• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
    • Punch Needle
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • YouTube

How-to: Stencil with Freezer Paper

May 7, 2012 Leave a Comment

In my last post, I announced that I’m planning my husband’s 30th birthday party, themed: what whiskey will not cure, there is no cure for. The first project for his party I’d like to share with you is a stenciled tablecloth. Last Halloween, I showed you guys how to do basic screen printing, using screen filler and printing screens. That method takes a lot longer, but is worth it if you’re producing multiple shirts featuring an original design. The method I’m sharing today is great for one-offs like the stenciled tablecloth I made for our party.

We’ll be serving a variety of whiskeys at his party, so I thought it would be nice to have a vintage end table covered in a printed tablecloth that reads NAME YER POISON. At our wedding, we had a lot of subtle little signs explaining details about this or that, but I decided against it. One lesson I’ve learned and completely accepted in my life as a marketer (by day, I work in marketing) is the fact that no one ever reads anything ever. By now, 50+% of y’all have skipped to the list of supplies and are going to glance over the photos, skipping all the text. Tra la la. Tra la la. Kudos to you who are reading this. ;)

I wanted to make my message short and sweet, welcoming guests to try whatever they like. “Name yer poison” is also a phrase my dad used a lot when my brother and I were kids, so I thought it would be nice to incorporate in the party.

Supplies

enough fabric for your tablecloth

freezer paper

pencil

x-acto knife

tweezers

iron

fabric paint

sponge brush

cardboard

Directions

Draw your design directly on the unwaxed side of some freezer paper. I designed mine on the computer using some software, so I printed mine first and traced it onto my freezer paper.

Lay your design on top of some cardboard to protect your work surface. Cut your design from the freezer paper, starting with the insides of letters like A, E, I, P and O. Keep everything you cut out! Then, cut the rest of the letters out, being careful to stay on the lines avoid tearing the paper. Keep everything you cut out! Finally, cut out the rest.

Heat up your iron and iron the design onto your fabric, reversing the order in which you cut the pieces from the design. In the case of my design, I started with the outside of my whiskey jug silhouette, added the inside, then the lettering, and ended with the inside of the A, P, etc.

Peel away the freezer paper over the parts of the fabric you want painted. I carefully removed the jug shape and the insides of my letters to accomplish my design.

Put a piece of cardboard behind the fabric you’re stenciling to keep the paint from seeping onto fabric on the other side or your work surface. Wet your sponge brush, but not too thickly, and paint your fabric, getting paint right along the edges of the freezer paper. I haven’t had issues with the paint bleeding under the stencils, but being judicious with your paint is always a good insurance policy when crafting, in my experience.

Let the paint dry completely. Using a tweezer, peel the freezer paper from the fabric to reveal your design!

Here’s a taste (pun not intended) of what our whiskey bar will look like. I’m getting really excited!

Filed Under: How-to, Parties Tagged With: 30th birthday, freezer paper, screen printing, tablecloth, what whiskey will not cure there is no cure for

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

Previous Post: « How-to: Aluminum Tiered Pendant Light Fixture
Next Post: How-to: Felt Horsie Finger Puppet »

Reader Interactions

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • How-to: Easy Vintage Style PennantHow-to: Easy Vintage Style Pennant
  • Whiskey Party RoundupWhiskey Party Roundup
  • Weekly ReaderWeekly Reader
  • Weekly ReaderWeekly Reader

DON’T MISS ANOTHER UPDATE

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

UPDATES BY EMAIL

Monthly highlights sent to your inbox.

Find Me Elsewhere, If You’re There

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi GustadDiscover Unique Items

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Craft book author & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
.
Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Working on a sample for some upcoming videos. It’s an overcast day with intermittent sunshine & I have a scruffy little sidecar. 🐶 Can’t complain! 
.
What’s on your needles this week? 
.
Yarn: @debbieblissknits Cashmerino Aran 
.
#handsoccupied #knitting #knittinglife
Peg boards and craft room organization go together Peg boards and craft room organization go together like peanut butter and jelly. So, as you can see, do latch hook tools and screwdriver organizers! 🪛 
.
I think this trick translates to any tool with a thick handle, so leather working tools, punch needles, print making tools, etc. should work! What other tools am I, a needlecrafter, blanking on right now? 
.
#craftorganization #handsoccupied #latchhook #latchhooking
Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies, so getting a few hung in my new studio has been a priority. Here’s my first attempt. 🔨 
.
Details: This pegboard panel is for organizing my knitting needles, latch hook tools, sewing thread, etc. It doesn’t need to hold much weight, so I didn’t anchor this into a stud - just used basic drywall anchors. I’ve also got a set of two 2’x4’ panels for another spot in my studio, and those will need a stud/more than 3 drywall anchors. Wish me luck! 
.
[description: video features a woman hanging a panel of pegboard using a square dowel and drill]
It’s time for the annual Hands Occupied new year It’s time for the annual Hands Occupied new year update, and for the first time in years, I feel like I have some clarity about what I’m doing next. ❤️ Head to the blog to read all about it, the 1ink is where you’d think. 
.
#handsoccupied #knitting #creativeburnout
June’s face is giving, “What fresh heck is thi June’s face is giving, “What fresh heck is this?” 😆
.
June’s big ears can get cold in winter, so I’m improvising a doggie ear warmer/hood for her. What are the odds she tries to shred it immediately when it’s done? 
.
#knitting #knittingfordogs #handsoccupied #schneagle #wipwednesday #wip
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy