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.

Stitches & Stencils by Kristi Nazzaro

Stitches & Stencils by Kristi Nazzaro

A Mixed Media Tutorial Featuring StencilGirl© Products

Hello Friends! I was so excited when StencilGirl© invited me to do a guest blog post for them.  I love their stencils and use them frequently in my work.  Talk about a Fan Girl moment.

Lately I’ve been experimenting with monochromatic themes in my art journals and wanted to share how fun these can be using StencilGirl© Products.  I adore big, bold, bright colors in my work.  Rainbows bring my heart such joy.  I’ve created an acrostic poem using our old friend ROYGBIV.  Do you remember him from grade school?  An acrostic is a poem in which the first letter of each line spells out a word, message or alphabet.  I put a fresh spin on an old classic (ROYGBIV) by creating a poem that not only acknowledges goals I have achieved but encourages me to keep reaching for those stars.  Acrostic poems are a fun way to keep important words front and center. 

The stencils I used for this project are:

Organic Roots 1 Mini by Carol Wiebe

Ancient Mariners Map Mini Mask by Mary Nasser

Divided Shape by Mary Beth Shaw

Look Here Trio of Arrows by Rae Missigman

Repetition by Rae Missigman

Rows of Triangles by Rae Missigman

Sea of Grapes Mini by Rae Missigman

Sea of Skiffs Mini by Rae Missigman

Holly Fern Stencils & Masks by Rae Missigman

Lemon Button Fern by Rae Missigman

I can’t wait to see what fun acrostics you come up with and the amazing StencilGirl© Products you choose for your project!

Instagram: www.instagram.com/soul_positive

Twitter: www.twitter.com/soulpositiveweb

Facebook: www.facebook.com/soulpositiveblog

My website is: www.soul-positive.com

Be Painterly or Artsy with new Spring Stencils: Bunnies and Ewes

The most wonderful thing about these stencils is no matter what painting skillset you possess they give you a foundation from which to launch.

And hey, if you can't take advantage of springtime out of doors, the paints in your indoor art space are calling :)

Two sheep and four large rabbits were part of Lanie Frick's childhood menagerie. 

Lambs & Ewes

 

The sheep liked to follow Lanie around the farm. Sometimes they would jump and twist and take off in a bouncing run. When she would let the rabbits out of their cages into their grass pen they could act so wildly silly and put on a funny show.  

Bunnies Jump and Bunny Face

Lanie says, "I guess that’s why at times my work is realistic and then there are moments when I get a wild hair and create something humorous. The realistic designs bring peace and sincerity to a creative piece. The whimsical designs express the exuberant moments any of us can have. The large open body shapes are for you to have creative fun. Enjoy!"

Spring Ewe

Tip: Stencils with lots of empty space are perfect for layering another stencil with a pattern underneath!

Whimsey Ewes

Are you ready to jump? These bunnies have not forgotten to exercise!

Bunnies in Motion

Four Bunnies in Motion

Get painterly with your stencils!

Lanie's stencil designs include horses and goats! Be painterly or artsy. Check them all out here and build your own farm :)

All "Wrapped" Up with Stenciled Bags, Tags and Boxes

Hi everyone!  Debi Adams here and I am relishing the upcoming holidays.  Though I am not fond of all the long lines and busi-ness of the season, I definitely like the sights, sounds and colors of Christmas. Whether you celebrate this time of year or not, there are always opportunities for gift-giving so today I thought I would share some ideas on how to creatively wrap your packages using stencils. You can work up some special, coordinating sheets of paper or just use the scraps of left over castaways and extras from your stash.

So I have to admit that I have not used my gelli plate as much as I should have so I pulled it out for this particular post and started playing. (Thank you Carolyn Dube for the suggestive/inspirational instagrams :) ). I put watercolors down before I started with the gel plate.  It's my favorite medium, and definitely my comfort zone.  I chose three colors to begin with and then added another one or two to give it some depth.

When I started adding stencils, I didn’t think about my choices a lot. Just picked what I was in the mood for.  I tried to make my designs work for Christmas and all-occasion so you could see the possibilities.  I misted my paper with some of Dyan's Dylusions because I love the bright colors they bring to my pallet.  

The mark-making really helped it all come together.  I used a white marker but also added a few touches of gold with a thin gold marker to make it a little fancy.  

Once I got the pieces designed the way I wanted them, I began making embellishments for my packages. I cut out, punched and strung a variety of doo-dahs. This particular package was decorated with cut-out hearts attached to string and wrapped around the gift.  We all have scraps of this and that and they are perfect for package decor. Great way to get rid of those odds and ends that were too nice to just toss!

I also decided it might be fun to make mock-flocked ribbon so I used gesso on regular acetate ribbon and let it dry.  Making the tag personalized was super simple. Ann Butler's Flourish Alphabet Upper Case stencil used as a monogram made it easy.  (Pattern for the tag was from the Simple Geo Circles Stencil.) I finished the letter and the edge of the circle using a gold pen.  

Creating a “wrap” for a box meant I only had to a portion of my hand-designed sheets. It also solved the problem of some types of paper being too thick (depending on the substrate you use) to fold and tape down. The box stays nice because no tape touches it.   It simply slides off!  The Circles Layer Me Stencil by Carolyn Dube worked perfectly for a strip of paper ribbon! And adding a tag doesn't have to be complicated. I used this Starlight Mini Stencil to add a festive look and then added a separate piece for the name.  It took only a few seconds using the stencil, blending tool and ink.  

Sometimes a quick box can be worked up with small pieces of patterned paper.  Perfect example is this box.  You can make it as big or as small as you want based on the size of the substrate. (See pattern at end of this post.  Make sure to use red tape when securing the sides. It needs to be strong enough to stay closed.)

I LOVE Pam Carriker’s Knitting stencil but hadn’t used it yet (imagine!),  so I decided to create my own wrapping paper using bulletin board paper, a blending tool and ink.  I  turned the stencil in a different direction after every usage, making sections of patterns instead of trying to connect them into one straight line. 

I also stenciled it directly onto one of those pillow boxes. It was a great fit.  And the small knitting needles? A skewer and a bead. :) Maybe Pam will be impressed? Oh I wish I could sit long enough to knit like she does!

 

Sometimes adding a few tags finishes it off. 

                           

I love decorating all my packages. I honestly think of the person as I am wrapping it and wishing them great things. I hope I have given you some ideas on how to broaden the usage of stencils. There are a myriad of ways to use them.  This one definitely gives a personal touch to any gift-giving occasion.

Thanks for stopping in.  Can't wait to see what you create! 

Debi Adams

Website: www.debi-adams.com

Insta: debi_adams

Facebook: Debi Adams

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Learn to make 10 cards as easy as the above projects.   Check out my "The Art of Cardmaking" video by StencilGirl Studio found here.

Stencils Used:

Circles Layer Me by Carolyn Dube

S434 Holiday Sayings 6 Stencil by Mary Beth Shaw

ATC Mixup by Carolyn Dube

M150 Planner Winter Symbols 6 by Mary Beth Shaw

S573 Stockinette Small by Pam Carriker

L644 Flourish Alphabet Uppercase Stencil by Ann Butler

by ATC Mixup by Jennifer Evans

Geo Circles by Kae Pea

Starlight Stencil by Lesley Riley

Repetition Stencil by Rae Missigman

Pattern for Box

When sealing the last area closed, twist the top part in the opposite direction from the bottom part.  The side seam should be located on the side of the box then.