Add unique style to your clothing and home accessories with Creative Surface Design. Designer Sandy Scrivano provides step-by-step instructions for four of the most popular surface design techniques: painting, stamping, stenciling, and embossing. From vests, skirts, and hand bags to tables, pillows, and area rugs, Sandy shows you how to embellish almost anything in your home.

Inside you'll find...

• four basic techniques -- painting, stenciling, stamping, and embossing -- explained with step-by-step instruction
• techniques that can be applied to a wide range of surfaces, including many types of fabrics, leather, suede, and wood
• a primer on colors to help you create your own fabulous combinations
• a gallery of projects accompanying each technique for ideas and inspiration

About the author
Sandy Scrivano is a clothing and interior designer who has been featured regularly in Threads magazine. She lives in Sacramento.

Introduction

1. Getting Started
Color Talk
Developing an Idea
Working with Acrylics

2. Painting
Materials and Supplies
Choosing a Project
Preparation
Painting Techniques
Finishing
Painting Gallery

3. Stenciling
Materials and Supplies
Stenciling Techniques
Stenciling Gallery

4. Stamping
Materials and Supplies
Stamping Techniques
Stamping Gallery

5. Embossing
Materials and Supplies
Embossing Techniques
Embossing Gallery

Sources

Index

It has been said that technology gives us the way to live, but art gives us the reason for living. Art, in all its forms, enriches us: It challenges us, it amuses us, it creates interest, and best of all, it gives us pleasure. Art just makes us happy. It is my theory that we embellish the things in our lives to give ourselves pleasure. What better reason could there be?

In this book, I'll be showing you some ways to embellish your clothing and your home. The techniques covered include painting, stenciling, stamping, and embossing. Decidedly, the examples selected reflect my personal style and design ethic, but the techniques described are universal and can be applied with your preferences in mind.

For an artist, some of the greatest pleasures and successes come from asking, "What if...?" Before writing this book, I had never considered making a leather-covered table. Now, I'll never be without one -- or more! Painted furniture is another potential canvas. Hmmm. How about trying...on my bookcase? What if...? Fabrics, of course, are a natural choice for embellishment. The techniques described in this book can be applied to the filmiest silks and heaviest split cowhide with equal success. Nurture your own creativity. Start asking yourself, "What if...?" Try new materials and experiment with different mediums. The end result may take on different forms, but the root ideas will remain the same.

Feel free to adapt the projects you see here to please yourself. Experiment, have fun, and enjoy the results.