Anyone for a game of cricket ?

No thanks, but l'd enjoy watching these characters play.

These are hot off the printing table and l wanted to share what l've been up to this morning.

l have my screen with the vintage image burnt on to it ( l will explain how l do this in another post)
The screen needs to be taped around the edges,on both sides, l just use packing tape, this prevent any ink bleeding out where the frame and the mesh meet.

 

 

The screen l'm using has two images burnt on it, so l cover the one l'm not using ,just with recycled paper.

My screenprinting board ,you'll have noticed has different tape markings and l use them to line up the position of  whatever item l'm printing on.

This is a tote bag ,so l've taped the outline of the shape of it, marked a centre.

l take my transparency film that l used to get my image on my screen, to find a nice placement of the image.

Now l'm happy with the position of my image, l lay my screen on top and of the transparency film

 

 

Mark the corners with tape, this gives me a guide to place my screen down in the same spot each print.

Make sure you remove the transparency film, before you try printing, l speak from experience.

 

 

 

l place just an old art canvas board inside my tote bag, just incase the ink bleeds through the layers of fabric, some inks are runnier.

 

 

                                              

 

 

Run a long blob of ink above the top of the image.

 

 

 



   





l've place my squeegy just above the ink ,the squeegy needs to be wider than the design, to give a nice cover.

 

l hold the squeegy with my right hand because l'm right handed and l hold the frame firmly in place with my left. 

Steadily l pulled the ink down to the bottom of my screen, at an angle of 45 `, while there l do a scooping action against the bottom of the frame and try and keep the ink on the rubber part of my squeegy as a need to do another pull down. (Still keep holding the frame firmly in place)

 

* have a practise with out any ink,  just to get the feel.

 

One more pull down with the ink , l don't like to do more than two pull downs, as the image can become blurry.

 

  

 

 

Now either place the squeegy at the top of the screen or where it won't touch anything you dont want ink on, again l speak with experience.

 

Also check your hands for any ink,(l like to keep a small wet rag close by,somehow l always get ink on my fingers !!)

 

 





 

 

Now gently lift the screen up.

Nows  the exciting time to see if it worked out. ( My first print l like to use a scrape of fabric or an old tea towel, so its not a waste if the image doesn't work out )

 

 

 

Hang each print as you go on a clothes horse or somewhere its not windy ( again l speak with experience)

 

 

 

Set the iron to a cotton setting,l don't use a dry iron and l iron straight on the design, moving the iron over it for about 1 to 2 mins.

 

 

 

 

l'm really happy with these prints,,,now what color next,,,the idea's never stop!!!

 

                                                                          ~ kim ~

                                                                       



Where does one start ?

Wow, how daunting a blank page, where does one start for their first blog post, well l'll let you know l'm not a gifted writer, and my grammer might be a bit off, but l'll try and make it interesting and include lots of photos.

My blog posts will mainly focus on screen printing, how l go about it, show my set up and l'll even share my mess up's.

l hope this is of interest and helps anyone interested in screen printing. There's nothing quite like lifting a screen up and seeing a print that works, but it can be a bit disheartening when its doesn't and l've had a few, but l've used them as a learning experience, well thats what l say at the time, while l'm muttering to my self, and pick my bottom lip off the floor.

Screenprint is a bit of trial and error, but l have found it to be a really rewarding and wonderful pass time, l even (sshh) day dream at work about my next idea's/project etc. In fact  l can't keep up with my idea's ,so l keep a note book full of them.

 I did some classes a couple of years ago ,well worth it, as l learnt heaps and that really fired up my passion for it, l even asked my dad to make me a exposure box for my birthday, which he did, gotta love a handy dad.

Well this blogging may take me a while to get my head around, but hope this is a good start.

                                                                          ~ kim ~