Rubbing Plates
About Rubbing Plates
Rubbing Plates are sets of textured plates that can be used to transfer designs to your fabric. They are made from recycled plastics, similar to soda bottles. The design surface of the plates measures 6.5″ square and there are 6 designs in each set.
We use the plates to make marvelous paintstiks rubbings on fabric, but they can also be used in other ways. Try using them as a stamp with paint, discharge paste or foil adhesive. Or use them as a mold with potter’s clay, polymer clay or acrylic paint mixed with modeling paste.
Rubbing plates are not heat resistant. Do not use them with hot wax or in a hot vehicle in the summer.
Top Tips for Better Paintstik Rubbings
Top Tips for Better Paintstik Rubbings
There are 3 important tips to follow for making great rubbings with paintstiks and rubbing plates.
- Use a Grip-n-Grip (no-slip) mat to keep the rubbing plates from shifting.
- Spray the top of the rubbing plate with repositionable adhesive to keep the fabric from shifting. (404 from Spray & Fix or KK2000 from Sulky work well.)
- Use the side of the paintstik rather than the end, unless you are working in detailed areas.
Prepare the Paintstiks
- Remove a mini paintstik from the wrapper or cut a 2-3″ piece from a full stick.
- Use a small paring knife or a vegetable peeler to slice the skin from the side of the stick.
- For filling in details, you may wish to remove the film from the end of a paintstik.
Spray Plates with Adhesive
- Spray the top (design side) of each rubbing plate you plan to use with repositionable adhesive.
- Always spray in a well-ventilated area.
- Adhesives can be removed with rubbing alcohol, Citra-Solv or adhesive-removal products.
Layer Materials
- Place Grip-n-Grip mat on your work surface.
- Place a rubbing plate on the mat, sticky side up.
- Place the fabric, right side up, over the rubbing plate.
Make Rubbings
- Hold the fabric with the palm of one hand.
- Apply paintstik color using the open side of the paintstik, working in one direction – away from the hand holding the fabric.
- Do not rub back and forth.
