Month: July 2019

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The Ultimate Needle Felting Tips and Tricks

The Ultimate Needle Felting Tips and Tricks

After understanding about the tools and materials for needle felting, l would love to share the tips and tricks for your needle felting projects to level-up your knowledge and to become a better artist. If you keep trying but keep getting discouraged, these tips and tricks hopefully will help you. Without further do, let’s keep reading! 😉

Understand the shape of your sculpture

You have to know your sculpture well. For example, if you’re going to make a dog, please do have some references about the dog’s anatomy. I encourage you to search for the references. The ideas of the right size, the color, the shape and every detailed property from the references will lead you to make a better sculpture. Another important thing is you will know the right proportion of the body parts.

Even if you are not going to make a realistic look of an animal or human, but you still have to know the shape of your sculpture to lead you right.  I mostly make cute animals for my needle felting projects. Cute illustrations from Pinterest give me lots of inspirations about the sculpture I am going to make. It’s not to copy them but to give you ideas about the right shape of your sculpture!

Use the right felting needles

You probably think any felting needle will successfully do its job to felt your wools. No, you are wrong :)! There are two types of felting needles to complete the whole project. They are thin and thick felting needles, which have different functions. I’ve mentioned the differences between both needles. Now, I will tell you in details how I use both types on my projects.

Thick felting needle is best used for:

  • Shaping your wool at the beginning process with or without armature (e.g. body, head, muzzle, tail, arms, legs)

  • Adding long fur on some parts of your sculpture like body, legs, arms, tail

  • Creating flat pieces of felt like ears, tongue

  • Attaching 2 pieces (e.g. head and body, arms or legs to the body, muzzle on the face, tail on the back, ears on the head)

  • Adding bulk to your sculpture

Thin felting needle is best used for: 

  • Creating lines or any shape with very minimum use of wools (e.g lines for mouth, nose, spots,  dots, eyebrows, eyeliner, sclera or white part of the eye.

  • Adding any color of roving wools on the basic color of your sculpture (this is serious! Don’t use thick felting needle to do this)

  • Adding long fur on some parts of your sculpture like face, muzzle, floppy ears

  • Layering in between two attached parts with wools

  • Pulling the wools on your sculpture to make a hairy look

  • Adding eyelids

Roll and poke the wool tightly at the very beginning

Whatever shapes you’re going to make, please make sure you roll your wool and poke it tightly. It is simple but often forgotten. For me, it’s the most crucial thing about needle felting. If you don’t roll to shape your wool tightly, it is hard to make it solid and hard. This makes it impossible for you to attach another part on it, creating a very bad finish.

Poke until it becomes firm!

It is very important to keep your shape nice and firm. You can test the firmness by pinching it or if you found lots of loose fibers coming out from the surface, it simply means you have to poke more. I know that this is time consuming but it is worth the effort. If you don’t start your base firm, it will create a bigger problem later.

Use a wire armature

Some enjoy making a sculpture without armature while some don’t. I mostly use armatures for legs, arms and tails. Some asked me why not the whole body? well, it’s just my personal preference. I always mess up making legs, arms and tails without the wire inside while it’s pretty easy to make the rest like head and body (in case of making an animal sculpture). However, to save your time, it is indeed better to create an armature for the whole body. This also will help you to achieve the even size and proportional shape of your sculpture. 

Layer in between two parts with wools

To achieve a nice finish of your sculpture, you have to understand well how to attach two parts rightly (the head to the body, the arms or legs to the body, the tails to the bottom part, the ears to the head, the muzzle to the face, etc). Before you step into this point, make sure to poke the base until it becomes firm. Otherwise, it’s impossible to perform this.

After you successfully attach one piece to another, don’t forget to always layer in between both parts with wools. It’s simply like blending them together. The first reason why you need to do it is because you need strength to let both parts attached to one another. Second, it is because layering with wools creates a better and more natural look on your sculpture.

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Tools and Materials for Needle Felting

Tools and Materials for Needle Felting

Are you interested in needle felting and confused about the tools and materials to begin with? You’re in the right place! I will let you know my favorite tools and materials for all of my needle felting projects that I share on my Youtube channel. Keep reading to find out!

This post may contain affiliate links.

FELTING NEEDLES

Some asked me if there’s any alternative for the felting needle. The answer is NO. This needle has barbs that allow the wool fibers to be locked after repetitive pokes. There are many different kinds of felting needles but I will only discuss in details about the ones that I always use. Let me divide the felting needles into two types, which are thick and thin.

