my creative space: traffic jam screen print

I find that I seem to need a specific little project like birthdays, to get me motivated to create designs! I get excited creating something special for someone, so I'm always happy when there are birthdays or special occasions on the horizon which there are quite a few coming up!

Yesterday, I screen printed two tops for a couple of friends little boys!  I have been dabbling with this car scribble design on and off for a while now and came up with "traffic jam"!  It has only three colours, which for me is easy peasy... usually I have loads more! I just can't do one colour!

I am so happy with how it turned out and the screen printing went smoothly with no hiccups!  I was a little worried with how the colours were going to look on the blue top but I think it looks really great.. phew!!! I can't wait to give them to my friends :)

:: 2 little traffic jams completed :)


Here is a little of my process:
Tuesday - I had pretty much finished this design a while ago, I just had to tweak it a bit!  Most of it is hand drawn, scanned and then put into Adobe Illustrator.  The cars do look a little wobbly, I didn't have time to adjust them so I fixed them when I cut the stencils out.


I cut out the three stencils, one for each colour, while I was watching my son eat his lunch, which can take a long time! I always like to do something constructive in that time!
ps: don't worry the craft knife was well away from my little boys, curious fingers :)

:: stencil cutting and a very mangled Vegemite sandwich
 in top left hand corner :)

Most people draw or trace the design onto the stencil paper and then cut it out. I like to print out the design onto paper, then tape it onto the stencil paper and cut directly through both paper and stencil paper, using a very sharp craft knife. I find this way more accurate and much faster! I really wish I could print directly onto the easycut stencil paper but unfortunately it doesn't work! If anyone has any other ideas/suggestions on this.. please let me know :)

:: three stencils for three colours

Wednesday morning - Mixed up all the paint colours needed and then screen printed the first colour, all before breakfast at 7am.

:: a very old screen

I screen printed second colour after a long breakfast with my little boy and the first colour was dry.

:: second colour done

Then after some vigorous jumping (not me) on the bed and pretending to be lions with my little boy, I screen printed the third colour. I'm always really nervous when doing the last colour... there is a lot of finger crossing and hoping nothing goes wrong!! Luckily it was all fine :)

:: third screen printed colour - completed... Yay!!


Hope you all have had great creative week :)
There are loads more creative people over at our creative spaces...

22 comments:

  1. So cute!!! and very well done!
    I love the wobbly cars! :)

    P.S. Can't wait to see the tea towels you're working on!!!

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  2. aww it looks great.
    so cool that you used 3 colours. makes me want to learn more about screen printing :)

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  3. they turned out awesome! have a super rest of the week!

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  4. Those are awesome. Great graphic and fabulous screen printing skillz!

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  5. oh this is beyond cute! I envy your ability to screen print, its on my to do list before I die lol, soon enough I'll get around to learning!
    thank you so much for your lovely comment on my blog today, was much appreciated!
    xx Courtney
    Little Raven Ink

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  6. They look fantastic! Such a great design too :) Kx

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  7. What a great design & the most awesome way to fill in that time during kiddies munchies!

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  8. That design is super!! I would love to be able to screenprint.

    x

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  9. These look fantastic Lumina, great layout, colour and printing - I'm sure your friends will be thrilled.

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  10. Lamina, you screenprinting dynamo! They look fab! I love the blue one, those colours work great together. And your rainbow rain ones are super sweet. You might have to do some workshops. : )

    ps. So great to see your Water Paper Paint project posts and hear about your discoveries. It's great fun isn't it!

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  11. As always, I absolutely adore your screen printing project, and am so envious of your screen printing skill. Love the cars!

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  12. I love it! So cool. I would love to try screen printing - the creative freedom is great. Lovely blog you have.

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  13. great job on the shirts, they look awesome!!! thanks for sharing the process too :)

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  14. aren't you a clever cookie! I love them.

    I have wanted to give screen printing ago for a while! You have just inspired me to check it out a bit more.

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  15. They look great! Love the design and the end result.

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  16. These are wonderful! And I hear you on the long mealtimes! My kids eat and eat and eat. :)

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  17. Thank you everyone for your very lovely, lovely comments **blush** :)

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  18. Gorgeous! I'm feeling really inspired having just received a screen printing kit myself. Might be checking out your blog a bit more :)

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  19. Hey Lamina

    Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a lovely message. I have just checked out your blog and i love it- you are doing some really great things. I love the screen printing and I will have to find this water color book :-) looks great. Happy birthday for next month- you will love your 550D. How exciting.

    Ruby-Robin ox

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  20. Nicely done! It does definitely help to have a reason for creating sometimes.

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  21. I really like your traffic jam design - very apppropriate for Sydney!!

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  22. Oh, I love this Lamina! this would make a lovely print for the walls as well, I reckon.
    Ronnie xo

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Thank you for visiting... I love comments :)