocery store – you'll get something like 50 m for $4. I don't anticipate ever having to buy another roll. You'll also need a pencil and eraser, a craft or X-Acto knife, plastic lids or paper plates and paper towel. Cover your work surface with kraft paper or newspaper; put your iron on to preheat on medium-low (no steam).

Print out (or photocopy) your template

2. Prepare your template. This lion was drawn by one of our super-talented art directors, Miguel Cea. I made half a dozen photocopies and then spent some time with my pencil crayons to work out which areas I wanted to paint what colour. (You can photocopy the template that appears on page 147 of the March issue to your desired size and skip the colouring step!)

Colour in the areas you want to cut away, then tape the template to a sheet of freezer paper.

3. Get ready to cut. When I was satisfied with the colour arrangement, I used strips of masking tape to affix the template to a sheet of freezer paper. (When working with freezer paper, remember this simple rule: shiny side down!)

Carefully cut out the coloured areas.

4. Cut out your stencil. Working on a cutting mat or other protected surface, use your X-Acto knife to cut out the coloured areas of the template, cutting through both layers of paper and leaving small "bridges" (they're marked on the diagram in the magazine) to ensure that you don't end up with loose bits. Hints: Work from the inside out. Slow and steady wins the race. Don't use too much pressure. Be prepared to change blades. And watch your fingers!!

Iron the stencil to the tote bag (shiny side down!)

5. Iron the stencil to the tote bag. Carefully separate the photocopied template from the freezer paper stencil (I just slit the tape with my knife) and position the stencil on the tote bag as desired. Carefully smooth out the stencil, making sure there aren't any folds or curled edges. Working with a medium-low iron (mine was at 2.5 out of 6) with the steam turned off, iron the stencil to the tote bag by placing the iron flat on the centre of the paper and holding in place for a count of ten. Slide the iron over and press again. Continue until you have ironed the entire stencil down. (The heat of the iron melts the plasticized side of the freezer paper, sticking the stencil to the fabric and forming a seal that will give you a crisp outline.)

Touch up the edges with your iron.

6. Touch up the edges. Use the tip of the iron to touch up the edges, making sure there are no air bubbles or unsealed gaps (these might allow the paint to seep through, marring your crisp, clean lines). If necessary, use a toothpick or metal cake skewer to pierce air bubbles or to lift up and reposition bits of paper (but you probably won't need to do this). Now, use your X-Acto knife to remove the "bridges" – I found it was enough to lightly press the blade down on either edge, then carefully pierce the piece of paper and remove it.

Pour your paint and load up your brush.

7. Prepare your paint and brush. Make sure  you've read the directions on your paint before you begin. Shake or stir your paint to make sure it's well mixed, then pour a small amount onto one of the plastic lids. To "load" the brush, gently drop the bristles straight down into the paint two or three times (the bristles should be evenly covered). Blot the brush by dropping it onto a clean piece of paper towel, as shown above. You will likely need to repeat this step several times as you work.

Paint the small, central parts first.

8. Start painting. Carefully drop the brush onto the fabric until you've laid down an even layer of paint, reloading the brush as necessary. The paint should cover the fabric completely, but not so thickly that you can't see the texture of the fabric beneath (in other words, it shouldn't look as though you poured the paint on). Do not "brush" the paint up-and-down or side-to-side as if you were painting a wall – this could disturb the edges of the stencil. Hints: Work from the centre outward, and from the top down. Turn the bag if that makes it easier. Use scraps of paper to "mask" areas that you want to be a different colour if you're worried about the brush slipping.

The bigger/outer parts come next.

9. Paint the second colour. Once your first colour is dry (in 15 to 20 minutes...perfect for a tea break!) apply the second colour, following steps 7 and 8 for preparing your paint and brush, and for painting the remaining part of the stenciled design. Again, use scraps of paper to mask the black areas if you like. I found this resulted in nice clean lines.

Once the paint's dry, carefully peel off the paper.

10. Dry the paint, peel off the stencil and set your work. I clipped the tote bag to a pants hanger and hung it up in a traffic-free area of my home so that it could dry. After a couple of hours, I took it down and carefully peeled off the paper, revealing the picture you see above. Then, using a pressing cloth and a medium heat, no steam iron, I set the paint. (Consult the paint bottle for directions on how to set your brand of paint.)

11. Celebrate! Because you are done and done. Congratulations!

Some hints and tips:

• For an excellent printing resource, look for a copy of Lena Corwin's book Printing by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils, and Silk Screens. (And read a great Q+A with Lena here.)
• You can use just about any line drawing to make a stencil. Just make several copies of the image and play around with coloured pencils (as I did above) until you're happy with how it looks; then you're ready to start cutting!
• Another option? Be like Melissa and use craft punches (or even just a hole punch) to cut designs in the freezer paper.
• Or, for a quick and easy monogram, use a word-processing program to print your letter(s) in bold in your favourite font (make a statement with a 288 pt capital letter, or try a calmer 72 pt). Some printers will even print on (the dull side of) freezer paper if you cut it to fit.
• Freezer paper stencilling isn't just for tote bags. Use it to dress up just about anything, from a set of fabric coasters, to a quilt that needs a little pizzazz, to a plain T-shirt. I love the way Alabama Chanin uses stenciling as a prelude to reverse appliqué or beading.
• If you need more help, leave a question in the comments and I'll try to explain more. But keep in mind that this technique has been around the internet for a while, and a quick Google search will provide a bevy of answers to just about any freezer paper–related query. Good luck, and have fun!

