Cheesecloth Skins with Stencils

I made cheesecloth word skins awhile back. You can see that post here.  This time I wanted to see what they would look like with stencils, instead of just writing. I also wanted to try three different paints: Sharpie Markers, Profab fabric paints, and Arteza craft paints. I had used the markers on the previous tutorial.

I am using these two stencils. The one on the left is from Triangles from Joggles. The other one is Urban Cadence from  Diane Ericson’s shop.

Supplies you will need include:

• Cheesecloth (big box stores, grocery stores)
• Freezer Paper
• Masking tape to hold down the freezer paper and the stencil is optional, but recommended
• Matt Medium. I’m using Fluid Matt Medium, but I’m sure you can use just Matt Medium
• Stencils
• Foam Brush
• Paper plate or other palette
• Sharpie Markers or Fabric Paint or Craft paint

We start with taping down a piece of freezer paper, shiny side up to your work table.

This first skin I’m making I will use Sharpie Markers. I laid the stencil on top of the freezer paper, and started filling in the stencil.

Here it is finished, all filled in stencil and the markers I used.

This is what it looked when I removed the stencil.

The markers pretty much dry immediately, but I’d give them a little time before you spread the matt medium. I touched them with my fingers to make sure they were dry.

Now to add the matt medium over the project.

Now it was time to place the cheesecloth over what I just painted. You can see where the markers weren’t quite dry enough.

Now it was time to paint over the cheesecloth with the matt medium.

I left it to dry overnight.

When it’s dry, I pulled the cheesecloth off of the freezer paper. You can see where most of the marker has transferred to the cheesecloth.

And the finished piece.

I also used Profab textile paints. I was not happy with the results. I do not recommend fabric paint for this project.

And I used Arteza craft paints.

With both paints I had to allow the paint to dry overnight. I found if I didn’t give it a long drying time, it would smear a lot! So with the paints we are adding an overnight dry after adding the paint to the freezer paper, and then the overnight dry after the cheesecloth has been painted over.

Here are all four pieces.

Now if you want to turn them over (the side directly on top of the paint/markers), they are much brighter.

You can  use them either way. It depends on what look you are going for. I plan to use the diamond one in the piece I’m working on using those fabrics on my design wall.

So I prefer the skins I made using the Arteza craft paint. I’m sure any craft paint would work. But you do have to have both long drying times. However, I would probably again use the Sharpie markers if I was wanting text skins, like I made in that previous video.

That was fun, and now I have more stuff to play with.