A stencil along

(Download: freezer paper stencil tips PDF)

I'm a bit of a magpie: I simply can't resist shiny things.

I like a few sequins, a diamante or two and some rhinestones. I can gaze at twinkling Christmas decorations for hours. I have trouble walking past any fabric containing even a hint of lurex. I habour secret desires to wear inappropriately sparkly eye make-up. I once thought that puffy glitter fabric paint was a good idea.

So you see, the lure of shiny explains this latest acquisition. A pot of shimmering black pearl fabric ink. Its lustrous and beautiful. I had to have it. Another case of buy now; think later.

So I've finally come to the thinking part.

Following a brief interlude after the granny square crocheting, I can see another hapless craft experiment on the horizon: freezer paper stencilling.

If you haven't seen this before, it involves cutting out an image from the sheet of freezer paper, ironing the paper to your fabric and then stencilling. Et voila, a beautiful image! Or that's the theory.

I'm a bit excited about this one.

There are loads of lovely examples of freezer paper stencilling about (for example, look at this one over at Angry Chicken). It would be really fun to do some t-shirts for Argy and Bargy, especially as the materials aren't too expensive. And from what I understand, you can even print nifty initial images onto your freezer paper using an inkjet printer. Note to self: best check this out with Mr HB. We don't really need another printing fiasco like this.

All else aside, this particular project seems to meet one essential criteria: I think I actually understand the instructions. A complete turn-up for the books. In fact, I reckon I could knock out at least one half-way decent t-shirt in a month. And if it all goes pear-shaped, I can quietly sneak the freezer paper into the kitchen cupboard and pretend that it never happened. Excellent.

So, care to join in a Freezer Paper Stencil Along? Trust me, if you are time poor, this is for you. The bar is set low each week.

This week, my aims are to:

1. Find and read a few tutorials.
   On my list already are these good ones at Craftster and Unwind.
   
   
2. Get my hands on a roll of Reynolds Freezer Paper
   From the little reading that I have already done, it sounds like this US product is the stuff to use. It can be ordered at various places, such as quilting supply shops.
   
   
3. Launder a piece of fabric that I can do a test run on.
   I'll probably use calico, as I have metres of the stuff for sewing toiles.
   
   
4. Think about what kind of image I will use for my first test-run (hopefully, in a week's time)

A bit on how I've fared, next Thursday ...

Edit: This was Team Stencil. Check out their blogs for stencil inspiration!

3 Red Buttons
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