Stenciling on Fabric with Renegade (vinyl) Stencils 2016 Shelly Stokes Cedar Canyon Textiles www.cedarcanyontextiles.com
You can purchase or make stencils from many different materials. Here are the pros and cons of several types of stencils: Traditional Stencils Traditional stencils are those where a series of shapes are cut into a piece of mylar, plastic or durable material. When you are creating a traditional stencil, there is one rule that must always be followed: You must have bridges or connection points between all of the design elements. Without the bridges, parts of the stencil would simply fall apart. Paper/Stabilizer Stencils Freezer papers (and paper-like stabilizers) are often used for stenciling images on fabric. Freezer paper has a plastic film on one side, and will adhere to fabric when pressed on fabric with a warm iron. (Always, shiny side down!) These stencils are paper thin and less likely to cause paint to build up in the stencil openings. Renegade (Vinyl) Stencils Renegade stencils are cut from permanent or outdoor adhesive backed vinyl. With Renegade stencils, there is no need to include bridges between all of the design elements. (Don t you love breaking the rules?) The adhesive backing on the vinyl serves as a very effective resist, making it unlikely that paint will seep under the edges of the stencil. 2016 Shelly Stokes Cedar Canyon Textiles www.cedarcanyontextiles.com Page 2
Would you like your paint wet or (almost) dry? Here are some thoughts on stenciling with liquid textile paints vs. Shiva Artist s Paintstiks. Liquid Textile Paints There are many paints on the market formulated to work on fabric. They work best if fabric is pre-washed (without fabric softeners) to remove sizing. Choose the type of paint for the effect you want to achieve. Pay special attention to the heat setting instructions for the paint you use or risk seeing your hard work disappear in the wash. Shiva Artist s Paintstiks Shiva Artist s Paintstiks are oil-based paints in a crayon form that have a fabric-friendly formula. Made from wax, a low-acid linseed oil and a heavy dose of pigment, I call these paints as crayons for grown-ups. The biggest plus for Paintstiks is that they are very dry compared to working with liquid paint. They don t run, drip, or seep under the edges of stencils. On the flip side, Paintstik colors do not dry as quickly as liquid paints. If you paint fabric for a sewing project, you need to plan two work days one for painting and one for sewing, with time in between for the paint to dry. When stenciling, Paintstik colors are typically applied with a brush. For more intense colors, you can add paint directly in the stencil openings and smooth the colors with your fingers. All iridescent Paintstik colors and most of the matte Paintstik colors are certified as non-toxic. I don t recommend finger painting with the four Cadmium-based colors or Cobalt Blue. 2016 Shelly Stokes Cedar Canyon Textiles www.cedarcanyontextiles.com Page 3
Your Silhouette cutter is an amazing stencil-making machine. Here are the steps for turning permanent (outdoor) vinyl into Renegade Stencils. Decals vs. Stencils To create a vinyl decal (or appliqué), you cut a design with your Silhouette machine and then remove the excess vinyl from the background of the design. (See top image at right.) To create a Renegade Stencil, you do the opposite. Leave the background in place and weed away all of the openings in the design that you want to paint. (See lower image at right.) Apply Transfer Tape The big secret to making Renegade Stencils work is the process for transferring the stencil to your fabric. To keep all the stencil elements in the correct place, apply a piece of transfer tape (or transfer paper) over the top of the stencil. Use a scraper tool (or something similar) to make sure the tape is firmly pressed onto the stencil. Lift Stencil from Backing Next, peel the stencil away from the backing paper. Watch carefully as you peel the stencil up to make sure all parts of the stencil come up from the paper. 2016 Shelly Stokes Cedar Canyon Textiles www.cedarcanyontextiles.com Page 4
Next up, apply your Renegade Stencil to fabric. Position Stencil & Press Firmly with Scraper Position your Renegade stencil on the fabric as desired. Use a scraper tool (or something similar) to make sure the stencil is firmly stuck onto the fabric. Remove Transfer Tape The secret to removing the transfer tape is to keep the tape flat on the surface as you peel it back. If your stencil has unconnected design elements, you may need to go back and forth between peeling the tape, and using the scraper (see the previous step) until the vinyl design elements stick to the fabric instead of peeling up with the tape. Press One More Time Before moving on, place the backing paper over the Renegade stencil and press once more with the scraper tool. For best results, the stencil must be firmly stuck to your fabric. 2016 Shelly Stokes Cedar Canyon Textiles www.cedarcanyontextiles.com Page 5
It s time to paint! Here is your recipe for adding color with Shiva Artist s Paintstiks. Add the First Layer of Color After removing the film from the outside of your Paintstik, rub a small amount of paint directly into the openings of your Renegade stencil. Scrub Paint Into Fabric Using a stencil brush, gently scrub the paint into the fabric with a circular motion. This step will make sure that there is a firm bond between the paint and the surface of the fabric. Add More Paint, Smooth With Fingers After the first layer of paint is in place, add more color as desired. At this point, I smooth the paint with my fingers to avoid brush marks in the paint. Repeat this process with several moderate layers of paint rather than adding a super thick layer of paint on the fabric in one application. 2016 Shelly Stokes Cedar Canyon Textiles www.cedarcanyontextiles.com Page 6
