Printing with found objects

I was handed gorgeous antique keys and asked to make something with them.  The keys belonged to a family/friend who recently passed. His son gathered them as he cleaned out his father’s home.  I was honored to be trusted with these sentimental items.

 That being said, yes the paint comes off metal.  Immediately after finishing the painting process they were rinsed then soaked in soapy water.   The patina did not change and they look the same as they did before. Take a look at the How-to video of Antique Key Print.

Supplies:

• Fabric to print on – cotton, muslin, unprimed canvas, linen

• Objects to print with (ie antique keys) 

• Stretcher Bar kit

• Hammer or mallet (for pin stretcher bar pins- optional)

• Flat headed screwdriver

• Pliers

• Pencil with eraser

• Scissor

• Scrap cardboard to make a tracing shape template -used cereal boxes are easy to cut

• Towels for padding – old, but clean.  They will likely get paint on them

• Measuring tool- for centering 

• Acrylic fabric/craft paint 

• Paintbrushes – one for applying paint to object, and another fine brush for personalizing or signing the work

• Disposable paper plate or cup- for paint

• Staple gun & Staples

• Iron

• Fabric shaver 

Here are a few tips for making this a success 

 Prepping the support:

The stretcher bars kit comes with directions if needed.  Using a hammer to push in the pins is optional; they can be pushed in by hand.   

 The Sketch:

When drawing on the fabric, draw very lightly.  The pencil does erase, but may create pilling, or fabric fuzz.  That can make the final piece look messy.  A fabric shaver helps fix that.  

 The arrangement:

Pre-plan the arrangement of objects within the shape.  Otherwise the design could come out uneven or with empty spaces.  If there are empty spaces try printing half of the object to fit the space.  This tip worked for a few areas in the video.

 Printing:

Applying paint is a messy job.  Make sure to wash and wipe hands between each key print to avoid smudges and unwanted marks.  Avoid working over the project- paint drips.  Once the paint is on the fabric, don’t try to wipe it off.  It is easier to start over than to clean a mistake. Make sure paint is 100% dry before moving onto the next steps.

Stretching the Fabric onto Stretcher Bars:

Before fixing the fabric to the frame, iron out creases. If your fabric looks too transparent on the support frame, double up the fabric by adding a layer behind the design as seen in the video. Making sure the design is centered on the frame is crucial.  Measure, re-measure, then measure by eye.  Start stapling one side at a time with few staples in case adjustments need to be made.  Staples come out with a flat-head screwdriver and pliers.  Pull the fabric taut and evenly. Pulling too hard or unevenly will cause the design to distort.

There are a lot of steps, but is a fun and straightforward DIY project.