Creating cheap & easy silkscreens

 

After proudly creating five silkscreens, I'm kick starting this blog with the shared how-to details.  I purchased a silkscreen several years ago but never got around to using it (I tend to do that a lot)  Whatever happened to that silkscreen?  I have no idea.  I've since graced many art stores, held that neat little silkscreen set box in my hands, turned it over and over, thought about buying, but always decided to put it back.  Who needs a $50 plus store bought silkscreen when, with little effort and time, you can create your own.  And if your a creative on a budget like me, this comes in handy.

The materials are pretty simple, you need a wood picture frame, shear curtains, scissors, and a staple gun.

To get started take apart the wood picture frame, remove the back and glass so that your left with just a wood frame. 

Turn the frame over and lay it on top of the spread out curtains.  

Start pulling the curtain around the frame and staple in place.  This really should be done with a heavy duty staple gun but after searching high and low for mine I gave up and desperately grabbed a regular office stapler.  The staples are a little harder to go in with this kind so you may have to add a little more power to your punch.  It varies depending on the wood of the frame also.  I find these staples can be removed easier too,  which works better for me because it gives me the convenience of taking my silkscreens apart if need be.  So the cheesy stapler actually works to my advantage some.  

Continue stapling on all four sides, make sure to really pull the curtain tightly as you go.  The curtain curtain should be tight enough to bounce a quarter off of it..  military style!

Be sure to fold down the corners as you staple.  Cut the excess curtain.  You can do this when your done or as you go a long, whichever is easier.  If its still a little loose, don't be afraid to pull a little more and add more staples.  As you can see I'm not the neatest staple, but functionality serves over cuteness here.

Turn it over and Wah Lah! You have your silkscreen.