TECHNIQUE

Fusible Painted Prints on Fabric

Make a layered painting by transferring designs on fabric with iron-on adhesive. In this exercise you’ll create painted layers and doodles pressed into fabric. It creates a satin finish on the fabric and is great for mixed-media art quilting techniques.

Creative Toolbox

heat-activated adhesive

foam brush

fabric paint

dimensional paint

drill cloth fabric

permanent or fabric markers

iron

parchment paper

fluid and High Flow acrylic paints

white correction pen

STEP 1: Paint Adhesive

Brush a couple of colors of paint onto a piece of heat-activated adhesive (I prefer HeatnBond Lite) using a foam brush. Draw designs on top with dimensional paint.

STEP 2: Doodle Flowers

Draw on a piece of drill cloth fabric using permanent or fabric markers.

STEP 3: Transfer Paint

Place the painted adhesive face down on the drill fabric and cover with a piece of parchment paper (I use Reynolds brand). Iron using medium heat until the adhesive is set and the backing paper peels off easily.

STEP 4: Print Reveal

Here’s the first layer of paint on the canvas.

STEP 5: Draw Designs

Paint fabric paint onto a piece of heat-activated adhesive. Draw with the tip of a High Flow acrylic bottle to create circular designs. Draw even more circles with dimensional paint.

STEP 6: Transfer Design

Place the painted design onto the first layer from step 4, cover with parchment and iron on a medium setting.

STEP 7: Fused Design

Peel back the release paper to reveal the design. If you wait until it cools completely and then peel, the image will be shiny. If you peel while it’s still warm, the image will be satin.

STEP 8: Add White

Draw with the tip of the High Flow acrylic paint bottle and write a few words with a white correction pen.

STEP 9: Add Dimension

Doodle some more designs with dimensional paint. Keep the tip touching the surface, and squeeze the bottle gently as you write and doodle to create a clean, thin line. Allow to dry. This piece of artwork would make a great art journal cover!