Pages

▼

04 February 2015

Fun with Carrots + a Giveaway!

A few weeks back I reviewed a new book by Julie Booth, Fabric Printing at Home. Today I am back with a fun project from the book and a chance for you to win a copy of Fabric Printing at Home.

On page 53 I found an intriguing idea called Carrots Three Ways. I grabbed a carrot from the fridge, gathered some supplies, and got to work on one of the techniques.


For this project you need a firm carrot (preferably one that's got a section with an even diameter), a knife, and corn cob holders or bamboo skewers. Then you'll need some paint and a dauber or foam brush, and a surface to print on (fabric or paper).


Cut a section of the carrot that's as even in diameter as possible. This will result in a more even print. Eat the ends of the carrot or feed them to your bunny or guinea pig (optional).


Using the knife, cut designs into the carrot. The designs can be complicated or simple, regular or irregular. Have fun experimenting with this part! The cuts don't need to be very deep but leave a little bit of room between cuts for stability. Julie recommends peeling the carrot first for a smoother surface but I forgot that step in my excitement.


Insert the corn cob holders or pieces of bamboo skewers in the ends of the carrot to act as handles.


Dab on some paint and roll the carrot onto fabric or paper. It helps to have a cushy surface to print on, and it helps to print the first inking onto a scrap to test the amount of paint you've applied and to "prime" the surface of the carrot.


Fun with veggies! This has definite possibilities and I can't wait to try a whole bag of carrots with different designs cut into each one. Before I get started though I think I need to find the vegetable peeler and the corn cob holders…

There are SO many cool ideas just like this in Fabric Printing at Home! If you would like to win your own copy, please leave a comment below by the end of the day on Friday, February 13. Make sure to include your email address so I can contact you for your mailing address.

The blog tour continues tomorrow on Carol Eaton's blog, and the full schedule is below. There are 14 (fourteen!) chances to win a copy of Julie's lovely book, one at each blog stop on the tour. Julie has wonderful tutorials and additional giveaways on her blog each day of the tour, so don't forget to head over there every day.

February 2: Lisa Chin
February 3: Lynn Krawczyk
February 4: Jane Davila
February 5: Carol R. Eaton
February 6: Judy Gula
February 7: Susan Purney Mark
February 8: Teri Lucas
February 9: Jennifer Coyne Qudeen
February 10: Deborah Boschert
February 11: Lynda Heines
February 12: Cheryl Sleboda
February 13: Terri Stegmiller
February 14: Jackie Lams
at

63 comments:

  1. Marcia ColingFebruary 4, 2015 at 12:09 PM

    I love learning all the different things you can do with veggies besides eat them!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cathy in gorgeous Sonoma CountyFebruary 4, 2015 at 12:31 PM

    Never tried carrots that way! Fun idea!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Maxine OliverFebruary 4, 2015 at 12:38 PM

    How cool is that? I've got to give it a try.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Carole @ Fresh off the FrameFebruary 4, 2015 at 12:52 PM

    Well, that looks fun! Now I'm seeing veggies in a whole new light. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. DeborahFebruary 4, 2015 at 12:53 PM

    There are always carrots in my house! Thanks for this!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Phyllis BrownFebruary 4, 2015 at 1:24 PM

    Love It. Would be awesome for fabric dyeing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. GillFebruary 4, 2015 at 1:44 PM

    What fun!
    I'll be trying this!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. BrendaFebruary 4, 2015 at 2:02 PM

    This book sounds like so much fun! I think the carrots I just tossed (no bunnies) would have been fun to try this with. No carving, no peeling -- just seeing what designs and textures would have been produced by an incredible tangle of white roots growing out all the way up the carrot outside. No leaves, just roots. Thanks for the demo and the chance to win a book.

