About

Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
40 mins

Simple Printmaking
This is a satisfying and effective way of creating
simple, stylish and individual designs on china.
Porcelain paints are very durable, but do keep
the painted designs to areas that won’t come
into contact with cutlery – such as the outsides
of bowls and the edges of plates.

The technique takes a little practice, but you
can wipe or wash off your design if it is wonky
or wrongly spaced, or if there are any smudges
or mistakes, as the paint is removable until it is
baked. (Have some damp kitchen paper to hand
for this purpose, and make sure that you clean
up any marks that may have occurred during
the printing process before you bake your china.)

It is important to flatten the stencil down well
when printing – and even to cut some extra
stencils to use if you are decorating a lot of
china, in case your stencil loses its stickiness.

Posted by GMC Group Published See GMC Group's 304 projects » © 2024 Elizabeth Harbour / Stackpole Books · Reproduced with permission. · Creative Makers: Simple Printmaking by Elizabeth Harbour, published by Mitchell Beazley, £16.99 (www.octopusbooks.co.uk)
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  • Step 1

    1Prepare the stencils and china
    Trace and transfer your chosen template
    on the inside front cover onto the paper backing of the
    low-tack mask or stencil film, and carefully cut it out using
    a scalpel or craft knife on a cutting mat. Remove any sticky
    labels from the china and wash and dry it thoroughly.

  • How to make a plate. Folk Art Bowls - Step 2
    Step 2

    Work out the positions of each stencil
    Measure the circumference of each bowl by placing a
    length of masking tape around the outer rim, then gently
    remove the tape and stick it onto a plastic surface. Use the
    shape you have cut out of your stencil to work a design so
    that there is more or less 1cm (½in) between each shape,
    and mark their positions on the masking tape.

  • How to make a plate. Folk Art Bowls - Step 3
    Step 3

    Mark the stencil positions on the china
    bowl and begin printing
    Reposition the masking tape just below the bowl’s outer
    rim and use a watercolour pencil to mark out the stencil positions on the bowl’s side, positioning the stencil each
    time so that its top edge is 6mm (¼in) down from the
    rim of the bowl. Using a small make-up sponge, gently
    sponge scarlet red or abyss black paint onto the stencil.
    Be careful not to print over its edges. If you have
    any accidents or misprints wipe them off the bowl with
    dampened kitchen paper.

  • How to make a plate. Folk Art Bowls - Step 4
    Step 4

    Finish printing and add details
    Carefully remove the stencil and reposition it repeatedly
    around the side of the bowl, being careful not to smudge
    the printed shape. If you are printing the horse, once all
    of the shapes are printed, scratch out the eye detail with
    the pointed end of a kebab skewer or cocktail stick.
    If it is difficult to scratch out the paint, dampen the tip of the stick. Allow to dry for 24 hours and then, following the
    Porcelaine paint instructions, bake your bowls in an oven
    for 35 minutes at 150°C/300°F/gas mark 2.

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Comments

Amberlynn Reid
Amberlynn Reid · Kathmandu, Central Region, NP · 67 projects
Wow! These are CUTE!!!
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