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How to decorate an applique. Paper appliques - step-by-step instructions for beginners with photos and tips! Flat applications from pieces of paper

Every mother and father try to choose an exciting activity for their child that will not only occupy him for a while, but will also have a beneficial effect on the all-round development of the baby, will force the child to improve creative thinking, think, fantasize, and learn to concentrate.

Applications made from colored paper are an excellent option for your child’s useful pastime. Older children can engage in this creative activity on their own; children as young as one year old will create their first works together with their parents.

The role of applications in child development

Paper applique involves the step-by-step creation of a picture by gluing elements of different shapes and colors onto a cardboard or paper base. After looking at various photos of paper applications for children, you will understand what this type of activity is and what kind of finished work you can get at the end of the process.

The paper applique technology is quite simple. The child himself, or with the help of his parents, nanny, or teacher, must come up with what kind of picture he would like to depict, prepare the tools necessary for the creative process, make patterns of elements, one by one cut out small details from paper sheets that will be needed to recreate the intended image and sequentially glue them onto the chosen base.


So what is the benefit of such an activity?

Application creation process:

  • develops perseverance;
  • improves fine motor skills;
  • allows you to remember and distinguish colors and shapes;
  • teaches independence;
  • instills neatness;
  • teaches patience;
  • forms creative and imaginative thinking, etc.

The role of applications in the development of a child is undoubtedly great. They contribute to the multifaceted and diverse development of the child.

Here are some simple paper applique templates that may be useful for first lessons and introducing kids to the concept of appliqué.

Examples of applications

We will try to make a presentation of some of the easiest paper applications with which you can begin the process of learning this business.


Ice cream

To create such an application you need to prepare:

  • cardboard or paper base;
  • glue;
  • pencil;
  • scissors;
  • colored paper of various shades.

To begin with, on colored pieces of paper you need to sketch the main elements of the future picture: a separate cone and separate ice cream balls. Afterwards, using scissors, you need to cut out these parts. At the next stage, you need to glue the small elements in a strict sequence: the horn is attached to the base first, then, one by one, the popsicle balls.

After completing the steps, the resulting picture can be decorated with additional details: a cherry, chocolate chips (which also need to be cut out of paper).

Using such a simple algorithm of actions, you can make applications of different types: a plate of fruit, a fish, a bunny, and a house.

Volume applique

This version is a little more complicated, but the result is worth it. Let's look at how to make an unusually beautiful three-dimensional paper flower. To create it, you will need the materials indicated above, the only clarification is that the colored paper should be as thin as possible.

From the base you need to cut out the shape of a flower, this could be, for example, a rose bud or a chamomile inflorescence. Afterwards, you need to cut a lot of small pieces from paper of different colors and crumple them with your fingers.

Volumetric winter paper appliqués look very beautiful and believable and will be a wonderful gift for grandparents for the New Year holidays. On a cardboard base, you can depict a Christmas tree decorated with multi-colored balls, and using crumpled pieces of white paper, you can recreate a snowfall or install a snowman.

There are a huge variety of options for applications created from colored paper, so the child will not get bored with this activity; every day he will discover something new and interesting, while improving imaginative and creative thinking, quick wits, perseverance, discipline and intelligence.

Photos of paper applications

Appliqué on fabric is the creation of original ornaments, patterns and designs that are attached by sewing to various items of clothing. Today we’ll look at how to make applique on fabric with your own hands.

There are two methods that are used when attaching parts to make an appliqué:

  • Sewing;
  • Gluing.

If you are making a painting from fabric, then in this case the second method is used. And if they are used as various decorations on clothes, then the first method. You can sew either manually or by machine. When making the applique itself, craftswomen use several color schemes and also use various techniques. Today we will give as an example several master classes on making applique for children.

