Creating More Stenciled Grungy Papers!

Hello Friends! Nicole back with another grungy paper tutorial, this one a bit bittersweet.

After three incredible years with the Creative Team, this is my final post. It has been a true honor to do what I love for StencilGirl®! I have met so many of YOU creatives who also love stencils, and there is nothing better than inspiring you to create and use those stencils!

This is not a forever goodbye. I'm looking forward to focussing my time on designing more stencils for StencilGirl® and sharing my creations, as always, over on Instagram and my YouTube channel. And, you never know when I might make a surprise appearance here! 

With that, I wanted to leave you with one more grungy paper tutorial! I gathered a handful of 9x12 stencils that I haven't had a chance to play with along with my favorite Payne's gray and just played.

And, oh how I needed to play!

To begin, I always lightly gesso my papers. This helps add some integrity to older papers and allows the paint and water to move more easily on the page.

The process is quick, and it doesn't matter if entire page is perfectly covered. My process varies each time, but this session I was using up some gesso that I had turned over like ketchup to get the last bits out! I sprayed my papers with water and added gesso with my brush.

 

I’m using papers from an old ledger, but any papers will work! Old book pages are fun, too. Just make sure they aren't too thin and brittle. Ledgers aren’t always easy to find, so if you want to add that fun handwriting layer, you could always stamp or scribble all over paper before stenciling.

Creating the Papers 

Once all the gessoed pages were dry, I started making my papers. The general process is the same each time, but I find that often I get a little more creative and adventurous as the playtime goes on. Oftentimes, I don't want to stop!

I simply use an applicator with paint through the stencil. Then, I add water + watered down paint and scruff up the stenciled image to distress it. 

One thing I always keep in mind, is that I'm creating moments. It's not important to me that the entire paper is a work of art! I like to have variations on each page that I can use in different ways as needed for collage, backgrounds, journals, and more.

My first couple papers were simple, and then I changed it up a bit.

Urban Rhythm Matrix

After adding the Payne's gray through the stencil, I traced around all the circle shapes with my stabilo all in graphite and black and then activated it with water. I put the paper aside and moved on, but when I was flipping through the papers at the end, I thought it needed something else. So, I added a bunch of walnut ink. 

Here's what it looked like before the walnut ink:

Fade Horizontal Stencil

For this one, I tried to create an ombre effect, keeping the paint darker to the left and fading it to the right. When I was done stenciling, I added quite a bit of watered down paint to the left side and tilted the paper for drips.

Single Cross Mini

Sometimes, I like to play with the stencil more than one way. For the first one I stenciled here and there with Payne's gray and then added raw umber to fill in the gaps. On the second paper, I used mostly raw umber and watered down Payne's gray for contrast.

Shape Collection

My ledger papers are just a little more narrow than the stencils, which really isn't a problem most of the time. However, for this fun stencil with all the different shapes, it cut some of them off. I didn't let that bother me! Any image, even if partially stenciled, can find its way into collage!

I stenciled the first paper "as is" through the stencil. I used both Payne's gray and raw umber.

For the second one, I repeated some of my favorite shapes. In doing this, I fell in love with the image (and how I distressed it) of the 3 leaf-like shapes cut out from the rectangles. So, I played with that image on its own. I cannot wait to play with this more and add it to future artwork. Such a great discovery through my playtime!

If you've never played with Payne's gray + raw umber, I highly recommend you do! They create the most wonderful charcoal-black color when they mingle together.

Boro on Steroids I

Since this stencil has so many wonderful images, I decided to play with each one separately. In sticking with my purpose of playing with stencils I had not yet, I didn't use the chevron part as I had used that one previously on a journal page.

For the jelly-bean like shapes, I originally only stenciled them in Payne's gray on one side with the intention of using raw umber on the other...but then I ended up just layering both for more interest! 

After the circle shapes were dry, I traced around them loosing with the stabilo all in graphite.

