Learn From My Mess-Ups

In this post I explained how I used my Q-Snap to make a screenprint...

... for these t-shirts.

I thought, why not try to screenprint my fabric papel picado?

Well, it worked...

 ...except!  For one hiccup.

I had my whole production set up on the patio out back, 

under the shade of the lattice.

I went inside to sneak a peek at Pinterest  do something important,

and when I came out...

GASP!!!

 The paint had dried on the screen!

And now the fresh paint wouldn't go through it!

No problem, 

I thought.

I'll just peel off the contact paper, and stick it to another piece of sheer fabric.

Yeah, that didn't happen.

So I had to start all over again, painstakingly cutting another piece of contact paper.

But, the results are pretty awesome, no?

Next time, though, Pinterest is strictly off-limits whilst screenprinting.

Bringing Something New To The Party

I've seen a gazillion posts on Pinterest on how to DIY screenprinting.

Some people use the actual screenprinting materials, but in a little frame.

Some use Mod Podge and wooden embroidery hoops.

Others, use contact paper as the "resist."

I put all those ideas in a blender, and came up with this:

I use some screenprinting paint I had, a screenprinting squeegie,

contact paper for the resist, sheer "curtain" fabric off the big bolts at Joann's, and my

Q-Snap quilting/embroidery hoop!

The beauty of using the Q-Snap is that I could get the fabric really nice and taut,

and when I was done, I could take out the fabric and do another design.

I didn't have to worry about storing a bunch of frames.

Also, my Q-Snap is huuuuge -- a full 16 inches across.

I could do some really big images with it.

The results?

Matching screenprinted t-shirts for the midnight showing of Hunger Games!