Necessary materials

  • Regardless of how complex your applique is, the materials in this skill are the same. You can use both natural and synthetic fabrics. You can combine smooth and shiny.
  • Appliqués made from such noble fabrics as velvet or corduroy will also look beautiful.
  • Of course, in this case you should not forget about convenience. Felt is considered the most convenient material.
  • If you are making a picture, then in this case the background should be much denser, and of course you should not forget that the background and the figures themselves must be in complete harmony with each other. It is also recommended to starch the fabric, because it will crumble less during processing. This applies only to natural types of fabrics. Synthetics do not need to be starched.
  • If you use very thin material in the application, for example, silk, then it must be treated with edible gelatin and dried before work.

Cute sheep

  • Non-woven fabric;
  • Sintepon;
  • White and beige fleece pieces;
  • Sewing threads in white and beige;
  • Beads;
  • White satin ribbon;
  • Scissors;
  • Sewing pins;
  • Sewing machine.

How to properly complete the application? Let's look at the step-by-step instructions.

Based on the template presented below, we draw our sheep on non-woven fabric. We cut it out.

After that, we place the cut piece on the padding polyester and cut it out, it is advisable to do this, leaving a little extra space on the padding polyester.

We lay padding polyester and interlining on the wrong side of the white fleece, as shown in the photo.

Using sewing pins we fasten all the components together. And we sew it on a typewriter.

We cut out the sheep, almost at the very line.

Now we are working with beige fleece. We pin and sew on the head and legs using a machine. The excess must be cut off.

Then we make a hat for the sheep out of white. Here's what happened:

Now we make a curl on the fur using machine stitching. Along the edge of the finished pattern, cut off the excess fabric.

Using a machine we sew the mouth and folds on the legs with a beige thread. We make eyes from beads, and embroider the nose with black thread.

This concludes the master class.

Paper drawing

For work you will need the following tools and materials:

  • Printed clown template;
  • Various pieces of fabric (you can use various pieces and scraps of fabric);
  • PVA glue;
  • Glue stick;
  • Crepe paper;
  • Markers;
  • Red wool thread;
  • Scissors.

So, let's get to work.

First, let's prepare everything you need for work and put it on your desktop.

Cut out a clown from the printed sketch.

Glue it to the background. The background color can be any at your discretion.

We cut the red thread into small pieces and attach them to the place where the clown’s hair is located.

Deciding on the fabric for the hat. We outline it on the fabric and cut it out.

Glue the nose and hat to the clown.

Now we cut out the eyes, eyebrows, mouth and cheeks.

Let's attach them. Use felt-tip pens to draw on the eyes, you can add freckles, it will be more original and beautiful.

Take green crepe paper and cut out a 2.5 cm wide strip from it. Stretch it as shown in the photo. This will be the collar.

We attach it to our picture.

That's all, our clown is almost ready. It remains to make a small touch. We take wire and crepe paper in pink and green. From green paper we cut out a strip 1 cm wide and wrap it around a wire, and from pink paper we make a flower. We attach it to the almost finished picture.

That's all, the application is completely ready.

We present to your attention templates for further work:

Video on the topic of the article

Applications made from colored paper have long been a traditional creative activity for children.

It allows you to develop skills in handling scissors, improve the work of children's hands and make the baby more careful. Every child will be able to make appliqués from colored paper with their own hands if they are given a feasible task.

So, the most affordable options for colored paper applique for children 4-5 years old can be:


Volumetric applications made of colored paper

Ladybugs. Cut out two red circles and a black semi-oval. Black dots are placed on the circles, after which one circle is glued exactly above the black semi-oval, and the second is bent in half and glued to the first circle. We complement the bug with toy eyes and antennae.


Materials for the “Ladybug” applique

We complement the bug with toy eyes and antennae.


Application "Ladybug"

Look at the video on how to make a ladybug applique using a different technique:

Application made from pieces of colored paper

Chanterelle. Cut out a triangle from a paper plate, and use a stapler to attach two triangles of orange cardboard to its round edge. Then we cover the plate with pieces of orange thin colored paper.


Fill out the entire piece of paper.


Triangles are ears and circles are eyes

All that remains is to attach the round eyes - and the fox is ready!


