What You Will Need
~*Great Impressions Rubber stamps: I have used the following stamp
designs: solid flower (C369), flower outline (C368), flower border (F327),
flower and vine background (J88), circles (G282) and butterfly (G283)
~Vaious colors of VersaCraft ink pads by **Tsukineko-available in
both 1" squares or standard size pads
~VersaCraft Reinkers-liquid ink in small squeeze bottles (**Tsukineko)
~White natural fabrics such as cotton or silk (1/2 yard makes around 6 headbands)
~Various colors of gimp (flat braided cord) or grossgrain
(textured) ribbon to match inks (each headband uses almost 1/2 yard)
~Rubber stamp scrubber pad or moist baby wipes to clean stamps
~Plastic plate or tray for inks
~Ruler and sewing type measuring tape
~Fabric cutting scissors
~Scratch paper AND cardstock (white or light color is best)
~Optional embellishment: Iron-on flat backed crystals and a mini-iton (Clover)
*To get more information, ideas for projects and to see the Stamp
of the Month Club designs, visit Great Impressions rubber
stamps at the:
Great Impressions website
**Tsukineko stamp pads and ink colors, as well as ideas and
projects are found online at:
Tsukineko
Creating Headband Patterns
1. Pre-wash and dry (cotton or silk) fabric to remove the sizing. In the mean time,
gather all supplies you will use and place them on a covered work surface.
2. Iron fabric flat. I like to cut my fabric into 18"L x 10"W pieces
so it is easier to work with. The longer length should run with
the salvage (grain) of the fabric. I also stamp several headbands at
a time while all the supplies are out.
3. For a single layer tightly wrapped fabric covered headband: Find
and mark the center of the headband. Tape a piece of paper
to one half, as shown, to use as a pattern.
4. Cut paper around headband 1" larger all around to start. Fold the
sides inward, then trim paper so that the side edges just meet in
the center of the back of headband, but do not overlap. The
paper flaps will form creases, this is normal.
5. Fold the fabric, right (front) sides together and place on work
surface. Place the top wide edge of the pattern on the fabric fold.
Trace around pattern with a pencil or disappearing ink fabric
marker adding an extra 3/8" length to beyond the narrow pattern end.
Stamping Your Fabric
1. To practice, trace a full headband pattern onto two taped together
(on BACK side) pieces of scratch paper and stamp design to
plan placement. (Refer to steps 2 and 3 below.)
TIPS: If using a large size ink pad, tap the stamp onto the ink
pad. If using a small pad, tap the ink pad onto the stamp.
Optional step: If you'd like to color the backgroud of your fabric
before stamping, dip an ink sweeper into inks (squeezed onto a
plastic pallete), dab onot a stack of paper towels and slowly
slide across fabric to color it. Heat set the background after
it is dry using an iron for 30 seconds. Proceed to stamp your
patterns, in this case I used white ink with the
flower overlay stamp #C368.
2. Ink your stamp and press your first design in the center of the
right (front) side of fabric. If you get an unwanted shadow on
the design, you can always squeeze a dot of ink from the bottle onto
a Fantastix tip and dot over the error once the original ink has dried.
3. Stamp the design again on either side of the first design in the
same manner and repeat to decorate fabric. Heat set stamped design
when dry with iron for 30 seconds. When cool, cut out shape on lines.
4. Wipe away (or scratch off) the mark on headband so it does not
show through fabric. Trace headband pattern (both halves) onto
double-sided tape sheet and cut a little SMALLER then pattern.
Peel away one release paper side and secure to the INSIDE of
the wide headband. Peel away the top paper layer, lay headband
onto fabric, centered and secure fabric edges to center of BOTTOM
of headband. ALLOW fabric to form creases on the flaps and keep
the front (top) fabric on headband very smooth and taught.
5. Secure gimp or ribbon over the seam using a strip of strong sticky tape,
folding the cut edges of cord under.
Scarf-Look Headband Instructions
1. Pre-wash and dry (cotton or silk) fabric to remove the sizing. In the mean time,
gather all supplies you will use and place them on a covered work surface.
2. Iron fabric flat. For this style, I like to cut my fabric into 18"L x 8"W pieces
so it is easier to work with. The longer length should run with
the salvage (grain) of the fabric. I also stamp several headbands at
a time while all the suppies are out.
3. Make a paper pattern that is 6" x 16" from two taped together
pieces of paper, and cut out. Trace pattern onto center of
fabric with pencil or a disappearing ink fabric marker.
4. Color and/or stamp your design following steps 1-4 of "Stamping
Your Fabric" above. Note that the area to decorate is wider
then the above style. Stamp a full 6" x 16" area this time. When
dry, heat set the fabric. When cool, cut out shape on lines.
5. Fold fabric edges lengthwise so they meet on the back side. Note,
the fabric pattern is facing out. Secure a piece of double-sided
tape along entire seam. Remove tape backing and press fabric down
the center of the top of (black) fabric lined headband to secure.
6. Fold the side edges inward on the BACK side of headband. Hold
in place, then fold these flaps to the front and overlap them forming
a pleat. Secure each flap in place with tape.
7. Follow steps 3 and 4 of "Creating Headband Patterns" to make
a pattern for the INSIDE (lining) of a 1" wide headband. Create
the pattern the same, although wrap the pattern around from the
inside (bottom) of headband instead of the outside (top) of band.
The seam on the outside will be covered with the stamped piece
of fabric, so no gimp is needed for this style band.
8. Cover the back of a 1 1/4" long (1/2" wide) piece of grossgrain
ribbon (or similar) with strong double-sided tape. Tightly
wrap aribbon round the headband ends from the outside of band to
encase all the fabric layers and cover the raw edges. Pinch the
bottom edge of ribbon closed for a finished look. Enjoy!
