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Infinity Roll |
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ATC card with Infinity Roll Piece
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The Infinity Roll
A never-ending strip of possibility for your mixed media projects
There is something very satisfying about a roll of paper.
Not a precious sheet you’re afraid to ruin. Not a perfectly cut background. A roll. Continuous. Practical. A little industrial. The kind that used to live in a cash register.
In the studio, though? It becomes an infinity roll — a stash of ready-to-use collage magic you can tear from whenever your junk journal, assemblage, or mixed media piece needs “just one more thing.”
This month, I decided to make mine monochromatic. I made one in purple and one in teal, and I’m honestly in love with how the edges turned out.
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Here are the completed Infinity Rolls -- one in blue, one in purple.
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Supplies
Step 1: Dye the Paper (Trust the Process)
First, tear off a workable section of your roll — about 3 to 5 feet. That’s the sweet spot. Long enough to feel abundant, short enough to manage without dye going everywhere.
Pour a little RIT liquid dye into a shallow cup or lid. Set one end of your paper strip directly into the dye so the edge can start absorbing color.
Let it sit for about an hour. If you want deeper color, leave it longer. After an hour, flip the strip and let the other end soak.
As it dries, the dye creates this beautiful watercolor bloom along the edges. It’s soft, organic, and slightly unpredictable — which is exactly what we want. Mine dried into these moody purple and teal gradients that feel rich but not fussy.
Let it dry completely before moving on.
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Paper Cash Register Roll |
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RIT dye in shallow container |
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I flipped the paper over to dye the other half.
Notice how beautiful the dye takes to the paper. |
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Completely Dry
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Step 2: Add the Stencils (Layer It Up)
Once your paper is dry, roll it out across your table.
I used this month’s Stencil Club set — “Wonderfully Wonky” by Cat Kerr. It’s a two-stencil set filled with imperfect, handmade-feeling marks. They’re playful and organic, which makes them perfect for something like this.
Using a sponge roller and acrylic paint, I randomly applied the first stencil across the strip. I didn’t measure. I didn’t space things evenly. I just moved along the paper and let the marks land where they wanted.
Be sure to stencil both sides. That way, no matter how you tear or layer it later, you’ll have interest.
After the first layer dried, I used the second stencil from the set and added another color on top. The layered marks give it depth and movement — and suddenly your plain roll looks like something you bought at a fancy art supply store.
Except you made it.
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Using a sponge roller to add first layer of stencil images |
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Adding second layer with a contrasting color |
Step 3: Tear and Use
Now comes the best part.
Tear pieces off as you need them.
I used mine to create ATC cards (2.5" x 3.5") and layered sections of the infinity roll onto cardstock. Add collage papers, glue it down, build on top. The dyed edges create built-in softness, and the stencil layers make even the smallest scrap feel intentional.
Because the roll is continuous, you always have more. No pressure. No preciousness.
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ATC Cards with Infinity Roll Pieces |
Why an Infinity Roll?
Because mixed media artists need building blocks.
Because junk journals are hungry for texture.
Because it’s easier to create freely when you already have beautiful components ready to go..
And honestly? There’s something really comforting about knowing you can just reach over, tear a piece, and keep making.
Plus it looks great sitting in your art space ready for the next creative idea.
Here are few tips you may want to use:
1. This is super messy!! Make sure to lay down paper over your work surface.
2. You can add water to the dye to make it less intense.
Instead of RIT dye, you can use watercolor liquid.
3. You can leave the paper roll in the dye overnight and you will get a really great result.
4. You can mist the paper roll with water while it is sitting in the dye.
5. Make sure to let it dry completely before adding the stencil designs.
6. These make really great gifts for your favorite mixed media friends. You can actually use an old spool to roll the paper around and then add a fabric bow to hold it together.
Wonderfully Wonky is only available to StencilClub Members who join by March 15th and will ship on that day.
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Infinity Roll dry and ready to use
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You get lots of great benefits as a club member, including a coupon for 25% off all regular collection stencils, a project and PDF from the artist, and an additional project by me that is for members only. So don’t delay!
Get more information about StencilClub
Stencil Club
I would love to see your work. Please tag me on Instagram — check out my IG
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Final look at the completed Infinity Roll -- make sure to tag me when you make yours! |
