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Fabric Decoration/Painting
Elizabeth ekingdesign@yahoo.com
RE: Printing on Fabric
Couple ways you can do it: There are actually pre-treated sheets you can buy-- try a good quality fabric/quilting store or you can search the net.
For the DIY model, you iron fabric to freezer paper. This is paper coated on one side with a thin sheet of plastic. Some bright soul out there figured out that it's somewhat thermoplastic, so an iron will adhere the plastic to fabric, but also can be removed at a later time without damage. And the freezer paper can be reused a few times as well. Check in a grocery store with foils and plastic wraps. The freezer paper allow you to stabilize the cloth enough to run it through a printer (either toner-based or inkjet; I've also used this successfully with photocopiers-- fun!)
For toner-based printers, you don't need to prep the fabric, although I'd carefully reiron over the image with a very hot iron. Sometimes I find that the fusing rollers of a toner-based printer can't set the toner on fabric (probably can't get the heat to penetrate the slightly thicker fabric). As you iron, use pressing paper, a teflon pressing sheet or other pressing cloth.
For inkjet, you can fuse your fabric to freezer paper and run it through, but I find for maximum brightness, using a pre-soak like Bubble Jet Set really enhances the color. Longevity too, they say, although I've never performed any tests. Try this site for more info http://www.bryerpatch.com She has lots of info (no affiliation here, just a BJS user who's always looking for more info!)
If you iron freezer paper to the wrong side of your T-shirt, it'll both prevent bleeding through to the back and stabilize the fabric. That will make stamping easier. Haven't tried it yet, but I hear it's a good idea to brayer paint onto the stamp if you are going to go the acrylic paint route, dolores
I have not stamped a lot of fabric but my experience is: ALWAYS wash the fabric first. 100% cotton holds the color the best. I use a sponge brush to apply the paint. I have used Deka Fabric Paint along with those Tulip paints we were all using a couple of years ago in T-shirt painting. I just apply with the foam brush and WASH OFF STAMP QUICKLY ! You can also make an Iron-On Transfer by embossing in tracing paper then ironing it onto your fabric. This is the easiest way to use the more detailed stamps.(but of course it will be a revisers impression so you cannot use this on words) This can also become a pattern to paint in later.
I took a class on fabric stamping a couple of months ago. We washed the item to be stamped (to take out the sizing). We made our own stamps out of economy sponges. They give great texture to the stamping. We cut out hearts, squares for checks, fruit, etc. I made a watermelon out of a U shaped piece, then I cut a smaller U in the middle. I painted the larger U in green, and the small piece red. I Used a sharpie marker to outline the watermelon, and to add seeds to the red center. We used acrylic paint mixed about 50-50 with medium. This gives the paint the flexability it needs to be washed. We put the paint onto paper plates, so it could cover the sponges easily. (It also makes clean-up easy.) Then just heat set it in the dryer for 20 minutes (after the paint is dry-I did mine the next day). My daughter did really cute pillowcases by alternating a square and a heart. The acrylic paints mixed with medium would probably work for the stamps without detail, too.
Here's some info that I hope will help everyone!!!
1. Yes, you can use regular rubber stamps to stamp on fabric. Just keep the stamp "clean" of too much paint. If there's too much paint then you'll clog the detailing of the stamp and you'll end up with a blob. If you want to practice then purchase some muslin or cotton sheeting as that is relatively cheap.
2. I haven't tried the new color boxes---yet but I have used the Fabrico pads and have had great success.
3. Fabric inks do not ruin your stamps. I wash them off when I'm done and this removes most of the ink or paint. If you're using a permanent ink then wash as soon as you're through stamping. I normally clean with warm water and a brush but you might want to try Formula 405. I use to use this with great results but its expensive and I'm a cheapie.
Can you use regular stamps to stamp on fabric?
You can with the fabric stamp pads...but try each stamp on scrap first to make sure you like how it turns out.
2-Has anyone used the new color box fabric stamps that you heat set?
3-If you use regular stamps, does the fabric ink ruin them for regular stamping (whatever THAT is...)
Nope! Do clean them fairly promptly though. The ink tends to be a bit crustier than most inks. > > 4-Can you stamp on cotton/poly, like a 50/50 blend?
Stamp on your bedsheets! This is a great way to practice, errors don't matter, it's entirely fun and your spouse will think you have really lost it. It's a great way to entertain children too! I have used Fabrico (really impressive, used pretty small detailed flowers, didn't fade, crystal clear imprints, have to heat set it), Deka paints (only good for big images like Zimprints, but great color and permanent), Sanford permanent ink (stinky, only comes in black, stamps have to be carefully cleaned afterward, but really permanent and works great with finely detailed stamps), and acrylic paint mixed with fabric medium (works great! lots of colors, cheap...I buy the Bulk Crylic from Nasco. You just have to make sure you don't use too much medium into the paint or it will be too thin). All of these methods have the problem that the darker the fabric the more altered the colors become.
To apply the paint my best discovery has been to use a foam brayer for single color prints. This has cut my time in half and really really makes for a neater print. It does seem to use up more paint..but the end result is much nicer.
I have not done much fabric stamping, but recently took a class from Toni of Stamp Camp who taught us stamping on fabric, wood and procelain. She said that the major tip for stamping on fabric is to choose the stamp to fit the type of fabric. If it is a looser weave like Aida cloth or sweatshirts, you should use a stamp with bold lines and not much detail. If you are stamping on Linen or some other tightly woven cloth, a detailed stamp will work nicely. We used Inkgems from Stamp Camp for the stamp itself. It comes in a roller bottle and comes in brown and black. We then used a wonderful metallic fabric paint by Jacquard to color the images. It came out very nicely.
I'm working on two projects. The first is a sweat shirt that has the ribbing cut off and surged around the edges and then hand sewn a pretty pattern around the edges. Now I take muslim fabric and iron to Wonder Under. Then I take my favorite stamps and ink with Fabrico ink. Stamp images far enough apart so you can cut out shapes or very close to the image. Once you have colored your image with Fabric markers or acrylic paints. Place the image on your sweat shirt and iron on. I will do some plaid fabric scrapes and other stuff to. This will be a great gift item.
2nd project. I found 6 white aprons for about $16.00 for all of them. I'm going to stamp my name and favorite images on it and ware it when I do demos. You could stamp these up for your favorite cook or crafter. I should always ware an apron when I craft. It will save cloths and my body from damage. (I have a scar on my leg where a drop of hot glue fell.)
Tips & Techniques: Satin Embossing, Silk, Velvet
Tutorials: Painted & Stamped Tshirt