Hello Stencil and Art Journaling Fans,
My name is Michelle (@michelle.schenker.art on Instagram), and I am a mixed-media and watercolor artist who loves exploring nature and incorporating it into my art. So, it's probably no surprise that I would go in my backyard to pick up leaves to add to my art journal!
StencilGirl® Stencil:
- Woodland Creatures #1 by Margaret Peot
- Woodland Creatures #2 by Margaret Peot
- Organic Zen Circles Stencil by Jamie Fingal
- Autumn Leaves by Lucy Duclos
Other Supplies:
- Art Journal
- Acrylic Paint (3-6 complementary colors)
- Makeup Sponge
- Mod Podge (I used Gloss, but you could use whatever finish you prefer)
- Paintbrush (to apply sealing medium)
- Drying Rack/Surface
- Clear Packing Tape
- Scissors
How To Stencil on Leaves:
Step 1:
Collect fresh, non-dried-out leaves. Select different tree types and leaf shapes. If any are changing colors for fall, those make great choices too, so long as they are still supple. Make sure you are ready to get to work within an hour or two of gathering your leaves.
Step 2:
Select your acrylic paint color palette. I went with fall colors, but you can choose whatever you like. I recommend using 3 to 6 colors.
Step 3:
Choose the stencils you want to use. I used a variety of wildlife and geographic designs (listed and linked above). Apply paint with a sponge. Let dry.
Step 4:
Once dry, you can add a second design in another color over top, if you wish. I found a nice effect by applying a geographic design in a subtle background color and letting it dry. Then add a wildlife design over top in a high-contrast color.
Step 5:
Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for each leaf on both sides. Feel free to vary the colors or even the stencil design if you want a variation on the theme for each one. Let dry.
Step 6:
Once the leaves are dry on both sides, paint on a generous amount of Mod Podge or a Sealing Medium of your choice over both sides to seal in moisture (minimizes crinkly leaves and mold). Let dry on a rack so you can remove the leaves without them sticking to the surface.
Step 7:
Once all leaves are dry on both sides, it's time to move on to the journal portion of this project.
How To Create a Clear Journal Page:
Step 8:
Open your art journal and select a page. Next, you will carefully tear or cut off all but 20% of the width from the spine (see blue markup in image below). You can discard the portion you removed or keep it for another project.
Step 9:
Tear a piece of clear packing tape about 3 inches taller than your remaining art journal page. Place it behind the remaining page portion so the sticky side faces up toward you, with some on both the journal page and beyond. Then tear more pieces to approximately the same length and apply with the sticky side up again, overlapping the initial piece of tape by 1/4" or so. Continue this until you have just exceeded the width you want for your clear journal page (I normally like it just inside the width of my other journal pages). Try to avoid too many fingerprints on the tape that will become your journal page.
Watch this video to its finish to see the full process. It is extremely hard to see in photos since the tape is clear.
Step 10:
Carefully lay your stenciled leaves (must be dry) in the layout you desire on the sticky tape. You can also add words, glitter, etc., but keep in mind that the front and back of whatever you include will become a part of your journal. Once you are happy with the design, press it down firmly.
Step 11:
Tear off more pieces of tape the same length as the original pieces and place them over your leaf design to seal it. Continue overlapping slightly, as you did in Step 9, until you reach the edge. It's okay to go past your intended page width with the tape, as you will cut it down in the next step.
Step 12:
Cut your sealed page down to the size you wish it to be in your journal.
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