I’m continuing my focus on all things fabric and sewing this month, so I felt the DecoArt So-Soft Fine Glitter Fabric Paints would work in well with the theme here. I mean, who doesn’t like to add a bit of glitter?
The DecoArt So-Soft Fine Glitter Fabric Paints are described on the site:
SoSoft Glitters are soft, acrylic fabric paint with very brilliant glitter specifically designed to be used on fabrics. They are ideal for adding sparkle and glamour to fabric accessories from shoes to purses or for home decor accents and accessories like lampshares and bed linens.
SoSoft Glitters are easy to apply with no heat setting, fabric medium, or special brushes needed.
Quliter's cottons: 1 coat on the bottom row, two coats in the middle, three on the top.
Knit (t-shirt) on top, quilter's cotton on bottom. Same as above.
The paints are a medium-viscosity paint- it’s about the thickness of pancake syrup- and features a lightly tinted base that is translucent so you can really see the glitter shine through. It’s milky when wet, but becomes very transparent when dry.
I do like the fact that you can use the So-Soft paints right out of the bottle- just pour, pounce, and paint. Of course the first thing I did was a few swatch tests. All of these fabrics are cottons and I used 1, 2, and 3 coats of paint respectively so that you can see how the color builds up.
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As you can see, the more coats you use, the more glitter you get- but it also does affect the hand, or stiffness, of the fabric. For wearables, I’d suggest just using one coat because it keeps your fabric soft and comfy.
On this next example, I used a paintbrush on a brass stencil. Because the paint is thinner than most acrylics, the paint seeped underneath, leaving a blurry image. Not so good.
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However, I did like the effect of the blue glitter on the black- so I tried to stencil an old suitcase to add some pizzazz.
Good glitter shine but maybe a lighter color?
I used two coats, but the effect was pretty subtle. However, you won’t mistake MY bag for anyone else’s on the baggage carousel!
What I did learn from my suitcase experiment was that a sponge pouncer paired with a plastic stencil was the best way to apply color. (I used both my Martha Stewart Stencils and the Sponge Pouncer from the Tools line.)
So, learning from that, I decided to try a baby burp cloth- kind of the ultimate litmus test. It’s open weave, needs to be soft, and needs to be washable AND dryable.
I layered a cloth diaper in thirds and zig-zag stitched up both sides to make a burp cloth.
Using the sponge pouncer and a different Martha Stewart Paints Stencil, I went for an ombre effect with blue and purple glitter.
There was a little seeping through (there’s that open-weave thing for you) but the paint went on beautifully- and really quickly- with the sponge dauber. I stenciled both sides and set it aside to dry.
Now here’s the one thing to know about this paint: while you don’t need to heat-set it (in fact, that’s not even on the instructions) you DO need to wait 48 hours for the paint to fully cure before washing. So this is NOT one of those “make-it-today-wear-it-tonight” type of crafts. Make sure you give yourself enough time for the paint to cure.
I painted on Wednesday, and on Saturday I decided to give the burp cloth the wash test. The directions say to wash inside-out on gentle and dry on low heat. While I can respect that advice, most of my kids clothes need to be washed for REAL- in warm/hot water and dried in at least a medium heat. So that’s just what I did!
A little wrinkly, but the colors and still vibrant. However glitter- gone! So THAT’s why you can’t use the heat. The glitter goes bye-bye! So another lesson learned- follow the washing instructions (duh!) but also this might be better for things you don’t have to wash often or vigorously.
I wouldn’t hesitate to use DecoArt So-Soft Glitter fabric paint again- as a matter of fact, I have a whole gift-set envisioned with snapsuits, burp cloths, and a bib. But you can use it all kinds of surfaces, according to the website:
- Clothing
- Lampshades
- Pillows
- Bed linen
- Placemats
- Tablecloths
- Curtains
- Quilts
- Fabric Purses and Totes
- Sneakers
I certainly would love to upcycle some old conference totes with So-Soft Glitter paint. And what a way to punch up some napkins! And with 15 colors and under $1.50 USD per 2-oz bottle, you can have a lot of fun upcycling without investing alot of cash.
What would YOU glitter up?
Disclosure: Samples provided for review.
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