Wannabe Washi Tape

Hello there, it's Renee Day with thediyday here to share a fun wannabe washi tape do-it-yourself. Washi tape is such a fun tool to have in your arsenal and can be used in many craft projects. However,  sometimes colors and designs are needed and not readily available. That's where this DIY comes in handy.  

For this particular project I used file folder labels.  But if you're using acrylic paints this technique will work on masking tape (oxide inks smear on masking tape).  Just be sure to adhere the tape to wax paper before designing for easy removal.    

After randomly stamping some texture designs onto the labels, add various colors to the top with oxide inks.  Be sure the stamp ink you're using waterproof, otherwise it will eventually smear and cause a big mess, I'm using Ranger Archival Ink.

Add a stencil to the top of colorful labels and spray with water to activate the oxides. I'm using the Pebbles Layer Me Stencil (L368) and the result is a milky chalky look in the design of the stencil.   

Add additional stamping to the labels.  This gives the background a bit more noise.  

Next, I grabbed the Fade Horizontal Stencil (L027) and a light grey ink pad and added various sized circles to the labels.

The last stencil I'm using is the Soulful Scribbles Dots Dash (L605).  I applied this right on top using black acrylic paint and a stencil brush.

Here's how the wannabe washi tape turned out.  Tear off a small piece from both edges of the label to give that torn off the washi tape roll look.  

 

Enjoy!

Renee Day

A Winter Wonderland Greeting Card

Hey there!  I'm Renee from thediyday and StencilGirl's Creative Team. I'm here to share a depiction of what it looks like right outside my window.  Currently it's cold and snow is falling, both of which is something I am not fully use to.  Here's a bit of background.  I was born and raised in Southern California and until recently (2019) my husband and I moved to a tiny little town in Michigan.  Back home, my mom reports there's a severe heatwave happening, 90°F.  Here it's 26°F.  Because there's such a stark difference between the two states, I had to creatively document it.   

Using a scribbling stamp and archival ink, I stamped my mixed media paper.

Next, I added a layer of blue and grey Distress Oxide Inks to help illustrate the dreary sky.

To help exaggerate the various patterns in the sky I used stencils.  Without using any additional colors but adding some texture, I placed the Circular Patterns for Play Stencil (L411) right on top, lightly misted the stencil with water and waited a few minutes for it to dry.       

Then I added the MB Makes Marks Marker Stencil (S301) and added grey Distress Oxide Inks to random spots.

The last stencil used to complete the sky was the Fade Horizontal Stencil (L027) paired with a dark blue Distress Oxide Ink.

I really wanted the next layer of the card to pop, so I grabbed my tree stamps and silver embossing powder.  

And to finish the card I added snow, just like the way it looks outside my window.  I tore paper and added a few layers to cover the bases of the trees, and since it was snowing, I added tiny little die-cut snowflakes.   

Happy Holidays!

Renee 

Add a Napkin to your Art Journal

Hello there, it's Renee with @thediyday and I am all sorts of ready for Halloween.  I'm even bringing the vibes into my art journal using an appropriately themed decorative napkin and a few StencilGirl® stencils.  If you're new to art journaling, have never used a paper napkin as art, or looking for inspiration, keep reading - I'm sharing some of my favorite techniques.  

I am often asked what type of journal I use for art journaling.  The short answer, I'm using a book of poems I bought from a garage sale.  I liked the minimal amount of pages (80) and the words in the book serve as a background design.  Don't get me wrong, there are many wonderful art journals to choose from and I may use one in the future, but for now, this book works just fine.

Before I started designing my page I added a thin layer of gesso to the top and allowed it to dry.  Gesso hardens the page just a bit and it gives the paint something to stick to.  

Next, I peeled the front layer (skull layer) from the back layer of the decorative napkin, tore it to size, and brushed on a coat of Mod Podge.  With the Mod Podge still wet I placed it onto the page and added another coat right on top of the napkin.  

After the Mod Podge dried, I blended a light coat of Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink on the entire page followed by Black Soot in random areas.  

Now it's time for some stencils.  The first one I used was Antennas 6 Stencil.  This stencil reminds me of crossbones which works great with the skull paper napkin.     

  

Then I covered the entire page with dots using What's the Point? Stencil and a medium coat of Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink.

To complete the overall creepy Halloween look I used the Scarab Beetles Stencils in various colors throughout the page.  

On a side note, Mod Podge is often sticky for a few days or even longer depending on the thickness of the application.  Be sure to leave your art journal open to air dry to prevent the pages from sticking together.  

Have a wonderful day and a happy Halloween!

Renee 

Unique One-of-a-Kind Gift Tags with Renee Day

Hello there!  It's Renee with @thediyday here to share a simple way to create your very own gift tags.  Mass-produced store-bought gift tags are a bit impersonal for me so I like to up my game and make my own.  The beautiful part, these can be any color, any shape, and modified for any occasion!  See how I incorporated some of my favorite StencilGirl® stencils on my tags.

