Stenciling on Fabric

with Renegade Stencils and Shiva® Artist’s Paintstiks

Shelly Stokes
 Stenciling on Fabric
The Legal Stuff

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 Stenciling on Fabric
Introduction

Stenciling with paint is a marvelous way to add all manner of images

to your fabric. There are dozens of different textile paints on the
market – and some interesting alternatives from the fine art world.

I’ve been adding images to fabric with Shiva Artist’s Paintstiks for
nearly 20 years, and I love the paint today as much as I did when I
discovered it.

Over the years, I’ve graduated from stenciling with a brush to

Extreme Stenciling (a.k.a. finger painting with Paintstiks) and from
cutting stencils by hand to using a computer-driven Silhouette
Cameo cutting machine.

Renegade Stencils are the latest and greatest addition to my

stenciling toolbox. Cut from adhesive-back vinyl, they allow me to
break the cardinal rules of stencil design and go where stencils have
never gone before!

Are you ready to have some fun? Let’s get started!

How to use this tutorial

This Tutorial has 5 sections to guide you through the process

of stenciling on fabric with Renegade Stencils and Shiva Artist’s
Paintstiks.

• About Paints and Stencils

• A resource list of products that work well for Renegade Stencils
• Creating Renegade Stencils and transferring them to fabric
• Stenciling with Paintstiks and Renegade Stencils
• A one page guide to stenciling with Paintstiks

Enjoy the book – and have fun!

Shelly Stokes

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 Stenciling on Fabric
About Stencils: You can purchase or make stencils from many different materials. Here are
the pros and cons of several types of stencils:

Traditional Stencils

Traditional stencils are those where a series of shapes are cut into a
piece of mylar, plastic or durable material.

When you are creating a traditional stencil, there is one rule that
must always be followed: You must have “bridges” – or connection
points – between all of the design elements. Without the bridges,
parts of the stencil would simply fall apart.

Paper/Stabilizer Stencils

Freezer papers (and paper-like stabilizers) are often used for

stenciling images on fabric. Freezer paper has a plastic film on one
side, and will adhere to fabric when pressed on fabric with a warm
iron. (Always, shiny side down!)

These stencils are “paper” thin and less likely to cause paint to build
up in the stencil openings.

Renegade (Vinyl) Stencils

Renegade stencils are cut from “permanent” or “outdoor” adhesive

backed vinyl. With Renegade stencils, there is no need to include
bridges between all of the design elements. (Don’t you love
breaking the rules?)

The adhesive backing on the vinyl serves as a very effective resist,

making it unlikely that paint will seep under the edges of the stencil.

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 Stenciling on Fabric
About Paints: Do you like your paint wet or (almost) dry? Here are some thoughts on
stenciling with liquid textile paints vs. Shiva Artist’s Paintstiks.

Liquid Textile Paints

There are many paints on the market formulated to work on fabric.

They work best if fabric is pre-washed (without fabric softeners) to
remove sizing. Choose the type of paint for the effect you want to
achieve.

Pay special attention to the heat setting instructions for the paint
you use – or risk seeing your hard work disappear in the wash.

Shiva Artist’s Paintstiks

Shiva Artist’s Paintstiks are oil-based paints in a crayon form that

have a fabric-friendly formula. Made from wax, a low-acid linseed
oil and a heavy dose of pigment, I call these paints as “crayons for
grown-ups.”

The biggest plus for Paintstiks is that they are very dry compared
to working with liquid paint. They don’t run, drip, or seep under
the edges of stencils. On the flip side, Paintstik colors do not dry as
quickly as liquid paints. If you paint fabric for a sewing project, you
need to plan two work days – one for painting and one for sewing,
with time in between for the paint to dry.

When stenciling, Paintstik colors are typically applied with a brush.

For more intense colors, you can add paint directly in the stencil
openings and smooth the colors with your fingers.

All iridescent Paintstik colors and most of the matte Paintstik colors
are certified as non-toxic. I don’t recommend “finger painting” with
the four Cadmium-based colors or Cobalt Blue.

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 Stenciling on Fabric
Renegade Stencil Supplies: Here’s what you need to create Renegade Stencils and transfer
the stencils to your fabric.

Cutting Machine

With a computer-driven cutting machine, creating Renegade Stencils is

fast and easy. I prefer the Silhouette Cameo because the design software
is extremely powerful for those of us who want to create our own designs,
but the basic process is the same for any machine that will cut vinyl.

