Lessons at the Lilypad: Faux Letterpress + Screenprinting

I wanted to emulate the style of art prints, stationary and greetings cards I’d seen whose clean graphic designs had been produced by screen-printing and letter press techniques … without having to buy screen-printing or letter press equipment!

So, I turned to my Banana Frog stamps and began experimenting with masking and stencilling in order to achieve a similar, clean, bold feel and here's how you can do the same:

[To download a full printable version of this tutorial either click here: Tutorial:_Faux Screenprinting + Letterpress or, if you experience any difficulties click here to be taken to the document which you can then easily download from the button on the top left]

Step 1: Select what size of card to stamp on.

• You could make a large design to frame and hang on a wall
• OR you could stamp directly on to a blank greetings card
• OR stamp onto any smooth scrap of paper.

Using a low-tack masking tape, secure your card to a firm surface, [eg. a cutting mat]. It is important that your card does not move while you are stamping on it.

Step 2: Chose a shape to make into a stencil.

• Clean simple shapes – such as a heart– work best for this technique.
• Even something as simple as a square can have a impressive effect.
• Draw or print this shape onto paper and cut around it with a craft knife [or even cut a stencilusing a machine die-cutter].

 NOTE: The stencil must be cut from paper – not card – as it has to lay almost flush to your base card to create a strong edge for your stamped design.

 

Step 3: Position your stencil on top of your base card and tape it in place on your hard surface.  

Step 4: Select the stamps you want to feature.

• Alphabets and sentiments work well, here.
• Strong graphics and flowers also make a bold design.

 

If you choose to stamp text, create a focal point using one key word in a prominent place on the page. Highlight it further by using a contrasting coloured ink.

• Position the first letter / image so that it stamps just over the edge of the stencil. This helps to create a frame for your design once the stencil is removed.

Step 5: Once you’ve stamped your focal point  fill in the spaces around it.

The fonts I’ve used are:

• Madfont [Large];
• FT Rosecube and
• Bensfolk

I used various sizes of alpha stamps in order to fill in as much of the space inside the stencil as possible.

Tips:

• Stamping your words one letter at a time – rather than in one go – will give you more control over the position of each letter.
• You don’t have to stamp full words every time.
• It will not spoil the over all effect if your words hang off the edge or appear incomplete.
• If you have any obvious white spaces once you’ve finished stamping your text you can always use some smaller designs to fill the gap – as I did using some small hearts.

Step 6: Once you’re happy with your stamped design, carefully remove your stencil.

What appeared as a messy and ragged edge, will now emerge as a clean crisp outline filled with your design!

• If you want to add some dimension – to give the feel of letter-press designs - raise an area of your design using 3D gloss / Glossy Accents. I did this to two of the hearts on my ‘Love’ card.

Further examples: 

Once you've got the basic idea of how to use your stamp sets to mimic screenprinted techniques and designs, you can explore any shape of stencil and combination of stamps you wish.

Here I cut a star-shaped stencil and filled the space with the text stamps from the Retro Space set:

Again, I contrasted my design using various shades of blue ink with a yellow highlighted star - which I gave extra dimension using Glossy Accents:

Here I cut a number '60' stencil - the centres of which I kept in place using a tiny dot of Blu-Tack - then filled in the space using number stamps from:

• Bensfolk;
• Steelfish Outline Numbers and
• FT Rosecube

Stamp either the number of years, the age, or a significant year to create striking birthday or anniversary cards and gifts.

Finally I created a large heart design filled with things lots of us avid crafters love:

I think it would look lovely framed and hung on a craft room wall! Don't you?

Well, if you do and if you'd like to have it .... you can. Consider it a gift!

If you'd like me to send you my original 'Heart filled with craft' piece then leave a comment below sharing with us:

Why your wall [or the wall of someone you'd like to win it for] deserves some free crafty artwork!

The deadline for your respones is 22:00 on Wednesday May 12 and I'll announce the winner in my  Project of the Day post here on Friday 14th.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Speaking of winners .... thank you for all the amazing responses to my giveaway at the end of the rainbow post.  I loved opening my emails to find your touching, funny and plain crazy answers to my question about what you'd like to see falling from the sky!!

I had to use a random number generator to pick the winner as your answers were all so much fun there was no way I could choose just one! The generator selected #18 so the winner is:

Congratulations Lynn! Send a message titled 'Giveaway Winner' to:  sales[@]bananafrog.co.uk with your details and a new set of stamps will be landing on your doorstep very soon!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

OK, then, I'll leave you now so that you can:

[a]  head off to download and save my Faux Screen-printing + Letterpress tutorial  and

[b] leave a comment below to win my 'Heart filled with craft'!

Good luck everyone,

Julie :)

Comments

[Hanna Milburn]

Love this idea, it's now on my list of things to do.
x

[Kathy (kathyb)]

I love your heart. Despite being a scrapbooker, most of my walls are "blank canvases". It would take centre stage and kick start me into decorating further!

[small kitchen tables]

You are so very creative! Who would have thought that simple things can be so beautiful!

[Francine]

Julie I love this! I posted about it on Craft Gossip and the link is being retweeted a bunch of times! Awesome idea!

[scrapperita]

great idea!
I try... it's on my to do list!

[Handmade by Natty]

Gorgeous project Julie - just love the Letterpress look. :oD I think the crafty one is my fave!

[Lisa C]

What a fabulous idea - and I love the artwork. It's absolutely gorgeous. I would really like it for my craft room wall - I think it would make the room feel more homely.

[Darlene]

OHHHH so pretty!!

[CraftyNess]

Hi Julie

As promised on Facebook here is my take on your fab tutorial. Thanks again for the inspiration.

Vanessa X

[Mal]

very inspiring