Monday, August 16, 2010

watercolor tunic tutorial


ilovetocreate-blog-header-alisa

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I am super excited to be blogging for I Love to Create and once a month I will be sharing a tutorial that makes use of my FAVORITE products. IMPORTANT side note- I don't promote just anything- in fact I MUST use and believe in the things that I share with all of you. ALL of the products that come from I Love to Create are simple, easy to use and affordable. I have been using so many of their products for YEARS so it is really exciting to join their blog team!

Ok, lets get started!

watercolor
I see watercolor inspired dresses everywhere and I decided it was time to put my twist on this trend!


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Because I love of tunics I had to transform a white tunic.
(this tunic is from the clearance rack at Target- yes, I love Target!)


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I used the Tulip dye from a Dye Technique Kit.
The Tulip dyes are one step dyes and are SOOO easy to use- just add water to the applicator bottles, shake up and use!


dye

I took it a step further and mixed up different shades of dye in spare jars.
(For example I mixed turquoise and lime dye to make a new shade of green, fuschia and turquoise for a dark shade of purple.)


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I prefer to use dye like I use paint- with a brush.

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I started by wetting down areas of the surface- this causes some of the dye to bleed and you get that nice watery look.

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I began to paint splotches of color all over the tunic.


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I varied the size, shape and color of the splotches.


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I let them bleed into each other.

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I went back and added details with a darker shade of dye.


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I covered the entire surface but held on to some areas of the white tunic for variation and contrast.


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At this point the tunic could have been finished but I wanted to add a little more detail so I let everything dry overnight- yep that is all you have to do- just let the fabric dry 4-6 hrs and then wash...SO EASY!!


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Once it was washed and dried I use fabric markers to go back into the dress to add details.


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I outlined the flowers with different colors and added small details.


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tunic
The end result is a SUPER colorful, watercolor inspired tunic perfect for the last few days of summer!

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50 comments:

Tanya said...

Alisa- This is super cute! I love this, and great job on the tutorial. Congrats on blogging for "I Love to Create"- It was great to see your name there.

Alissa said...

Gorgeous, Alisa! I never cease to be amazed by the beautiful things you create. :o)

Andra Hepler said...

Hi Alisa,
I was enjoying the tunic blog and wondered what you put between the dress front and back to keep the colors from blending thru. Just cardboard?
Have a lovely day?
Smiles, Andra

Carolyne said...

Very impressive.

SewLindaAnn said...

I'm speechless, it's terrific and I now have to go out and get one of those dye kits. I love Target too!!

whyducks said...

VERY VERY PRETTY

De Leon Signs said...

Beautiful! You're amazingly talented.

She Who Doodles said...

question: did you work on small sections at a time and did you lay something between the layers so the color didn't bleed from front to back? love the tunic, great colors. you make it all look so simple. thanks for sharing.

Kathy Keating said...

beautiful! Thanks for sharing this technique! I love Target too, I'm always buying up their white clothing to dye/paint on!

Peggy Wilkinson said...

Alisa, this print is beautiful! Now I have to try this too! Thanks for the wonderful tutorial and inspiration!

Peggy Wilkinson said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kittyj said...

OOH - this is awesome!!! Wowie!

Jenny Stevning said...

Yum! I love this and it looks quite fun to make!!

maike said...

ohlala, it looks so simple when you show it, it just can't be that it is... I absolutely adore this
thanks for the inspiration again!

Carrie Me! said...

Once again you've created something amazing!! :)

Stephanie said...

too cool! target here I come

Unknown said...

Gorgeous! And I love how simple, just let dry and it's set! Congrats on "I Love to Create" blogging. :)

Nina said...

Fantastic! Thank you for great instructions...I know what I´ll be trying in the weekend!

Jenny said...

I had the same question as a couple other commenters about whether you put something between the front and back to keep dye from bleeding through. Just beautiful!

barbara said...

you knock me out with what you do...love this as much as i love everything you transform. you have taught me to look at things with a different eye..

peggy gatto said...

