SPiTTiNG on FABRiC!

2 Materials
$93
2 Days
Easy

Every time I go to my local Goodwill I find something that can be upcycled. Most the time a quirky desk, headboard or table catches my eye. Usually something tattered and abused and I feel like me bringing it home to slick up is rescuing it. Giving it an Afterlife! Well, one fine morning, walking in saying hi to my friends at the counter, the manager said, "Michelle, I have a treat for you!". Moses brought me over to not one, but two BRAND NEW end of the bed benches! With the TAGS! TWO OF THEM! I said, "OH, MY! How am I supposed to upcycle these?" He said "What if your Unicorn stuff could color the fabric?" I hadn't thought about that! I figured what the heck. I'll give it a try! I did and I couldn't be happier or more excited about the results! So today I'm here with step by step instructions with how to SPiT on FABRiC.

They were this off white cream, polyester / rayon fabric that felt like a satin. They had a couple black scuffs on the material and what looked like coffee drips here and there. Got them to the studio and wiped them down with some rubbing alcohol in spray bottle with a wet washcloth and got to thinking.

My thoughts led me to my friend Susi from www.SecondTouchArt.com who does these cool shading with stain abstract paintings on wood that are like Sunsets and Ocean Sunrises. I thought, I wonder if I could do that but on this fabric? So I started Googling images. Once I found the image I was pulled to, I picked out the colors of Unicorn SPIiT to match the image.

First thing to do is to make a SPiT STAMPiNG AREA 1. Tape a plastic drop cloth to a hard, flat, level surface 2. Place your bench upside down on the center of the drop cloth 3. Use a Sharpie Permanent Marker to outline the bench top

Using your inspiration image as a guide, do your best to mimic the color and line pattern. Don't use too much Unicorn SPiT Gel Stain because a little bit goes a very long way! Then mist with water.

Mist your color pattern generously with water.

Use your hand to smear the Unicorn SPiT Gel Stain from side to side or whatever lining is in your inspiration image. Be sure to regularly wipe your hand off between passings. This will keep your colors from mixing too much.

At this point you might double think yourself, but just as sure as the ocean I'm trying to replicate here, DIVE ON IN!

Here's where it gets fun! lol! FURNiTURE YOGA! Hahaha!!! Place your bench top right down into that smear of colorful SPiT and press down on it with all your might! Rock it "front, back and side to side" if you have to! You really want to let that SPiT sink in. (ps. it's always best to wear your craziest stretchy pants when playing in SPiT)

Catch your breath from the work out, grab your spray bottle of water and make sure you keep your design wet.

As you spray it with water, use your hand to smooth the design. Wipe your hand clean between passings too. Follow the flow of the colors. If a spot is too pronounced, spray that spot with a little extra water and rub it till you like it and it blends in.

There will be left over SPiT on the drop cloth. Wipe that up with your hand and do the sides. Try and match your colors to the top so the colors wrap around like a canvas.

Put your blow dryer on high heat and full blast and heat that baby up! Don't worry about drying it all the way, just get it pretty warm. Use your blow dryer to heat set the colors. Allow to dry. This one took over night at 68 degrees f.

LOOK! IT WORKED! Looks like water color paints done with a giant paint brush or something. I suppose you could do it that way but stamping then hand blending just sounded like a heck of a lot of fun! LOL!! I like to consider myself a Professional Finger Painter ;0)

I had to figure out how to seal it up. I did some research, and found that NeverWet by Rustoleum is water resistant and stain resistant. To me, that sounded like Polyurethane for fabric! I gave it a go and I tell you what.... This fabric is as soft as it was before it was ever even touched by Unicorn SPiT Gel Stain or that NeverWet. The color is locked in, super duper vibrant and doesn't come off.

Here's the whole beauty in all her Hand Blended, Watercolor Style, Unicorn SPiT Gel Stain Glory! All of them scuffs and coffee stains have disappeared into this vibrantly colorful Sunset Ocean Scape. This is just one of the most "SPiTacular" things I have ever made. I sure am glad I got two of these and I sure am glad Moses thought OUT of the BOX! One Bench is down at the Gallery in the PiNK DAiSY in KANSAS CiTY, MiSSOURi and one is MiNE! I just love it so!!! Just remember, no two will ever come out the same! Thank you all for reading my post today! I'm sure this can be done on throw pillows, dining room chair seats, ect... Unicorn SPiT Gel Stain does NOT change the texture or feel of the fabric. I have not yet tried this over any pattern or colored fabric. I'll save that for yet another day! :0)

Don't forget to join our Fabebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/unicornspitgelstains/ for more unique Unicorn SPiT uses and Guidance!! We'd LOVE to have you join our SPiT FAMiLY!!!!

See More at www.MichelleNicoles.com

Video Tutorial Time!!

Hope you enjoyed!!!!

Suggested materials:
  • Unicorn SPiT Gel Stain   (Www.MichelleNicoles.com)
  • NeverWet   (Nuts & Bolts Hardware)
Frequently asked questions
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3 of 20 questions
  • Cor33988153 Cor33988153 on Aug 27, 2018

    This is beautiful! Can you use SPiT on surfaces that are painted...for instance wooden chairs?

  • Diane Diane on Oct 20, 2018

    Beautiful! Do the colors dry to be lighter, darker, or the same as depicted on the bottle of Spit? I’ve never used it. Thank you!

  • Patti Knapp Patti Knapp on Oct 19, 2020

    Does the fabric get hard

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  • Edy Watkins Edy Watkins on Dec 31, 2022

    Nice that you have someone at Goodwill that puts things aside for you.

  • Kathryn Swan Kathryn Swan on Feb 07, 2023

    What a beautiful idea! I have a similar linen fabric bench that our new puppy stained. Thinking this would be a great way to save it. Thank you so much for sharing.

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