But some types of greeting cards are easier to make than others and silk painted cards are a little less time consuming than other kinds of cards. So, for those who are pressed for time, silk painted cards are great for adding that personal touch without a lot of work. You don’t have to be a world-renowned painter to make them, either. You just need to learn a few simple techniques.

What You Need

• Silk
• Frame or hoop
• Rubber band or silk clips
• Water
• Heat-set silk paint or dye
• Paintbrushes (either brushes designed specifically for silk or watercolor brushes)
• Table or rock salt
• Iron
• Wadding
• Double-sided tape
• Tri-fold cards with cutout shapes on the front

Instructions

1. Attach silk to the frame or hoop, securing with rubber band or clips. Make sure the material is pulled taut.
2. Moisten silk with water. Brush different colors of the silk paint or dye over the silk quickly and randomly. Don’t worry if they bleed into each other. This just adds to the charm of the finished product.
3. Sprinkle salt over the painted silk to give it a marbled look. Use table salt for fine marbling, or rock salt for a coarser pattern.
4. Let the silk dry on the frame according to paint or dye instructions. When dried, brush off the salt and remove it from the frame.
5. Set your iron to the appropriate temperature for silk. Iron silk on the wrong side to set the paint.
6. Cut a piece of silk that is larger than the cutout on one of the cards, but not as large as the card itself. Cut a piece of wadding the same size.
7. Place double-sided tape around the edges of the cutout on the back side.
8. Place the silk painted side down on top of the tape, followed by the wadding. Smooth it out to eliminate wrinkles.
9. Place double sided tape around the edges of the card, and fold it so that the front sticks to the panel behind it, hiding the wadding.

Tips

If you don’t have a frame designed for silk painting, you can use a picture frame or make your own.

The larger the piece of silk you paint, the more cards you will be able to make from it. For maximum yield, measure each piece before cutting so that there’s not much more than necessary to cover the cutout.

If you want a more defined design, use resist to keep colors confined to specific areas.

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1. Steam Set Dyes

One of the most popular types of silk dye is the steam set dye. Steam setting requires no additional chemicals, and it is relatively easy. It also provides great color intensity and washability.

Steaming can be accomplished in a few different ways. Some dyes can be fixed by ironing. But most must be steamed using a stovetop or self-contained steamer. If you’re steaming a small piece, you may be able to simply steam it on the stove in the same manner you would steam food.

2. Chemical Set Dyes

Many dyes require a liquid fixative in order to set them. The fixative is applied by either dipping the dyed piece into it or by painting the fixative on. Chemical set dyes are more muted than steam set dyes.

3. Powdered Dyes

There are various types of powdered dyes that may be used on silk. Powdered acid dyes are most often used for dyeing silk, but they can also be used for painting it. There are also cold water dye powders designed for use on cotton that can work on silk. These may or may not require steam setting.

4. Water-Based Paints

Water-based silk paints are very easy to use, making them a good choice for beginners. No chemical fixative is required for these paints. Their consistency is similar to that of dyes, but unlike most dyes, they do leave a “feel” on the silk.

5. Pigment Dyes

The name “pigment dye” is a bit misleading, as it is actually a type of paint. But pigment dyes do not leave much of a feel on silk. Setting is fairly easy, as it may be accomplished by putting the piece in a clothes dryer or by ironing. Pigment dyes produce vibrant colors that cannot be achieved with water-based silk paints.

Choosing the Best Silk Paint or Dye for Your Silk Painting Project

In general, wearable items should be painted or dyed with something that leaves little or no feel on the silk. Dyes are often the best choice, but pigment dye is usually acceptable if it is the only choice that will produce the desired coloring. For items that won’t be worn, paints might provide more versatility.

Knowing the ins and outs of the different dyes and paints used in silk painting will help you make every project a beautiful one. But it may take some experimenting to figure out which ones work best for which applications. Trying new silk paints and dyes (such as Jacquard Silk Dye Apricot 2 oz) on small projects first can save you from unpleasant surprises on bigger ones.