    ReplyDelete
  9. janiceFebruary 4, 2015 at 2:30 PM

    I am loving seeing some of the ideas from this book. If I don't win it I will definitely be adding it to my wish list

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownFebruary 4, 2015 at 4:15 PM

    This whole blog world within a world of printing on fabric has my creative juices whizzing around. A carrot for goodness' sake! Oh I have ideas. As it is hard I wonder how it would take to carving, is what comes to my mind immediately. I can tell my kitchen will be a studio of its' own one of these days. HA! Love this post, Norma

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownFebruary 4, 2015 at 4:37 PM

    I recently purchased your new book. Love it. I belong to a surface design group and we are going to play with some of your techniques. It would be great to win a copy of this book so it could be a give away to another member of my group. Thanks for sharing. DebbieU

    ReplyDelete
  12. SusieFebruary 4, 2015 at 5:25 PM

    A very creative idea! Who else would have thought to carve a carrot?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Mary ElizabethFebruary 4, 2015 at 5:31 PM

    What fun. I popped over to your site because of the blog tour but have been exploring and will definitely be back. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  14. eily62February 4, 2015 at 6:16 PM

    Love the carrot! And so healthy.

    ReplyDelete
  15. DottiFebruary 4, 2015 at 6:19 PM

    Playing with food...who knew it could be such fun!

    ReplyDelete
  16. UnknownFebruary 4, 2015 at 8:41 PM

    I love the carrot idea! I will have to try it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sue AndrusFebruary 4, 2015 at 9:33 PM

    A great use for carrots! I don't eat the things, myself... ;)

    ReplyDelete
  18. PamelaFebruary 4, 2015 at 9:47 PM

    What fun! I'll think of this whenever I look at a carrot!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Maya Sara MatthewFebruary 4, 2015 at 10:05 PM

    What a super cool book must have loads of fun ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  20. DawnFebruary 4, 2015 at 10:13 PM

    This is so awesome, thank you for sharing! I would love to win the book. dawnm1993(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Carolyn MorganFebruary 5, 2015 at 1:15 AM

    Love these simple ideas that I haven't thought of before. Fun for Gelli plate printing also!

    ReplyDelete
  22. AlisonFebruary 5, 2015 at 1:45 AM

    What a great idea! I will now look at vegetables in a whole new way!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Judy Sall Fiber ArtFebruary 5, 2015 at 7:59 AM

    Never thought of using carrots that way... must try this!

    ReplyDelete
  24. UnknownFebruary 5, 2015 at 8:05 AM

    I have carrots and will try this. I like the roll

    ReplyDelete
  25. LynnePFebruary 5, 2015 at 8:50 AM

    This book looks so interesting. Thanks for the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Miss JeanFebruary 5, 2015 at 9:13 AM

    Reminds me of my preschool teacher days. Perhaps those art books should be relocated to the quilt studio?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Miss JeanFebruary 5, 2015 at 9:13 AM

    Reminds me of my preschool teacher days. Perhaps those art books should be relocated to the quilt studio?

    ReplyDelete
  28. Kaizen Fashion ProjectFebruary 5, 2015 at 10:59 AM

    What a FUN book! I'd love to win!
    heatheranne99 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. acornreadsFebruary 5, 2015 at 12:16 PM

    Got carrots, got cornholders, got dogs to eat the ends...I guess I'm good to go! I WAS going to make carrot ginger soup but this looks like more fun!

    ReplyDelete
  30. LydiaFebruary 5, 2015 at 12:22 PM

    Have to say, the title "Fun with Carrots" just cracked me up. And then I followed the title into a very fun post. Who knew carrots could be so versatile? I see much carrot frivolity in my future. And then I'll have some pretty cool printed fabric. thanks for the chance at the book which looks like a real winner.

    ReplyDelete
  31. k2sews@hotmail.comFebruary 5, 2015 at 1:43 PM

    Looks like lots of fun.

    ReplyDelete
  32. UnknownFebruary 5, 2015 at 3:49 PM

    A "carrot roller". Very clever idea.

    ReplyDelete
  33. PamFebruary 5, 2015 at 7:44 PM

    Love all these ideas

    ReplyDelete
  34. LauraFebruary 5, 2015 at 10:44 PM

    Playing with carrots! Reminds me of preschool with my children! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  35. jackieFebruary 6, 2015 at 2:44 AM

    Carrots are certainly an unusual printing tool.