Ice cream. We draw or cut out ice cream cups from colored paper in advance and glue round cupcake molds to them, like creme brulee balls. You can also make other food applications with these molds if you use them as plates.


Application "Ice cream"

Application made from colored paper using a template

Bunny. We cut out the ears, head and triangular nose of the bunny in advance according to the template, as well as a bush of grass behind which it will hide.


We assemble the picture on a sheet of white paper, glue all the details and animate the bunny with toy eyes.

Application "Bunny"

Polar bear. Using a template, we cut out a round body, a head with ears, a muzzle and paws of a bear from white paper.


Let's complete the necessary details. We cover a sheet of white cardboard with blue watercolor, creating a background.


Against this background, we assemble our bear and complement it with toy eyes.


Application "Polar Bear"

Multilayer applications made of colored paper

More complex, multi-layered paintings containing small details can be used as appliqués made of colored paper for children aged 5-6 years. Preschoolers are quite capable of creating characters such as:

Fish. We cut out a triangular fragment from a disposable plate, cover the remaining part with “scales” - semi-oval pieces of colored paper of different colors, which need to be applied, slightly overlapping each other. We attach the tail and fins with a stapler, and glue the eye. Ready!


Here is another fabulous fish with colored scales.


Dragonfly. From thin paper we cut out the body of a dragonfly with a head and eight multi-colored wings.


Glue it all to a white sheet, complement the image with mustaches and toy eyes.


Application "Dragonfly"

Application made of colored paper and disposable plate

Chicks in the nest. Glue half of a disposable paper plate to a sheet of cardboard. We cut out three oval figures of chicks from blue paper.


We cover the figures with lumps of crumpled thin blue paper, and the nest with decorative shavings.


All that remains is to glue the eyes and beaks of the chicks - and the applique is ready!


Craft “Chicks in the nest”

In the “autumn tree” applique, a disposable plate serves as the background.


Application "autumn tree"

Applications made of colored paper using a complex pattern

Girl in the rain. This application is based on working with complex templates, according to which you need to cut out an umbrella, boots, head, dress, hair and hands of a girl.


What needs to be cut out for the “Girl in the Rain” craft

We assemble the picture on a sheet of blue cardboard, gluing the parts one by one.


Application “Girl in the rain”

Combined applique made of colored paper

Chicken with an umbrella. This application also involves working with templates, but if it is difficult for children to cope with such a task, teachers or parents can prepare templates in advance.


Materials for crafts “Chicken”

We decorate the umbrella with pieces of translucent colored paper, which will make the image more interesting.


All that remains is to collect the picture.


Applique “Chicken with an umbrella”

Volumetric applique made from pieces of colored paper

Flower. Cut out the outlines of a flower from a disposable plate or sheet of cardboard.


Cut small pieces of colored paper and roll them into lumps. One by one we glue the lumps onto the glue.


Carefully fill the entire space of the flower.


Application made of colored paper “Flower”

Another craft option is “sunflower”. Draw the outline of a sunflower on a piece of paper. Cut pieces of yellow and green paper.


Glue a black circle in the center. We begin to decorate the craft with pieces of paper. Before gluing the paper, crumple it a little - this will give the craft additional volume.

Sunflower applique made of colored paper.

Sunflower applique made of colored paper

Rainbow. It is made in much the same way as a flower: the child crumples colored paper and carefully places it in rows, observing the sequence of colors in the rainbow.


Application "Rainbow"

Using the 3D appliqué technique from colored paper, an autumn tree turns out to be very beautiful.

You can make a heart applique from pieces of red and pink paper. We use a heart made of cardboard as the basis.


We crumple the pieces a little and glue them to the base. The craft will look interesting if you alternate red and pink lumps.

Excellent appliques are obtained using the cutting technique. Small pieces of paper are glued tightly to one another using a thin stick.


This is an airplane that can be folded from pieces of paper using the cutting technique.


Instead of glue, small pieces of paper can be fixed to a plasticine base.


