Faux Cyanotype with Watercolor: Journal Embellishments

Hi, my friends! Consie Sindet here again to share an experiment that I did with you!

I've been fascinated by the cyanotype process for a while and wanted to see if I could create a look-a-like version with just watercolor and stencils! Spoiler alert: YES, you can! And it is so simple!

BTW...I made a video of the process which you can find at the bottom of this post.

Let's start with the supplies I used:

ATC Mixup Evan stencil by Jennifer Evans: L654

Leafy Doodle Verge stencil/mask by Valerie Sjodin: S714

Boho Daisy small stencil by Gwen Lefleur: S846

Watercolor paper

Watercolor: Indigo or the darkest blue you have

Watercolor: Gold

Water spray bottle

Paper towel or baby wipe

White gel pen

Book paper

Coffee dyed paper

Paper punches

Burlap ribbon

Thread

Sewing machine

Stapler

I started by painting my watercolor paper with a couple of layers of Indigo blue watercolor. Let it dry completely.

I then grabbed the Boho Daisy small stencil by Gwen Lefleur: S846 to start. I laid it on the blue watercolor paper and using a damp paper towel or baby wipe, began to gently erase the watercolor through the stencil. Try to keep the water to a minimum! I added a few more marks from the ATC Mixup Evan stencil by Jennifer Evans: L654 as well to fill out the bookmark that this became. 

The final touch was to stencil gold watercolor back through the Boho Daisy small stencil by Gwen Lefleur: S846 to add some sparkle to the bookmark!

To create the collage clusters, I use the ATC Mixup Evan stencil by Jennifer Evans: L654 to add designs to the paper that would fit inside of the paper punches. I was very deliberate so that I wouldn't cut off interesting sections once I punched out my shapes.

I then punched out a circle and a rectangle from the print I made. The leftover piece became the tag with a window that you can see in the first photo. 

To assemble my clusters, I layered burlap ribbon, a ripped piece of coffee dyed paper, bits of thread and my punched out cyanotype print together. I used a sewing machine or a stapler to attach the group together. 

By final experiment was using the Leafy Doodle Verge stencil/mask by Valerie Sjodin: S714. I used one of the masks to see if it worked as well as a stencil. It did but I do think the stencils work the best! The photo above shows the finished design that I embellished with gold watercolor. It will make a great pocket! Also in the photo is the leftover section from the circle/rectangle punched paper. I created a tag and used a white gel pen to enhance the designs. 

I really love how this experiment worked! You can hear more and follow along with the video below.

I would love to see what you create using these stencils! You can tag me on Instagram and find me in the following spaces!

Website: AtopSerenityHill.com

Instagram: @consie_atopserenityhill

YouTube: @ConsieSindet

The Creative Playground membership

Grunge and Neon Mass Make Tags

Hi friends! Consie Sindet here with another fun project for you. I love how inspiration can show up. This project came about because of a tag someone made me, a birthday gift of neon paints, and my love of reading and using book paper.

If you are looking for a delightful gift for a bunch of people, try this project! It is a great mass make. Let's jump in to how I made them!

Let's start with the supplies I used:

ATC Mixup Evan stencil by Jennifer Evans: L654

ATC Mixup Apter stencil by Seth Apter: L664

Feather Patterns mask and stencil by Valerie Sjodin: S939

Interesting Dots Repeating Patten by Jennifer Evans: S769

8.5x11 white cardstock

Cookie sheet or tray

Watercolors

Water spray bottle

Makeup sponges

Neon + black acrylic paints

Black Sharpie pen

White paint/gel pen

Book paper

Teabags

Paper cutter

Corner rounder

Scissors

Sewing machine

Black eyelet/grommet setter

I started by grunging up my white cardstock using watercolors in brown tones. I sprayed water onto a cookie sheet, added brown watercolor to the sheet, sprayed the cardstock a little with water and then laid it down into the watery watercolor. I flipped the cardstock back and forth a few times, adding more watercolor and water to get the color and darkness that I wanted. I also added splatter with the same browns to get a mottled effect. Let it dry.

To add even more grunge to the cardstock, I used the Interesting Dots Repeating Patten by Jennifer Evans: S769 stencil and a dark brown to add random marks all over the page. The final step to the background paper was to splatter orange neon paint all over. Let this dry completely. Then cut the cardstock into 8 equal pieces: 5.5" x 2.125". I used a corner rounder paper punch to round the bottom corners of each tag. Set them aside.

I then created the teabag overlays. Each teabag was able to be torn in half so it fit over the tag pretty closely in size. I used one of the masks from the Feather Patterns mask and stencil by Valerie Sjodin: S939 to add a multi-colored neon acrylic paint feather to each teabag. I then used a black Sharpie pen to loosely outline the feather. Remember to keep it loose and imperfect!

