diy screen printing, pt. 3 - lessons in problem solving

I was so on top of everything all quarter. Everything except one thing: making these little zines or artist books that I proposed I would make for a project. At first they went along perfectly with the photographs I was making, but then my work shifted a little and they didn't seem as relevant. Still, I very much wanted to make them. I just kept putting it off. I would work on the stories, and the layout of the books (I was thinking of them as zines but I think now they are more of a little handmade book...the title is irrelevant, I suppose). But I didn't get around to printing them. Screen printing them, to be exact. I LOVE to screen print. I just learned how earlier this year and I am really excited about all of the screen printing possibilities in my future. However, it's kind of a big commitment compared to say, inkjet printing them.

I had it all figured out though. I was completely finished with everything else, so I would simply do all my screen printing this past weekend, just in time for finals week. Then I was sick for a few days. Time was running out! Monday, I got to work. It did not go smoothly. First, the light bulb in my "exposure" lamp burned out...after only about 3 hours of use total since I bought it! It went out Monday night, after I finally had everything ready to go. I went to bed.

Tuesday morning, I woke up and went to the hardware store first thing to replace the bulb. Funny thing: there are only really serious handy people at the hardware store at 8 am on a Tuesday. I was looking pretty girly in a pink jacket and rain boots, and buying a poinsettia plant and light bulbs...at 8 am...got a few strange looks! But I had been meaning to get a poinsettia plant so I took the opportunity when it came to me! haha The new package says the bulbs will last 2,000 hours apiece! Um, what! I was so furious. The previous bulb had come with my lamp and like I said lasted ~3 hours...was it like those batteries that come with stuff and only last 1/4 as long as regular batteries, I wondered? I got home and changed the bulb, only to discover that the one that CAME with my lamp, was the WRONG voltage! Seriously! Super dangerous! It was 130 V while the lamp CLEARLY read in all capital letters, don't use a bulb over 120 V! I got back to work.

I'm not going to lie, my photo emulsion was expired, by 3 weeks. It had been refrigerated the entire time, though, and I thought 3 weeks would not be a big deal...turns out, it was a big deal. If you are reading this because you searched "DIY screen printing, etc., etc." (I know people are searching that and finding me from my stats--that's cool, welcome, maybe I can teach you what not to do today!), do not used expired emulsion. Just don't do it. Okay, I KNOW emulsion is expensive, and I know maybe the nearest place you can buy it is 10 miles away (okay, that was me) and it's raining and you just don't want to drive across town, but you're going to regret it if you use it. What happened, you ask? Well, it just never hardened all the way. When I would wash out my screen, the front would look fine, but the back would look hardened but then become sticky from the wash out water. Maybe if I had increased my exposure time from 25 minutes to 1 hour, it would have worked, but do you have 1 hour to test that out, and then to burn your screen every time? If you do, by all means, try it.

So I finally replaced my emulsion, got home, got back to work, and the rest went pretty well. I did not finish all three of my books. I only finished one, in an edition of 8. But that's okay, I have the pages all ready to go on transparency for the others and maybe I'll get to them next week, or maybe next quarter. I'll be in a studio class devoted to screen printing 6 hours a week next quarter, so I should be able to knock them out no problem.

My home screen printing studio is still pretty sweet, despite its initial hiccups. This was my third time to use it since I got everything set up (almost 5 months ago), I will shamefully admit. I am planning to use it all the time now, though, so get ready! If you've been wondering what sorts of new products will be in my Etsy shop in the next month or so, screen printing might have something to do with it, *hint, hint*! I am working on a small winter collection to start things off, so stay tuned...that's all the spoiler information you get for now.

In my next post, I will show you the actual handmade books I was printing!

Also, coming up this Friday, December 9 to Wednesday, December 20: My 12 days of Christmas! This is the time I have in between school ending and going to visit my family for Christmas, and I'm going to do one Christmas activity per day and post about it. It's going to be amazing! Cookie baking, looking at Christmas lights, making ornaments, and the list goes on...I will be posting lots of photos and DIY tutorials!

hello, july

Hello, July. July is actually not so bad up here in Ohio. Normally I would be melting by this point, but even without air conditioner I have few complaints on the weather as of late. Lots of creative things are happening in my dining room today! It's exciting to screen print from home and to focus on whatever I'd like to make, rather than a project for a class. Today I've been working with a round design I drew up this week for trivets, coasters, and embroidery hoops. I hope to have some for sale in my Etsy shop within a few days. My screen mesh is too large for making fine-detailed prints on paper, so I've got to get one with a finer mesh before making more of those. It's perfect for fabric, however. Stay tuned for lots of good things! My summer goal is to make at least five new drawings a week, and many of those will become screen prints.

diy screen printing, pt. 2

I've finally tested out my screen printing set-up! (remember the tabletop I built a week or so ago here)

I knew the printing area would be fine, but was more worried about making my exposure at home. To do so, I bought a 500-watt halogen utility light for $10. After watching a lot of YouTube videos and reading contradictory information about how to do everything, I made my own executive decisions based on my prior screen printing knowledge. A few things I did in case anyone out there is thinking of setting up a similar area (and sorry, this is going to get a bit technical!):

1. While assembling my utility light, I took out the glass that normally filters the light. This does make the lamp a bit more dangerous (it gets very hot!) so I would suggest to anyone out there considering this, to stay by your light during the exposure time, just in case, and be sure your screen is a good distance away from the light (15-20") because nylon melts!