(And don't forget to enter this week's epic giveaway!)

Hi again,

Make+Do has recently passed a couple of big milestones: just last week, this blog published its 200th post, and not long after, it surpassed 3,000 comments. And here we are at Giveaway #40! We've come a long way in the nine months that I've been blogging here, and I couldn't have done it without  you, the loyal Make+Do community.

To say thank you for being here, I've decided to do an extra big giveaway this week. I've got all sorts of goodies that I've been saving up, waiting for the right time to share with you – well, this is it. Get ready, because it's a bumper crop!

First up, I've got TWO copies of PrintMaster Platinum 2.0 printing software from Broderbund.

You could use this for scrapbooking, card-making, and all sorts of other paper-crafting, from making puzzles to creating personalized calendars to designing special party hats. I haven't tried it myself, but it looks like fun – something tells me that if you've got kids, you'd get a lot of use out of this program (hello, birthday parties!).

Second, ONE box set called Collage: Vintage Notecard Kit by Maryjo Koch.

Use the goodies inside this box (including 12 blank notecards and envelopes, 96 sheets of images, a proportion wheel, a glue stick, and an instruction booklet) to create your own unique collaged art. This would be ideal for the cut-and-paste enthusiasts in the crowd!

Third, a selection of needle-felting tools from Clover, plus a bag of assorted wool roving in natural and spring colours.

If you've ever contemplated learning how to needle-felt, this would get you started in fine style!

Fourth, a copy of Quilting in No Time by Emma Hardy.

Emma Hardy is a crafting pro (I've given away books of hers before) and this book showcases her skills yet again, with a selection of easy, attractive quilted projects. Adorn your bed, your home or yourself – there's an idea for everyone!

Fifth, a copy of Kaffe Knits Again by Kaffe Fassett.

OK, I have to admit that this book  isn't brand-new: I've been hoarding it, trying to convince myself that it would be all right to take it home with me instead of giving it away. If you're a fan of dramatic colour work and are interested in a challenge...this might be for you. It's beautiful, trust me!

Sixth, a selection of craft punches from Fiskars. I was lucky enough to meet with a Fiskars rep a few months ago, and when he was finished demonstrating the new line – he gave them to me! That means I have all sorts of goodies to share. Here's a sample (there are three border/corner punches, two 3-in-1 corner punches, and one squeeze punch).

Again, these would be perfect for the scrapbookers and paper-crafters out there. They're so much fun to play with!

Seventh, and finally, a copy of The Complete Book of Polymer Clay by Lisa Pavelka.

I had no idea there were so many things to do with polymer clay! Whether you're a jewelry-making pro or you've just been thinking you might like to give  it a try, there's surely a project in here for you.

Whew! That's a ton of good stuff, right? Because there's SO much (and because next weekend's a long one), you've got until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, February 15th to leave ONE comment on this post. This week I'd love it if you'd tell me how you found Make+Do...I'm always curious to know where you're from!  Feel free to mention which prize you'd like – I'll try to take that into consideration when I'm doing the draw. I'll post the winners here on Tuesday, February 16th.

(PS Have you subscribed yet? It'd be awesome if we could meet the 300 subscribers milestone, too!)

Hi there,

Hope you had a great weekend. I wasn't feeling well for most of it (boo), so I holed up at  home with my knitting and some DVDs (every cloud has a silver lining, right?).

Anyway, we're back to regularly scheduled programming, so here's the winner of Giveaway #39, the freezer paper–stencilled tote bag kit.

The lucky winner will receive one (large) plain canvas tote bag; fabric paint in copper, black, green and white; a stencil brush; and several sheets of freezer paper. Add your own X-Acto knife, and supplies such as paper towel and recycled plastic lids, and you're ready to start freezer paper stenciling. (Tutorial to come shortly.)

And the winner is...

Commenter #23,

Karen LeBlanc. Karen, I'll be in touch shortly!

Thanks to each of you for entering – as always, I enjoyed reading your ideas for what you'd put on your tote bag. This is a fun craft and I encourage you to give it a try! (After all, we do have a long weekend on the horizon...)

I'll be back here shortly with the details of Giveaway #40. Stay tuned.

Hi there,

Well, well, it seems that February is National Embroidery Month. (I'm not sure who gets to decide that, but what the heck!) It seems like a fitting pastime for February, since it's a good excuse to stay inside and work on a cosy project while we wait for the weather to improve.