Back to the tags... using the ATC Mixup Apter stencil by Seth Apter: L664, I added a word on each tag along with some fun background marks with black acrylic paint. I kept the words the darkest and added the marks with a lighter touch. I did put the words on the bottom of the tags.

On my book paper, I stenciled the faces from the ATC Mixup Evan stencil by Jennifer Evans: L654 and then ripped each face out. I used one larger and one small face for each tag.

To add more neon to the grunge, I added touches of yellow to the faces and orange to the edges of the tags. The orange on the tags picks up the splatters that we did earlier!

I glued a set of 2 faces to each tag above the words. I paid attention to the marks on the tags and moved the faces a little this way and that to take advantage of what was showing. I also added a white highlight with a gel pen on the eyes of all of the faces.

If you do not have a sewing machine for the next step, glue or a stapler are great options! I folded the teabag over the top of the tag, then sewed with a straight stitch a few times back and forth across the top of each tag, leaving the strings for a fun messy look.

Using a black eyelet and grommet setter, I added more texture and function to the top of each tag. Add ribbons, string, a bulb pin, a paper clip depending on how you will use the tag.

I left the back of the tags blank for journaling, quotes, or anything else you want to add! Since these are made in sets of 8 from one sheet of cardstock, you can make 16 pretty easily for a fun mass make to send out as happy mail, give to your bookclub or art group.

I would love to see what you create using these stencils! You can tag me on Instagram and find me in the following spaces!

Website: AtopSerenityHill.com

Instagram: @consie_atopserenityhill

YouTube: @ConsieSindet

The Creative Playground membership

Feather gift tags / Paper Ornaments

Hello creative friends, 

Tina here from Tina Hois Art and today I will show you a quick gift tag or paper ornament idea that will be perfect for your gifts and also look fantastic on a tree or a festive garland. Who said feathers are just for birds!

For this project I used Broken line columns (M255) created by  Cynthia Silveri. It’s a simple yet versatile pattern that I love and use frequently. 

The Process:

Step 1:

On watercolour paper with the colours of your choice transfer the stencil marks.

Step 2:

Fold a separate piece of paper in half and outline an oval shape as above (this can be any size you prefer)

Step4:

Trace the shape on to the stencilled watercolour paper and cut

Step 5:

Fold the feather shape in half and cut slits from the outside edge to almost the middle fold

Step 6:

Add a contrasting colour- I added gold acrylic ink ~ but white or silver would look great also.

I also punched a small circle and added silver string to finish it off. 

Enjoy creating your own festive feather tags! 

Tina 

Supplies 

Stencil Broken Line Columns

Watercolour paper

Acrylic paint 

Acrylic ink 

Hole punch

String

Scissors 

African Mask Tags

Creating beautiful tags to have on hand is one of my favorite ways to use mixed media in my art making. Trena Brannon has an exceptional set of African art stencils for this month's StencilClub stencil set. The themes called to me to use earthy tones and play with the masks. Follow along to see how I created these pieces.

I started with watercolors on large tags in brown and pale blue. I did both sides as that left me the option of using them as book pages if I wanted to put them on a ring down the line. 

I then used the patterned stencils to add random printing around my tags. I used Dina Wakley Media paints in Marine, Cheddar, and Black Gesso. 

I wanted more texture so I added torn pages from old books to create more interest. I find that text works best for this.

I also had some African patterned papers on hand that I added to the edges to create even more interest and texture. 

Using the 4x4 stencil I first stenciled shapes along the edges in different colors. Then I went back over the shapes adding the matching patterns on top. I chose Black Gesso for this to really make the pattern stand out. 

Using Dina Wakley Sedona, Cheddar, and Mineral paints I painted some squares onto a piece of cardstock. Then I stenciled the masked faces over the colors and cut them out leaving a small border around the images. 

Lastly, added the masked faces to the tags and finished the tops with coordinating sari ribbon. These will be handy as future focal pieces or as part of a tag book. 

Join StencilClub by August 15 to receive these three exclusive stencils and accompanying video tutorial with PDF, and 20% OFF STENCILS EVERY DAY!!

My name is Megan Whisner Quinlan. I have been an art journaling mixed media artist for over 20 years. I love mixing styles and trying as many things as possible on my pages. I began with handmade books and altered journals and in the last 5 years have exclusively been creating mixed media work on anything I can find. I write for Stencilgirl© and also Ranger Ink and have also been published in Somerset Studio. You can find me on Instagram: Megan _Whisner_Quinlan and on Youtube: Megan Whisner Quinlan. I love to see what you create so tag me if you are inspired!

Megan Whisner Quinlan: June 2021 StencilClub Stencils

Although working in my art journal is my favorite mixed media space to play, when I am looking to create something smaller and experiment, I love to work on tags. Tags allow me to try the same technique over and over, while tweaking as I go. When I am done, I have a bunch of beautiful tags I can then use in future spreads in my journal, or use as happy mail for a friend. Here I decided to experiment with ghosting techniques with ink sprays, a technique that I love but always forget to use. Follow along to see how fun it can be to experiment with using these techniques and this month's StencilClub stencil set.