Flat applications from pieces of paper

The herringbone applique from colored paper is made using a very interesting technique. Pieces of thin tissue paper are glued onto triangular bases. In this case, the pieces can seal the edges of the Christmas trees and stick to one another. Only after this the triangular base is glued onto the pre-painted background.


Christmas tree applique made of colored paper

Straw man. The application is made using the mosaic technique. Glue the hat and head of the stuffed animal cut out according to the template to the sheet, and draw the contours of the body.


Materials for the “Straw Scarecrow” craft

The child’s task is to fill the body with pieces of colored paper, gluing them next to each other. We lay out the stuffed animal’s hair and beard using the same yellow pieces.


Sunset. We lay out sand and purple sunset with pieces of yellow color.





A small palm tree will complement the landscape.


Application "Sea" made of paper

Applique with quilling elements “heart”

Applications with elements of quilling or paper rolling look very impressive. In order to make an applique we will need colored paper, a pencil, scissors and glue.

Cutting paper curls

Glue the paper curls onto a pre-prepared base - a paper heart.

Decorate the curls with rolled green paper. The curls begin to resemble graceful roses framed by petals. We create an interesting applique using the paper rolling technique.

Application “Vase with flowers”

You can make a very impressive “Summer Meadow” applique postcard from colored corrugated paper and wire. The technique for making it is very unusual. We wrap corrugated paper several times around an easily bendable rod or wire. Fix the end of the paper with glue.


Squeeze the paper onto the wire. Cut off the excess wire and tuck the ends. We should get colored thick sausages.


"Sausages" made of corrugated paper

From these “sausages” we lay out an applique on paper.


You can make a very beautiful wall panel with yellow flowers from colored corrugated paper.

Applique on a paper plate “bed with carrots”

Very beautiful applications are obtained if they are based on a background painted in watercolors.


Application and drawing “spring”

Using different techniques and combining ideas in your own way, you can create unique paintings that will become a real manifestation of children's talent.

For the successful all-round development of a child, activities to develop fine motor skills are of great importance. One of the types of such activities is applications made from colored paper, templates for which were developed by methodologists taking into account the characteristics of the age groups of preschoolers.

It is important that the complexity of the task corresponds to the age of the child, that classes are carried out systematically, gradually becoming more difficult, and are carried out under the supervision and assistance of adults.

Paper applications- a creative process through which children learn about the world around them and acquire many skills. In addition to the development of fine motor skills of the hands, this includes coordination of movements, the study of colors and their combinations, the concept of composition, familiarity with various materials and textures, the development of observation, imagination and fantasy.

Working on an application in a team promotes organization, restraint, and accuracy. It is also necessary to note the development of spatial imagination: when doing appliqué, children create a whole from several components and, conversely, learn to divide the whole into parts.

Scientists have proven that in the cerebral cortex, the center responsible for fine motor skills is located next to the speech center and contributes to the development of speech skills.

Types of applications according to the template

There are three main types of application:

  • subject - the cut out parts have a simple, clear shape and proportions, an image is created that is not associated with any plot;
  • plot-thematic - correspondence to a certain plot (taken from a fairy tale or invented independently);
  • decorative – decorating postcards and photo frames with patterns of geometric shapes.

Simple applications for children 2-3 years old

Simple applications made from colored paper using templates can be practiced from the age of 2. However, some experts believe that children as young as 1 year can perform feasible tasks.

Initial lessons involve gluing pieces of paper onto a sheet in any form. At this stage, the child must understand and remember the basic actions: spread, turn over, apply, smooth. Kids are still attracted to the process itself; they will strive for the result later.

At the second level of complexity, templates are used. The child must place the elements also chaotically, but within the contour, and a certain image appears.


Application template from colored paper “Hedgehog”

A template is a schematic image of a future picture, drawn or printed on a printer. Simple templates for applications made from colored paper can include, for example, a Christmas tree with balls, a tree with apples, and others.

For such work, you need to prepare elements: balls, apples, etc. The child must determine for himself how to arrange them on the templates.