I did a fair bit of embroidery when I was younger and my parents still have a few of my finished pieces around their house, I think. Back then, most of what I did was from kits, and I still remember the thrill of paging through a brand-new Mary Maxim catalogue. There are so many more options these days! I thought this tutorial on how to make an embroidery pattern from a photograph was pretty neat. (From Feeling Stitchy, a great embroidery blog.)

I'd love to make a "newfangled" embroidered sampler, one of those masterworks that demonstrates a variety of stitches and features a quote. I think mine would impart this gem, from author Sarah Vowell: "Being a nerd, which is to say going too far and caring too much about a subject, is the best way to make friends I know."

What would you put on your sampler?

Hi friends,

Aren't these just the best?

I love the look of simple red-and-white embroidery on linen in these embroidered heart pins from Maggie Makes. Download the template and tutorial here, and she's got kits available in her Etsy shop.

Back to the word factory! I hope to have that tote bag tutorial for you tomorrow or Friday. Stay tuned!

it would say, "I'd Rather Be Knitting." (I'm so close it seems a shame to stop!)

I think I'll be ready to start the sleeves on the weekend. I might get to wear this sweater in February after all.

There's a giant pile of paper on my desk waiting to claim my eyes, so I must be going. Have a great Tuesday. (Oh! And Happy Groundhog Day! Let's hope Shubenacadie Sam got it wrong this year...)

Hi again,

Today is the newsstand date for our March issue, which I'm particularly excited about because it features one of my favourite crafts to date: the "In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb," tote bags.

"Out Like a Lamb" – potato printed tote bag

This article gives you a primer on two easy ways of adding your own designs to a plain canvas tote bag: freezer paper–stenciling, and potato printing. I had a lot of fun with this story and spent a happy day working away on the prototypes.

On Wednesday I'm going to post a series of step-by-step photos in the hopes that you'll give it a try sometime. And this week I'm going to give away the materials needed to make a tote bag of your own!

This week's prize includes: one (large) plain canvas tote bag; fabric paint in copper, black, green and white; a stencil brush; and several sheets of freezer paper. (You'll have to supply your own X-Acto knife and/or potatoes!)

For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post telling me about what image you'd like to carry on a tote bag. A monogram? A silhouette? The possibilities are endless and I'm always looking for ideas.

Entries will be open until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, February 7; I'll post a winner here on Monday, February 8. Good luck!

Hi friends,

Here we are and it's Monday again. Where does the time go? Sadly, I'm not wearing a newly completed February Lady Sweater, but I do have a nice new pair of mitts to keep my hands warm while I wait to hear the groundhog's verdict tomorrow. (Yay!)

Speaking of all things woolly and warm, it's time to announce the winner of Giveaway #38, the four skeins of Mirasol yarn, plus Book One of the Mirasol Collection books by Jane Ellison.

And the randomly generated winner is...

Number 49! Congratulations!

Denise, I'll be in touch shortly with prize details.

And if you'd like a chance at this week's giveaway, check in right here a little later today.

Hi friends,

It's my birthday today, and it just so happens that I share said birthday with one of pop culture's most famous moustachioed men:

(Hee hee!)

So in celebration of our special day, I'm indulging myself and writing about one of the funniest craft trends I know: moustaches! Think of it as a themed birthday party (Actually, that's not a bad idea. Hmm....) I rounded up a few of my favourite crafty moustaches from around the interwebs. Here we go:

Photo from knitty.com

The Incognito Cowl from Knitty. I love it! You can bet that's going on my to-knit list. There's nothing like adding a bit of woolly whimsy to your winter kit.

Photo from Somethings Hiding In Here

The Mustache Envy Kit from Something's Hiding in Here (blog, Etsy shop). These would make fabulous party favours, dontcha think?

Photo from 5 Orange Potatoes

Or, if you're going to a party where there's going to be lots of eating and drinking you might want to make a hands-free moustache with this Silly Moustache Tutorial from 5 Orange Potatoes. (Click over for lots of great ideas to make with kids: that moustache up there was made by a 7-year-old!)

Photo from Chase Dreams

If all these moustaches have you feeling like an artist, you could use these Moustache Crayons to create a brand new masterpiece. (From Chase Dreams.)

Image from Paperdoll Woodshop

Any meal would taste better with these Moustache Salt and Pepper Shakers from Paperdoll Woodshop.

That's all for today! I hope there's a funny moustache sighting in your weekend. See you Monday!

Hi friends,

We're coming up to a busy time in the office, so I've been gathering up some Valentine's ideas to share when I'm swamped with pages to proofread. But I thought these were too cute to save until next week...

Photo from www.kundhi.com/blog.

Tiny crocheted hearts! Tutorial by Julie Kundhi, found via whipup. I think they'd make great pins, or, strung together, a cute garland. And I'm sure there must be a way to make them into granny squares – wouldn't that make a fabulous baby blanket? (If you think of a way, let me know!)

Alright, it's time to get my nose back to the grindstone. Have a great Thursday.