You can use any size tags for this project, but here I chose #10 Dina Wakley Media tags from Ranger Ink. I also chose Pomegranate, Desert Sand, Blue Lagoon, and London Fog ink colors from Dylusions (also from Ranger Ink). 

Spray a mixture of colors onto your tags and allow them to dry. Mop up the excess with paper towels. Hold your stencil over your tags and spray water through the stencil. Pull up your stencil gently, and roll your paper towels over your tags to remove the water. As they dry, a ghost image from your stencil will appear. 

As you experiment, try spraying your stencil first and then place wet side face down on your tags and lift your stencil to reveal the negative of the stencil. Mop up water with paper towel rollover your tags . 

With the 4" stencil, stencil through with some neon pink paint onto some water color paper and cut out the circle. Again, you can experiment with cutting some in half and adding them in different ways to your tags.

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Finally you can add bits of collage paper and photos to your tags and finish them off with a ribbon on the tops. It's a wonderful way to experiment and create something for down the road. 

Join StencilClub by June 15 to receive these three exclusive stencils and accompanying video tutorial with PDF, and 20% OFF STENCILS EVERY DAY!!

Hello! My name is Megan Whisner Quinlan. I have been art journaling and book binding for about 20 years. However, I took a 10 year break from paper arts when I had my first 2 children. About 5 years ago, I came back into journaling after some big life changes, including 2 more children. Journaling had always been a part of my life, especially to work things out in life on paper. When I first started out, I really only focused on making books by hand and some basic collage and stamping. I was intimidated by the amazing art journaling artists out there who could create elaborate, mixed media spreads.  When I came back to journaling after such a long break, I decided that I was going to really push myself to learn all the techniques I had been too afraid to try.  Painting and drawing have really allowed me to find so much joy in my creative process, and I now almost exclusively create mixed media every day. I feel excited to have joined the art journaling community and you can find me on Instagram @Megan_Whisner_Quinlan or on Youtube: Megan Whisner Quinlan.

StencilClub Voices take on the Suzani Set by Gwen Lafleur

Our talented and sweet StencilClub Voices never fail to inspire with the range of ideas they come up with and create. Always a treat :)

Marge Taylor, Lucy Medeiros-Tyson, and Sherie Weiser Eddy are deserving of applause and a closer look at the doll, paintings, wall hangings, and art journals they created with the Suzani Set by Gwen Lafleur. 

Marge Taylor's Art Tags & Art Journals

Marge writes: I really like the Suzani Set; they were very inspiring and I’ve been trying to make a series of tags using both stencils and stamps. I also wanted to including some uplifting images in my journal.

For the vase, I used the 4” stencil on card stock with light modeling paste. After the paste dried, I painted it and applied a gloss medium to give it a “vase” look. This is my version of a still life

Lucy Medeiros-Tyson's Dragonfly and Other Paintings

Lucy writes: When I saw these Suzani Stencils I thought they were so pretty. I set about playing around with them. The more I played the more ideas that came and soon I had several items to share with Stencil Club Voices. 

For Dragonfly, I used the stencil and it's parts to compose a garden scene. I also used a multitude of mixed media supplies ie; acrylic paint & ink, crackle paste, collage, clear gesso, and more. I also used stencils by Valarie Sjodin's Swallows take Flight S614 and Rae Missingman's Frazzled and Ruffled Feathers M073. 

In Purple Rain and Turquoise Dream, I switched it up and used Dina Wakely acrylic gloss spray first on watercolor paper. When dry I then used the stencil on top filling in with black gesso. 

In Watercolor Splash, I used a technique I learned from Mary Beth Shaw. I applied heavy black gesso on watercolor paper with a spatula through the stencil, removed the stencil, then let dry completely. I painted watercolors in and around the design, I loved the results.

Sherie Weiser Eddy's Doll and Fabric Wall Hanger

Sherie writes: The doll decorated with the Suzani Set is a small, recycled dish soap bottle(body). Made using; Seth Apter’s acrylic sprays on copy paper, a vintage tv fuse, and a polymer clay face (I used a mold, and painted it) The wings and necklace also has bits of stenciled paper. Her hair is also dyed sheep locks. Also some doodling with a gold Sigma pen.

The fabric wall hanging was made using Seth Apter’s iZink Ices and acrylic sprays, dyed sheep locks, hand-beading, along with some slow and machine stitching! The acrylic sprays and Ices work well on fabric too! 

Don't you think these projects are fantastic?

Ready to make your own art with the exclusive Suzani Set by Gwen Lafleur and get all the perks of StencilClub membership?

Join here by 7-15-20.