DIY Screen Printed Good Witch Tote Bag

 Are you a good witch or a bad witch? You'll definitely be a Chic Witch when you screen print and embellish your own faBOOlous DIY Good Witch Tote Bag!  The Tulip Screen-It Machine makes it super easy to custom create and burn your own screens that you can use to print on all sorts of surfaces.  Add a little Tulip Beads in a Bottle glitter accent, some seasonally apropos decorative trims and you'll be absolutely enchanting.

DIY Rocker T-Shirt

Using the Tulip Screen-it and some scissors you can turn a boring t-shirt into a fun printed tank for summer. For this project I used one of my husbands old t-shirts, since it’s a little large, once it’s tied it works perfectly. The t-shirt I used has David Bowie on it, so I created a graphic of a lightning bolt and used the Tulip Screen-it which is really easy! I was amazed! Follow the instructions on the ILTC website and you’ll be able to create your own awesome t-shirt designs in no time!

TOOLS & MATERIALS:

1 T-shirt a few sizes larger than normal

Tulip Screen-it

Tulip Soft Fabric Paint

Aleene’s Tacky Spray

Graphic image

Scissors

Ribbon

Aleene’s Fabric Fusion (optional)

Timer

Sponge

step 1

Choose your design and print it out in black ink. It’s very important that your image is dark.

Find a room in your house that you can make a dark room. Cover every possible place that light could get in.

Set up a plastic bin with enough water to soak your film once you’ve burned your screen or use your tub, if your bathroom works best for your darkroom. That’s what I did.

Once your room is ready, use the yellow light bulb as your only source of light.

Be sure to have all your supplies with you, Aleene’s Tacky Spray, your films, your graphic, the Screenit, squeegee and a timer before you get started.

step 2

Spray the base of your Screen-it with the Aleene’s Tacky Spray and place your film on top of the base. Use your squeegee to smooth out any bubbles.

Next, spray the design side of your graphic with the Aleene’s Tacky Spray and place it graphic side down on your film.

Place the frame and the top of the Screen-it on top of your graphic.

step 3

Turn on your Screen-it for 8 minutes.

When your 8 minutes are up lift the top of your Screen-it, rotate it 180 degrees, set it back on top and turn it on for another 8 minutes.

You will use your Screen-it for a total of 16 minutes.

step 4

When that is finished, peel your graphic off your film and submerge your film in your pan or tub of water and let sit for 10 minutes.

This is where you’ll see your design emerge!

step 5

When your 10 minutes are up, lay your film on top of the base from your Screen-it and using a sponge (soft side only) rub your film under running water.

This will loosen the emulsion on your film, revealing your image.

Let your film dry.

For more detailed instructions on using the Screen-it click here.

step 6

Now you’re ready to print your shirt.

Lay your t-shirt out on a flat surface.  

Use the base of your Screen-it inside your shirt, this will provide a hard surface to screen on and keep any paint from soaking through.

Spray the area of your shirt with Aleene’s Tacky Spray and place your film on top.

Place the frame of your Screen-it on top of your film. 

step 7

Apply a generous amount of your Tulip Soft Fabric Paint across the top of your design.

Hold the top of your film with one hand and use your squeegee to pull the paint across your design with your other hand. Be sure to add even pressure with your squeegee as your pull it across.

You may need to do this a couple of times. Depending on the color of your shirt and your paint.

My image is a bit light, since I used silver paint on a dark gray t-shirt, but I wanted a vintage faded look. Using lighter colored t-shirts will give you a stronger color with your fabric paint.

Let your image dry.

Be sure to rinse out your film when you are done, it can be reused many times!

step 8

Now you’re ready to cut your t-shirt.

Lay it out flat and cut off the sleeves and the bottom band.

Cut the neck in large scoop shape, you can go slowly with this and keep trying it on as you go. That will keep it from getting too big to wear.

Cut the back of your t-shirt lower than the front.

step 9

When your t-shirt is cut the way you want it, you’re ready to tie the back.

Using a ribbon or the bottom strip of your t-shirt or whatever you like, wrap your two back shoulder straps with your ribbon and tie in a bow.

 

step 10

The front of my t-shirt was puckering a bit (since I’m not much of a busty gal) I used Aleene’s Fabric Fusion to hold small tucks on either side of the neckline.

I also used the Fabric Fusion to hold the bow, just a few drops inside the knot, to keep it from untying.

I had so much fun using the Screen-it, in a really short time you can create fun graphics for t-shirts and so much more! Also, this way of turning a t-shirt into a tank is a great way to keep those old t-shirts from ending up in the rag pile! You could also use small adult or teen sizes to make tops or dresses for girls! I guess I know what my daughter will be wearing this summer!

To see more DIY fashion be sure to check out my blog at Trinkets in Bloom.

Back to (Pre)School Screenprinted T-shirt

Whether your wee ones are heading back to daycare this fall or are college-bound (not so wee ones), it's always a treat to have fresh togs to celebrate the occasion -- learning! Yes! When I was brainstorming ideas for dressing my little one, I was inspired to try out my shiny new Tulip ScreenIt machine (unlike paper stencils that can wilt a bit after a few uses with soggy paint, you can print in bulk once you make a screen that you like! -- I'm stashing that thought away for future birthday party favors...) For this one, I riffed on a little ditty I penned last year to the beat of the esteemed Sir Mix-A-Lot with a nod, of course, to the toddler set and their literary repertoire.