    ReplyDelete
  36. MarybethFebruary 6, 2015 at 1:22 PM

    It looks like this book is a must have! I like what you showed

    ReplyDelete
  37. LisaFebruary 6, 2015 at 3:29 PM

    i would not have thought to stamp with a carrot this way!

    ReplyDelete
  38. afistfuloflemonsFebruary 6, 2015 at 5:30 PM

    This book is darling!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Linda SternFebruary 8, 2015 at 8:10 AM

    It got me thinking about other objects that can be carved and rolled or just rolled! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Dee SpillaneFebruary 8, 2015 at 6:10 PM

    I have never done carrot printing. How fun! Love experimenting with new "tools"

    Dee

    ReplyDelete
  41. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2015 at 8:48 PM

    Looks like alot of fun.
    Carole Hoffman

    ReplyDelete
  42. CyndyKFebruary 9, 2015 at 12:29 AM

    Wow, who would've ever thought to use a carrot! Very creative! Thanks for sharing with us! cknapp3626@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  43. Cindy HFebruary 9, 2015 at 2:30 AM

    Who knew vegetables could be so much fun! Thanks for sharing this.

    ReplyDelete
  44. liberal sprinklesFebruary 9, 2015 at 9:09 AM

    This is cool. I've printed with the stems of some vegetables but never thought to carve carrots. Need to try this!
    Grace
    liberalsprinkles at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  45. afistfuloflemonsFebruary 9, 2015 at 9:10 AM

    I commented earlier but forgot to leave my contact info: afistfuloflemons @ gmail.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Textile RecyclerFebruary 10, 2015 at 7:08 AM

    This is a great way to use up the massive number of carrots my other half buys! No one can possibly eat that many....LOL..
    (textilerecycler at yahoo dot com)

    ReplyDelete
  47. Treasures by LouiseFebruary 10, 2015 at 5:44 PM

    I can see me pulling out the whole produce drawer, and printing with all sorts of vegetables! Such a cool/simple idea.

    ReplyDelete
  48. RenateFebruary 11, 2015 at 1:23 AM

    And I thought carrots were only good for your eyesight! LOL! Who knew!!! sounds like the book is full of inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  49. SylviaFebruary 11, 2015 at 11:19 AM

    This reminds me of potato printing in first grade! What fun! Thanks for the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Judy MacFebruary 11, 2015 at 5:44 PM

    So many ideas in this book!

    ReplyDelete
  51. GoGayleGoFebruary 11, 2015 at 8:16 PM

    Very cool, great inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  52. Jennifer Scantlebury VienneauFebruary 11, 2015 at 10:56 PM

    That is a really neat idea! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  53. SarahFebruary 11, 2015 at 11:17 PM

    This book sounds so fun and full of inspiration! Thanks for the chance!

    ReplyDelete
  54. patty a.February 12, 2015 at 9:11 AM

    Who knew a person could do such things with a carrot! I have some in the fridge. I need to go play!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Connie Kresin CampbellFebruary 12, 2015 at 9:30 AM

    Now that would be a neat way to use carrots! Can't wait to try it!

    ReplyDelete
  56. NancyFebruary 12, 2015 at 9:36 AM

    A whole new use for veggies- love the results you got from the carrot! thanks for the chance to win a copy of this fun new book.

    ReplyDelete
  57. LaceflowerFebruary 12, 2015 at 11:58 AM

    How fun is that! Going to the grocer for carrots this a.m.

    ReplyDelete
  58. MokkiFebruary 13, 2015 at 6:27 AM

    What a fun idea. I just bought some wooden printing blocks last weekend like a sucker! I should have bought carrots!

    ReplyDelete
  59. Paula LemosFebruary 13, 2015 at 6:34 AM

    So fun! I would love to win this book; please count me in, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  60. virgdaleFebruary 13, 2015 at 2:55 PM

    Can't believe the possibilities.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Sew Can DoFebruary 13, 2015 at 10:56 PM

    This looks like such a fun book!

    ReplyDelete
  62. tktlFebruary 13, 2015 at 11:06 PM

    This looks like a great kid activity!

    t_ktl @ yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  63. Hilary FlorenceFebruary 14, 2015 at 12:50 PM

    carrot printing = this, I have to try!

    ReplyDelete