I'm in love....

...with freezer paper stencils. No, reaaaallly in love with them. After seeing all the goodness around, I have been not-so-patiently waiting for my order of fabric paint from Dharma.

Steve and I spent an entire evening together hunting for images to use as stencils, drawing a few of our own, and declaring this the 'greatest craft project ever'. So unbelievably easy, satisfying and with damn cool results. We promised we would never buy another t-shirt, but instead pick up blanks at thrift stores and do the stencils forevermore. Okay, perhaps that was a bit extreme...but really, it's that much fun. Amy pretty much summed up the process, and there is a bit more over on Craftster, including some links to find stencils (we mostly traced images from books, or drew our own).

And here's a tote I whipped up, and put Steve's hummingbird stencil on. Such fun, I tell you. And addictive too? Have you heard that? So addictive. In the time since I've taken these photos, I've already done a bunch more...perhaps I'll have to have a weekly freezer paper stencil post around here, or hey--go check out Hannah's Flickr group, Freezer Paper Stencil to see all the addicts in one place.

Comments

[mary]

I love the hummingbird stencil. Everyone looks so happy in their shirts.

[carol]

Oh so fun! What a great family project...something really useful. :)

What size paint containers did you buy? If you would buy a variety of colors, would the 2 1/4 oz. (for each color) be plenty?

I'm thinking this would be a good gift for the oodles of bday parties my kids are starting to attend!

[hannah]

welcome fellow stencil junkie! i love how you had the whole family gather around to stencil! its hard to stop, isnt it? love all your designs, especially steve's hummingbird. just lovely!

[Anna]

You were all VERY busy this weekend. Love the results. I need to jump on the freezer paper bandwagon soon!

[tuscanycastlegirl]

Way Cool.
Just lately, I have been thinking of tackeling this freezer paper thing myself. And....like you did...I was thinking of taking my children's latest hobbies (anything to do with Egypt, the Beatles, Indians, horses, puppies, & Star Wars).. and making personalized t-shirts. Ohhhh, the ideas for x-mas gifts for all my In-laws.....I'm fired up!

[allison]

these rock. love the scarecrow. i'm going to have to make some of the tin woodman for my son. great job!

[maria]

really cool stuff!!! thanks for sharing gal!

[Lizette]

This is so great. I loooove the hummingbird on your husband! I'm still searching for freezer paper (somehow nobody knows what it is or where to get it) and good fabric paint, but it's just a matter of days...I'd like to try it before my coming craft fair. You rock Amanda!

[Susanna]

I think a weekly freezer paper stencil post would be great. The only problem is finding shirts and stuff to put the stencils on! I want to try putting a black stencil on print fabric next. Can't wait!

[joy]

I love the blogging community.....all the things that makes the rounds are amazing!!!! I'll have to get on this soon! love the hummingbird bag the best I think!

[gkgirl]

these are fantastic!
glad you are having so much fun with it!
:)

[Geraldine]

Hi from Canada, Glad I found your blog. Your crafts are amazing and I loved your self-portrait posts too. I will look forward to browsing more as time permits. With your permission, I would like to add you to my knit-roll? Hope you will stop by soon. BFN :)

[Jodi]

I can't wait to try these myself. It's been on my project list for awhile, but I may have to just move it to the top of the list.

An aside: I have been reading your blog for a few weeks. (I really enjoy it!) Last night, I had a dream that you were at a potluck that I was attending. You brought some really yummy food ... I think that it was a vegetarian penne pasta bake that I saw on the telly yesterday.

[katie]

Very cool!! I especially like your 'peace dove'--how lovely.

I found the Jaquard paints at the local craft mega-stores (too impatient to wait for mail order). The jars were just slightly dusty, stuck near the neon puffy paint. Apparently, the craft scene around here hasn't yet discovered stencil printing. More for me!!

[ashley g]

Those really are fantastic. You could start a whole business right now. Great images, ADORABLE models, and wonderful lighting, colors, and photography.

[Stephanie]

glad you're having so much fun with this. i especially like the bunny parade on a.

[joleen]

wow- so cool! i'm going to check this out..looks like too much fun to pass up!

[melissa]

Okay, that does it...
I'm buying some fabric paint this morning. Thank you so much for the inspiration, your stencils look AMAZING!!
p.s. I love that you and Steve did it together, I hope to convince Tom to help me!

[Sandrine (alias Didine!)]

I'm the last girl on the world who don't know yet this famous paper LOL ! Here in Belgium, I've never heard about ! I already asked about it but didn't get answers :( ! I'm so sad because I don't well understand (I'm a french speaker !) what is it (this paper !), how to use it, and last but not least, where to find it on Internet :( Would you like to help me and light my day by explaining me ??!! Thank you so much ! Smooches

[Kathleen]

I love all of your stuff. I'd have to say you are my favorite blogger :) I check in every day.

[Meg]

As I said on another blog, I am convinced if I start freezer paper stencilling, I won't be able to stop myself. Immediate craft gratification, that is what it is. You've made some great stuff there.

[vegasandvenice]

So totally perfect! All my stuff is outside just waiting to be used! Maybe I will have to get started tomorrow!

[Jeremi]

KWEL!!! Love these! You crafty mama, you!

[Jeremi]

Oops! I can't spell :)

[susannah]

I have been watching all of the freezer paper blog entries spreading like wildfire. I don't think I will be able to help myself either.

We can't buy 'freezer paper' in the supermarket in Australia (well at least I don't think??) but I think it's available in quilt shops for an arm and a leg.

Wonderful T-shirts! Your stencil images are fab!

[coronita]

I love all of these...especially the hummingbird tote! I have my silhouettes ready...just need the fabric paint and the freezer paper.

[Toni]

Very cool. How fun that Steve got in on it with you...a crafty husband!! :) Really love the tote.

[Alisa]

After this entry (and a quick trip through the Flickr group) I couldn't hold back any longer. We had a family stencil night last night. We used the silhouette's in a beautiful nursery rhymes book we have. My husband joined in as well, making a Batman Begins logo. (Yes, I know, childish. But he DID just present a paper at the Pop Cult Conference in Atlanta on the proliferation and cultural significance of the superhero film in post 9/11 America. So I guess it's okay.) Anyway, fun fun fun! We're hooked. I have several more ideas to work out today.

[tania]

woo! they look great! i must try this .
it looks like a lot of fun!
:)

[gnarly nanny]

oh my goodness!! yay for wizard of oz stencils. they look adorable and i bet the boys are totally psyched!

[MMC]

Amanda,

Stencils are a great kid project, too--mine have all given lots as birthday presents. Cut out stencil, attach to fabric, protect the rest of the shirt, then give kids several colors of fabric paint to fill in stencil. I particularly love the ones they make before they have an idea of how it "should" look, and all the crazy color combinations. My favorite stencil material is old window shades from goodwill. I use spray on adhesive to attach to fabric. They can then be reused.

I'm inspired by your more complicated stencils. Mine have been mostly computer clip art, the most basic outline, mostly of animals. Those are good for lots of kid color.

[gina]

I blogged about you and your stenciling. Cute kid. I linked and gave photo credit too. Thanks for the fun stuff.
Gina
www.QuiltersBuzz.com

[Nicole Frobusch]

Hi from london again
don't really know how all this blogging works but i am so pleased i found yours
your house looks amazing your stuff is inspirering
would be lovely if you could get in touch