Because I'm blending colors together using Distress Oxides and water, I decided to use 140lb watercolor paper to help prevent the paper from curling.  First, I blended the lightest Distress Oxide color in the center, followed by the next two colors - ending with the darkest color on the outside edge.

Next, I heavily misted the paper with water to help blend the colors together.  I attempted to allow the paper to air dry, but it was taking too long so I dried it with a heat gun.  

Once the paper was completely dry, I used a script stamp to add more design to the future gift tags.

Then I stenciled in some triangles using the Mini Triangles Stencil (S061).  I wanted the triangles to lightly blend into the background without being overly pronounced so I used yellow acrylic paint.  

The next stencil I used is one of my go-to stencils,  The Circles Layer Me Stencil (L380).  This stencil is literally 3 stencils in one and I wanted this one to pop!  I used neon pink acrylic paint for the base and then added a 3D Matte Gel (for texture) to the mini circles.

Once the Matte Gel dried (I gave it about 2 hours), I used a gift tag die cut to make the shape.  I added a little more eye appeal to the tags with ribbons, buttons, and drawing some imperfect circles around the neon circles to give it a little edge.     

Enjoy!

Renee Day   

   

        

    

Decorate a Photo Box - Mixed Media Style

Hello there, it's Renee from @thediyday for my first post as a StencilGirl Creative Team member, here to share how I add some fun to my photo boxes.  Although I don't print and store photos as often as I once did, I found other uses for them.  They make for excellent storage for other items including markers, greeting cards, phone chargers, tea light candles, etc.

They come in all sorts of colors and patterns and they are budget-friendly too!  I prefer the plain white boxes as it gives me a chance to be creative and decorate them with my own designs, it makes for an excellent canvas.

For this photo box I used an assortment of supplies:  StencilGirl® Stencils, acrylic paints, water mister, plastic wrap, pages from an old book, matte medium, gesso, 3D matte gel, and an ink pad.

To start, I added gesso to the top of the photo box lid.  Not only does gesso provide a slight texture, it also helps paint stick and not chip off.  Once dried, I applied a few torn pieces of book paper to the top and used matte medium as an adhesive.

Then I applied 3 colors of blue acrylic starting with the lightest color.  With each layer, I lightly misted water right on top to help spread and thin the paint.

Next, I used the Mini Triangles Stencil (S061) and applied the design with a make-up sponge and pink waterproof ink.  Then I splotched the box with pink acrylic and plastic wrap.  Plastic wrap makes for a fun unique design (it adds a bit of texture too).

Mini Triangles 6 Stencil by Andrew Borloz

The next stencil I used was the Fade Horizontal Stencil (L027).  With my stencil brush, I randomly added circles to the box.  

Fade Horizontal Stencil by Michelle Ward

Last, I used several parts from the Mathman Stencil (L641) to complete this project.  To give some of the design on the box a bit of a raised look, I mixed 3D matte gel with green acrylic and applied a thin layer right on top of the stencil.  

Math Man Stencil by Cat Kerr 

Now for the hard part.  I patiently waited 3 hours before running my hand on top of the box.  I'm a texture person so the touch and feel is my favorite part!  

Thank you so much for following along today.  If you give this project a try, be sure to tag @stencilgirl_products and @thediyday so we can see your amazing work.     

Renee Day

                 

 

   

Drumroll: StencilGirl's 2021-22 Creative Team

Top Row: Renee Day, Nancy Curry, Natalie May; Middle Row: Kirsten Varga, Sarah Gardner; Final Row: Anouk Karssen, Martice Smith III, Laura Dame

Greetings and thanks for stopping by StencilGirl Talk today.

We'd like you to meet our Creative Team for 2021-2022. We imagine you'll see three new faces, some names you recognize from their posts as guest artists, and one designer.

We look forward to getting to know each of them better along with you throughout the course of the next year.

ANOUK KARSSEN

Anouk Karrsen is an all-around creative from The Netherlands. 

For Anouk, art journaling is a way to process her thoughts and emotions. Her style can be described as soft and feminine with a raw edge. In her creative journey, Anouk tries to let go of her perfectionism by creating on a more intuitive level.

Instagram: @cranouk

Check out a previous guest post by Anuok.

KIRSTEN VARGA

Kirsten is a wife, mother, and artist living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest of the United States. She has been creative for as long as she can remember. She has a Bachelor's degree in Fine Art with an emphasis in Visual Communication and Illustration and has worked as a graphic designer and elementary art teacher. She enjoys teaching all ages to discover their own creativity, a quality, she believes, everyone has. Her art interests are varied as she enjoys learning and trying new artsy things. Her favorites are bookmaking, mixed media, collage, and pen & ink drawing. She gravitates towards themes of home, family, and whimsy in her artwork. She has dreams of starting a shop to sell her art and one day, see her work displayed in a gallery. She balances her time between her artistic dreams, raising four sassy daughters with her husband, and working as a dog midwife(!) and substitute teacher (with hopes she can have her own classroom once again).

