make: printed fabric

Projects for the home are one of my most favorite to do.  Don't get me wrong I love shopping for decor, but at the end of the day seeing something I made feels just a little more special.  Since we recently moved to a new city, I've been trying to come up with more projects I can do that have a high impact with low cost (because lets face it, moving isn't cheap!).  I've seen this plus sign print all over lately, but in my quest for pillows one case having a price tag ranging from $38-52 wasn't doing it for me- this is where the diy saves the day! (i originally shared this diy on gussy sews)

You can use this tutorial for any sort of fabric project you have, but today I'm showing you how I made new pillow cases for our future home.  The supplies I used were fabric paint, brush applicator, stencil and pillow cases.  I used a thin piece of cardboard for my stencil, which was hand drawn & cut out with an xacto-blade.  Tip: Pre-wash and dry your fabric so the chemical base the manufacturer uses on the fabric comes off and it accepts your paint better.

If you are going to be making a lot of prints with your stencil make an extra copy as the paint can weaken your stencil as it gets wet.  Place a piece of cardboard or some sort of protector under the layer of fabric you are working with so it doesn't bleed through.  Tap your brush in paint and dab-dab-dab like this to fill up your design with paint.  Tip: if you aren't a stencil type, opt for stamps!

When you finish lay flat or hang to dry for a minimum of 24 hours and wash & dry your fabric again (or follow the manufacturers instructions from the paint you are using).  This project is great because it really can be used for so many things like tote bags, scarves, baby stuff... enjoy!

If you have ever painted on fabric how did it go?  If you have any tips or tricks, share with me!