A TECHNIQUE DRIVEN Blog dedicated to mastery of surface design techniques. First we dye, overdye, paint, stitch, resist, tie, fold, silk screen, stamp, thermofax, batik, bejewel, stretch, shrink, sprinkle, Smooch, fuse, slice, dice, AND then we set it on fire using a variety of heat tools.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Layered Monoprinted Fabric



I am so excited to be your guest blogger for May!  Monoprinting fabric is one of my favorite techniques. So, I thought I would show you my process for creating layered, mono printed fabric. All of these techniques are in my new book, More Fabric Art Collage, 64 New Techniques for Mixed Media, Surface Design, & Embellishment.   I look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments on the technique!

I start with either fabric paint or as above acrylic paint and a fabric painting medium.  If using fabric paint, the medium is not necessary.  

If using acrylic and medium, mix together onto freezer paper or acrylic sheet. 

 Continue mixing.



Place material that you wish to make a monoprint of onto paint.  You can also stamp, draw, or press found objects onto paint.  Here, I used bubble wrap.  
 Place fabric face down onto monoprint.  Lift up to reveal the design.  I use the painted bubble wrap to add a stamped design onto blank areas of fabric.  Let fabric dry completely.
 Next, I mix Dye-na-Flow with water.  Test variations of added water to determine the shade of color you desire.  Dye-na-Flow is very concentrated, so a little goes a long way.  
Paint the diluted Dye-na-Flow onto the monoprinted fabric.  You can see that a lighter shade of Dye-na-Flow works best to help highlight the printed fabric design.  Let color dry.
 Repeat with another color, here I used Cranberry Red.
 One of my favorite techniques is to scrape paint across the fabric.  Simply load a paint scrapper edge with acrylic (I often use white), and scrape across fabric several times.
The next step is to collect found items for stamping onto monoprinted and painted fabric.
 Brush paint onto found object, and stamp onto fabric.  If using bottle caps, simply dip the rim into paint and then stamp.  Use several objects to create texture and interest to fabric.

Next I collect and choose stamps that I have created from craft fun foam (thick kind).
 Brush paint (acrylic or fabric) onto stamp.

Stamp onto fabric.

 Finally, I stencil designs onto fabric using commercial or handmade stencils.




I like to incorporate a couple of different stencil designs.
I use this fabric as a whole cloth (for quilting), cut it apart and use it for patchwork, cover journals, the possibilities are endless!

38 comments:

  1. I am so excited too that Rebekah has agreed to be the guest blogger. I think continuing with the monoprint technique that Karen introduced and methods to add a second (third, fourth, fifth, LOL) layer to the monoprint is great!

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  2. Welcome, Rebekah! How fun to have you post and share your ideas! I loved post and look forward to more!

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  3. Thank you Michele for the warm welcome! I am glad you like my post.

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  4. Is is a beautiful background in order to do with a collage.
    I'm curious what you will show us more

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  5. Welcome Rebekah. I also love monoprinting and in the spirit of the Fire blog, I already bought your book. Boy is it PACKED with great techniques. Very exciting.

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  6. I love Rebekah, I have her other book! She is so talented!!

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  7. Love this, and will be buying the book even If I don't win it (though of course I would love to!)

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  8. I think you are a very talented person and I love the thought process behind this technique. Congratulations.

    From Kaye

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  9. I love the idea of using the freezer paper with the paint on it! I have not been interested in 'doing the gelatin' thing as it seems way to labor intensive for me, but I LOVE the ease of this! I've been creating backgrounds with stencils & paint & am always looking for new ideas, Thanks!

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  10. Like Stacy above, thanks for the tip about the freezer paper. The whole gelatin plate thing was a bit of a barrier for me. Definitely a technique to try. I feel all fired up! Thanks!

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  11. Thank you to everyone! I am enjoying reading your posts!

    Rebekah Meier

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  12. Welcome from me too, Rebekah! I'm really looking forward to this -- I think this will be a great follow up to the stuff we did last month! I've ordered my book from my friend Cathy Neri at QBU and can't wait for it to arrive. She has a special "friends of Karen" (which is anyone who reads this blog)offer which includes free shipping and handling. Her toll free # is: (877) 315-7131.

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  13. This was exciting and inspiring! So nice to see a great technique that uses paints, as I have several fabric paints, but have needed some guidance and inspiration (and am very new to this and am a little intimidated by dyes). Really appreciate this!

    - Lori

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  14. Oh I love all the colors and patterns!!!! Welcome Rebekah!

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  15. Wow! I love this design, and thank you for sharing the process! Very inspiring. Wonderful work!

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  16. Beautiful! And thanks for sharing the how to. Love your work and would love the giveaway :)
    DianeD
    dmd@dainis.com

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  17. Great post! I love doing layers on fabric, only I usually use thickened dyes rather than paints. But your examples are very inspiring! I may have to try paints again. Would love to get your book, and may add it to my collection even if I don't win the drawing! Thanks for sharing with us...

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  18. I am glad you like the idea of using freezer paper. It is inexpensive and disposable. Though sometimes the design left on the paper is cool enough to use for another project.
    Rebekah Meier

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  19. great instructions! Your book is on my wishlist...

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  20. Thank you! I will be trying this and I have put the book on my amazon wish list!

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  21. It´s great to have you on the Fireblog this month Rebekah. And, since your new book did not arrive yet in Europe ;-), I started rereading your first book Fabric Art Collage which is also very inspiring! Will join your Layered Monoprint Fabric-process later this month!

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  22. I like the idea of using freezerpaper! Thanks for the chance to win your book.

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  23. like I´m a newbee, I learn a lot out books and blogs ... but I wonder can I use an acrylplate in stead of freezer paper ?

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  24. What a lot of creative ideas you give to us. Thank you so much! I will try this at home.
    I will have a look at your first book. As Nienke said, in Europe your new book isn't available yet.
    gr. Marjolijn

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  25. great ideas and i will try them out,thnak you very much
    greetings Lita from the Netherlands

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  26. Thank you for sharing this technique with us, it looks so easy using freezerpaper. I will definitely try this at home :) Greetz, Nadia

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  27. I love your first book so I know I would love to own the second one. Great technique! I love the look.

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  28. Wonderfully clear instructions! Thanks for sharing them! This technique will surely be on my TO DO LIST!!

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  29. Lovely view on monoprinting

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  30. Cri-cri, if you are referring to a acrylic plastic type surface, that would work great!

    Rebekah meier

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  31. I love to see the the possibilities here.Thanks a lot !
    Now I am a follower of this Blog...!

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  32. Its so ice to see how you did this. Thanks for sharing.

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  33. Great tutorial! I enjoyed seeing your process and the detail of the description and pictures. Now I need to put your book on my to check out and buy list!

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  34. This is so fun! I should love to get that book!
    Gunilla in Sweden
    http://gredelinasyr.blogspot.com

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  35. Thank you everyone for the nice posts. I hope you will show what you have created with the technique.

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  36. Thanks for the tutorial Rebekah....it seems much easier to create complex cloth when your step by step pictures and comments are so easy to follow. Personally I love dyna flow paints,I've worked with them a little bit, but didn't know to dilute them, so thank you for that great tip already. I do have your first book and would love this second one. Thanks for sharing.

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  37. Thank you so much Rebecca for posting this wonderful tutorial. I am defenitely going to try it. It looks woderful. Since I am living at a very small island in the Caribbean it is not so easy to get books. But I am going to look for it on the Internet.
    Wonderful job en beautiful results.

    els

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