Really so cool, thank you!

Laurie Linn said...

This looks wonderful - original and very doable. Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial. I can't wait to try something for myself.

Unknown said...

See- that is the difference between us...Your stuff actually turns out great!! I'll post my tunic paint tutorial/project when I get up the nerve, but lets just say I wish I had seen your first! Gorgeous!!

Ruth said...

It is gorgeous. Makes me want to run out and buy some tunics and decorate.

Ruth

grayzeee said...

I love your blog! Everything seems to inspire me in one way or another! Thank you!

Caralulù said...

meraviglioso!!!Wonderful!!!kiss Lulù

Dori Patrick said...

Alisa, this is absolutely gorgeous!!! It looks like you had a blast working on this!

Carlotta said...

Love, love, love. You have a great way of teaching and inspiring. Just from reading your blog I know you want us to succeed! Thank you!
Question: Do you every use a black sharpie to outline on fabric? Wondering if it has the same staying power...

K Soucy said...

This is incredible. You are such an artist, and so inspiring. I want to try this on a white t-shirt. La la love it:)

PEACHES said...

Oh man is that beautiful! It's like wearing fruity pebbles, but better. I can't wait to try it out for myself!

Cold Oatmeal and Purple Cows said...

WOW! This is stunning. Thank you for sharing your beautiful tutorial.

Susan Houseman said...

This watercolor tunic is soooooo cool. I just signed up for your Color Your World online class.

Katie | FashionFrugality.com said...

I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THIS. You always, always wow me. Thank you so much for sharing. :)

Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor said...

Alisa, your blog posts are like getting a shot of inspiration right in the arm! Your loose, beautiful style and the colors you choose goes straight to the soul. Pure bliss!

Sew-Over-It said...

Absolutly beautiful, I love painting & upcycling... this is the most perfect project ever!
Great job!! I'll be following your blog for inspirations! :)
www.sew-over-it.blogspot.com
Heather ~

Anonymous said...

wowzers!! that looks absolutely fantastic!!

Caleen said...

I really love how this turned out. Great tutorial. I will have to try it out. You come up with amazing ideas. Thanks for inspiring us all. :)

Theresa Plas said...

Really beautiful Alisa! Thanks so much for the tutorial!

britt said...

what a wonderful idea! i never would have ever considered the possiblity!!

Bonafyde said...

This is FABULOUS! I absolutely adore how the flowers came out and the techniques used are so easy that this seems so doable to me. Very Inspiring!

Linda said...

Do you just let the colors bleed to the back or try to paint it separately?

Your blog is an inspiration.

LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...

that us soooo cool! I love it! Thank you so much fro showing us how to do it. This would be fun to try on a white t-shirt too. Gonna have to do this myself also.

Kacie said...

this is so gorgeous!!! what a talent you are! i smell a new project for me :)

Jane LaFazio said...

fascinating!

Sherry said...

I stepped WAY out of my box of creativity and did this on a white t-shirt and I LOVE it...never mind that I had so much fun with it and reminded myself how much I love to draw as I was doing the flowers!

Geisslein said...

Oh this is soooo beautiful! I have fallen in love with this post!
have a lovely and creative day. Greetings from germany, geisslein!

Mandy said...

I absolutely LOVE this dress!! You take iLoveToCreate products and use them in fun and unique ways I have never seen before! I am so glad you joined the blog team! :)

Anonymous said...

Gracias intiresnuyu iformatsiyu

Teresa aka Tess said...

Wow, fabulous colors. The tutorial was so easy to follow. Great job..

peggy said...

hi alisa...can i ask you something?i have acrylic paint for fabric can i do the same work as with the colours you use?and one more question...while you paint the shirt are you putting something inside so the colour dont pass to the other side of the fabric?sorry for my english i couldnt explain better my questions!!thank u...be well Peggy

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