Palm tree applique template
Flower applique template

For small children, it will be interesting to perform a simple cut-out appliqué. The child watches the adult tear the paper into long strips, then tears them into shreds himself. These pieces need to fill the outline.

If the child wants to tear the paper himself, then these uneven, awkward strips can also be used to create an applique, for example, grass. Ants are drawn using finger paints.

Further, the task becomes more complicated: you need to hit the element on a specific place in the template or drawn outline. So, using cut out circles, an image of a caterpillar is created. At this stage, children are no longer interested only in the process, but also in the result.

When making appliqués from colored paper using templates and contours with children under 3 years of age, prepared cut out elements are used.

A three-year-old child can already be taught the skills of working with scissors with rounded ends.

At the same time, it is necessary to explain how to properly hold scissors and paper so as not to get hurt. You need to start with straight cuts, then work on bends and roundings.

At this age, children are already able to create simple plot pictures. Elements pasted onto the template allow you to create a specific image.

The background for the application can be a drawn outline with partially drawn elements. For example, children can populate a template aquarium with algae and stones at the bottom with inhabitants: fish, jellyfish, etc.

An interesting activity can be connecting and gluing a cut picture. If a child copes with such a task easily, it is recommended to complicate it: add raindrops to the umbrella, glue windows to the house with an attached roof. Such activities develop imagination, observation, and a sense of proportion.

Applications for children 4-5 years old

At this age, colored paper applications and templates for them become more complex. By preparing, together with an adult, elements for a future picture, the child shows more independence: cuts, selects colors and, thus, gains an understanding of composition.

This activity develops logical thinking and allows you to show creative inclinations.

For children 4-5 years old, a fun activity is making cards, which they then give to their parents and friends.

The base is folded in half and elements are glued inside the postcard to form a plot picture.

The templates developed by specialists are only examples indicating the direction of work.

Parents and educators can contribute their ideas. For example, using a cut out outline of a baby’s palm in an applique – such pictures evoke amazement and delight in children.


Applications with palm

The technique of appliqué using only circles reveals for the child the relationship between the parts and the whole.

When developing a child’s creative imagination, you should show him various techniques for working with paper: for example, folding it in the shape of an accordion. For such a picture you need to prepare a base and draw contours. The gluing process also becomes more complicated.

Complex applications for children 6-7 years old

Children of senior preschool and primary school age already have certain skills.

Practicing appliqué work from colored paper using templates during this period helps further develop fine motor skills, thinking, memory and concentration, and develops the ability to plan one’s activities.

An important circumstance is that the child foresees the final result of his work.

At this age, children develop the skill of cutting out individual parts and solid silhouettes, symmetrical elements from paper folded in half, as well as the ability to create compositions and correctly arrange their individual parts on a base.

At this stage, children study color combinations, analyze and compare details. The texture of the material also becomes varied: in addition to ordinary colored paper, creped (“crumpled”), streaked (glossy), textured (embossed or imitating velvet), and foil are used.

During this period, you can move on to volumetric symmetrical compositions.

To complete this task, templates (clouds, balloons) are cut out in the usual way. Next, two identical templates are folded in the center and fastened together (can be sewn). The prepared elements are glued to the base.

To make a three-dimensional bird, the template is folded in half and glued together, except for the wings, which are folded along the dotted line.

The resulting result can be pasted with one side and a wing onto the base (in the form of an applique) or turned into a craft by tying it to a thread and hanging it on a branch.

Having mastered the basics of composition at the previous stages, children aged 6-7 years are able to create entire paintings - landscapes, still lifes, using ready-made templates for appliqués from colored paper or making them with the help of a teacher or parents.


Applications using a disposable plate

Disposable plates are a convenient material with which you can create original and beautiful compositions. Made of polystyrene or cardboard, of different colors, with different embossed patterns, they can be both the basis for an applique and elements for it.

You can involve children from a young age in making applications from colored paper on a disposable plate using templates. On a prepared colored background, children arrange simple elements in the form of a pattern.

