Contact paper is my new best stencil friend. If you’re a regular around these parts, you probably know I usually use freezer paper to stencil paint onto fabric (exhibits 1, 2, and 3). But this time around I used contact paper, and it was crazy easy! No more ironing the freezer paper to get it to stick — this stuff is already sticky. I’m all about it.
Materials
- plain flour sack towel
- contact paper
- pencil
- X-Acto knife
- craft or fabric paint
- paintbrushes
Make Time: 30 Minutes
Cut a piece of fabric to the width of the towel. Make it tall enough to accommodate the design you have in mind. Sketch and cut a design out of the contact paper. I went with some simple triangles, just to test the waters.
Peel the contact paper away from the backing and apply it to the towel. Smooth the edges around each cut to ensure that no paint seeps through. Apply paint to the open areas. Use enough to fully cover the fabric, but not so much that it pools or seeps under the contact paper.
Pull contact paper away carefully and let paint dry.
Bam! This one was kind of an experiment but I really love it! It’s hanging in my kitchen as we speak. A few of these would make a really fab hostess gift or stocking stuffer for the holidays, too. Go make some! xoxo
These are darling! Love your sense of color. They’d make great shower gifts!
//sometimesgracefully.com
Thanks Gracie!
Love these! Great Idea!!
..Becoming increasingly convinced that triangles make everything better. 🙂 Cute DIY Chelsea.
Thanks B! I’m becoming a bit obsessed with ’em as well… Triangles on everything please!
They are so beautiful!
The colour combination you chose is perfect
so cute. do you need a fabric medium if you just use craft paint (to keep it from feeling crunchy)?
Hi Ceci! I just used craft paint, so the spots with the paint on them are a little firm. I’ve tried the fabric medium in the past, and I found that it was more trouble than it was worth for the results it produced (it was a large-scale project, though, so maybe that had something to do with it). I’ve had really good luck with actual fabric paint if you’re looking for something that’s less crunchy.
oh my this is beautiful! must try to find some of that fabric today!!
Genius! I never thought of using contact paper for stencils instead of freezer paper. Makes so much sense! Seeing as freezer paper is so hard to find here in England, I know what I’ll be using for my next stencilling project. P.S. triangles are my fave!
Awesome, Sarah! So glad to help! I didn’t realize freezer paper was scarce in England. Hope this solution helps you out. 🙂
I love this!
Great job! Love the colour combination!
I’m always on the look out for plain tea-towels to get crafty with, but I can’t find them anywhere! Where did you get yours? If you don’t mind sharing?! 🙂
These are extra large flour sack towels that I found a million years ago on Etsy — I think the shop is closed now, but you should be able to search and find some there. (FYI, these were so large that I had to cut them in half and then sew a hem on the cut side. So be sure to check the sizes when you’re searching!)
Where do you get your fabric paint from? Which brand? I’ve only ever seen a spray version at Joann’s and it was a mess for what I was wanting to do. But this method I think would be great for what I want. Thank you!
Such a cute idea, Chelsea! I’m totally bookmarking this for Mother’s Day.
I LOVE THIS!!! Where do you get your colours from? Are they mixed by you? They are gorgeous….. =)
Hi Kairu! I didn’t mix the colors; they’re all various colors of craft paint. You should be able to find a wide array of color choices at your local craft store! Thanks so much — glad you like them 🙂
Love this. The results are so cute – a really polished tutorial as well. Loving the site.
Take care,
meohmy!crafts
Does the craft paint come off in the wash?
Hi Kim! Nope, the paint has stayed nicely in the wash so far!
These are beautiful!!!
Have you washed them? Did they survive?
Hi Nazanin! Yep, we’ve run ours through the wash plenty and they’re still going strong!
Good to know that such kind of posts are there to help ignorant and novice people.
Nice tip and you made the tea towel as awesome. Thanks for sharing this one to us . Keep share like this . ..
Nice tip and you made the tea towel as awesome. Thanks for sharing this one to us . Keep share like this . ..