StencilClub Voices take on the Block Printing Set

Our fabulous Voices, Christy Anne, Carolyn McGowan, and Dee Spillane each looked at the Block Printing, the Stencil Club Set for December in a different way. There are art journaling spreads and an upcycled project to inspire you!

Christy Anne's Art Journal

This layout is called It’s OK to be different...in fact, Refuse to be Ordinary! 

I used Graphite Texture Paste by Finnabair to lay December’s StencilClub images down. Check out the shimmering texture paste: 

3 Art Projects by Carolyn McGowan

My name is Carolyn McGowan and I am a mixed media artist from Cincinnati, Ohio. I am excited to be selected for the StencilGirl StencilClub Voices for the December 2020 designs and have created a few projects: a journal page, art journal cover and upcycled container for storage. 

One of my goals, is to improve my ability to paint faces. Following a tutorial by Dina Wakley, I started the page by stenciling the large 9X12 design all over using aqua green and dioxazine purple. This ends up being the hair once the face, neck, and background are painted. I made a tiara using the 6x6 stencil with silver embossing powder. Faces are hard, but still fun to do!

I like to customize the covers of my art journals… mostly because I am messy so it’s usually the last thing I do once a journal is full. This cover was inspired by a paper towel that was used to clean up. It was too pretty to throw away, so I glued it around the spine of my journal. To finish, I painted one side white and stenciled using magenta and dioxazine purple with some white gesso.  The other side started with a dark background and has layers of the 9X12 and 4X4 stencils. 

Lastly, I upcycled a Cascade container to be used for storage in my studio.  I like repurposing items rather than adding to the landfill.  I was inspired by the blue and white pottery found in Chinese vases and plates using ultramarine blue and the 9x12 stencil to create a border along with the StencilGirl Chinese Garden - Koi stencil as my focal point. I made my first YouTube video if you would like to watch the process: https://youtu.be/RIlV9Kk7eFQ

I hope you enjoy creating with these great designs as much as I have!

 

Dee Spillane's Star Book

Hi, Happy Holidays. I decided to do a festive star book with the Block Printing set for December StencilClub.

I used non-traditional colors to create my patterned papers using the Block Print Stencils and my Gelli Plate, then I cut the papers to size.

Here are my covers:

Viola! A beautiful book to hang like a star ornament or leave open on your coffee table.

 

Tips:

• I used Seth Apter's IZink Ice through stencils. Excellent as texture paste. 
• I taped over the number on the stencil as the first print showed it. 😁
• I am messy, imperfect, and quirky so my alignment and messy backgrounds are so me. I admire precision but it's just not me.  
• Be careful to test your paint and papers. I had a bit of a mess from my fluid acrylic bleeding into the paper texture.  
• Use family photos for the front pages for everyone to enjoy.
• Star Book instructions. (I found this easy to follow.)

What will you create?

Watch Jill reveal the set she created.

Join StencilClub by 12/15/20 and get this exclusive club set sent to you along with access to the project video and pdf Jill created just for members, and you can be part of our art community on Facebook. We have so much fun sharing! 

 

StencilClub Voices take on the latest Mash-up!

Hello Stencil Lovers!

Today on StencilGirl Talk our StencilClub Voices are taking on the Mary Beth Shaw Kristie Taylor Mash-Up Set for November 2020.

You'll get inspired by: 

• a positively yummy mixed media art journal spread by Christy Anne - lots of little details in this one to catch your eye, 
• a beautifully stitched journal by Carolyn McGown - if you haven't combined sewing with stencils, this will make you want to give it a try, 
• a ragdoll cat,
• and a nature journal filled with stenciled papers by Dee Spillane that is simply begging to be filled - you'll be inspired to take a walk and gather some fall leaves.

Christy Anne's Mixed Media Art Journal Spread

 

I chose to use one of the smaller of November’s set because it reminded me of direction. This whole layout was inspired by my inability to find a sense of direction in 2020. The faces represent my expressionless wandering about and the small stencil immediately looked like they were pointing to something. 

Carolyn McGowan's Cat and Stitched Journal

My name is Carolyn McGowan and I am a mixed media artist from Cincinnati, Ohio.  I am excited to be selected for the StencilGirl StencilClub Voices for the November 2020 designs and have created two projects using the designs. 

I love making tone on tone patterns for backgrounds. In my art journal, I used Liquitex red gesso as a base color and Liquitex Basics Cadmium Orange Hue acrylic paint stenciled through the large 9X12 design allowing the paint to pool in areas for added visual texture.  Since the orange is semi-translucent, the effect is subtle, providing a nice base for my page. I paper painted my ragdoll cat for the focal point and in case you are wondering, his tail really is that big! 

For my second project, I incorporated sewing and stenciling making a traveler’s notebook cover.

Using a denim page cut from the Dina Wakley blue journal, I stenciled a combination of the 4 and 6-inch stencils using white, fuchsia, and yellow acrylic paints.

