Simple brooches

200 Image

Brooches are back! These are Vilenebased,cut into any shape you wish, painted in your chosen shades and brightly beaded. With some careful preparation and Ross instructions you could makeseveral of these simple brooches in an afternoon, in time for Easter.

What you will need

  • Pelmet Vilene, small piece (say 20cm)
  • Silk or acrylic paints, ink or dyes in a selection of colours
  • Tube Uhu clear adhesive
  • Assorted small beads
  • Very stiff card (eg mountboard offcuts)
  • Fancy edge scissors or pinking shears
  • Brooch fasteners Acrylic varnish or clear nail varnish
  • Brushes or sponges for painting and varnishing
  • Paper for reinforcing

Getting started!! TIP

Don't forget to cover the table with newspaper or a plastic tablecloth before painting or varnishing. Cant wait for the paint to dry? Use a hairdryer, holding it well away so as not to distort the fabric.

Brooches step 1  Brooches step 1a 


1. Paint Vilene randomly in a variety of colours and leave to dry. I usually paint several small pieces in a range of different colours to make an assortment of brooches.

Brooches step 2  Brooches step 2a 


2. For each brooch, cut a shape in Vilene. Keep it simple, as stiff card has to be cut to the same shape.  Trace shape on to card. Cut Vilene strips or shapes to decorate using fancy edge scissors or pinking shears.

Brooches step 3 

3. Glue Vilene strips or shapes in place on the brooch leaving space in the centre for bead decoration.

Brooches step 4 

4. Sew or stick a cluster of beads on to your brooch choosing a variety of colours and shapes.

Brooches step 5 

5. Cut out card and glue to back of brooch. Glue fastener on to card and reinforce by gluing a paper strip over back of fastener as shown above.

Brooches step 6 

6. Paint the card (now the back of brooch), not forgetting to colour the edges, to neaten.

Brooches step 7 - finished product 

7. Apply varnish to the back and front of brooch including the beads. For a really shiny appearance you'll need to give it several coats.

Stockists

For Pelmet Vilene, John Lewis, tel: 08456 049049 or go to www.johnlewis.com; brushes, paints, inks, dyes from art shops; card,beads, fasteners and fancy edge scissors or from HobbyCraft, tel: 0800 027 2387 or go to www.hobbycraft.co.uk.