1.1  Thin (top) and thick (below) felting needles

1.2 felting needles

Thick

Thick felting needle has a main function to shape the wools in the beginning of felting process. The smaller the gauge number, the thicker the felting needle. I usually use 36 or 38 gauge felting needle that I categorize it as thick ones. The thickness allows the wool fibers to hook easier, stronger and faster. It will take ages if you start shaping your wool with thin felting needle.

 

Thin

Thin felting needle is used for detailing and working on small areas. It can also used for creating a smoother surface if you found large pores on the surface of your sculpture. What you need to do is to only poke the surface until it becomes smooth.  The size I use for the thin felting needle is 40 gauge. Thin felting needle is not as durable as a thick one, it’s better to prepare more needles just in case it breaks or worn out.

 

FELTING MAT

Some artists consider felting mat to be very important like me but some also enjoy felting without it. However, for safety reasons, it’s always better to use it. I have used several felting mats but I found the foam mat is the best.

1.3  EPE white foam

EPE foam

EPE foam is used mostly in my projects. It’s always nice to work with this mat because of the pillowy feel you get when you poke it with a felting needle. It minimizes your wool to stick on the surface. This foam is also cheap and easy to find. However, it also has its own shortcoming, after two or three projects, the foam will be worn out. The more you felt on it, the flatter the mat becomes. No pillowy or even a stringy feel anymore. All you can do is to throw it out and replace it with a new one.

FELTING WOOLS 

Out of many different kinds of wool out there, I use roving wools, which looks like a long rope with the same length of fibers. It comes with many different colors that allow you to create anything you want. While for the base, I use core wools and sometimes polyester wadding to felt easier and faster because it has shorter fibers. It is best for adding bulk as well. After making the base, you can top coat it with colored roving wools. Sometimes, I use roving wools as the base as well.

1.4   Roving wools

1.5  Core wools 

Other than straight roving wools, I usually use curly roving wools to add effects of animals like Poodle, Alpaca, and other curly-haired animals. I have used the curly roving wools and curly locks, both works amazing.

1.6 Curly wools

WIRE

1.7  Aluminum craft wire

I mostly use alumunium craft wire to make an armature or bendable arms and legs for my sculptures. The size of this wire is 20 gauge or 0.8 mm. This wire is quite strong and easy to cut and twist, which is why I choose it. I have also used pipe cleaners to make my armature. It works amazing because the little bristles around it could grab the wool better than regular wire. Some of my subscribers on Youtube also find it better than regular wire. Both are fine! Choose what’s the best for you 🙂

 

EYES

1.8   Eyes (5mm and 3mm)

I used several kinds of eyes for my project, which are black, cat and handmade eyes. Black eyes are used mostly to make dogs, human, and some creatures. It comes with many sizes. For small sculptures (under 10 cm), I use 3 to 5 mm of black plastic eyes.  While for the bigger sculptures, I use 12 to 15 mm of black plastic eyes.

While for the cats, I used the same size like stated above but different kind of eyes. Cat eyes have unique pupils and a sharp look.

I also made my own doll eyes from shrink plastic and UV resin. Shrink plastic is kind of plastic that shrinks when heated in the oven or with a heat gun. So, I color, shrink and coat it with UV resin to achieve a glossy look. It’s a nice way to create custom made eyes as you want it. You can check this out to see how I made eyes for my sculpture.

NOSE

For all of my projects especially dogs, I made the nose using Premo polymer clay. Making it by yourself is better than buying it because you can customize the color, size and even the shape of the nose. 

1.9 Polymer clay nose

SCISSOR

You can use any type of scissors for needle felting projects. However, I prefer a curved tip scissor than a regular scissor. This scissor has a pointy and curved tip that is very useful to make holes to insert the eyes.

2.0 Curved tip scissor

GLUE

For attaching the eyes, I use any white glue such as Fox (any brand is fine!). While for attaching the embellishments on the sculpture or attaching any part on the wool sculpture, I use the all-purpose adhesive by UHU or E6000. It also works amazing to attach your sculpture on the wood chop or any stand.

SOFT PASTELS

2.1 Soft pastels

I use chalk or soft pastels to create blushed cheeks, shade some color on the body and even do the eye makeup. The pastels allow the sculpture to have more natural colors.