Sewing over the lines of the stenciled patterns repeatedly while also changing the stitch selection provided visual and physical texture. A free-motion foot helps by allowing me to sew in all directions (typically this is used in embroidery and quilting). 

Final touches were added such as eyelets and twine to hold the signatures and a ribbon and snap to keep the journal pages secure.

I hope you enjoy creating with these great designs as much as I have.

Dee Spillane's Nature Journal

Hi, Dee here. I am honored to be part of November StencilClub Voices. Boy, do I love them. The 4-inch stencil reminded me of a quilt pattern from many many years ago. I tried to remember how to turn it into baby blocks and urban. But I abandoned that to make a book.

First I made lots of Gelli prints and some prints with Pan Pastels.

Next, I cut the papers to 2.5 x 4.5 and folded them in half. I glued the wrong sides together to form signatures. I made covers and glued them to the first and last pages.

Now I have a tony nature journal to celebrate the season. I will add little things like leaves or other found objects and thoughts to complete it over the next month. I will keep it with me along with pens and glue so I am ready.

I hope you will try this too.

Are you ready for StencilClub? You can join right here.

Watch Mary Beth and Kristie introduce this set!

Voices Inspiration Projects with the Exclusive October 2016 StencilClub Stencils

StencilGirl is excited to introduce StencilClub Members Elise Bky, Dee Spillane, and Beverly Folkard as our Voices for October and November. We mailed them Mary Beth Shaw's Private Collection for October early so they could bring you diverse inspirations!

http://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-club-s/1850.htm 

Doodle with Elise

Hi!
Elise Buskey here to talk to you for minute about my personal experience as a member of the Stencil Girl Stencil Club.

I Love their Stencils! They are designed by artists and, of course, by the Stencil Girl herself, Mary Beth Shaw.

I enjoy being a part of the private Facebook Group. The group is fun and quite active. We share our creations, encourage each other, share ideas and ask/answer questions. I especially enjoy posting the journal pages or backgrounds I create.  It’s great to be validated and to have a safe place to share.

Being a part of the group gives me an excuse to spend time in my craft room without feeling guilty.  If I have a place to post the pages I have made, I feel better about taking the time to work on an art journal.

It is so exciting to anticipate the next stencil design reveal and the private stenciling demonstration we receive as members! We don’t know which artist will be the designer until the reveal. Who doesn’t love to have something fun to look forward to!?

I had the opportunity to work with Mary Beth’s October 2016 design before the official release. This set is quite versatile and I had so many ideas that I had to make more than one page. One of my personal favorite things to do is to use the stencils for doodling. Above and below you will see some of my ideas.

Enjoy!

I use scraps of paper, loose pages of paper...I don't like bound journals...mainly i just goof around or journal. I used gouache and craft paints for these projects.

Mix Medias with Dee

Hi Everyone! Dee Spillane here.

I kinda got carried away! I love these and the large one reminded me of city life, buildings and construction. Most of my work reflects this observation.

This first print is called 'Connections".
It was done mostly with Tim Holtz Distress Crayons crayons and paint. I used gesso and sprays on the first layer and then used the large stencil to build up many layers of color incorporating the wipe away technique. I  added accents from the 4x4. I scraped into the layers to add texture.

Can you spy the tree in the middle of all the buildings?

BE KIND

In this piece, I added words and a little sketching. I used portfolio water oil pastels and gelatos. I sprayed this piece first with archival reinkers and alcohol. Wendy Vecchi showed us this technique. Of course after all the layers of words and sketching you can't see the sprays.  I added some bronze and silver gelatos too. These are colors I hardly ever use!

I call this piece "City Reflections" and it might be my favorite!

I sprayed background then used Neocolorll crayons and portfolio crayons.
I love how this blends. I did not use a gesso base but I did use baby wipes to spread and blend through the stencil. These pastels are my favorite colors to use.

Stitch with Bev

Bev Folkard I posted to my Fiber Reaction blog in more detail about the two projects I was inspired to create with the October StencilClub set.

I used two Gelli Arts® plates, and the medium stencil, to transfer prints from one to another, before taking the paper print (160gsm cartridge).  I added additional black paint through stencil at the bottom.  As the shapes reminded me of tulips, free machined (free motion stitch) with black thread flower shapes and the word. Then I went back in and added colour to the flowers before I trimmed and stitched around the edges to make a small piece of art ready to be mounted/framed.

FLOWERS

LINES

I used the large stencil, and a Gelli Arts® plate; black paint with the stencil laid over. Then I blotted away the black paint and added new colours.  I removed stencil and printed on 160 gsm cartridge paper.  Immediately fell in love with this print so I emphasized lines with black machine stitch and added to the blocks by stitching more colour in simple lines, using silk threads.

I edged the finished piece with machine stitch.

I loved the effect so much I made another print in reverse, ie colour, blot, black!

***

We'll have more art to inspire you in upcoming Scoops and Mary Beth's exclusive tutorial will go out to members on the 15th.

Want to throw your name in the hat to be a StencilClub Voice in 2017? Email Carol or reach out to her in StencilClub's Secret Group on Facebook Group.