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The right brushes make a world of difference. This is even more so with silk painting. Brushes as a vital part of silk painting equipment is important because silk is a delicate fabric. Using the wrong brushes could have devastating effects. You also have to keep in mind that the paints and dyes used on silk are very different from the paints used on canvas and other materials.

Experienced and frequent silk painters often have a veritable arsenal of brushes as part of their silk painting equipment. They have rounded brushes, flat brushes, thin brushes and flat brushes. Many are dedicated to a specific brand, and they often prefer those with animal hair as opposed to synthetic bristles. The brushes they use tend to be quite expensive.

It’s true that animal hair brushes offer certain advantages over synthetic ones. They have a softness that simply can’t be reproduced with man-made materials. This allows them to soak up much more dye, making it easier to fill in areas large and small. It also makes them safer to use on fragile silk and silk blends.

Many professional silk painters use sumi brushes with bamboo handles and goat hair bristles, which become stiffer in the center and soak up more liquid than regular brushes. Sumi brushes have been used by Chinese silk painters for centuries.

But for beginners, it may not make sense to spend a lot of money on high-end silk painting brushes. Until you decide whether or not you want to do silk painting on a regular basis, it’s probably best to use less expensive brushes. Synthetic watercolor brushes work reasonably well for silk painting, and can be the first brushes that forms part of your silk painting equipment. They may not hold as much paint or dye as natural ones, but they will not harm the silk. They should do fine for your first few projects.

Foam Brushes

No set of silk painting equipment will be complete without a collection of some foam brushes.  The larger ones work very nicely for coloring in large areas, and they’re especially useful when applying fixatives and primers. You can also purchase smaller ones (which look similar to eye shadow applicators or cotton swabs) that are great for applying resist and creating details with silk paint.

Foam brushes are usually very inexpensive. However, most of them must be replaced frequently. If you find them useful, it might be best to buy them in bulk.

The sizes and types of brushes used by one silk painter might be completely different from those used by another. The brushes you’ll need depend largely on your preferences and the techniques you use. Just remember that there is no one brush that will do everything you need to do.

In order to be successful at silk painting, you’ll need at least a few different sizes of brushes as part of your silk painting equipment and you will probably need a couple of different types of brushes.

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The Silk Stretcher Frame is made of wood, comes in four 24” long pieces that have notches for easy adjustment and perfect fitting. The frame can be adjusted to a maximum square size of 17 ¼ “.

In the process of getting silk painting supplies have a look at this silk stretcher frame, it will ensure that you get the maximum out of your silk painting. You cannot really do silk painting without a silk painting stretcher as part of your silk stretching supplies.

Go now, and have a look at the silk stretching frame at Amazon and start with it as part of your silk painting supplies.

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The Fun Bag, one of a series of silk painting kits contains:

• 3 x 9 ½ “ diameter silk hoops stretched with Chinese silk
• 3 Dye-Na-Flow colors
• Gold water-based resist
• 2 brushes
• Silk salt

The equipment allows you to try various silk painting techniques. Silk painting brings to life the silk with beautiful vibrant colors and your own personal style. The finished silk will make attractive gifts for someone special.

Go and have a look at these silk painting kits and enjoy your new craft.

Alex Silk Painting Activity Set For The Kids From:

You always know you are safe when you buy from Amazon!

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The book, one of the very good silk painting books, gives an overview of the history of painting on silk in Europe and Asia. The chapter on silk offers a wide range of information about the discovery of silk, a review of silk materials (including Jacquard silk) plus how to buy and care for silk.

The painting on silk sections, in this silk painting book, provide you with all the information on essential equipment, materials and techniques, such as paints, brushes, stretching the silk, types of frames and preparing the paints.

You also learn about the various silk painting effects including color blending, salt techniques and painting with a hairdryer.

A Complete Guide to Silk Painting also gives you tips and ideas for silk designs for lampshades, clothing, greeting cards or jewelry.

The book benefits from beautiful illustrations throughout which will catch your eye, this is yet another reason why it is one of the best silk painting books.

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Silk painting has much in common with painting on paper or canvas, but there are also some important differences. Painting on silk requires different techniques and supplies. So, before you can start, you will need to get some silk painting equipment.

Here are some of the silk painting equipment you’ll need if you want to try your hand at this beautiful art form.