Here are a few things you need to know about finishing up. Blend Colors as Desired Paintstik colors can be mixed and blended in any combination that pleases you. The goal is to get a nice strong color without creating a lot of buildup along the edges of the vinyl design elements. Allow Paint to Dry Paintstiks are oil based paints and take a bit longer to dry. Most stenciled images will be dry to the touch in 24 hours, but humidity and the amount of paint on the fabric will determine the actual drying time. Wait at least 24 hours before heat setting Paintstik colors. To heat set, place fabric paint-side down on parchment or kraft paper. Press with a hot, dry iron for 10-15 seconds. (Do not use steam.) Remove Renegade Stencil For best results, leave the Renegade stencils on your fabric for 24 hours before peeling it up. If you just can t wait, using a tweezer rather than sliding something under the edge of the vinyl bits will make paint smudges less likely. 2016 Shelly Stokes Cedar Canyon Textiles www.cedarcanyontextiles.com Page 7
STENCILING WITH SHIVA PAINTSTIKS Paintstik colors are great for stenciling on fabric because the paint doesn t run, drip or seep under the edges of the stencil. When stenciling, you add paintstik color with a brush rather than using the paintstik directly. If you are blending several colors together, it is helpful to have at least one stencil brush for each color family. GET READY Remove the skin from the end of your paintstik if you have not already done so. Rub the paintstik on a palette surface. Load the paint onto your brush. STENCIL AN IMAGE Spray the back of your stencil with repositionable adhesive (such as Spray & Fix 404) or secure one edge of a mylar stencil with tape. If you are using freezer paper stencils, use a warm iron to adhere a freezer-paper stencil to your fabric. Use post-it notes to isolate the image (or portion of an image) you wish to paint. Hold your brush at a 90-degree angle to your fabric and use a circular, scrubbing motion to apply the color. Apply additional layers of paintstik color until you are satisfied with your results. If you are blending more than one color, start with the lightest color and then add the darker colors. Carefully lift a portion of the stencil to check your progress. If a freezer-paper stencil separates from the fabric as you work, lay a clean piece of paper over the stencil and press with a warm iron to re-adhere the stencil. CLEAN UP TIPS My favorite cleaning supplies are Cedar Canyon Brush Soap and Citra- Solv Cleaner. Here s how I use them. Cleaning Brushes Use Cedar Canyon Brush Soap to clean your stencil brushes, hands and work surfaces. - Scoop out brush soap with brush - Work brush soap into bristles - Rinse with warm water - Repeat if needed - Allow brushes to dry If your brushes have been sitting for several days, soak them in solvent, then brush the paint off onto paper towels. Use a citrus based solvent such as Citra-Solv if you prefer not to use regular solvents. Cleaning Stencils Mist stencils with Citra-Solv, then wipe gently with a soft cloth to remove paint and sticky spray. If you wish to reuse freezer paper stencils, allow the paint to dry and then store them for future use. Cleaning Your Hands Wash your hands with Cedar Canyon Brush Soap or soap and water to remove paintstik color. You may find it helpful to have baby wipes handy to clean your hands as you work. Clean brushes with Cedar Canyon Brush Soap Clean brushes with Citra-Solv 2016 Shelly Stokes Cedar Canyon Textiles www.cedarcanyontextiles.com Page 8
About The Author Shelly Stokes Shelly is an author, artist, teacher and entrepreneur with a passion for transforming fabric using both traditional and unexpected techniques and materials. She is best know for her work with Shiva Artist s Paintstiks and the many ways they can be used on fabric. Shelly turned her passion for fiber art into a highly successful niche business. While Cedar Canyon Textiles was initially formed to sell her hand dyed fabric, Shelly changed the focus of her business to concentrate on Artist s Paintstiks and accessory products in 2005. Ten years later, changed course yet again, and is now teaching fabric lovers around the world to create fabulous one-of-a-kind fabric through her online courses. She is a leader in embracing computer-driven cutting machines and teaching others how to integrate these marvelous machines into their fabric art. Over the course of her career, Shelly has written and published three books, created and manufactured lines of rubbing plates and stencils, and sold millions of dollars worth of books, paints, stencils and rubbing plates into the quilting and fabric art markets. Books by Shelly Stokes Paintstiks on Fabric Simple Techniques, Fantastic Results Paintstiks on Fabric is the essential paintstiks handbook for quilters and fiber artists. In this best-selling book, Shelly explains everything you need to know about applying paintstik color to fabric, from basic information about paintstiks to detailed instructions that enable you to transform ordinary pieces of fabric into unique works of art. Design Magic For Paintstiks on Fabric In Shelly s second book, she invites the reader to join her in exploring the magical world of design and creating personal fabric prints. Design Magic provides a simple threestep method for creating positive and negative designs, turning them into stencils, and transferring the designs to fabric with Artist s Paintstiks. Rubbing Plate Roundup Create Textured Treasures from Fabric, Paper, Clay, Metal and Paint Rubbing Plate Roundup is the definitive guide to adding texture to fabric, craft and mixed-media projects. In this book, Shelly has gathered up twelve of her favorite techniques for creating texture with a wide range of materials. Each technique is presented with a comprehensive supply list, straightforward instructions and beautiful step-by-step photographs. Cedar Canyon Textiles 877-296-9278 hello@cedarcanyontextiles.com 2016 Shelly Stokes Cedar Canyon Textiles www.cedarcanyontextiles.com Page 9