My First Stencil....HELP

[thehappycrochetchic]

I am attempting to make my first stencil with this image...


But I am not sure which is suppose to be painted and which is suppose to stay the color of the background fabric, should I cut out the small pieces and paint just the small pieces in which the majority of the face will stay the background color? Or should I cut it in a way that the majority of the face is painted and the smaller pieces stay the color of the fabric?

Also, can you use acrylic paint and will it wash out or should u use fabric paint??

[FeliciaSlayDCRG]

You should cut out what is "black" in the stencil shown and paint what you've cut out.  If you cut out the majority, you'd have to lay each small black piece back down where it should go, like a puzzle, and I'd imagine it would be incredibly hard to do.

I use fabric paint.  I've never used acrylic on fabric, mainly bc I didn't want to have to redo the stencil, just in case it didn't work out.

[LeapFeetFirst]

You can use acrylic paint if you add a fabric or textile medium to it. This makes the paint permanent after heat setting. I've used this product in the past: http://www.joann.com/folkart-acrylic-textile-medium-2-oz/prd10145/

[suereal]

You can use normal acrylic paint too, with out the fabric additive.  But it is more likely to crack.  But if you do a few light layers of paint, it stays pretty well.  And the better the acrylic paint the more likely it will stay.  I love Martha Stewart acrylic paint.  Also, when it is dry, cover it with parchment paper and iron it...helps to set it into the shirt.  and OO yeah, it is helpfull before you paint, to take a sheet of waxed freezer paper (not the same as waxed paper BTW), put it in the shirt with the waxy part facing the side you will be printing on, then iron it down.  The wax will make a bit of a seal on the inside and help to keep the paint from bleeding

[Bobbysgirl]

Whenever I used plain acrylic paint, it always faded and ran in the wash, but I never heat set it. Definitely put something between the layers of whatever you are stenciling, because sometimes it will bleed through, and then you have a stuck together project and a big blob of paint on the other side when you finally get them apart. If you cut them all out instead of free hand painting, you will have crisper lines. Good luck, and be sure to post it when you try it!

[Crafty.Canadian]

The rule of thumb with stenciling is, if you're using a light coloured shirt, cut out the dark pieces on your image and paint with a dark colour, if you're using a dark coloured shirt, cut out the light pieces of your image and paint with a light colour.
The stencil you have chosen lends itself to a light coloured shirt, cut out the dark pieces, paint with a darker colour.
This link might be helpful:
http://stencilry.org/main/index.php/coordinating-colors-and-inverting/

I always use acrylic paint and have never had a problem with running or fading.  I don't use an iron to heat-set, just throw the item in the dryer for a cycle before I wash it.

[suereal]

I used to put them in the dryer.  Then, one day, when I took it out, the paint had all fused together.  It was some kind of cheap acrylic paint..and then that's when I learned all acrylic paint is not the same.  Michael's acrylics suck, as do the house brand for JoAnns...in my humble opinion

[thehappycrochetchic]

wow thanks for the advice, I used mostly fabric paint with a little acrylic since the fabric paint was so thick, is this okay?

[suereal]

As long as it mixes together on your pallet and you cure it as the paint might sugest (you can burn things..but it is hard) you should be OK.  It is a good idea to wash the shirt inside out BTW.

[Crafty.Canadian]

I used to put them in the dryer.  Then, one day, when I took it out, the paint had all fused together.  It was some kind of cheap acrylic paint..and then that's when I learned all acrylic paint is not the same.  Michael's acrylics suck, as do the house brand for JoAnns...in my humble opinion

Hmmm...that would suck.  I guess I have to be careful.
I hear you about cruddy paint. I threw out most of my cheapo acrylics recently.  Better to spend the extra $ per bottle, better coverage... more stable...