Stencilling on Canvas and Denim

How to create a stencilled design on fabric

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you a fun and functional project where I use stencils on different fabrics. The techniques can result in a simple yet elegant result like I show on today’s apron or you can do multiple steps for a more layered effect like I show on the canvas bag/tote. Let’s get started!

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The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project. The opinions I share are solely my own.

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How to create a stencilled design on fabric

My goal today was to create a matching set of items (for a crop or other crafting event for example): I have a denim apron, a small zipper tote and a large canvas bag as well as a matching denim flower (these base items are available at Canvas Corp Brands, although I resew the apron to a different shape because then it would fit me better). I washed the fabric items before starting my actual project.

For all of today’s items I used three The Crafter’s Workshop “Heavy Body Acrylic Paints” in the colours “Spun Sugar”, “Blueberry Pie” and “Black Licorice”. And I choose one of my favourite The Crafter’s Workshop stencils called “Art Deco Leaves” (TCW450s).

How to create a stencilled design on fabric

Step 1:

I started with the large canvas bag: I stamped on the fabric in random places using Archival “Jet Black” ink and a Darkroom Door background stamp called “French Script”. I did the same on the sides and on the back of the bag.

How to create a stencilled design on fabric

How to create a stencilled design on fabric

How to create a stencilled design on fabric

Step 2:

Then I mixed the Blueberry Pie paint colour with Vallejo “Textile Medium” on my glass work surface.

If you have worked with acrylic paints before and have spilled some on your clothes then you know that once dry they don’t wash out the fabric easily but I wanted to make sure that the design stays nice over time even if this bag will be washed in the future: with textile medium the paint adheres better to the fabric. I choose the blue paint in particular to make the item match the denim fabric of the apron.

Next I placed my stencil on the fabric and used a dry painters stippling brush to apply the paint over the stencil design using a up and down pouncing motion. This I repeated several times on the front, the sides and the back of the bag. Between placing the stencil on a free area I dried the paint with my heat tool so that the paint wouldn’t smudge.

If you feel you need some additional stamping then you can also do this after drying the paint.

How to create a stencilled design on fabric

Step 3:

I felt the colour needed darkening and that’s is why I repeated the same procedure with the Black Licorice colour, only applying it more sparingly.

After all the paint colours were applied I ironed the bag because for best resistance to washing Vallejo advises to fix the painted fabric by ironing on the reverse side!

How to create a stencilled design on fabric

Step 4:

To finish this item I first sew on the denim flower and adhered a metal butterfly for a fun accent (for this I also used thread and The Crafter’s Workshop “Matte Gel Medium” and then splattered with some watered down DecoArt Americana Metallic Acrylic Paint in “White Pearl” mixed with the textile medium (using a brush for splattering).

Some detail pictures:

How to create a stencilled design on fabric

How to create a stencilled design on fabric

How to create a stencilled design on fabric

How to create a stencilled design on fabric

Step 5:

In the same manner I decorated the small canvas zipper tote (working on the front and the backside).

How to create a stencilled design on fabric

Detail picture:

How to create a stencilled design on fabric

Step 6:

And the apron didn’t needed much I felt so for this item I only used the Spun Sugar white acrylic paint and applied the paint in the same matter as with the other items.

How to create a stencilled design on fabric

Detail picture:

How to create a stencilled design on fabric

And that’s it for today’s fun fabric project!

We would love to see what you create with The Crafters Workshop Stencils and Mediums.
You can share it with us on our Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest using hashtag #tcwstencillove.

Heidi Jakobs

The Crafter’s Workshop Design Team Member

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