Search Results for: block print

Block Printing with The Crafter’s Box

March 13, 2016

In case you missed it last week, I debuted my first online block printing class with The Crafter’s Box! When you sign up for a subscription by 3/20, you’ll receive all the supplies and materials you’ll need to print your own beautiful linen table runner. You’ll get access to an exclusive online video tutorial, where I’ll give you all my tips and tricks for creating beautiful block printed textiles.

If you want to learn to block print on fabric, sign up for The Crafter’s Box now! Enrollment closes on 3/20, so don’t miss out!

Upcoming Print + Pattern Workshop at Maker’s Mess in LA

January 16, 2016

Curious about pattern design? Want to learn to print your own patterns to use in your craft and DIY projects? Sign up for an intro to block printing workshop with Erin Dollar, founder of Cotton & Flax, and learn how to print your own custom patterns on paper.

Our next class will be held in Los Angeles on 1/28/16, from 7-9pm. In this two-hour class hosted by Maker’s Mess, you will learn how to carve simple printing blocks and transfer your designs onto paper. We will provide all the materials: linoleum blocks, carving tools, printing ink, and chipboard notebooks to print on. You’ll leave with your own, custom-printed set of notebooks, ready to house your sketches, to-do lists, or goals for 2016!

Learn a new skill, meet creative people, and leave with gorgeous custom patterned notebooks you made yourself. Don’t miss it!

Upcoming Print + Pattern Workshop at Makeshift Society in San Francisco

May 31, 2015

San Francisco: I’ll be teaching a workshop at Makeshift Society in just under two weeks! Enroll in my Print+Pattern workshop and create your own set of patterned notebooks with me on Friday, June 12th from 6-8.

In this two-hour class, you will learn how to carve simple printing blocks and transfer your designs onto paper. We will provide all the materials: linoleum blocks, carving tools, printing ink, and chipboard notebooks from Scout Books to print on. You’ll leave with your own, custom-printed set of notebooks, ready to house your sketches, grocery lists, or whatever you can dream up.

Learn a new skill, meet creative people, enjoy snacks and beverages, and leave with gorgeous custom patterned notebooks you made yourself. Don’t miss it! Sign up for the workshop on the Makeshift Society site.

Upcoming Workshop: Print Your Own Fabric in LA

September 8, 2014

Want to learn to print your own patterned fabric to use in your craft and DIY projects? I’ll be teaching a workshop on how to print your own patterned fabric at Common Thread Studio in South Pasadena in just a few weeks!

In this two hour class, you will learn how to carve simple printing blocks and transfer your designs onto fabric. We will provide all the materials: linoleum blocks, carving tools, printing ink, and 2 panels of 20″x20″ fabric, plus paper for those interested in stationery design. You’ll leave with your own, custom-printed fabric, ready to be transformed into pillows, scarves, tote bags, or whatever you can dream up!

You are welcome to bring additional fabric to print on, as well. I’d recommend light and medium-weight fabrics that aren’t too roughly textured, made from cotton or other natural fibers. Can’t go wrong with a quilting cotton or a lightweight linen.

Click here to sign up for the class! Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions before the workshop, you’ll find my contact info on the About page.

Print of the Week – Relief print from Erin Dollar (that’s me!)

December 21, 2012

This week, I’d like to share one of my own relief prints for Print of the Week. For those not familiar with this technique, to create a relief print, you carve away at the printing surface (usually a block of wood or rubber linoleum) to create your image, and the areas left behind are coated in ink and printed onto paper. It’s a labor intensive process, but I love the bold, graphic lines you can achieve using the carving tools.

I created this print to symbolize the ways we stay connected to the ones we love, even if we are faraway. Something I’ve been thinking about more often as the holidays approach…

I’ve been featuring traditional prints here on the blog every week since May, I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing so many modern examples of what you can achieve with printmaking techniques. I’m planning to continue this series in 2013, do you have any favorite printmakers you’d like me to feature?

~~If you’d like to purchase this print, you can find it in my second Etsy shop.~~ Edit 5/1/14: my print shop has closed, but send me an email if you want to inquire about my printmaking work.

DIY Printed Envelope Liners

October 22, 2012

Did you happen to see Heather Ross’ DIY Envelope Liner project on the Etsy blog recently? I was totally inspired to try something similar, but instead of using a premade pattern, I wanted to create my own! I’ll walk you through the steps of using hand carved linoleum stamps to print your own envelope liner, which is sure to impress any pen pal, and could even be used to create personalized stationery or wedding invites!

Materials:

Text-weight colored paper that compliments your envelope
Linoleum printing block
Scissors
Acid-free glue stick
Stamp pad
Carving tools and Xacto knife
Envelope with a pointed flap (I used 4 bar size envelopes for this project)

*Author’s note: I only recommend products that I love and use in my own studio. I may receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked to in my posts.

Begin by trimming the blank paper to size. First, unfold the top envelope flap, and measure from the center of the bottom of the envelope to just under the glue on the top of the flap. Then measure the width of the envelope (see Fig. 1). Trim your paper to accommodate this size. Slip the piece of paper into the envelope to test if it will fit (it should look like Fig. 2).

Next, create a stamp that you’d like to use for the pattern inside the envelope. If you’ve never carved a linoleum stamp before, I covered the basics in my gift wrap stamp tutorial. You can sketch out a design on a piece of paper, or just draw an idea directly onto the linoleum block with a soft pencil. Keep in mind that carved areas will not print, and that your design will print as the reverse image of what you carve. Safety tip: always push the carving tools away from your body, and be careful not to keep your hand in front of the knife (you don’t want to knick a finger!)

Play around with size and scale, see if you prefer the look of a larger design, or a very small design. You’d be surprised how much a simple polka dot can jazz up a plain envelope. Stamp your design onto the liner paper using the ink pad, either in a uniform pattern, or completely randomly! I like to mix it up and try a few different variations. You can even combine two or more stamps into one design. Allow the ink on the liner to dry before continuing.

Slip the freshly printed liner paper into an envelope, with the printed side facing out (see fig. 3). Fold down the top corners of the liner on both sides so that the folded edges run just below the glue line on the envelope. Remove the liner from the envelope, and cut off the corners along the creases (see fig. 4). You can also cut a rounded corner at the tip, to make it look even more professional.

Insert the liner back into the envelope, and fold down the envelope flap. This will crease the liner at the fold (see fig.5). Lift up just the envelope flap, leaving the liner in place.

Slide a piece of scrap paper under the liner to protect the outside of the envelope from glue (see fig. 6), and use a glue stick to apply glue to the edge of the liner (note that it is only necessary to glue the liner’s flap). Close the envelope flap over the liner and press firmly to adhere the liner to the flap. Remove the scrap paper.

You now have a completed, lined envelope. Be careful when you seal the envelope, you don’t want to lick your stamped liner (or get a papercut on your tongue, ouch!)

Feeling inspired? Check out my other block printing DIY projects!

Ready to dive in to the world of printmaking? Check out my screenprinting class on Creativelive!