Hey everyone! I am so happy to be back to visit with you all today! On Monday I shared a layout that included some fun feathers used as embellishments. These new feathers from Bella Blvd are so light, airy, and fluffy and they add a ton of interest and dimension to your projects. However, they can be a bit tricky to adhere. So I thought I would share a few tips and tricks that have worked for me in adhering these new trendy embellishments to your paper crafting projects.
The easiest and quickest way to adhere these feathers is to staple them directly to your layout or card, and it's the "adhesive" of choice that I use the most when it comes to working with real feathers. Simply position the feathers were you want them to lay and staple the bottom ends of the feathers to secure them in place. In most of the projects that I have used feathers on, I knew that I would be placing something over the ends of my feathers, which would cover up the staples. In the example above, I stapled two feathers to my layout (I stapled them at the ends and then about an inch up to really secure them), and then adhered a title card directly over the ends of the feathers, hiding the staples in the process.
In the example above, I have used Tim Holtz's Tiny Attacher on the very ends of my three feathers. I actually wanted those staples to show on this layout. However, I did in fact use a few regular staples further up on the feathers as well. Securing them in several places helps them remain exactly where you want them, and to keep them from shifting around. I then adhered a phrase sticker over the feathers, using pop dots to lift it up, which hid the extra staples.
In the example above, I have layered quite a few feathers together, fanning them out from behind my photo, and securing the ends (under the photo) of each feather with staples. I then decided to scatter a few wood buttons amongst the feathers. By hand stitching my buttons directly onto the page (I usually thread them and adhere them with glue dots), I was able to stitch the top parts of the feathers in place as well, as my thread secured the button and the feather at the same time.
In the example above, I used my journaling strips to add some extra security to my feathers. I did not use any adhesive on my journaling strips, but adhered them to the page using a tiny brad on either end of each strip. Adding my journaling directly on top of my feathers allowed me to use the brads to grab onto the feathers and adhere them down a bit more, and the journaling strips also helped to keep the feathers in place.
In the example above, I have stapled my feathers directly onto the layout. This time though, I knew that only a small portion of the feathers would show, since they were being "tucked" under my photo. This meant that I could add more staples going up each feather, since they would be covered up.
In the example above I have adhered two feathers to my layout, and added some chipboard flowers and a hand cut paper flower in a cluster at the bottom ends of my feathers. I think that adding a little something at the bottom of your feathers really helps to ground your feathers so that they aren't floating aimlessly around your page. This does make it easy for the feathers to move around up top though. If you're anything like me, you might want to make sure they lay exactly where you want them to be and not shift around or move at all.
This is where it pays off to spend a little extra time hand stitching the feathers in place on your project. In the example above (and I have actually done this step on a lot of these other examples as well), if you look really closely, you can see where I have added a few hand stitches in a thread color that coordinates with my feather color. Here, I've used a green thread and a needle to secure the feather exactly where I wanted it, by using 3-4 little stitches going up the length of the feather. This is also very helpful when you want your feather to curve, as you can help maneuver it into place.
I hope you have found these tips and tricks helpful, and that you'll try using real feathers on your upcoming papercrafting projects!
~ Laura Vegas
Great tips! TFS!!!
Posted by: Juliana | February 20, 2013 at 09:14 AM
Very cool! I actually made a feather layout yesterday for a challenge on another site, and am getting ready to upload it there. Will share it here also!
Posted by: Kathy P | February 20, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Great tips! Now I won't feel so intimidated to buy these beautiful feathers.
Posted by: SandraA | February 20, 2013 at 12:40 PM
I would love to see the whole page. They look amazing!!!
Posted by: Tara K | February 20, 2013 at 01:13 PM
What great tips! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Tona | February 20, 2013 at 01:48 PM
Very cool ideas, Laura - both in how to adhere the feathers and also how to include them in the design of a layout. Thanks for the inspiration and technique tips!
Posted by: Amber M. | February 20, 2013 at 10:24 PM
I echo Tara K's comment - I would love to see the whole layouts too!
Posted by: Amber M. | February 20, 2013 at 10:24 PM
I adore feathers.I would put them on everything if I could.This was a great article-several tips I never thought of.
Thank you for the wonderful inspiration.
Posted by: Beth W | February 21, 2013 at 04:03 PM
I love when I see articles and tutorials by te FAB Laura Vegas Her style her awesome, as is the way she rocks color schemes and embellies...thanks for sharing this with us. GREAT tips!
Posted by: Janet | February 22, 2013 at 07:00 AM
Thank you for sharing some tips for using feathers, Laura. I wondered how to attach them. They look so beautiful, and lush on your layouts. Thank you for the inspiration. Take care. :)
Posted by: Kim Thomas | February 22, 2013 at 12:39 PM
Those are some yummy feathers , such awesome colors. TFS!
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Stevens | April 13, 2013 at 05:46 PM