Materials:
-Tulip ScreenIt kit (including fabric ink/paint, brayer, design screens, and a darkroom bulb to install in your workspace)
-8 1/2" x 11" sheet of printer paper with black design printed on it ("I like board books and I cannot lie." in Arial font, size 54)
-tub of water large enough to accommodate the screen
-non-abrasive sponge
-plastic covering for your work surface
-blank T-shirts in the appropriate size



Make it:
1. In a totally light tight room (my bathroom is the only room in my apartment that qualifies, so welcome to my bathroom, dear readers!), place one of the blank screens onto the foam bed, then layer your design face down on top of it.  Close the ScreenIt system, sandwiching your design and the screen between the foam bed and the light lid. Then flip the switch on the system to expose the screen to your design. (I set my smart phone timer to 14 minutes.)


2. When the timer goes off, briefly submerge the film completely in water (since we're getting so well acquainted, welcome to my bathtub!). I left the darkroom light on (that's the yellow tinge you see), but it's safe to turn on the regular overhead light at this stage.


3. Place the screen on a flat, dry, plastic-covered surface for 30 seconds, then begin gently rubbing a wet sponge over the design to "bring out" the design and clarify it. (Note: I didn't have a sponge, so I used a wadded up wet paper towel, which isn't ideal, but can work in a pinch.) Let it dry completely (about 45 minutes to 1 hour).


4. Slide the T-shirt over the foam bed of the machine, centering it as best you can.


5. Place the design screen (right-reading, if you use text like I did) and then the black frame over the design, to keep the shirt and screen from shifting. (Note: Because of the size of the shirt I used -- very tiny! -- and the placement of the design on the screen, there was overlap, making the screen not entirely secure.)


6. Apply a thin line of ink directly to the screen, along one side of the design.


7. Use the brayer to firmly spread the ink over the entire design, always swiping in the same direction.


8. Remove the black frame and peel back the design screen. Rinse the screen immediately, without scrubbing it, so that you can let it dry and use it again. (As you can see, mine smudged a bit because the screen shifted slightly because of the small tee, but I think it just looks a little raw and edgier!)


9. Let the shirt dry completely -- about 4 hours (no heat-setting required) -- and then dress your studious little guy or gal for success!


Variations:
-Since your screen can be used up to 75 times (I haven't tested this!) if you rinse it immediately after using it (don't scrub it!), try printing the same design on multiple different items. Print the design across the tush of a pair of pants for a crawler, or down the leg for a little one who's walking. Print on bandanas, skirts, jackets, shoes and socks, even!
-Use your screen as a pattern that can be layered and repeated (see the white T-shirt in the photo above) -- this is especially smart for when it smudges a little too much -- just go with the mistake and turn it right around into something great!

MAYA IN THE MOMENT TEEN CRAFT: Screened & Glittered Tee

My first official t-shirt for my band!

Hi! Not sure if any of you know, but aside from crafting, I'm also a musician. I teamed up with my amazingly talented and handsome homie(check him out!!)- BoiFromIpanema - and we formed a duo called Rhinestone Graffiti.

OK, so we've had one gig so far (on my mom's cruise, lol) - it was spontaneous and we had so much fun that we are doing it again, this time in New York City, next week!

Part of the fun of performing is making and wearing band merchandise! So I used the Tulip ScreenIt to make our first official Rhinestone Graffiti band shirt. I'm the "Rhinestone" half and Jeshua is the "Graffiti."

Print image on paper before burning on the screen.

To use the ScreenIt, you print out a design (or you can draw with a marker) on apiece of copier paper and then use it to burn on to a pre-emulsified screen. You wash the screen,l et it dry and then you are good to go. Watch my video below for a step-by-step process on the printing techniques I used!

I must take after my mom, because I couldn't stop myself from adding glitter and crystals to the end result.

What I love about the ScreenIt is that you can burn a design and then use the screen over and over to make more shirts. I hope to make a dozen more and sell them at our gig!

Here is a video of how I printed my shirt, and below is a video of Rhinestone Graffiti performing "At Last." Hope you like both of them! (Wish us luck at our gig, ok?)


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Don't forget to come join me on my Facebook page! http://facebook.com/mayainthemoment

Tulip ScreenIt: Everything you need to know!

Click here to see the exclusive Tulip ScreenIt site.

We are super excited over here at iLoveToCreate because we launched the new Tulip ScreenIt machine!


Just like a sewing machine and a glue gun, we feel this is a must-have tool for every crafter, artist, designer - not to mention moms, teachers, business owners, etc. Anyone who has ever wanted to easily silkscreen their original images far and wide - we thought of you while designing this system!


This machine is lighter than a sewing machine and is very portable. It comes with pre-emulsified screens, that you burn your design into with an image printed or drawn onto a sheet of lightweight copier paper. Once your screen is burned, you simply rinse it, let it dry and then use the machine's base to slide under your surface so you can add your favorite Tulip Soft Paint color.


Okay, that is the simplified version. But it really it is very easy to use!

We have an entire website dedicated to all things ScreenIt, so you can learn all you need to know!

- Where to buy it 
- How to use it
- Frequently Asked Questions and even our in-house designers' tips!
- Free designs for you to use

Are you excited? What would you like to make with a Tulip ScreenIt? Leave a comment below and let  us know!