I am so happy with the way these 3 little frogs from the dollar store came out. I wanted to try fabric mache but didn’t feel up to making a form and all of that, so I bought 3 clay frogs from the dollar store for $2.50 each.
The fabric is from one of those fat quarter bundles and the colors suitably froggy. As for the frogs? Well let’s just say mass production and the rustic aged look don’t go together.
Covered in these gross warty spots and indifferently aged and scuffed.
I sanded off the worst of their sins, and going by how easy it was I’m going to assume these guys aren’t weather proof.
They all got slathered in a coat of white paint so I wouldn’t have to worry about any show-through with the lighter fabrics.
While the paint was drying, I cut the fabric into strips. Pieces 1″ by 2″ worked well for me with the occasional smaller bits for around the eyes and toes.
I used one of the geometric prints as the throat – in hindsight I might have chosen differently. I just used 1 part white glue to 1 part water and a paintbrush to apply it.
The green speckled is may favorite of the three, but all of them turned out surprisingly well. I was expecting a wrestling match to get the fabric and glue to behave but it all went together easy peasy.
The olive one looks nice too, I’m still a bit iffy on the mint green one.
If I were doing it again, I would have just done the entire frog in the same fabric.
Patterned napkins would have worked too, but I already had the fabric. All they need now is a coat of spray sealer and done.
Materials needed for this project:
- White glue mixed 1:1 with water
- fabric or paper strips
- a paint brush
- dollar store critter in need of a makeover
Someday I would love to try this technique on one of those homely little plastic turtle planters, I bet it would look great. What do you think?
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