screen printed cards

You know when you’re really frustrated or super excited and you just hit your keyboard in a rush of emotion? That’s what inspired this screen printed notecard. Also my love of punctuation and the way people swear in comics, of course.

Since I took a low-tech screen printing class at the Brooklyn Brainery I’ve been interested in experimenting with screen printing and learning more about it. After I got my very own screen for Christmas, it became a lot easier. My first project was a print of Elvis that is now hanging on my wall. This project is on a smaller scale but I was able to make more prints because I had almost 20 notecards to work with.

I started by sketching a pattern on freezer paper and then cutting out my stencil.

Then I set up my screen printing area so I would be ready to make all the prints at once. I love freezer paper, you guys. I put it down on my table and clean up was so easy–I just threw away the paper! I am also using it to make stencils and it is working great for me so far. Freezer paper stencils, however, are probably not going to last after one use, so if you want to keep your stencil I’d recommend something a little sturdier (like this overhead transparency).

I made a few test prints.

And then I printed away! Here they are drying on my table.

I love these. They are a quick but personal way to send a note to friend (just in time for Valentine’s Day). Plus I think the design is simple and cute. I can’t wait to make more prints!

On a related crafty note, over the weekend I set a goal to accomplish one embroidery quote each week. This weekend I’ll be out of town, so I’ll post more not this Sunday but next. At least that’s the plan, anyway.