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Viva Paper Towel

VIVA PAPER TOWELL

VIVA PAPER TOWELL the unsung result of mixed media collage.
When I create anything with paint involved I always clean up using Viva brand paper towels. Why you ask? 
  • because often the towel produces a better background for artwork by accident than when I try to plan it. 
  • The absorbency and strength of Viva mean the dried towel is perfect to add freehand machine embroidery and embellishments to. 
  • You can iron Vlisofix or interfacing to the back to stabilise it, tear it up and collage it, cut out shapes, stencil, draw and add more patterns. 

painted Viva Paper towels
Techniques for colouring
  • Clean dirty brushes with a dry or damp Viva towel by rubbing the bristles into a towel. 
  • Clean up the surface of a palette. If lots of paint remains then use several towels. If the palette has only a little paint remaining then wet the towel first and rub it over the surface to clean and absorb the paint.
  • Squidge a damp paint infused towel in your hand to blend colours and create all over colour wash. (wear gloves)
  • Dab a scrunched up coloured towel onto the paint pallet surface to add contrasting colours. Roll the towel around in your hand to vary the paints position.
  • If using metallic paint, dab a  coloured towel onto the palette for excellent highlights. 
  • Don't plan the colours just clean them up and let the magic happen!
painted Viva paper towel with Lumier gold paint highlights

Adding more pattern

  • stencil or stamp patterns onto a dry towel
  • press sequin waist onto a wet towel, the paint will lift off and the wet sequin waist can be used to stencil the pattern onto another towel.
roller graph stamp with squares pattern added

I use my stash as the background for small window gift cards which have other decoration and stitching over the top
I also cut out flowers from the towel to make delicate designs.


Viva paper towel flowers



  • decorate glass Christmas baubles
Viva paper towel baubles

  • paper collage printed napkin images over paper towel background
  • add freehand machine embroidery
napkin collage on painted Viva paper towel

detail bobbin work embroidery

napkin collage on painted Viva paper towel


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