A more complicated option is to use two or more colors for the background and more complex elements. Children 6-7 years old create thematic compositions on plates or use them as material for individual elements.

Examples of gradually more complex appliqués on plates:

Combined applications

When making appliqués from colored paper, the patterns can be diversified by combining different materials.

Cereal applications

This type of application can be done even with small children. The algorithm of work is as follows: an adult applies glue to the prepared drawing, the child sprinkles cereal on it and lightly presses it with his finger.

The remaining grains that are not glued need to be shaken off. This activity instills attentiveness and accuracy in the child.

Older children can use different types of cereals. In this case, the glue is applied one by one to individual areas. To make the picture more colorful, it is recommended to first tint the cereal with gouache in different colors. You can use your child’s own drawing as a template; this will stimulate him and inspire him.

Button applications

To perform such an application, preliminary preparation is necessary. After studying the drawing and choosing colors, the child, with the help of adults, selects buttons that match the color and size. Then you should lay them out in a picture to visualize the desired result, and begin gluing.

For younger children who do not yet have the necessary skills, you can apply a drawing according to a template on a layer of plasticine - the child will attach the buttons by pressing. This technique is also applicable when working with cereals.

For combined applications, cotton wool, napkins, eggshells, natural materials - leaves, petals, seeds and much more are also used.

Multilayer applications

Multilayer (overlay) applications made of colored paper or other materials are made using templates designed or made independently.

This kind of work develops spatial imagination and cultivates aesthetic taste. They are made from paper, fabric, leather, felt - the main thing is that the edges of the material do not fray.

Multilayer applications, like other varieties, come in varying degrees of complexity. For little ones, this is a simple matter of gluing parts on top of each other. By fastening elements only on one edge, you can create a three-dimensional effect.

More complex appliqués have more details and require good scissor skills and a sense of proportion and color.

Older children, with developed fine motor skills and the skills to make complex parts, create real works of art - unusual compositions and even portraits. Light and shadow effects give them special color.

Multilayer appliqué is a truly creative process in which the child’s imagination and artistic abilities are revealed. It is necessary to think through the image, color scheme, and sequence of action, so this type of work requires a certain level of intelligence.

Piece applications

Appliques made from cut or torn pieces of colored paper using templates are a fairly simple form, even small children can do them. You need to apply a drawing to the base sheet. In addition to ready-made templates, you can use children's coloring books or come up with a sketch yourself.

The production of appliqué elements is carried out together with the child - small children happily tear the paper into pieces. If you already have skills in working with scissors, you can allow these elements to be cut out.

An important detail: the younger the child, the larger the fragments should be.

Having selected the desired colors, you can begin gluing. The glue is applied not to small parts, but to the template, in sections.

When working with children, this process is carried out by an adult; older children themselves apply the glue with a brush. When gluing pieces of paper, the child must accurately fall into the outline.

A type of applique made from pieces is trimming. This technique is quite complex, but children 6-7 years old are quite capable of it, especially when working in a group.

To master the cutting technique, teachers and parents are offered master classes on this topic.

Autumn themed applications

The bright colors of autumn make it possible to create colorful pictures of autumn nature. For applications on this theme, both colored paper and natural materials are used: multi-colored leaves, petals of late flowers, seeds, spikelets, twigs and other objects.

When making autumn-themed applications from colored paper using templates and in a free composition, the main attributes are preserved - flowers, mushrooms, fruits, acorns, and tree silhouettes are cut out and painted. An obligatory component is autumn leaves.

When working with natural material, you need to prepare it. The collected leaves must first be leveled and dried under pressure. If the leaf needs to be given any shape, then a fresh leaf is used for this, which is then dried.

For collages and mosaic paintings, you can prepare cardboard templates onto which the elements are glued.

Autumn nature is fertile ground for the flight of children's imagination. Leaf applications placed in a photo frame will decorate any interior.

Autumn lanterns will also be a spectacular decoration. To do this, the outside of the glass vessel is covered with multi-colored leaves (paper or natural), and a small candle is placed inside.

