Maker Monday: Let’s try screen printing

You’ll find all the details on materials and instructions right here, and you can follow along on the video below to learn each easy step. A note to kid makers: Please work with a parent or caregiver on every project and always be very careful when using tools of any kind.

Maker Monday materials you’ll need:

• embroidery hoop
• an old pair of pantyhose or stockings (bottom part only)
• scissors
• newspaper
• a pen or marker
• heavy paper or card stock
• fabric paint or screen printing ink
• a piece of corrugated cardboard cut to 2 inches by 4 inches
• an old/empty gift card or expired credit card

Instructions:

• Take apart your embroidery hoop and put the bottom half all the way into the stocking.
• Place the top half of the embroidery hoop on the bottom and tighten the fabric in the hoop.
• Cut off the top part of the stocking, so that there’s an “open” side. (see video)
• Using your hoop as a guide, draw a large circle (larger than the hoop) on a piece of newspaper and cut it out.
• On that newspaper circle, draw a design that you want to screen print.
• Cut out your design. You are making a stencil: The cut out area is where the ink will go through! (see video)
• Place the newspaper circle with your design cut out onto your card stock.
• Place your screen on top of the newspaper and the card stock.
• Open your ink or paint and use the cardboard to scoop a thick line of it onto the stockings above the design.
• Then take your old plastic card and carefully but firmly drag the ink across the entire design.
• Gently pull the screen and newspaper stencil off the paper.

Want more at-home fun making beautiful things? Check out more Maker Monday videos from Kidsburgh and the Children’s Museum.