These Silkscreen Bat Earrings made with Ikonart are the perfect Halloween accessory!
I can't tell you enough how excited I am that it's finally acceptable to get ready for Halloween! These Silkscreen Halloween Bat Earrings scream "IT'S FREAKING BATS", which makes them the perfect accessory to wear all spooky season long. They are a simple project to make using an Ikonart custom stencil kit, and are easily customizable by using different paint colors to fit your personal style. Needless to say, they would definitely be a great gift idea for fellow lovers of Halloween.
To make your own Silkscreen Halloween Bat Earrings, you will need these supplies:
- Bat Pattern Design (personal use only)
- Ikonart Custom Stencil Kit
- 2 Wood Earring Blanks
- Squeegee
- FolkArt Color Shift Paint
- Black Acrylic Paint
- Chalk Paint Powder
- Paint Brush
- Gloss Glaze or UV Resin
- 2 10mm Jump Rings
- 2 Earring Hooks
- Jewelry Pliers
Printables and cut files from Artsy-Fartsy Mama are for personal use only. You may use these files for personal projects, but you may not sell them. If you'd like to share this project digitally, share a link to this post/website only. Do not share a direct link to the file.
To make a stencil, you need to start with a printed design. Download the Bat Pattern design (for personal use only) and make sure to print the design* as dark as possible on either inkjet or laser Ikonart Printer Film.
Set up the Ikonart exposure stand by following the directions included in the kit. Ikonart Stencil Film is light sensitive, so be careful to keep it out of sunlight and bright lights before exposure! Cut the film to the same size or slightly larger than the design print.
Lay the piece of film down on the base of the stand with the textured side facing UP. Place the printed design on top of the stencil film, making sure it's right-side up. This means that if there are words in your design, you should be able to read them.
Lastly, place the clear exposure sheet (found in the stencil film pack) on top and press it down well to seal the design tight against the stencil film. Turn the exposure light on and expose the film for 30-35 seconds.
*I often place smaller designs, like this one, on printouts with other designs. It's a great way to use up film scraps and create multiple stencils at once!
The final step in the stencil-making process is to washout, or rinse, the stencils. Clip the exposed stencil film to the Ikonart clipboard with the shiny side (carrier sheet) touching the clipboard. Use the a sink sprayer to rinse the stencil film with warm water until the design shows through and becomes completely clear. The washout process shouldn't take more than 3 minutes.
Gently blot excess water off the the stencil, and hang or lay flat to dry for about 45 minutes. When the stencil is dry, you shouldn't see any water spots or discoloration. Once completely dried, place the it back on the exposure stand and expose it again for at least 2 minutes without the clear cover sheet on top. This extra exposure time will increase the durability of the stencil so you can get as much use out of it as possible.
Use a permanent marker and write "back" on the carrier sheet (shiny side) on the back of the stencil or clip one of the corners off. This helps later when you put the carrier sheet and the stencil back together when you are done using it.
Because acrylic paint has a thinner consistency, you are likely to have more trouble with bleeds on stencil projects. Chalk paint is thicker than regular acrylic paint, so it helps to create crisp lines when stenciling. To thicken your acrylic paints (any brand or type), I recommend mixing in a little bit of chalk paint powder.
Just add a little bit of powder to the paint and stir it together with a craft stick. Add a little more powder at a time, if necessary, until you get the consistency you want.
If you're not sure what type of paint to use on your project, Ikonart has a list of paint and ink selections to help you out!
Peel the carrier sheet away from the stencil and set it aside (don't throw it away). Carefully rub the stencil down over the earring blanks and apply pressure to help it stick to the surface and to get rid of any air bubbles trapped underneath.
Apply a line of thickened acrylic paint (or chalk paint) at the top of the stencil. Gently pull the squeegee down over the stencil until the open areas are all evenly covered. Scrape away the excess paint and put it back onto the paint tray or bottle. Repeat the process for the second earring.
Slowly lift the stencil up to reveal the bat pattern underneath. If you see any missed spots while peeling the stencil away, carefully lay the stencil back down and add a little more paint over the area.
If everything looks good as you get to the end of the stencil, remove the stencil completely. Let the paint dry before moving on to the next step (don't worry - it doesn't take long). Wash the stencil well following the instructions below.
Washing Stencils:
For best results, wash stencils while the paint is still wet. To wash your stencil so that it can be used again and again, first get the clipboard wet so your stencil doesn't stick to it. Place the stencil on the clipboard with the textured side up, and lightly rub the stencil under cold running water to remove all the paint.
Do not rub or scrub the adhesive side of the stencil, and NEVER use anything other than water to wash the stencils. To prevent the stencil from breaking down, don't ever leave the stencils to soak.
Remove the stencil from the clipboard and lay it down with the adhesive side up. While the stencil is still wet, place the carrier sheet onto the stencil so that the word “BACK” is readable, or line up the clipped corners. Hang or lay the stencil flat to dry completely.
To give the earrings a shiny and professional-looking finish, you can apply a coat of UV Resin to the surface with a toothpick. This extra finish will protect the painted design and will keep the earrings looking good as new for years to come.
Use pliers to open a 10-12mm jump ring for each earring. Hook the rings through the hole in the top of the earring and attach it to the end of the earring hook. Close the ring, and the earrings are complete!
I just love these bat earrings turned out, and I could NOT have applied that pattern without the help of my Ikonart kit. These earrings are such a fun Halloween accessory, and are an even better gift idea! If you try making some of these Silkscreen Halloween Bat Earrings, I would love to see them! Leave a comment, or tag a photo on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! #AFMcrafts
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