Dare to Make It: Holiday

How to Make a Semiphotorealistic Three-Shade Print

Lee Meredith, contributor

50 users recommend

It's a wacky, semiphotorealistic portrait of Christopher Walken!

Lee Meredith

Any object with well-defined lines like this camera will make a great stencil!

Lee Meredith

This three-shade process is so magical because once you put the three stencils together, your image will appear!

Lee Meredith

It's a wacky, semiphotorealistic portrait of Christopher Walken!

Photo: Lee Meredith

Add Comment
Print

Time to carve! On a cutting board or newpaper, use a sharp blade to carve out all three stencils. Go slowly and carefully, but if you do accidentally cut a slit in the stencil, ironing it down will fix the problem. When you're done, you'll have three separate stencils that probably look nothing like your object on their own. This three-shade process is so magical because once you put the three stencils together, your image will appear!

When I have small island pieces like those eye pieces, I stick a tab of two-sided tape to the stencil they belong to and stick them on to keep track of them.

Get your fabric out on the ironing board—I used a piece of recycled T-shirt fabric for this print, so I can either sew it onto something or frame it for an art gift. Of course, you can print directly onto a shirt, a bag, a hoodie, or anything else your recipient might like.

Set your iron on the highest setting for the fabric you're using.

View 3 member project galleries

Freezer Paper...
InspiredAmanda

Dave Matthews
cabaute

Freezer Paper...
Minimeg

Add Comment Print

How to Make a Business Card Holder . . . From Playing Cards  

Back to List

Last Minute Thanksgiving Decorating Ideas

Comments (7)

Keren_D writes: Hi Lee,

This is a great tutorial. I've seen a lot of craft/sewing tutorials and this one is fascinating, well-explained, and well-photographed. Excellent!

BTW, do you have a blog?

Keren (www.sewlavie.com)
Posted: 1:23 am on December 17th

Jetmuis writes: wooow what a great tute you have made!!!!
awesome too your designs , well done.
love this!!!! thank you too for the sharing, your very gifted and rocking;-D!!!!!!
Posted: 4:54 am on December 12th

christineblint writes: Far away and far out idea and execution. My congrats to you and your creativity--you are a professional.
Posted: 1:33 pm on December 13th

OTorres writes: Lee, this is just so cool, thanks
Posted: 10:46 am on December 13th

crafty1900 writes: this is great! very thorough.
Posted: 7:16 pm on December 10th

ohbrooke writes: Okay, THIS is BRILLIANT. I'm going to do it, and I'll be sure to send pictures. My husband would LOVE this!
Posted: 3:27 pm on December 10th

TipiLady writes: Is it possible to get giddy over crafting? I can hardly keep the smile off my face. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou! This is going to save a bundle on Christmas presents and a whole lot of other occassions. This is incredibly generous of you to share this information and your talent. I can't wait to try it.
Posted: 1:00 pm on December 10th

You must be logged in to post comments. Log in.