- You do not need a screen print screen or special tools to do this.
- Secondly, screen print paints are the same paint/ink used to create professional designs on fabrics, so the end result is not a “painted on” look but rather a gorgeous professional finish like any silk screen design.
- Screen print paint has an ingredient that makes the paint/ink stay exactlywhere you paint it on and doesn’t bleed and no color variation! You can see what I mean in this close up shot:
When it comes to deciding on a design layout for fabric, the possibilities are endless! So far, I have worked with masking tapes for my geometrical designs and large permanent adhesive labels to create other designs. For this technique, a really strong adhesive back is the key to getting a perfect line. If you look closely, you can see how I laid out the tape and labels to create the designs on some of the pillows I have made:
I have worked with several different masking tapes and so far, I have found that any 3M Scotch brand masking type tape works best and the paint doesn’t seep under the tape.
Instructions:
1) This project will work on any fabric except silk. I used canvas twill on the two Halloween pillows above. I have tried almost every fabric and it works on everything including velvet and again, the only exception that I have found is silk.
2) Fold your fabric in half (front and back of pillow) and slide poster board or thicker paper in between the top and bottom just in case the paint goes through the back of the fabric.
4) Next, decide on your pattern layout. For the Halloween pillows I used wide Scotch brand masking tape and for the bat I printed out my bat design onto an 8.5″ x 11″ large permanent adhesive label (3M). Not all tapes are created equal! If you want to try other kinds of tapes or labels, you should test them first.
I have found this out the hard way!
5)For my bat design, I carefully cut out the design on the label and removed the backing and placed it where I wanted it on my fabric:
7) I have only used Simply Screen Screen Print paint and cannot speak about any other screen print paints. Simply Screen offers about 12 different standard colors and usually mix colors together to get my desired color.
***Mixing screen print paints together is kind of like mixing jello and you wonder if it will every mix. But, eventually, you get the right consistency and texture. If you are mixing colors, remember to give yourself ample paint because you don’t want to run out of a custom mix. Also, the paint dries about 1/2 shade darker than the paint looks wet! (you can test it on fabric and dry it with a hair dryer just to be sure):
9)Go up and down and then left and right over each area. You will see what I mean as you begin painting, it’s more like ink. Try and spend as little time as possible brushing along the tape lines because eventually, too much paint along the lines the adhesive naturally begins to lift. I try to get just the right amount along the lines and never go back over the lines after I have paint once or twice. Wow, I sound like a craft drill sergeant!
10) Screen printing paint takes a very long time to dry! Like 12 hours! However, if you put a fan on your fabric, the wetness on the tape will dry after about 2 and you can then carefully begin removing your tape. If you’re like me and cannot wait 12 hours to see your fabulous results and do the “it worked” crafty dance!
And speaking of inspiration…. It’s Friday.
I constantly emailed this blog post page to all my friends, since if
like to read it afterward my friends will too.
That is such useful knowledge! I made t-shirts for my son once using spray paint, and lets just say the results didn’t last. I am totally going to use screen paint next time! I think I also need to get some pillows done as well. Thanks so much!
or you could just take way cheaper normal fabric colour and do the same.
The Simply Screen screen print paint that I use is the same price as fabric paint, $2.99! There is a big difference in the finished product as well. Fabric paint looks painted on screen print paint is like an ink and there is no color variation.
Love the bat. Thanks for sharing. Im going to look for that pant
Paint lol 🙂
Awsome tut!
Yup, freezer paper stencils will work with this as well. My kids and I have done freezer paper stencil shirts with screen print paint (the Speedball kind) with fabulous results–one design used three colors, too. I like how when you iron it to set it, it really looks like it’s melted together into one image, not a bunch of brush strokes. There are so many different things to stick on fabric before painting it. 🙂 I love the geometric results from the tape!
So happy to read this today. I have been doing freezer paper stencils but felt certain that the paint I was using was not ideal. It just occurred to me this morning to seek out the type of paint that’s used for screenprinting, and I’m thrilled that you shared the details. Love your pillows!