Paper Quilting
Also Known as: Bargello – Magenta Style
The Bargello is a needlepoint stitch with a zigzag pattern used in 17th century upholstery. Today, this technique is used by quilters who create breathtaking works of art. http://www.bargelloarts.com/?page=25
Several years ago, Hélène Métivier, co-owner of Magenta rubber art stamps, was given a book about Bargello quilts and she adapted the textile form to paper. Her works are spectacular wall hangings, but you can produce them in card-size works of art too. http://bellacartaatartnsoul.blogspot.com/2011/09/from-montreal-quebec.html
Directions
Materials
smooth cardstock in different colors that are compatible – cut 1 inch by 5 inches
STRONG adhesive, double-stick tape of Xyron
Paper cutter
Several art stamps (at least one should be a fine-lined image like Magenta’s stylized dragonfly)
cardstock
black dye ink
pigment ink in several colors for direct-to-paper coloring
Metallic pigment ink like Encore
1. This card consists of 4 layers. The card itself, one layer of plain cardstock, the Bargello layer, then an embossed cut out image on top. Sizes may vary according to your desire.
2. Cut various colors of cardstock into several strips 1/8 to 5/8 inch wide. You will need 2-3 different widths to make your design interesting. Make sure you are cutting perfectly straight, and that the paper is lined up perfectly straight on the cutter. Even a tiny bit of deviance will show up later on. A paper cutter makes this so easy. I save scraps from cards and cut them into strips.
3. Use the direct-to-paper technique to provide a background for each strip. Use 3-4 colors of pigment ink pads. I use Clearsnap’s Cat’s Eye pads. Lightly rub the ink on each strip, beginning with the lightest colors then progressing to the darkest color.
4. After you have several strips done in this manor, stamp on them with black dye ink. Choose an image that is fairly dark, or solid. If the stamp is larger than the strip, just try to stamp with the same part of the stamp each time. Try not to use more than 2 stamps on each strip.
5. Overstamp with a metallic pigment ink (I like Encore gold). Choose an image that is fairly open or “lacy” for this. Again, if the stamp is larger than the strip, just try to stamp with the same part of the stamp each time for a uniform look. Don’t worry about each strip looks when it’s finished because you will be cutting it up and putting it back together again anyway.
6. Cut a piece of black cardstock to the size you would like the top layer of your card to be. Then cover one side of it completely with adhesive in any of the following ways:
· Glue with a good glue
· apply a sheet of double sided adhesive
· use a double-sided tape dispenser to apply adhesive
· use a Xyron machine
7. Begin by laying the first strip across one edge of the black cardstock. Lay the next strip right next to the first one, without leaving any space between them. You can alternate the direction of the strips if you like. Place a couple strips horizontally and a couple strips vertically, repeating until the cardstock is completely filled. You could also lay the strips in a diagonal pattern. In this case begin in the middle, placing the first strip from corner to corner. Or you can lay 3-4 strips in a horizontal direction. Then lay 3-4 in a vertical direction just under those. Finish by placing the last strips in a horizontal direction again.
8. You will have strips that extend beyond the black cardstock. Trim the edges of the strips even with the black piece.
9. Use a gold/silver leafing pen like Krylon, to line the edges of your Bargello piece. Just place the tip half on the edge, and half off. Go slow and you will have a beautiful gold edge.
10. On the card itself, or the bottom layer, stamp with black and overstamp with gold just like you did the strips. You only need to do the outer edges of the card, as the center will be covered up with the other layers anyway.
11. Attach the layers with double-stick tape. Finally, using a piece of cardstock (a color of one of the layers) stamp and gold emboss a flower, butterfly or some other image is relatively solid or “filled in.” Cut it out close to the embossed edge, and carefully the edges with the curved handle of your scissors. Now attach it to the Bargello layer using raised mounting tape.
Here is a tutorial for a stunning picture frame done with a version of this technique: http://books.google.com/books?id=u6N7xc2ADMQC&pg=PT32&lpg=PT32&dq=bargello+magenta+style&source=bl&ots=68_Zsxim26&sig=bRGdz0HYhcqOeINGYx6_l3Ug2o&hl=en&ei=KhbETqDnAoKEtgeb1qThDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
Here are the directions for the traditional Bargello pattern:
1. Cut your cardstock into a variety of widths, color using direct-to-paper technique, then stamp images onto cardstock in black, and finally overstamp in metallic ink.
2. Cut a piece of black cardstock to the size you would like the top layer of your card to be. Then cover one side of it completely with adhesive in any of the following ways:
· Glue with a good glue
· apply a sheet of double sided adhesive
· use a double-sided tape dispenser to apply adhesive
· use a Xyron machine
3. Begin by laying the first strip across one edge of the black cardstock. Lay the next strip right next to the first one, without leaving any space between them. Trim edges that are hanging over.
4. When the glue is completely dry, the next step is to cut your project apart AGAIN. Turn your cardstock so the strips are horizontal, and using a paper cutter or an exacto knife, cut strips into various widths. (ex. 1/4", 1/2", 1", 1 1/2"). As you cut each strip, move it to the side being sure to place each strip you cut right next to the one before it. In other words, you want to keep all the strips in order.
5. After all of the strips are cut, get out another piece of black card stock. Begin by laying out your strips in order varying the heights of each strip. Make mountains and valleys going up and down, lining up your colors so that you never move up or down more than one colored segment at a time. If you stand back and look at your design, it will look liked curves. The thinner yours strips, the more pronounced the curve will appear.
6. Lay out your design and cut the bottoms of each strip off and then glue it to the top of that strip so that you keep a rectangle shape.
7. Glue your finished product to a complementary color card stock.