Silk Screen Cookie Stencils...what are they?

Silk screen cookie stencils are made from a 110 mesh silk screen material. They are heat-pressed to the cut HTV.

Here are the supplies you’ll need, from start to finish to make stencils

1.       image

2.       cutting machine (Cricut, Silhouette, etc.)

3.       mat for your cutting machine

4.       110 mesh silkscreen

5.       HTV (heat transfer vinyl)

6.       EasyPress or other heat press(if you would like an excellent article on the Cricut EasyPress that will help answer questions and see if it is right for you, Joy, at How Joyful is the go-to)

7.       Teflon sheet, folded

8.       heat press mat

9.       scissors or craft cutting board like a Wescott paper trimmer 


***Bonus video on changing the blade of the Wescott paper trimmer at the bottom of this page! I've provided many airbrushing tutorials here too.

Silk Screen Cookie Stencils…the Making

Here's a tutorial, step-by-step for the little girl bell bottom jean stencil:

I was a bit intimidated at the start, as with anything a person is not familiar with.

It took me about a half dozen stencils before I started catching on.

Here is the very first stencil I made for sugar cookies (we have to begin somewhere, lol).

Applying medium pressure and 300 degrees for 30 to 35 seconds usually does the trick if you are using the Cricut Easy Press.

This is an example of not weeding the silkscreen cookie stencil properly and applying too much heat.

I think my biggest hurdle in learning how to make silk-screen cookie stencils was weeding. I’ll give you a tip down the page on weeding those’s, e’s, etc.

*Weeding simply means taking away the top part of the film that you won't need.

As long as it’s weeded properly and the heat is set right, you shouldn’t have any problems. It was a little learning curve figuring out the heat and the timing. Too cool that it won't all stick together. Too hot and it'll start to melt the stencil, like in the image above.

The steps:

1.       Cut the image on your cutting machine. I have the Cricut Explore Air 2.

2.       Remove from the mat and weed image.

3.       Place the Teflon sheet on the pressing mat.

4.       Place silk screen mesh on Teflon.

5.       Place the HTV of a cut image on top of the mesh.

6.       Fold the Teflon sheet over the stack.

7.       Heat press together. (I use 300 degrees for 30-36 seconds on my Cricut)

8.       Cut the extra mesh away.

You can click here to see the silk screen decorating on the sugar cookies.

Silk Screen Cookie Stencils…details and explanations

HTV: First of all, I buy the Siser EasyWeed Adhesive. I told you I would give you a tip on weeding those little pieces. This is it, the Siser EasyWeed.

Don’t let the name fool you. It is not adhesive at all. It has to do with ‘adhering’ foil for t-shirts and such. This is my favorite to use because, as the title infers, it is easier to weed around the inside of a’s, e’s, etc. Those little pieces stay in place much better.

It comes in a 12” x 5 yard (180”) roll.

This makes roughly 86, 5” squares. Just think how many sugar cookies stencils that would allow for! 

Silk Screen 110 Mesh:  The mesh comes in a folded sheet that measures 50” x 108”. Therefore, it is creased a bit at every fold. As soon as I get time when it comes, I iron it with my EasyPress then go ahead and cut it into 6” squares.

This sheet will make about 150 squares.

That’s a lot of silk screen cookie stencils!

Though it takes time, I prefer to have all the work of cutting the HTV and mesh done and behind me so I can grab them as needed.

Sidebar

If you watched the video, you'll see I cut all my squares of the HTV and the silkscreen mesh all at once and store them in a plastic container with a lid.

I cut them with a Wescott Paper Cutter. A lot of people do not know how to change the blade and/or scoring tools. Therefore, I did this quick video to show you how.

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Heat Press Mat: Obviously, this mat will go under your heat press. Why not use an ironing board? There are holes in the ironing board and unevenness that could easily distort your stencils and not let some parts stick together. The mat is solid.

Teflon Sheet: Any Teflon sheet will do. It does not have to say ‘for heat transfer paper’.

When I purchased some a few years ago, there was a company on Amazon that sold a pack of sheets. I bought them for my dehydrator for the cookies (this is the one I bought and LOVE) and had a few left over. So that’s what I use for my EasyPress.

Oh, and you will be able to use the same sheet almost forever!

Cricut EasyPress 2: Using your hand iron makes it quite tough to adhere the silk screen to the EasyWeed. The holes in the bottom of the iron will not allow those areas to stick very well. Believe me, I tried it over and again!

There are lots of ways how to make professional cookies, not just silk screening. Check out that link on how to make your decorated sugar cookies above and beyond like no others! Here are some other great cookie decorating ideas as well.

Silk Screen Cookie Stencil…items you will need

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I am proud to offer you affiliate links.

Why?

When you see one, that means I stand behind that product. I bought it, I love it, and I use it regularly in my own sugar cookie business. 

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These are the products you saw me use in the video. They are all image links...

EasyPress:

Siser EasyWeed Adhesive:

Heat Press Mat:

110 Silk Screen Mesh:

Teflon Sheets:

Just to let you know, I do not take orders for custom silk screen stencils. However, there are a lot of people who do. I would start on Etsy if you were needing one. You're always supporting a small business there!

There you have it. That was a lot to cover.

I'm confident this is all the information needed to start creating your own silk screen cookie stencils. However, if you still have questions, just ask. No question is a silly question. 

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. Questions and photos are welcome too!

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