Permanent Vinyl

To cut Renegade Stencils, shop for Outdoor or Permanent adhesive backed

vinyl. Temporary and repositionable vinyl does not stick well to fabric.
I recommend Oracal 651 – in 074 Middle Gray. (It may be boring, but it’s
perfect for painting!)

Transfer Tape

The key to lifting Renegade Stencil off the backing paper and transferring
them to your fabric is transfer tape. I prefer clear transfer tape over transfer
paper, but both have their uses. Clear Choice High Tack tape and Oracal
Clear Transfer Tape work well with Oracal 651 vinyl.

Hook, Scraper, Tweezers

You will need a hook tool to remove the vinyl from the design sections of
your stencil and a scraper or spatula to aid in the transfer process. After
you paint, a precision tweezer is helpful for removing the stencil.

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 Stenciling on Fabric
Painting Supplies: You’ll need the following supplies to stencils images on your fabric
with Shiva Artist’s Paintstiks.

Shiva Artist’s Paintstiks

Paintstiks are oil paints in a crayon form. They come in Iridescent and Matte
colors, and in full-size sticks and minis. The Iridescent colors are my persona
favorites because show up beautifully on dark fabrics. (Dark matte colors
tend to get lost on dark fabric.)

If you’re just getting started with Paintstiks, you may prefer to start with the
Mini Sets of 3 or a Mini Assortment.

Stencil Brushes

I use stencil brushes to add Paintstik colors to fabric – at least for the first
layer of paint. Any stencil brush will work, but these short-bristle brushes
from Jack Richeson & Co make it easy to apply even layers of paint in a
hurry. The shorter bristles don’t bend over while you paint, making them
ideal for adding opaque layers of paint to fabric.

The brushes are sold separately, but this Set of 4 is a better value.

Miscellaneous Supplies

Gather the following supplies for painting:

• Paper towels: Use them to catch paint peelings and to keep the
paintstiks off your work surface
• Wet Wipes: to clean your hands as you work
• Freezer Paper/Pallet Paper: Use the shiny side as a paint pallet
• Grip-n-Grip no-slip mat: keeps your fabric from shifting as you paint

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 Stenciling on Fabric
Step 1: Cut and weed your Renegade Stencil Your cutting machine can cut wonderfully
detailed designs from vinyl, and disconnected design parts are never a problem!

Create or load design in software

The first step is to create a design or load a design from your library
into the software. When you design for vinyl stencils, you can break
the rules! There’s no need for bridges between the design elements.

That’s why we call them Renegade Stencils!

Check the cut settings

Once you are happy with your design, click over to the Cut/Send
section of your software. Check that you have selected the correct
material and made any necessary changes. The default settings for
material like vinyl will probably work just fine, but I prefer to slow the
cut speed down.

Send design to cutting machine

If you are using a manually adjusted blade, check the blade depth
before cutting. (An auto-blade will self-adjust.) Then load your
material, send the design to your machine, and enjoy watching it
work for you!

Weed the design

After the design is cut, it’s time to remove the excess vinyl from the
backing paper. For a stencil, we want to keep the background and
weed the vinyl where we want our paint to appear. (See the note
about decals v. stencils on the next page before you begin.)

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 Stenciling on Fabric
Step 2: Remove the backing Transfer tape makes it easy to lift your Renegade Stencil
from the backing paper. No worries, everything stays in exactly the right spot.

Decals vs. Stencils

To create a vinyl decal (or appliqué), you cut a design with your
Silhouette machine and then remove the excess vinyl from the
background of the design. (See top image at right.)

To create a Renegade Stencil, you do the opposite. Leave the

background in place and weed away all of the openings in the
design that you want to paint. (See lower image at right.)

Apply Transfer Tape

The big secret to making Renegade Stencils work is the process for
transferring the stencil to your fabric.

To keep all the stencil elements in the correct place, apply a piece
of transfer tape (or transfer paper) over the top of the stencil. Use a
scraper tool (or something similar) to make sure the tape is firmly
pressed onto the stencil.

Lift Stencil from Backing

Next, peel the stencil away from the backing paper. Watch carefully
as you peel the stencil up to make sure all parts of the stencil come
up from the paper.

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 Stenciling on Fabric
Step 3: Apply stencil to fabric Your scraper will be your best friend as you remove the
transfer tape from the stencil.

