Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Day #3: Fabric Printing at Home Blog Tour




It's Day #3 of the Fabric Printing at Home Blog Tour! Today I'd like to introduce surface designer, author, and paint flinger, Lynn Krawczyk.

Lynn Krawczyk
I’ve spent the last fourteen years exploring every facet of fiber art before finding the sweet spot that makes my artist heart feel home: surface design and collage. I print fabric because it’s the most honest part of my day, when paint meets fabric and a piece of artwork begins to build. It’s a simple act that is true and the definition of who I really am.
 
I also write – to teach art techniques, to paint a picture of people, to give clarity to the quiet parts of my creative self. The more I move into this creative life, the more precious it becomes. Writing is like breathing for me, it holds me together in small brief motions that add up to the sum of the whole.
http://smudgedtextilesstudio.com


Lynn is feeling particularly generous today! She is offering TWO copies of Fabric Printing at Home PLUS a set of her wonderful stencils as giveaways! So be sure to stop by her blog today to leave a comment.

Be sure to stop by Lynn's blog today to have a chance to win this set of her stencil designs.

Heart to Heart Fabric
It's getting closer to Valentine's Day and I'm planning a number of Valentine's-themed projects for the Blog Tour. Today I want to tell you how to make a quick Valentine's day cloth using scissors, a craft knife (X-acto), an iron and freezer paper (it also helps to have a cutting mat). For those of you who haven't used freezer paper, you can usually find it in the wraps and foil aisle at your grocery store. Its original purpose was to wrap and freeze meat but now it's often marketed to crafters. Freezer paper has a paper side and a plastic-coated side. When the coated side is warmed it can stick to fabric...and that's what we're going to do!

1. Remember folding and cutting paper hearts? Well, that is the first step in this project. Fold freezer paper (paper-side out) and use scissors to cut different-sized heart shapes.

2. Open the heart shapes up (uncoated paper side up) on a cutting mat and cut designs out of them. I spontaneously cut designs...almost like doodling...with my craft knife. You could also use a pencil to draw designs before cutting them out.


3. Arrange the hearts with the plastic-coated side down on a piece of colored fabric. I used a piece of cotton fabric that I painted with red fabric paint.


4. Carefully place your fabric with freezer paper hearts on an ironing board or pad. Heat the iron to the cotton setting (since we're using cotton fabric) and iron over the freezer paper designs. If you're worried about getting any of the coating on your iron, place a piece of parchment paper or a Teflon sheet over the fabric first. The hot iron will warm the plastic-coated side of the freezer paper and the hearts will adhere to the fabric.

5. Mix up some opaque fabric paint. I used a mixture of white and blue Pebeo Setacolor opaque fabric paints.

6. Use a foam dauber or stencil brush to apply paint through the cut away designs in the hearts and around the heart shapes.


7. Pull off the freezer paper designs and voila! you have your Valentine's Day heart fabric!


Today's giveaway is a brand new X-acto knife with #11 blades! You'll find this tool very useful for designing freezer paper masks and stencils, cutting corrugated cardboard for print blocks and designs out of recycled postcards and many, many more techniques that can be found in my book, Fabric Printing at Home.




Leave a comment by 11:00 PM (Eastern USA time) for a chance to win this giveaway prize.Your comment also enters you in the final drawing on February 15 for a free copy of Fabric Printing at Home: Quick and Easy Fabric Design Using Fresh Produce and Found Objects. 

 And now for the winner of yesterday's giveaway (a Linoleum carving tool set)....congratulations to PK Sews! Please email me with your contact information (threadborn@cox.net) so I can send off your prize.

Tomorrow, it's time to visit fabulous fiber and mixed media artist, Jane Davila.

Be sure to visit all the stops on the Tour:
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 10: Deborah Boschert
February 11: Lynda Heines
February 12: Cheryl Sleboda
February 13: Terri Stegmiller
February 14: Jackie Lams

45 comments:

  1. Even though I have used freezer papber to make patterns to cut shapes, I never thought to use them like this. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope you try this technique, Janice...you can get very detailed results.

      Delete
  2. Hi, Julie. Your blog post today reminds me of a question--can you use freezer paper cut out more than once? I know I could just try it, but I haven't yet, so thought I would just ask.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Marcia- I find that you can usually get at least one more use out of the freezer paper once it's been ironed.