1. Silk

There are many different types of silk. It comes in many different weights and textures. Silk may also be blended with other types of fibers to create an even greater variety of fabrics.

2. Stretching frame

You can buy stretching frames made specifically for silk at many art supply stores. Canvas stretching bars also work just fine, however, and they may be easier to find. It’s also possible to make your own frame out of wood or cardboard if you’re so inclined. For some projects, you can even use a picture frame.

3. Silk clips

You’ll need these to keep your silk in place on the stretching frame. In a pinch, you could substitute rubber bands and/or safety pins. Pins or tacks may also be used, but it’s important to get the kinds that are designed for use with silk to avoid damaging the fabric.

4. Prewash

Most silks are designed so that they may be painted without prewashing. But if you plan to dye your silk a solid color, prewashing is advised. Synthrapol is one of the most commonly used prewashes for silk.

5. Vanishing marker

Before you start painting, you’ll need to sketch out your design. A vanishing marker makes it easy to do so without leaving any permanent traces.

6. Resist

Resist is a chemical that acts as a barrier for dyes (and sometimes paints) when used on silk. It is applied with a fine-tipped applicator and left to dry. This allows for the creation of well-defined borders.

7. Dyes and paints

There are many different types of dyes and paints that may be used on silk. Some dyes are fixed with steam, while others require separate chemicals for fixing. Powdered dyes may also be used for silk painting, but this is less common. Silk paints are very thin, but they leave some degree of feel on the silk, so they are best suited to home décor projects rather than wearable ones.

8. Brushes and sponges

Watercolor brushes are quite suitable for silk painting. Sponge brushes also work well for many projects.

Silk painting is a bit different from painting on canvas and other surfaces. But for the artistically inclined, it’s not difficult to get started. Some silk painting equipment is all you need to create your first silk masterpiece.

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Silk painting is fun and it is an art form that has been around for many, many centuries. In fact, it predates painting on paper and similar materials. Silk painting can be traced back to ancient times in East Asia. It was especially prevalent in Vietnam, and it remains popular there to this day. Vietnamese silk paintings feature landscapes, pagodas and historical scenes, and they differ from those produced in China and Japan due to French influence.

Interest in silk painting decreased with the invention of paper in the 1st century CE. Silk was quite expensive at the time, and paper was very cheap by comparison. Silk painting was all but forgotten until recent times, when people rediscovered that silk painting is fun.

Silk painting has recently experienced a renaissance in Europe. Its newfound popularity has even more recently spread to the United States. This versatile art can be used to create a wide variety of projects. That is the most important reason why people will say: “silk painting is fun!”

What You Can Do with Silk Painting

There was a time when silk painting was reserved for artwork to hang on walls. But today it is employed for a wide variety of purposes. Painted silk has made its way into home décor, wearables and even greeting cards.

Silk scarves are among the most frequently attempted projects. Their small size and fashion value are two reasons for their popularity. Silk painting may also be incorporated into other accessories such as bags and hair bows, or even into shirts and other pieces of clothing.

Silk painting has also made its way onto arts and crafts. Silk painted gift cards are one of the latest trends among crafters. Other frequently attempted projects include Christmas ornaments and suncatchers. Silk painting is fun and that is why people are trying out all kinds of crafts with silk painting.

Silk Painting Techniques

In many cases, silk painting does not involve paint at all. Instead, dyes are used. This allows the silk to retain its smooth feel and appearance. Elaborate patterns may be created by using a chemical called resist to create barriers for the colors. Most dyes must be fixed onto the silk by steaming or using a chemical fixative. The silk may be dipped into the dye, or it may be painted on. Paints that are used on silk are usually thin

and water-based. They usually leave a bit of a feel on the silk, but not as much as an oil-based paint would. Pigment dyes are actually paints, but they have qualities that are much like those of dyes.

While silk painting may appear to be a new trend, it has actually been done since ancient times. But today’s paints, dyes and techniques have created more possibilities for this beautiful art than ever before.

Do not be scared by the dyes and other technicalities of silk painting. Once you have mastered it, you will see that silk painting is fun and you will make use of it more and more!

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