FUN FABRICS

My art quilt group met this week and we had fun printing up some original fabric using gelatin printing. It is easy although a little messy.

You just make a gelatin printing plate by mixing 4 packages of unflavored gelatin with one cup of cold water. Stir. Then add 1 cup of hot water and stir until the gelatin is dissolved. Take a piece of cardboard and skim off the foam. Pour the gelatin into an 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 pan. Then take strips of newspaper and skim off any bubbles that have formed. Place in the refrigerator to set...it doesn't take very long.

 After the gelatin has set. Remove it from the pan by placing the pan upside down. If the gelatin doesn't easily slip out take a knife around the edges to loosen. If it still doesn't slip out, you might have to place the pan in some warm water...but don't let the gelatin get soft. After you have your gelatin printing plate, add fabric or acrylic paint with a brayer. If you don't have a brayer try a foam paint brush. That is what I used. You can add as few or as many different colors as you want. Then place some items on the paint for texture...like threads, feathers, leaves, yarn, flowers...use your imagination. Just remember that the items will result in white space. If you don't want that you can paint the item with yet another color and instead of white you will have that color. You can also create designs with stencils or by sweeping combs, toothbrushes or other such objects across the paint. Next place your fabric on top of the gelatin with the texture items and rub with your hands to transfer your printing.

You will end up with your own originals. It's easy and the printing is quite pretty. You can also use this technique with paper to create cards or paper collages or whatever else you can dream up. Have fun! Mom