Position Stencil & Press Firmly with Scraper

Position your Renegade stencil on the fabric as desired. Use a scraper

tool (or something similar) to make sure the stencil is firmly “stuck”
onto the fabric.

Remove Transfer Tape

The secret to removing the transfer tape is to keep the tape flat on
the surface as you peel it back.

If your stencil has unconnected design elements, you may need to

go back and forth between peeling the tape, and using the scraper
(see the previous step) until the vinyl design elements stick to the
fabric instead of peeling up with the tape.

Press One More Time

Before moving on, place the backing paper over the Renegade
stencil and press once more with the scraper tool. For best results,
the stencil must be firmly “stuck” to your fabric.

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 Stenciling on Fabric
Step 4: It’s time to paint! This tutorial shows the paint process for Shiva Artist’s Paintstiks.
Renegade Stencils also work well with liquid textile paints.

Add the First Layer of Color

After removing the film from the outside of your Paintstik, rub a
small amount of paint directly into the openings of your Renegade
stencil.

Scrub Paint Into Fabric

Using a stencil brush, gently scrub the paint into the fabric with a
circular motion. Take care that you don’t scrub so hard that you lift
the vinyl from the fabric.

This step will make sure that there is a firm bond between the paint
and the surface of the fabric.

Add More Paint, Smooth With Fingers

After the first layer of paint is in place, add more color as desired. At
this point, I smooth the paint with my fingers to avoid brush marks
in the paint.

Repeat this process with several moderate layers of paint rather than
adding a super thick layer of paint on the fabric in one application.

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 Stenciling on Fabric
Step 5: Allow paint to dry and remove stencil Patience is a virtue when working with
Paintstik colors. Make sure the paint is dry before using your fabric.

Blend Colors as Desired

Paintstik colors can be mixed and blended in any combination that

pleases you.

The goal is to get a nice strong color without creating a lot of

buildup along the edges of the vinyl design elements.

Allow Paint to Dry

Paintstiks are oil based paints and take a bit longer to dry. Most
stenciled images will be dry to the touch in 24 hours, but humidity
and the amount of paint on the fabric will determine the actual
drying time.

Wait at least 24 hours before heat setting Paintstik colors. To heat set,
place fabric paint-side down on parchment or kraft paper. Press with
a hot, dry iron for 10-15 seconds. (Do not use steam.)

Remove Renegade Stencil

For best results, leave the Renegade stencils on your fabric for 24
hours before peeling it up.

If you just can’t wait, using a tweezer rather than sliding something
under the edge of the vinyl bits will make paint smudges less likely.

Allow the paint to dry completely, and enjoy your new painted
fabric!

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 Stenciling on Fabric
Step 6: Heat set paint if fabric will be washed If you intend to wash your finished project,
heat set the paint to make it permanent.

Preheat Iron, Place Fabric on Paper

Preheat iron to an appropriate temperature for your fabric. Do NOT

use steam!

Lay your fabric, paint side down on a piece of grease-proof paper.

Parchment paper is an excellent choice. Brown kraft paper or several
sheets of (unprinted) newsprint work fine. The paper will keep
excess oil and pigment off your ironing board cover.

Press for 10-15 Seconds

Press each section of the fabric for 10-15 seconds. More is not better.
Too much heat can scorch the paint, especially if you are working
with Matte Paintstik colors.

If you are impatient and want to heat set the paint “in a hurry,”
sandwich the fabric between two pieces of parchment paper and
make sure you work in a well ventilated area. The smell of linseed oil
is quite strong when the paint is not completely dry.

Heat Set in the Dryer

If you are working with large pieces of fabric or pre-made blanks that
are not easy to press, you can heat set in a clothes dryer.

Allow the paint to dry completely to avoid transferring paint to your

dryer drum! Run the dryer at the hottest setting for 30 minutes.

Do not attempt to heat set fabric in the dryer if the paints are not
completely dry. (And if you do, don’t call me!)

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 Stenciling on Fabric
STENCILING WITH SHIVA® PAINTSTIKS®
Paintstik colors are great for stenciling on fabric because the paint doesn’t run, drip or seep under the edges of the stencil. When stenciling,
you add paintstik color with a brush rather than using the paintstik directly. If you are blending several colors together, it is helpful to have at
least one stencil brush for each color family.

GET READY CLEAN UP TIPS

• Remove the skin from the end My favorite cleaning supplies are
of your paintstik if you have not Cedar Canyon Brush Soap and Citra-
already done so. Solv Cleaner. Here’s how I use them.
• Rub the paintstik on a palette sur-
face. Cleaning Brushes
• Load the paint onto your brush. • Use Cedar Canyon Brush Soap to
clean your stencil brushes, hands
STENCIL AN IMAGE and work surfaces.
• Spray the back of your stencil with - Scoop out brush soap with brush
repositionable adhesive (such as - Work brush soap into bristles
Spray & Fix 404) or secure one
edge of a mylar stencil with tape. - Rinse with warm water
If you are using freezer paper sten- - Repeat if needed
cils, use a warm iron to adhere a - Allow brushes to dry
freezer-paper stencil to your fabric.
• If your brushes have been sitting
• Use “post-it” notes to isolate the for several days, soak them in sol-
image (or portion of an image) you vent, then brush the paint off onto
wish to paint. paper towels.
• Hold your brush at a 90-degree • Use a citrus based solvent such as
angle to your fabric and use a circu- Citra-Solv if you prefer not to use
lar, scrubbing motion to apply the regular solvents.
color.
• Apply additional layers of paintstik Cleaning Stencils
color until you are satisfied with • Mist stencils with Citra-Solv, then Clean brushes with
your results. wipe gently with a soft cloth to Cedar Canyon Brush Soap
• If you are blending more than one remove paint and sticky spray.
color, start with the lightest color • If you wish to reuse freezer paper
and then add the darker colors. stencils, allow the paint to dry and
• Carefully lift a portion of the stencil then store them for future use.
to check your progress.
Cleaning Your Hands
• If a freezer-paper stencil separates
from the fabric as you work, lay • Wash your hands with Cedar Can-
a clean piece of paper over the yon Brush Soap or soap and water
stencil and press with a warm iron to remove paintstik color. You may
to re-adhere the stencil. find it helpful to have baby wipes
handy to clean your hands as you
work.

Clean brushes with Citra-Solv

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 About
The Author Shelly Stokes
Shelly is an author, artist, teacher and entrepreneur with a passion for transforming fabric
using both traditional and unexpected techniques and materials. She is best know for her
work with Shiva® Artist’s Paintstiks® and the many ways they can be used on fabric.

Shelly turned her passion for fiber art into a highly successful niche business. While Cedar
Canyon Textiles was initially formed to sell her hand dyed fabric, Shelly changed the focus
of her business to concentrate on Artist’s Paintstiks and accessory products in 2005.

Ten years later, changed course yet again, and is now teaching fabric lovers around the
world to create fabulous one-of-a-kind fabric through her online courses. She is a leader
in embracing computer-driven cutting machines –– and teaching others how to integrate
these marvelous machines into their fabric art.

Over the course of her career, Shelly has written and published three books, created and
manufactured lines of rubbing plates and stencils, and sold millions of dollars worth of
books, paints, stencils and rubbing plates into the quilting and fabric art markets.

Books by
Shelly Stokes
Paintstiks on Fabric
Simple Techniques, Fantastic Results

Paintstiks on Fabric is the essential paintstiks handbook for quilters and fiber artists.
In this best-selling book, Shelly explains everything you need to know about applying
paintstik color to fabric, from basic information about paintstiks to detailed instructions
that enable you to transform ordinary pieces of fabric into unique works of art.

Design Magic
For Paintstiks on Fabric

In Shelly’s second book, she invites the reader to join her in exploring the magical world
of design and creating personal fabric prints. Design Magic provides a simple three-
step method for creating positive and negative designs, turning them into stencils, and
transferring the designs to fabric with Artist’s Paintstiks.

Rubbing Plate Roundup

Create Textured Treasures from Fabric, Paper, Clay, Metal and Paint

Rubbing Plate Roundup is the definitive guide to adding texture to fabric, craft and
mixed-media projects. In this book, Shelly has gathered up twelve of her favorite
techniques for creating texture with a wide range of materials. Each technique is
presented with a comprehensive supply list, straightforward instructions and beautiful
step-by-step photographs.

Cedar Canyon Textiles

877-296-9278
[email protected] ©2017 Shelly Stokes • Cedar Canyon Textiles • www.cedarcanyontextiles.com