I just used Payne's gray in the cross-like shapes and added watered-down raw umber with it. I liked stenciling it in two different directions for completely different looks.

Soulful Scribbles Dots Dash

At this point, my water and sponges were getting a bit dingy, so I changed out the water and sponges to start fresh. I often change them out a couple times during my play sessions.

Since this stencil is so detailed, I kept the grungy play pretty simple, except instead of raw umber, I added walnut ink.

I cleaned off some of the extra puddles with a blank ledger sheet that I used for the next stencil.

Stitch ATC

For my final stencil, I played much like I did with the other patterned stencils above. I enjoyed making larger patterns with a couple of my favorites.

I also used walnut ink on this one, which creates a similar charcoal-black color like the raw umber when mingled with the Payne's gray.

Phew! That was a lot of amazing playtime, and I did not want to stop! I had so much fun making these papers and discovering amazing shapes and patterns in these stencils.

You can watch the grungy paper play in action in the video below:

Links to my other grungy paper/technique tutorials:

• Waking up Creativity with Stenciled Papers
• Simple Fall Inspired Cards
• Creative Play and Collage with Stencils
• More Grungy Stenciled Papers
• Creative Play in a Folded Journal
• Creating Grungy Backgrounds with Stencils: a Stencil School Video featuring me

Thank You!

As I close out this blog and season, I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank you for all your kindness. I also want to thank the team at StencilGirl® for this amazing opportunity. It has been such a fun few years playing with these stencils.

I hope you create some grungy papers soon!

-Nicole

Connect with me on

• Instagram
• YouTube
• My website

Stencils

Urban Rhythm Matrix

Fade Horizontal Stencil

Single Cross Mini

Shape Collection

Boro on Steroids I

Soulful Scribbles Dots Dash

Stitch ATC

Supplies:

• Gesso
• Vintage book and ledger papers, ephemera
• Matte medium
• Acrylic Paint (I used Golden SoFlat Payne's gray & raw umber)
• Round applicator
• Walnut Ink
• Stabilo all in graphite & black

More Grungy Stenciled Papers!

It’s probably not a secret that I love creating grungy background papers. I use these papers to add to the mixed media layers in my artwork.  

 

However, these papers aren’t just for future art. One of my favorite ways to “meet” a new stencil is to spend time getting to know it through creative play. A stencil always looks different unused and even in another artist’s work. It’s through using my own style, color palette and creativity that I discover new ideas and the wheels start turning on how I might use it in the future.

 

To begin, I always lightly gesso whatever papers I’m going to use. I use white gesso as it helps tone down some of the yellowing in old book pages, and because I like how it mingles with the paint and ephemera. You could also use clear gesso if you want to keep the page as is. 

The process is simple, and I don’t really worry if I have the entire page covered. I just add a dollop of gesso on the page, spray with water and quickly spread it with a large flat brush.

 

Do you have to use gesso? That’s completely up to you. My answer would be yes, because it not only adds a bit of integrity to the old pages, but it helps seal them for all the paint, water and mess that will be layered on top!

 

For this entire play time, I’m using papers from an old ledger. It’s important that you use papers that aren’t brittle or too thin. If you aren’t sure if the papers you have will work, use several types to get to know them, too! Ledgers aren’t always easy to find, so if you want to add that fun handwriting layer, you could always stamp all over paper before adding the stencil. I also often use old book pages as well. They look just as neat as the ledger pages.

 

Once all the gessoed pages were dry, I grabbed my paints of choice, an applicator, my stabilo all pencils, palette paper and a spray bottle to begin.

 

A lot of my play is intuitive, paint-throwing, fun! 

You can watch the play in my video below:

 

 

And, here are a few short and simple instructions. For each one the general rule is to use an applicator with paint through the stencil, add water + watered down paint, scruff up the stenciled image to distress it, sometimes add walnut ink, and use a hair dryer on the cool setting to move the paint around + help dry. Sometimes instead of drying completely, I mop up the puddles with other gessoed pages. This adds a first awesome layer of grunge to stencil over.