Winter themed applications

To create winter and, in particular, New Year's applications, any of the described techniques is used, depending on the age of the children.

The most common type of winter applique is snowflakes - this is a subtype of silhouette type applique. It is recommended to fold the sheet correctly, trim the edge and sharp corner, and make cuts on plain paper first - this is how the skill is developed.

In addition, pendants made of such snowflakes decorate the room. Thin, airy snowflakes can be glued to windows and other surfaces.

For small children, it is better to prepare templates (circles with an outline) and make a broken snowflake from pieces. For flat, voluminous, multi-layer snowflakes, you need to prepare patterns for cutting.

To make a traditional Christmas tree, kids use triangles from green paper, a snowman is made from white circles, and a teacher or parent helps add details to the applique.

Older children can be asked to make a Christmas tree from strips of paper or create a picture of a winter forest using templates using small pieces of paper or cotton wool.

A Christmas tree made of paper balls looks bright and voluminous. For this purpose, a template and elements are made from crepe paper. The main color is dark green; multi-colored balls are made for the garland.

An interesting applique depicting winter accessories allows children to show their creative imagination.

The hat and mittens can be decorated with any ornament, animal figures, winter pictures, beads or rhinestones.

Cotton wool is used to imitate fur.

Using a disposable plate, you can make a polar bear mask craft. Holes are cut out in the plate for eyes, the surface is covered with pieces of paper, and a disposable cup is used for the nose.

Senior preschoolers and elementary school students are able, under the guidance of adults, to create complex winter landscapes using mixed techniques.

Spring themed applications

Snowdrops and lilies of the valley, starlings and flowering trees - these signs of spring are traditionally used in children's applications made from colored paper using templates. The little ones perform simple tasks, placing prepared elements on the contours. These same images can be complicated by adding pictures of spring nature.

More complex compositions - voluminous, multi-layered, with a large number of elements - are created by children who have the skills to work with glue, scissors, a brush and use different techniques.

Lilacs in a vase made of cereals, a spring picture using drawing and appliqué techniques - these and many other ideas are offered by experts to parents and educators for educational activities with children.

Applique is a visual activity. Having achieved the desired result, the child experiences aesthetic pleasure, thereby joining the world of beauty, the world of art. A simple and accessible way for children to create artwork makes appliqué one of the favorite types of educational activities for children.

Fabric appliqués: how to make?

Schemes and sketches for work

Applique on fabric is a technique for creating various ornaments and designs by sewing fragments of fabric onto clothes, bags, etc.

There are 2 ways to secure applique parts: sewing and gluing. If they are making paintings and panels, the design is pasted onto the base, and if they want to decorate the clothes, they are sewn on by hand or using a sewing machine.

The application can use 1 or several colors, and also combine different techniques.

What materials and tools are needed for the job?

For applications of varying complexity, the same set of materials is required.

Prepare natural as well as synthetic fabrics of different structures. Texture options combine beautifully: fleecy, shiny, smooth. You can use natural and artificial fur, leather and silk. Appliques made of velvet, corduroy, burlap and cloth look good. The most convenient material is felt; it is best used to make paintings, panels, and decorate bags and backpacks. The background or base material should be selected depending on what fabrics you plan to use for decoration. The base should be denser and harmonize well with the colors.

It is recommended to starch the bases for paintings so that the fabric holds its shape and is easy to work with. Also, starched fabric will crumble less. Thick and synthetic fabrics do not need starching. This processing method is more suitable for natural thin materials such as chintz, satin, burlap, linen. It is recommended to compact very thin fabrics, such as silk and lace, with potato paste or gelatin. The material is dipped into the paste solution, and then ironed with a hot iron from the wrong side. Fabrics treated with gelatin cannot be ironed; it is recommended to simply dry them.

Required tools:

Large and small scissors; curved scissors may also be required.

A set of needles of different lengths and thicknesses.

Thimbles.

Embroidery hoop.