Website: SmilingEyeStudio

LAURA DAME

Hello, my name is Laura and I am a mixed media artist based in Austin, TX. I love to play around and experiment in my art journals, and also enjoy dabbling in abstract, collage, and floral artworks. My favorite thing about art is that there are no rules - the only requirement is that whatever you create makes you happy! My main goal when I began sharing my art was to show people that you don't have to be classified as an artist to pick up a paintbrush. Your art doesn't have to be perfect, or even 'good' - it's the act of creating that matters. 

I am married to a wonderful husband, who is the person who first nudged me down my artistic path about 7 years ago (although he probably didn't realize how much money I would spend on art supplies!).  I am also the mother to two (almost teenage!) boys and a full-time Sonographer.

Website: LauraMixedMedia

MARTICE SMITH III

Hey, y'all! I'm Martice, a multi-media creative, photographer, and designer from Kansas City, Missouri. I have an insatiable craving for neon colors and texture! I'd describe my artwork as a visual symphony of bright colors, patterns + florals with an abstract, graffiti twist. Sometimes, I like to go off-beat and combine traditional media (acrylics and watercolors) with digital techniques.  

I teach creatives how to bear hug their artsy superpowers by infusing a playful vibe into their art process. I do this by creating online courses, videos, and offering one-on-one creativity coaching sessions. In my free time, you can find me taking care of my mini jungle of tropical houseplants or watching cute panda videos.

Website: MarticeSmithArt.com

Check out a previous guest post by Martice.

NANCY CURRY

Nancy Curry is a nationally known mixed media artist, Certified Ranger Educator, and author of Texture Effects for Rubber Stamping. Nancy divides her time between her studio pursuits, designing for Nancy Curry Art, teaching mixed media workshops, and is very happy to be part of the StencilGirl family. For years her work has been published in many of the trending magazines and featured in several industry books. Her easily recognizable style has matured, yet is timeless in its use of varied applications of media. The results are pieces containing both visual and tactile textures that are rich in composition. Nancy resides in Lake St. Louis, MO 

To find Nancy live in your area or online, go to her website, http://www.nancycurry.com

Check out a previous guest post by Nancy Curry.

NATALIE MAY

I’m lucky enough to be a full-time paper crafter and I couldn’t be happier! I’m happily married to the awesome Clever Trevor & have a beautiful daughter! 

One of the things that keeps me inspired and teaching is that I love to create in all styles. 

I teach around 15 classes a month in Australia and absolutely LOVE what I do – turning my hobby into my job & passion. I am the Australian Ambassador for Lindy's Stamp Gang, a member of StencilGirl's Creative Team, I design chipboard for Imaginarium Designs, am an Intermediate Certified Copic Designer, and love everything inky & colour based.  

     

I love this industry … the opportunity to teach a new technique…. Meeting so many amazing people…..and to be able to CREATE every day is quite a blessing.

You can view more of my work at …Happy Daks and find me on Instagram under happydaks and Facebook as well.

Check out a previous Creative Team post by Natalie May.

RENEE DAY

Renee Day is the author of “Creative Journaling” and content creator for thediyday. She’s been fortunate to create crafts and how-tos for various companies in the art and craft industry and considers herself lucky to do what she does every day.  

Renee has always loved journaling as a means of communication. While interning as a Marriage and Family Therapist, she would implement journaling and art journaling into her sessions when clients had a difficult time using their voice. 

Aside from journaling, Renee’s other favorite crafts include- calligraphy, crocheting, and all kinds of papercrafts.  Although born and raised in California, Renee and her husband James moved to Michigan in 2018.  When she isn’t creating, she is likely on a road trip, hiking, exploring The Great Lakes, or spoiling her dog Cinco.         

See more of Renee’s work: Blog  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Facebook

SARAH GARDNER aka Juicy*S

This is Sarah Gardner, aka, Juicy*S. Juicy*S is her DJ name. She's not a DJ. She would love to be a DJ. It's one of her fantasy dream jobs, really. She got this name when she was slinging paint and working in her art journal with a couple girlfriends,, drinking wine and keeping track of the funny things they were saying on a "sign-in" sheet...just craziness. They all ended up with a DJ name that day. She started her first blog with this name, and she's had it ever since. She's the girl (yes, even though she's fifty-something, she's still a girl!) who has a Tutu Dance Party and makes every one of her guests their own tutu!  She's the kind of person who thinks a lot (maybe too much) about things. She's a voracious learner and wants to be this way always. She's also a lawyer, a wife, and a mom of two. She lives with her family in Southern California, in a small surf community called Cardiff by the Sea.

For Sarah, art journaling is self-care: time she takes for herself to tap into her creativity, get into flow, and just play. She loves experimenting with and indulging her curiosity about mixed media art in her art journal; it’s a way to keep learning and growing.

Website: Juicy*S Art

Check out a previous guest post by Sarah Gardner.