Making Stencils

Hi Jo.
All of a sudden it's summer.
It's hot. I am not complaining..I like it. It's just a surprise.

Here's what i am doing on my porch today. I am making stencils for some sun printing that's going to happen soon.

Easy to make with a glue gun.

This is the first one I made. Here's how i did it.

I used foam core on my table and laid parchment paper on that. I tried green tape but it would not hold the parchment so I pinned through the four corners. It's a little windy but I think even in the house I would want to secure the parchment.

Then I just started with my designs. I heated up the glue gun and started drawing lines. I did a grid.

and then I did circles

and then back to a grid like layout.

 It was fast and easy. I finished four different stencils within an hour. 

Things to look for...make sure that your threads are connecting. When it has cooled down you can lift the stencil from the paper to make sure that it will hold together. If it starts to fall apart just add a bit more glue.

On the first one I laid a piece of parchment over the stencil when it was still warm to flatten it a bit. but because the glue is at different temperatures throughout that idea didn't work too well. The parchment stuck a bit on the most recent part and I had to wait for it to cool before I could remove it. 

I am not sure that it needs to be flat on both sides for what I will use it for anyway. 

It's easy to come up with ideas. It was getting too hot on the porch so I came in.

 How will I use these masterpieces ? 

I will place them over top of my painted fabric when I sun print. 

I will put one underneath my fabric when I sun print. 

I will cover the stencil with paint and press the design onto my fabric.

I will put the stencil on a gelli plate and place fabric over top and get a design.

I will scrunch my  fabric and print a design.

I will lay the stencil over black fabric and spray with bleach or colour remover.

I am always open for more ideas.

Hope you are having a good day.

karenwhohasagluegunandknowshowtouseit