Safety sewing pins.

Copy paper and tracing paper for transferring the image onto the base fabric.

How to make an applique from fabric: step-by-step instructions

The principle of making appliqués is the same, regardless of whether you do it on clothes or decorate some products.

Before starting work, you need to choose a plot. You can come up with a drawing yourself or use ready-made diagrams. The subject matter should match the style of clothing, and the materials should combine well with each other. It is not recommended to make appliqués on clothes made of very thin fabrics.

After you decide on the plot, start selecting fabrics and other materials. This is a very important step, because the wrong combination of color or structure can ruin the whole job.

Decorative elements cannot be glued to clothes; they will not withstand washing and ironing. It is best to sew on appliques using a sewing machine, but you can also sew them by hand.

Children's appliqués made of fabric will decorate a child's clothes and accessories; with the help of such decor you can make even the simplest thing elegant and beautiful.

Also, old clothes can not be thrown away, but used to decorate various products.

Fabric appliqués are divided into 2 main types: flat and voluminous. In order to get voluminous work, place a small amount of cotton wool or foam rubber under the fabric. Volumetric decoration looks beautiful and original, but it makes washing and cleaning clothes more difficult. Also, over time, three-dimensional images may lose their original shape and will need to be adjusted.

To make an applique, draw or print sketches of the future work. First you need to adjust the dimensions of the finished diagram to the dimensions of the product you want to decorate. As a sample for sketches, you can use drawings in newspapers and magazines, postcards and other materials.

Most often, the drawing has to be enlarged or reduced; it is most convenient to do this in special programs on a computer.

Decorative elements should not contain unnecessary or very small details, otherwise the design will turn out somewhat blurry and it will be difficult to sew on. You need to immediately make a sketch in 2 copies.

One of them will be used for making a pattern, and the other is used to control the correct placement of elements on the fabric. The control drawing can also be transferred to the base using carbon paper.

Attach the pattern to pieces of fabric, secure with pins and outline with chalk. The direction of the threads on the pattern elements and on the main fabric must match. This is especially important for large parts. Some patterns require an increase in places where the pieces overlap each other. For example, if you need to connect a skirt and a jacket, you will need to add 3-5 mm of fabric to the bottom edge of the jacket. If the applique contains several identical parts, the cutting work can be speeded up and reduced. Fold the fabric in several layers and cut out all the elements at once.

Baste the finished parts to the base using a classic basting stitch. If the fabric is fraying a lot, make small stitches. It is best to place the seam along the edge of the parts, retreating 2-3 mm. It is recommended to make oblique stitches, then the threads that have come out of the fabric will be easier to grab. Sew the decorative elements on a sewing machine using a special thick seam or manually using satin stitches, chain or buttonhole stitches. You can trim the edges of the entire applique with decorative cord, which will decorate your work and highlight it.

If a thin fabric such as silk or chiffon is used as a base, it is recommended to sew an additional layer of material on the wrong side. It is best to take exactly the same fabric from which the product itself is made. The sketch must be transferred to the wrong side of the base and tucked into the hoop, securing it with sewing pins. Place the pins on the side where the sewing will be done. Carefully trim the remaining fabric with sharp scissors and stitch the applique with a double stitch or a special “roller” stitch. You can use a stitch for satin stitch embroidery.

Inside large elements you can make embroidery, openwork mesh and patterns. Decorating with beads, beads and sequins also looks beautiful.

If you plan to make a picture with applique, it is most convenient to use glue to secure the elements of the picture. The following types of glue are considered the best for such work: PVA, BF-2 and potato starch paste. Rubber and silicone glue is not recommended because they do not hold the fabric firmly and over time some elements may come off. Also, these types of glue can deform applications made from thin materials. A convenient and interesting way to secure elements to the base using an iron. To do this, you need to cut out an applique from a film or a regular plastic bag and place it on the base. All decorative elements are placed on the film in the required order and smoothed with an iron. You don’t need to heat the iron too much, it all depends on the type of fabric from which the parts are made.