 

Once dry, layer the other stencils on top (two of the stencils I’m using are ones that layer) or even add additional marks with my stabilo pencils. Most important, however, is to have fun and be creative.

Field of Eyes Layer Me L382

Paper One:

I began by stenciling with Payne's gray on the top and bottom. Before each one dried, I added watery paint for some grunge. Then, I flipped the stencil for layering. I added titan green pale to the larger side and sepia India ink on the smaller. I finished with some loose stabilo traces around the shapes.

Paper Two:

I started off tracing the larger open space with stabilo all in graphite and then black. I activated them with my dirty paint water. On the bottom I stenciled with titan green pale and traced loosely around with a stabilo all activating it a bit with the dirty paint water. Then, I layered the smaller design on the top with Payne's gray. (Note: this page started with Payne's gray mopped up paint in the background)

Paper Three:

For the last paper, I stenciled with Payne's gray, grunged up my stenciling with watered-down paint, and then added walnut ink crystals on top allowing them to drip to the bottom.

Connected Eyes Layer Me L369

Paper One:

I stenciled Payne's gray on top and added grunge and repeated with titan green pale on the bottom. Then, I added walnut ink to both, traced the top shapes with stabilo, and added smaller Paynes gray shapes to the bottom. I finished with some paint splatters.

Paper Two:

After stenciling and adding grunge, I flipped the stencil and added the opposite color to each side. After adding the Payne's gray on top the titan green pale, I decided to move the stencil a couple times and add a few more layers.

Paper Three:

I began with Payne's gray and lots of grungy water and ended by topping it off with walnut ink splatters.

Dream S493 & Listen S494

First, I prepped the pages with some walnut ink. Then, I added Payne's gray through each stencil and lots of grungy water and ended by topping it off with more walnut ink splatters. I love that these papers are going to be ready for me to rip out a "listen" or "dream" when I need to add it to my art.

Decorative Flower Stamen Medallion S577

First Set:

For this first paper, I stenciled with titan green pale and then added partial stenciled images with Payne's gray.

On the second paper I stenciled two Payne's gray (left and right) and titan green pale (top and bottom)

On both papers, I added lots of dirty paint water and watered down paint, and then topped both off with walnut ink crystals for aging. 

Second Set:

On the second set of papers, I used India ink. One with Payne's gray and one with sepia, topped off with watered down ink of both colors.

I really love old, worn floors and walls that are painted. I think that's where part of my love of making these grungy papers comes from. They remind me of church frescos or painted floors that are worn from time and use. They hold stories and patina only time can create. 

Do you have new, unused stencils? I hope this inspires you to grab them and "meet" them through creative play!

Check out a couple of my other blog posts where I make grungy papers:

• Waking up Creativity with Stenciled Papers
• Simple Fall Inspired Cards
• Creative Play and Collage with Stencils

One thing I always keep in mind when I create these papers is that they don't have to (or need to) be perfect. In fact, it's better when they aren't. I love the moments that different paint applications, amounts of grunge, etc, make on the papers. There are so many different ones to rip out and isolate to create with.

I had so much fun with this creative play time that it was hard to stop! I discovered a couple stencils and shapes that I'm excited to play with more and created papers ready for me to add to my collage and layers.

Happy playing!

-Nicole

Connect with me on

• Instagram
• YouTube
• My website

Stencils

Field of Eyes Layer Me L382

Connected Eyes Layer Me L369

Decorative Flower Stamen Medallion S577

Dream S493

Listen S494

Supplies

• Gesso
• Golden So Flat (Payne's gray & titan green pale)
• Ink (sepia & Payne's gray)
• Stabilo all (black & graphite)
• Ledger pages or old book pages
• Walnut ink & Walnut ink crystals
• Sponge applicator
• pipette