Favorite Freebie Friday: How to Screen Print a Custom Tea Towel

I love tulips. I always have, and probably always will. However, I rarely have them in my house or even grow them (true story). Part of the reason why is because I live in North Carolina, and it’s nearly impossible for them to get what they need (extreme cold in the winter, etc). The other part is just plain forgetfulness. After the parade of spring blooms that have awoken in my backyard, and the hot, dreadful days of summer have seemed to pop up practically the next day (soooo typical in NC!) my attention span and memory for these gorgeous flowers becomes non-existent. And that my friends, is why I wanted to create and show you How to Screen Print a Custom Tea Towel with my favorite flower or whatever you’d like to customize your own for!

Thankfully this process is SUPER easy. Honestly. I was a little nervous at first because I haven’t had the best of luck with screen printing on wood before.

However, I had to remind myself that fabric is a completely different beast, and it wouldn’t be that bad. Thankfully, I was right! It was a proud moment in history for the Cathcart family. HAH! I kid, of course ;)

Here’s what you need to get started:

SUPPLIES and TOOLS

• Tulip SVG Cut File
• Vinyl
• Transfer Tape
• Silhouette CAMEO and Mat
• Print Screen (this kit includes: screen, squeegee, and the ink)
• Screen Printing Ink
• Squeegee
• Foam Brush
• Painter’s Tape
• Flour Sack(s)

STEPS

• Cut out your design on your Silhouette CAMEO (or Cricut if you prefer–this tutorial works with either or). Need help cutting out this file? Check out this tutorial for assistance!
• Apply your transfer tape to your vinyl, and then pick out all of the pieces of your vinyl that you want to be painted.
• Attach your vinyl stencil to your print screen with your squeegee and remove your transfer tape
• Next, open up your flour sack and put a piece of cardboard in between your bottom and top layer. This will prevent the ink from soaking into the bottom layer of your flour sack.

• Place your print screen on top of your flour sack where you would like the design to appear.
• With your foam brush lightly dap enough ink into your design that it covers with a little excess on top.

• After your design has been covered take your squeegee and run it back and forth over your design several times.
• Then, slowly lift your print screen off of your flour sack.
• I still can’t get over how easy this was to make!!
• Then, let your design and ink dry.

Just in case, I also made a quick video tutorial to show you how to create this beauty too!

How to Screen Print a Custom Tea Towel

Gorgeous, right?! I still get giddy just looking at this custom tea towel! Plus, what’s great about this design is that it would look amazing in other colors too. Can’t you just picture it in green, red, and maybe even yellow?

Not to mention, it would make a WONDERFUL Mother’s Day gift too. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge ;)

Happy Friday!