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DIY Cupcake Earring

DIY Cupcake Earring

Quilling paper is always fun and easy to make. You can make endless creations with this craft. For this tutorial, I will share how to quill the stripes of corrugated paper into cute cupcake earrings. It’s really easy and fun to make. It doesn’t need special materials and really suitable for kids.

This paper is known as Kokoru paper in my country. It is basically similar to regular quilling paper but only the texture is different. These stripes of paper are corrugated and it will add unique texture to your creations. However, you can use regular quilling paper to make this.

I used to work with this craft to make graduation dolls and other paper dolls. With more colors, I believe you can create more variation for your creations.

These cute cupcake earrings are suitable for creating sweeter look on your special day. You can change the colors to match your outfit. Without further do, let’s keep reading to find out the materials you need and how to make these earrings.

Tools & Materials

o   Corrugated quilling papers

o   strong glue

o   scissor

o   earring hooks

o   jump rings (4 pcs)

o   small pink beads (6 pcs)

o   eye pins (4 pcs)

o   plier

Instructions

Let’s start by cutting the stripe into halves. You will use a half of the stripe for one base of the cupcake.

One stripe is 18.5 x 0.5 inches.

You can start roll the stripe tightly. You can determine the diameter of the base as you want.

If you’re about to reach the end, glue to secure the roll.

With your thumb, gently push it right at the centre to create the base. Then, you can glue the inside of the base to secure it. Let it dry.

While you’re waiting for the base, let’s create the cake. Cut in half the pink stripe with your scissor. Because the cake should be wider than the base, add more stripe (~5.5 inches) to the end of the half stripe you’ve cut before with glue.

Roll and push the cake gently with your finger.

Glue the inside of the cake and repeat the same step to make another cupcake.

Glue the cake and base together and you can add a little heart on the top of the cupcake.

To make it as earrings, glue and insert the eyepin into the cupcake.

Assemble the eyepin and beads with the plier as shown.

Bring it to live by attaching the beads with the hook and the cupcake!

Enjoy the sweetness!

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DIY Aurora

DIY Aurora

Let’s turn shrink plastic or shrinky dink into a 3D-look charm. This shrink plastic tutorial is very easy and fun. For this DIY shrink plastic project, I will make Princess Aurora or known as a sleeping beauty. It’s always fascinating to see how a boring sheet of shrink plastic turns into something adorable.

This charm can be used as it is or you can make it as a keychain or fridge magnet. It’s one of a kind gift that you can give to someone especially those who love Disney princess.

It’s also a great activity with your kids. Please do always remember that kids must be under supervision when you do the shrink plastic tutorial.

Without further do, let’s see what materials you need for this shrink plastic DIY.

Tools and materials

Download the file

There are two ways to use it:

  1. Download and directly print on the printable shrink plastic (color before or after printing as you wish)

  2. Download, print on a white paper, trace on the regular shrink plastic that cannot be printed and color as you like it.

o   Shrink plastic (printable is preferable)

o   Sharp scissor

o   Oven

o   Baking paper or silicone mat

o   UV resin

Instructions

Cut the given pattern with a sharp scissor.

Put all pieces in the oven.

Once you’re done, you may coat each piece with UV resin. This is optional if you want to achieve glossy look.

Assemble all pieces as shown.

and the Princess Aurora is ready!

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DIY Penguin

DIY Penguin

Let’s learn how to make a needle felted penguin. To make this penguin, you need to know the basic needle felting which is to poke the roving wools until it makes the shape you want. This needle felting tutorial is great for beginners or those of you who never work with needle felting before.

The more colors of roving wool you have, the more variations you can make. Let’s find out the materials you need to make this penguin!

Tools & Materials

The lists below may contain affiliate links

o  core wools for the base – Hamanaka Watawata

o    roving wools

a.   dark grey

b.   white

c.    yellow (for beak)

d.   bright orange (feet)

o    felting needles (thin and thick)

o    felting mat

o    scissor

o    glue

o    4mm plastic eyes

Instruction

Firstly, let’s make the base for the penguin. I used core wools but you can always use roving wools if you don’t have one. Wrap it tightly and start bulking up the body by layering with more wools until desired shape achieved. Use one or two thick felting needles if needed to accelerate the process.

1

Poke until it becomes firm. This is important.

Then, you can wrap the base with dark grey roving wools. Make sure that the base is all covered.

Colour the front body with white roving wools. I used a thin felting needle for this step to minimize the large pores created if using a thick felting needle. After done, I made holes for inserting the eyes in with the tip of the scissor.

