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Silk Screening for Kids

silk screening for kids with ALEX Toys

I’ve always been curious about silk screening, so when I learned that ALEX Toys made a children’s Silk Screen Factory, I knew it would be fun to try out! My girls loved this project! It’s very simple: set the silk sheet in the frame, add your stencil, place the frame over the fabric you want to silk screen, and print your design!

painting shirts - silk screen method

I helped six-year-old Emma get the silk sheet into the frame, but she was able to do everything else on her own! The kit is recommended for ages 7 and up, and I think Emma will be able to do the entire process on her own soon.

silk screening for kids

 

Three-year-old Lily (who think she is five or six) needed more help with set-up – and, of course, a lot more supervision – but the process is so simple that she could do most of the actual printing on her own – as you can see in this video:

 

It is probably better to not press down quite so hard with the squeegee – I think that adds wear and tear to the silk sheets, which means they then don’t last as long.

You can choose to use a little less paint to get an artistic blurring on the edges, like this:

silkscreened shirt

Or you can use more paint and get a solid image the entire way through, like Lily’s butterfly:

2012_11_12_9821

Set-up takes a few seconds, but it is extremely easy to print the same stencil on several items. We made shirts with ours, but you can use it on paper as well as fabric.

Both girls were so pleased with the finished product, and they are making plans for their next silk screening session!

I received the Silk Screen Factory for free as a blogger for ALEX Toys. All opinions are my own.

MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.

22 thoughts on “Silk Screening for Kids”

  1. I had no idea how silk screening worked. It’s that easy?!! Whoot! My girls would love this! Emma and Lily’s turned out great! I can’t believe a 6 year old can do it so successfully by herself. I always thought you had to be a professional silkscreener to make shirts and that they had to be baked in an oven to set or something like that. This is my Learn Something New Every Day !

  2. Love seeing your sweet children in action. This looks like a fun kit. I’m always looking for something different for my granddaughter.

  3. That looks like a lot of fun. I think Emily (5) would also love to do this. Thanks for sharing this will be a great idea for a Christmas gift this year :)

  4. My son would love this! Girly images or not, he’d love the whole process and than give the finished product to his sisters. Really cute craft!

    1. My son would definitely enjoy doing this for his sisters! I’ll have to suggest that option for him next time we have it out! You can use it to make cards as well – doesn’t have to be on fabric.

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