Bargello with Dazzles
Long, long ago when I first started stamping, I took a class at my local stamp store called Bargello Techniques. Bargello is actually a needlepoint and quilting technique, but one that translates easily to paper. Basically, you stamp randomly all over two (or three) pieces of paper, then cut them into strips about 1/4” wide. Put glue onto a piece of cardstock, then attach the strips, arranging some vertically and others horizontally. When you’ve arranged them all the way you like, you just trim the piece into a rectangle or square and you’ve got an instant card focal.
I was reminded of the bargello technique when I was cleaning my work table this weekend and found two random strips of paper held together by a Dazzle sticker. So I thought, what if I put Dazzles onto paper instead of stamping, then cut them apart and re-formed them into a bargello pattern? (Instead of cleaning.)
This bargello piece is done with the Gold Stacked Ovals Dazzles, and I used one of the large images plus some of those little corners and small accent pieces. The great thing is that it doesn’t matter how you place them on the paper—just make sure they’re close enough together so you get several sticker portions per strip.
You can mat the bargello piece, as I did for Keith’s Valentine (it’s not traditional Valentine colors but he likes green) and use it as a card focal. Easy—and it’s a great way to use up scraps. Plus, the rest of the card can be really simple, since you’ve got a lot of color and dimension in the focal. This bargello piece is actually pretty small—just 1 3/4”x3”. The heart is cut from vintage music note paper, placed strategically to hide a seam between strips that I wasn’t happy with but couldn’t get un-glued in time. And the pearl in the center is one of the self-adhesive pearl stickers from Mark Richards.
Easy, fun and a great way to create a unique focal point…sure beats cleaning!
