MetaChat - Need some help from crafty people

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06 October 2009

Need some help from crafty people →[More:] So I just ordered another batch of Cahier notebooks. They look like this.

Since they are so plain, I am thinking of putting some artwork on the front cover. I cannot sketch directly on them (not my skill) but I can make stuff up on the computer.

How would I transfer such a design to the cover?

The only two ideas I have come up with so far are:

a) t-shirt transfer (until I realized that it wont adhere to anything but fabric)

b) Make a block print (but that is way too much work and also beyond my skill level). Screen printing is a similar challenge.

other ideas?

post by: special-k at: 11:38 | 14 comments

You can print your artwork on regular paper, and then use 3M spray adhesive to put it on the covers of the books.

posted by eekacat 06 October | 11:48

Actually, by regular paper, I meant not some kind of transfer or whatever. You could use photo paper or whatever style you want.

posted by eekacat 06 October | 11:49

Or you can just use any sort of paper and stick it on, and then cover everything with contact adhesive paper, right? Like all the other little girls and I used to do on our school books when we were in primary school?

posted by gaspode 06 October | 12:08

You could print it out on labels, and stick it on. No spraying required.

gaspode's clear contact paper is good, too. You can cover the entire cover that way.

posted by lysdexic 06 October | 12:10

Or you can just use any sort of paper and stick it on

Right. I see that. But I don't want something else on the front cover. I just want the design printed (or transferred) directly onto the cover.

posted by special-k 06 October | 12:15

Rubber stamps? In one of my art classes we made original stamps by carving out designs on rubber erasers (the square beige-ish yellow-ish erasers). You can also buy pre-made stamps but may not find a design you like.

Make/buy stencils? Print a design on to something (plastic/acetate? paper? *shrug*) and cut it out then use spray paint. Or fake silk-screen printing and use a small paint roller or sponge paint brush and paint it on that way.

posted by deborah 06 October | 12:40

I thought you meant crafty as in 'shifty.' But since you mean 'artsy,' I'll be no help whatsoever.

Let me know if you need help being shifty, though.

posted by mudpuppie 06 October | 13:04

Let me know if you need help being shifty, though.

Will do pups. I have many shifty projects that also need help.

posted by special-k 06 October | 13:21

If the design is simple enough you might print it on regular paper, then use carbon paper to transfer the outlines to the notebook cover, then with that as a guide you cold ink/color it. May not work or may be messy... I haven't actually tried this

posted by DarkForest 06 October | 18:15

DarkForest: Brilliant idea! That should work.

thanks

posted by special-k 06 October | 18:20

Look for "frisket paper" which is a low-tack masking film you cut stencils out of. Often sold alongside airbrushing supplies. It's probably even printable in an inkjet, although I've never tried that. Cut your design in the frisket as a negative stencil, and then fill in. Paint, dry, remove, voila.

For curvy surfaces, there's also masking fluid, which you paint onto the surface, and then use an eraser to remove where you want your design to be. Once masked off, you can spray / ink / paint to your heart's content.

posted by Triode 06 October | 22:25

You could do a Xerox transfer.

This also looks interesting.

posted by interrobang 07 October | 09:32

interesting. Both techniques aren't quite there. I'm surprised that there is no simple way to do this.

If I could somehow force the book through a photocopies, it would be easy peasy. Same with a printer. But I can't do both.

The only options I now have are
a) make a custom rubber stamp (which comes out to $40 + ink pad)
b) get a laser engraved stencil ($40).

Both are a bit pricey. Carbon paper won't really be accurate because I also have text in my design. I should probably just hit up an art store and ask.

posted by special-k 07 October | 13:03

If it is something you can trace at all look into an iron on transfer pencil. They're typically for people drawing up their own hand embroidery motifs.

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp;jsessionid=4LT3UZJHSC4YCP4SY5GVAFJ50LD3OUPU?CATID=cat3423&PRODID=prd17555&_requestid=4640760

easier to do it online, mirror image it in photoshop or whatever, and trace than to use carbon paper (which I always found frustrating).

posted by kellydamnit 07 October | 16:34

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