I just got back from a trip to JoAnn Fabrics to pick up some fabric for my partners. On the way out, I happened to glance in the clearance bins, and they had a bunch of Yudu screenprinting ink (plus some other supplies) on clearance.

I cleaned out the bin! Total haul:

2 Pro squeegees ($1.97 each)
2 Packs of 11" X 14" Yudu transparancies ($1.97 each)
3 Bottles of emulsion remover (2 of them are bottles of concentrate) ($0.97 each)
4 Bottles of Yudu adhesive (I've never tried it before, but it was so cheap!) ($0.97 each)
5 Bottles of metallic inks (1 bronze, 2 silver, 2 gold) ($0.97 each)
7 Bottles of microfine glitter, for use with the adhesive (1 red, 1 purple, 2 silver, 3 blue) ($0.97 each)
16 3-packs of inks (4 each of Primary {red, yellow, blue}, Secondary {orange, purple, green), Bright {fuchsia, lime, peacock}, Muted {rain, wine, olive}) ($2.97 each)

And then I had a coupon off the total purchase (regular, sale & clearance-priced items), so I saved even more!

Totally makes up for the fact that I couldn't use my 60% off coupon on the item (a Genius cutting platform) I had brought to the register (even though it wasn't a cutting machine or dies, it still wouldn't take it).

And, I think I'm set with screen printing supplies for a long time!

Thanks for the tip, sheepBlue! I think that the little bit of bleeding under the vinyl (not the grey outline phenomenon) probably came about because I was working with such a big piece of vinyl and I pretty much applied it by hand. I actually tore it in 2 places, but managed to match it up nicely, and it didn't even show. I did have a few wrinkles on the edges, even though I burnished the heck out of it. I think the grey outline bleed was probably made worse because I had to thin the ink with water, so it looks like the capillary action of the microfiber just wicked the extra water, plus a bit of color, outwards.

For my first attempt with using vinyl, I'm still pretty impressed with myself! But, I definitely learned a lot, and I'll add your tip to the wisdom I've collected along the way

In case anyone is curious, I posted the results of my screen-printing with vinyl project (the one with the shark image that bled funny):

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=423571.msg5034600#msg5034600

I've had a Yudu for a few years now, and while I love how it made me less afraid of screen printing, I hate working with the emulsion sheets. I know there are other emulsion options, but the drying time between each step was my least favorite part (confession: because I usually wait until right before the deadline before I do things).

But then, I came across a blog post somewhere that said you could use vinyl on a screen. I knew I could use cut black vinyl as a mask to burn the image in the emulsion, but that's all. The post wasn't 100% clear on where the vinyl went on the screen, but after I let my brain chew on it for a bit, it spit out the answer: on the underside.

I was just in the Sea Creature Swap, and my partner loves sharks, and listed the hammerhead as a possible theme in her questionnaire. I found an image of a tattoo design, but when I imported it into my vinyl cutting software, it needed a lot of cleaning up, so I spent a couple of hours working on that. Because of how I did the settings on the vinyl cutter (a Silhouette), it came out a little bit differently than the original tattoo design.

I used Contact Paper as the vinyl and cut it out. I then transferred the cut design (after weeding out all of the non-essential bits) to the back of the screen. Then, on both sides I went over it with the edge of a credit card to make sure it was stuck on there as well as it could be.

Back/Underside of the screen:



Front/Top of the screen:



I covered up any exposed areas around the edges with clear packing tape.

Then, I did a test print on a piece of muslin (shown here stitched up as a drawstring bag for the swap):



It came out pretty well, so I did another test print on a t-shirt (for me to keep), and it also came out well. There are a couple of spots where it bled a smidgen under the edges, but because of the design, it's not that noticeable:



Finally, I printed on 2 microfiber pillowcases. Right after I printed the second one, I turned to look at the first one and noticed that the ink had bled around the image, giving it a grey outline. Since it didn't happen at all on the muslin or t-shirt, I'm attributing it to the fabric. But, it ended up looking kind of cool, so I sent them along as an "extra" in the swap (and came up with a replacement item for the "official" item ).



When I was done, I peeled off the vinyl (and packing tape), washed off the screen with tap water, and I was done. No emulsion to fuss with, no expensive emulsion remover to buy!

I'm definitely going to use this method again! I did have a bit of trouble transferring the vinyl onto the screen because I didn't have enough transfer tape, so I had to peel of the backing of the vinyl and press it onto the screen as I went. I had a little stretching of the vinyl (it didn't help that I didn't have a lot of time to fuss with it), but it wasn't a problem in the end. But, if I do a more detailed design in the future, I need to use a different method to transfer it. I read somewhere that I might be able to use clear Contact Paper as the transfer tape (less expensive than buying transfer tape at the craft store), so I'll have to try that for the next time.

I haven't made a hat this month, but because I was a bit ahead, I'm not really behind- 5 hats in 5 months! I just went and updated my list of what I'd like to make, although I'm on the fence about the straw sun hat. I'm wondering if I make it using cotton yarn, or jute if I'll only have to make it one layer. If I make it from jute, maybe I'll put in a fun fabric lining. And now, I may have to hit the hardware store today!

I used some thin floral wire, taped up the ends, and crocheted over it. because it was all floppy and wavy.

Good idea! That sounds less expensive than aquarium tubing

Once again, that1girl, nicely done! Did you put something in the edge of the brim of the Ridge Hat to give it support? I saw a pattern that used rubber tubing on the edge and you crocheted over it, so I was wondering if you did something similar because it looks like it holds its shape pretty well.

received my package from CRAFTADDCHICK today!!! i LOVE everything so much!!!!! i will post pictures in the gallery in a little while!!

Yay!

So the monster in the hoop doesn't need to be 3D, right? Since I'm working on slowly building up a stash of hoopla works of art, I may have to seriously think about this. I have to see what the timeline is, because I think June will be a crazy month. I have 3 swaps in progress (one should be received today), and one I just signed up for. If I can complete the crafting for one by the end of the week, and narrow down what I'm making for the other (which I can craft for by Memorial Day), the timing might work...

As a fan of tiny kits, I have to say that this one is fantastic. And, the way you tied so much of it to the theme makes it over-the-top. Now, I want to make a tin full of emergency items for myself... I will be on the hunt for the appropriate tiny items... Thanks for the inspiration!