Glue the eyes before inserting it. Then, start making a little beak using yellow wools and thin felting needle. Don’t use thick felting needle to create such a small part like this.

 If the beak is done, let’s make the wings using grey roving wools. Leave the loose fibers on the top edge of the wings. The loose fibers will help you to attach easily on the body.

Let’s make the feet. The step is pretty similar with the wings.

And you’re done!

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DIY Butterfly

DIY Butterfly

It’s never boring to work with felts. You can create unlimited things with it. Today, I will share one of the adorable creations you can make with felts, which is a butterfly felt plush. You will get the free butterfly felt pattern with the instruction that will guide you to make it.

I usually use the felt plush for many purposes such as baby mobile, keychain, fridge magnet, toy and many more. You can also customize the given pattern for example if you want a fatter body or bigger wings.

So, all you need to do is to download the free pattern below and gather the materials needed to do this DIY project.

Tools and Materials

Download the file

o    Felts

  • Green

  • Blue

  • Magenta

  • Beige

o    Pins

o    Scissor

o    Sewing needles

o    Matching thread

o    4mm eyes

o    Toy stuffing

o    Blush (optional)

Instruction

Download, print and cut the pattern.

When each piece is cut, you can secure the it with the pin(s) on the felt and cut it following the pattern. You can also trace it first with the pens and cut it following the lines you created.

For the face, glue it on one piece of the body and created holes using the tip of scissor to insert the eyes.

before inserting the eyes, don’t forget to glue them first.

Start creating a lovely smile on its face using running stitches with black thread and sewing needle.

I also created white lines around the body using running stitches with the white thread.

Then you can start sewing the body with the blanket stitches and stuff it with the polyester or toy stuffing.

When it is done, glue the blue and green felts together creating beautiful wings.

Start sewing the wings with the blanket stitches. You don’t need to stuff it with polyester at this time.

Glue the body and the wings together. I also blushed her cheeks to make it more adorable. This is totally optional.

Voila! your butterfly is ready 🙂

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DIY Koala

DIY Koala

Koala is one of the most adorable creatures! Who agree with me? If you like koalas, you will surely love this koala felt plush tutorial. It doesn’t need a special skill to make it. You just need to learn how to apply blanket stitches.

If you already understand the stitch I used for this project, let’s find out the other materials you need to make this felt plush. The koala felt pattern is given for free. Yay! So, all you need is to download the pattern and gather the materials as listed below

Tools and materials

Download the file

o    Felts

a.   Grey

b.   White (inside the ear)

c.    Black (nose)

o    Pins

o    Scissor

o    Sewing needles

o    Matching thread

o    4mm plastic eyes

o    Toy stuffing

o    Blush (optional)

 Instruction

Download, print and cut the pattern. You may trace the pattern using a pen or pencil on the felts but I prefer using a pin and directly cut the felt following the pattern as shown below.

When all pieces are cut, glue the nose on one piece of the head.

I applied blanket stitch to sew the two pieces of felts.

Sew the ear first and glue the white felts on the ears.

Then, you can sew the head starting from the bottom. Along the way, you need to sew the ears as shown.

If you are done, stuff it with the toy stuffing and sew the rest.

Make holes for inserting the eyes with the tip of the scissor. Don’t forget to glue the eyes first. Then, you can add pink blush on the cheeks to make it cuter.

 And, you’re done!

 
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Bible Verses Cards

Bible Verses Cards

Let me share my favorite bible verses cards, which are really great to encourage you fighting through the hard days. You can place it between pages of the bible or your books. It is also suitable for framed prints that you can use it as a home decoration.

The verses give me much strength to always trust the Lord and not my understanding (Prov 3:5). It simply means trusting the Lord is my ultimate decision that I should do. While being joyful, praying and giving thanks are right responses that I should have to fight through the bad and hard days (I Thes 5:16-18). These responses reflect that God is greater than whoever is in the world including my problems (I John 4:4). In result, I will laugh without fear of the future for I am clothed and shielded with strength and dignity, which all comes from God (Prov 31:25).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding ”

— Proverbs 3:5

“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances”

— I Thes 5:16-18

“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world”

— I John 4:4

“She is clothed in strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future”

— Prov 31:25

Download the file

How to use it

Hit the button above to download the file. Then, you can print and use it. I suggest you to print it on a good quality paper.

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