      Delete
  3. Wow that's a super simple technique Julie with fantastic results and thanks for explaining what freezer paper is, must look for it.Don't think we have it in India.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Maya- I'm providing a link to the company that makes it. I'm pretty sure that some craft companies are marketing it too. I'll see if I can find out more for you.
      http://www.reynoldskitchens.com/products/freezer-paper/

      Delete
    2. Hi again- Dharma Trading Co carries it and C &T Publishing also makes some. Here is the Dharma link:
      http://www.dharmatrading.com/transfers/freezer-paper-sheets.html

      Delete
  4. Love the heart fabric. And what a great way to print.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tassie- I really enjoyed cutting out all the little details from the heart shapes...it truly felt like "doodling" with a craft knife!

      Delete
  5. I haven't thought about using paper stencils in this way. Great idea and something to keep my hands busy at night cutting them out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know what you mean--love to keep my hands busy cutting stencils and carving blocks...a bit of a meditation.

      Delete
  6. Thanks for a great tutorial - I shall definitely be trying it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad to hear that you're up for giving it a try!

      Delete
  7. Freezer paper stencils! The possibilities are endless and you creative ideas have sparked some ideas of my own. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right! Endless! That's what I love so much about using simple items to make new and interesting fabric designs.

      Delete
  8. I love freezer paper stencils! Some times I use them with Shiva paintstiks! Can never have enough exacto knives!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lisa- I've also tried them with Shiva Paintstiks. I especially like blend the stik paint over stencil/masks to reveal some beautiful effects!

      Delete
  9. This is a fun blog hop! Thanks for dreaming it up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Carol...it's been a lot of fun for me..esp. when the other bloggers on the Tour share their "take" on a technique.

      Delete
  10. I went looking for my supply of freezer paper just the other day to make some quilting piece templates, but couldn't find it, so it's on my grocery list now. Fun heart fabric, but I don't think one gets to that level of "free hand" cutting expertise without lots of practice!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah...but the great thing about freezer paper is that it's translucent so if you don't want to "free-hand" cut you can put it over a design and trace!

      Delete
    2. Have you ever used Deli paper for painting on or stencils?
      Thanks for the giveaway! Great Inspiration

      Delete
  11. Crazy cute valentine cloth! Love to design fabric!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cathy- I think designing fabric is just the best! I never get tired of doing it.

      Delete
    2. Hi again and congrats! You are the Day #3 giveaway winner! Be sure to send me an email with your mailing address (threadborn@cox.net). Hope you continue to follow the Tour...lots of great info and more giveaways!

      Delete
  12. I am loving this hop and the book. Your ideas are great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Denise...I've been having a lot of fun seeing how the other artists interpret the techniques fr the book.

      Delete
  13. This is so so simple. Inspiring and doable. Thanks so much for the instructions. I like your foam dauber. Norma

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Norma- Thanks, I hope that you give the freezer paper a try. The dauber is just upholstery foam and a rubber band!

      Delete
  14. Thank you for a great giveaway - both the knives and book. The book looks fantastic. I've also shared your giveaway on my Giveaway List for sewers & quilters at wowilikethat.com. Thanks again. (debbie at wowilikethat dot com)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Debbie-thanks for sharing the giveaway and Blog Tour info...the more the merrier!

      Delete
  15. Love the heart designs!
    (This is Jan but it looks like I am Walt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jan- Thanks for following along (even though you already have a copy of the book!). I'll continue to have tips and projects so stay tuned!

      Delete
  16. Reading your book will give me wonderful idea to be able to create my on unique fabrics. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Bonnie...that is my hope...to give folks a book full of ideas to make their own fabric...and using things you have around your home.

      Delete
  17. More wonderful ideas! Thanks! Can't wait to see the book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Deborah- I find it an exciting challenge to keep coming up with new ideas (or new takes on old ideas). Stay tuned and keep coming back through Feb 14...more giveaways, projects and tips!

      Delete
  18. Such neat hearts! I would love to win!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Maeve- This was a fun project for me...let myself really go with all those crazy heart designs!

      Delete
  19. Love the hearts. Going to try them with some of my clients who love fabric and paint!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Excellent Carolyn! Have fun with all those hearts...more hearts to come in future posts!

      Delete
  20. Like your work - very nice!
    mumbird3(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  21. That looks so neat - this book would be so fun to try out!

    ReplyDelete