GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
(by Di Gilliam)

SUPPLIES
-Heavyweight brown bag paper
*Note* I sometimes use brown paper wrap for mailing packages. Available at department stores
-19 guage wire
-Polyester fiberfill
-Scissors/Pinking Shears/Wire Cutters/Pliers
-Tracing paper
-Pencil
-Acrylic Paints
-Paint Brushes
-Matte finish clear acrylic spray sealer
*Note* I sometimes use gloss finish clear acrylic spray sealer, depending on how shiny I want my finished project
-Black fine-point permanent felt-tip pen
-Elmers White Glue
-Something to help 'stuff' the fiberfill, I use a knitting needle.

TRACING & CUTTING BROWN PAPER
-Trace pattern onto tracing paper. Be sure to trace all lines, and detail areas, although you will only need outside lines (outer edges) to start.
-Remove tracing paper from design, and turn over and go over again with your pencil, so that you have pencil lines on both sides of your tracing paper.
-Place tracing paper, with design, on a piece of brown paper. With your pencil, go over the design, pushing just hard enough to trace your design on to the brown paper. I usually only do the outside edge first, and then after the piece is cut, I will go back and trace the inside lines and details.
-Cut another piece of brown paper the same size of the one that you traced on. Hold securely, and cut out along the pattern that you have traced.
-Look at your piece that you have just cut, determine where it would be good to glue together, remembering that some areas will be tough to get to (with your fiberfill) if you glue that area together. Sometimes, I just glue the top or bottom together, in a small area, so that they are together.
-IMPORTANT-When gluing your pieces together, use ONLY a small, thin line of glue! The THINNER the better, because this will be your outside edge, and you want your design to maintain it's shape.
-Where ever I glue, I usually run the pieces together between my fingers, pushing the pieces together, and towards the outside, so that the pieces stay together, but more glue will come off on my fingers, which I wipe on a paper towel. If you just put a line of glue on, and press the pieces together, you are liable to get uneven lines, and areas that are uneven.
-I ALWAYS cut out my brown paper, and glue an area before I start painting. That way I know my edges will match, and when painting, I can also paint the edges, for a finished look.
-Let the glued areas dry before painting.

PAINTING
-This is when you want to make sure your inside deign is traced on to your brown paper.
-Let the project photo be your guide when painting
-I prefer to paint lighter colors first, but you can judge for yourself.
-I usually apply two coats, for an even coverage.
-Practice different techniques. You will soon learn what works best for you.
-Spray with sealer
PLEASE NOTE: I ALWAYS spray my projects after they are painted, but BEFORE the permanent black marker is used. The marker has a tendency to run when sprayed with the sealer, and I have ruined a piece or two by sealing after the black marker has been applied.

GLUING AND STUFFING
-After you have traced, cut-out, painted, applied sealer, drawn on your black permanant marker lines, you are ready to glue, and stuff.
-I usually glue and stuff a little at a time, again using a very thin line of glue, and pressing the pieces together.
-Glue and stuff your most difficult areas first
-It's your choice whether you want heavy of light stuffing. Most of my pieces are stuffed very heavily. After a few pieces you will be able to judge for yourself. Some pieces should be stuffed lightly. Just experiement.
-When you get to the very last little area to glue, make sure you have enough stuffing to fill to that point, and then glue and hold together. I use clothespins for this. In fact, I use clothespins quite a bit, because some areas are cut at quite an angle, and have a tendency to pull apart, so I use the clothspin to secure the area until the glue is dried.
-PLEASE NOTE: I have used many different types of fiberfill. There is no difference, once your piece if filled. I usually use small pieces at a time, and pull them apart for softness, and to prevent clumping.

PLEASE....HAVE FUN!!! There is no right or wrong way to do these Brown Paper Crafts! These instructions are a guide to help you get started. So, ENJOY!

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