2. Because I am impatient, I guessed on my first exposure time rather than making a test area (best option: do a test area, of course). I used 12 minutes (based on internet research--not very scientific) and got a pretty good exposure minus a little unwanted texture that was either the result of a slightly short exposure time or a bad washing-out method (internet advice told me it would be good to use a scrub brush to aid with washing out when doing so in a bathtub, but I am pretty sure this is where the unwanted texture came from). Also, take note that this exposure time was with a white screen (yellow screens filter the light a bit so you need to add time) and an image on transparency. I tried a second image on the same screen, on copy paper with vegetable oil, and it wasn't nearly enough time.

3. To keep my transparency flat, I placed the glass from a picture frame on top of it during exposure time (if you are used to using an exposure unit, think upside down for making an exposure with a lamp--screen on bottom, glass on top, image placed upside down). I had a piece lying around because I had to replace the glass in that frame with plexi for an out-of-town art exhibit, but if you don't have that luxury, might I suggest getting a cheap, old, ugly frame from a thrift store that is around the size of your screen, and using that glass. To get even better results, I used some leftover foam from when I covered my tabletop (purchased near the batting area at the craft store--it's made for upholstery use and comes in 1" or 2" thick, I went with 1") and put that underneath my screen, in the "hollow" area. I laid an old black shirt on top of the foam to help absorb the light.

4. Since I don't have a power washer or even a hose I can use in the bathtub, I used emulsion remover to reclaim my screen (before, I've used bleach + a power washer). It did the trick with minimal scrubbing on my part. I used a scrub brush (from the cleaning aisle, nothing fancy) to help me out.

Since my screen had some unwanted texture, I'm going to try again this evening! I'm going to call this first run a success, however, since it was really close to perfect and I had no major issues. I hope to have new prints in the shop by Friday, made in my own dining room! Hurray, DIY screen printing!

diy screen printing

I spent today getting the rest of the materials for and assembling my screen printing table top! I'm really happy with how it turned out. I also found the perfect shelf for my supplies at my favorite thrift store. I added hooks at the bottom for hanging additional items.

Drawing up a brand new design for my first screen! I'll keep you posted. I got a 500 watt halogen lamp for making the exposures. Crossing my fingers that everything works out! I did a lot of research before assembling my set-up, so I think after a few tests on exposure time, it'll be good to go.

new etsy ventures

I'm working on a lot of new things for my Etsy shop. I am so excited about the new possibilities! Last weekend, I acquired most of the things I need to complete my dining room screen printing table. This weekend I'll actually be building the removable table top. I've got to make a padding for the bottom side, because my dining room table is actually my nicest piece of furniture!

Once finished, I'll be continuing the work I've been doing the past few months at school with screen printing (installation work), but in the process, or in between the process, I'll be making a lot of things to sell in the shop. They derive from my drawings and will include prints on paper, notecards, small and large pieces of fabric, zipper pouches, aprons, and tote bags. I'll be screen printing onto fabric and sewing the items listed, not just printing on readymade objects (I might print on some vintage objects, however). I'm excited for these new things and hopeful that they might be a success in the shop, which currently has only custom work for sale.

As a sneak peak, I have three prints up right now! But once I get my table set up, I'll be printing lots more designs, in and on various colors, nicer papers, etc., so in a week or so, you can expect a lot more.

kitten mittens

In my printmaking class, we have to do a trade print. We make an edition as big as the class, and on the last day, everyone swaps. We can do anything we want for the print, so a few people came up with the idea to do the theme "kitten mittens." It's borrowed from the show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. At first, I didn't want to do the theme (and I wasn't required to), because I don't particularly like that show. Everyone was getting really into it, though, so I decided to go ahead and do it. This is what I came up with. I think it's pretty cute.

And the skit from the show that inspired the theme? You can watch it here.

kitten mittens

A small peak into my life as a grad student...featuring the c-printing lab, screen printing studio, and my personal studio, which I share with the three other first-year photo grads.













In our printmaking class, we have to made a trade print in an edition to share with each person in the class. A lot of people are doing "kitten mittens" as their theme, because we're allowed to do anything we want for this one print. "Kitten mittens" is from the tv show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I'm debating on whether or not I should do a kitten mittens print, or something else, since I don't really like that show (gasp--sorry for those who do!).

custom fabric, pt. 1

Here is a very small preview of the screen printed designs I am working on! I run each design as both a print and as fabric. I am currently working on getting the materials necessary to screen print on my dining room table this summer (the facilities at my school are moving to a different building and will be closed for awhile), so if that works out successfully, you can expect to see some things for sale in my Etsy shop.

The process is very hands-on and I think that's why I love it. I start by making some of my signature doodle drawings on paper, then go through all the steps to making them into a screen. I love that I can wash the screen out and print again with another ink color, and like paint, I can mix any color I can dream up. Mixing paint colors is actually one of my favorite pastimes. Although I have never considered myself a painter, I am an avid adder-of-watercolor to my sketchbook drawings. Watercolors in a tray are handy and portable, but the ones in a tube are by far my favorite, for the colors you can get with those are endless.

I've got to pick up my film of the garden this morning from the photo lab, but to give an update, everything has sprouted and it's looking great. The spinach is out of control (in a good way), the zinnia and sunflower seedlings have emerged in large numbers, the peas are quickly making their way up, up, up (planted them a little late, but it's so mild here, hoping they make it), and there are also chard, cilantro, and chives from seed. The other plants were purchased, so I find them slightly less magical, but they are getting bigger and one pepper plant even has a flower already!