For The Love of Fodder - Circles Numbers Tickets & Tokens STENCIL CLUB 11/2026 Exclusive

Hello again from Kim Hamburg!

This month’s StencilGirl® Club set, Grungy Layers, designed by Nicole Watson, is right up my alley. Circles and numbers are two of my favorite collage elements, and this set gives me plenty of both. Add in the playful botanical shapes, and I immediately started imagining all the little pieces I could make.

Rather than use the stencils to create one finished composition, I decided to make something I could use in many projects: a whole collection of collage fodder.

What Is Collage Fodder?

Collage fodder is simply a collection of papers and small elements ready to use in your artwork. These might be painted scraps, cutout shapes, numbered tickets, or little embellished pieces you have made yourself.

In mixed-media collage and junk journals, fodder can become a focal point, a border, or that small finishing detail a page needs. A botanical might stretch across a journal spread, while a tiny numbered ticket or colorful circle can tuck into a layered arrangement.

I like making these pieces without deciding exactly where they will go. For now, their only job is to be interesting!

One Stencil Set, So Many Possibilities

For this collection, I worked with different sections of Nicole’s stencils, sometimes using a complete design and sometimes isolating just a small part.

Number tickets. The section filled with numbers was perfect for making little tickets. I stenciled the numbers over colorful papers, cut them into groups, and clipped the corners diagonally. Some have quiet backgrounds, while others have several colors and patterns competing for attention. I like having both.

Three-leaf flowers. The three-leaf shape on its long stem makes such a playful cutout. I followed the stencil’s silhouette, keeping the leaves and stem together as one piece. The numbers within the leaves add another layer of interest without needing much extra decoration.

Multi-leaf botanicals. The larger branching botanical gives me a more substantial piece of fodder. These can remain as full sprigs or be trimmed into shorter, five-leaf versions. I also like adding small circles and number labels over individual leaves. A separate leaf can become a useful little accent, too.

Small dots and medium circles. Using circle punches in two sizes, I made tokens from my decorated papers. Some capture a whole number or ring; others catch only a fragment. Those partial designs are often my favorites. A shape that looked ordinary on a larger sheet can become much more interesting inside a small circle.

Donut circles. Removing a smaller circle from the center of a larger one creates a wide paper ring. These are wonderful for layering because the opening lets part of the artwork underneath remain visible. I decorated some with little lines and loops around the centers.

Connected circle clusters. Instead of cutting every stenciled circle apart, I also cut around groups of circles, leaving paper between them so they stay connected. The result is a wonderfully irregular shape. Extra outlines, dots, and little marks make each cluster different.

Three-leaf borders. The repeating three-leaf design along the bottom of the stencil offers another possibility: keeping several motifs together as a strip. It can become a decorative border across a journal page or a layer tucked behind a larger piece of fodder.

The same shapes appear throughout the collection, but changing the paper, color, and details keeps them from looking identical.

How to Make Your Own

You will need your stencils, papers from your stash, acrylic paint or ink, a sponge or blending brush, scissors, and circle punches in different sizes. Gather a few markers and pens for decorating, too. I especially like Posca pens and brush-tip markers. A small box will give your finished pieces a home.

1. Start with what you already have.

Pull out scrap paper, gel-printed papers, painted leftovers, and patterned pieces you have been saving. There is no need to begin with a fresh sheet.

For this project, my attitude was: the more colors, the better! Even a scrap that does not seem especially promising can make a terrific little ticket or dot.

2. Add the stencil designs.

Place the stencil over your paper and apply acrylic paint or ink with a sponge or blending brush. Use a light amount and build up the color rather than loading the applicator heavily.

Try different combinations: dark numbers over bright paper, contrasting circles over a painted background, or a botanical over a patterned scrap. Let everything dry before moving on.

3. Embellish before cutting.

While the paper is still in larger pieces, add extra decoration with your markers and pens.

Outline a leaf, draw a second line inside a circle, add dots, or make a few loose marks across the background. Some pieces need only a small detail; others invite more.

Use the colors you enjoy. There is no requirement to match mine—or to make every piece match the next one.

4. Cut out the botanicals, tickets, and clusters.

For the three-leaf flower and multi-leaf botanical, cut around the outside of the shape, keeping the stem attached. Leaving a narrow paper margin makes the delicate areas easier to handle.

For tickets, cut out groups of three or more numbers, then snip each corner diagonally to create that ticket-like shape.

For connected circle clusters and botanical borders, leave enough paper between the individual motifs to hold the whole piece together.

5. Punch the circles and rings.

Use two sizes of circle punches to make small dots and medium-sized tokens from your decorated papers.

For donut circles, you need a larger circle with a smaller opening in the middle. An easy way to center the opening is to punch the small hole first, then position the larger punch around it.

Save those little centers—they are more fodder!

Move your punch around the paper before committing. Changing the placement slightly can give you a completely different combination of color, number, and pattern.

6. Give everything a home.

Once the pieces are dry and finished, collect them in a small box. I found a little box for mine, and I love seeing all those colors and shapes together.

The next time I am working on a collage or junk journal page, I will have a collection ready to go.

Ready for the Next Page

A leaf, a ring, and a number ticket can become a small collage cluster. A few dots can repeat a color across a spread. One long botanical might be all a page needs.

That is what I enjoyed most about this project: I could experiment with Nicole’s stencils, use papers already in my stash, and make something useful without planning a finished artwork.

Now, when a project needs a little something, I have a whole box of possibilities.

Keep Creating with StencilClub

For more opportunities to experiment, explore StencilClub from StencilGirl® Products⁠. This monthly subscription features artist-designed stencil sets created especially for club members, along with access to exclusive videos and a private Facebook community where members can connect and share their work. Join by November 15th to get this month's set from Nicole Watson. 

You can browse the wider collection at stencilgirlproducts.com⁠ and follow @stencilgirl_products⁠ on Instagram for more stenciling inspiration. When sharing your projects, include #stencilgirlproducts so the StencilGirl community can find your work, too. 

Show Me What You Make!

I would love to see what you create! Whether you make a handful of colorful tickets, a collection of botanicals, or an entire box of fodder, share your art with me on Instagram and tag @gluepaperscissors_⁠ so I can see it.

You can also find more of my mixed-media artwork, tutorials, and experiments on Instagram and visit my website at kimhamburg.com⁠.

You can find this month’s artist, Nicole Watson on Instagram @nicolewatsonart 

Until next time, keep experimenting—and save those little scraps. They might be exactly what your next collage needs.

Kim Hamburg
Mixed Media Artist

Letting the Layers Lead the Way - A Mixed Media Zine with Stencils

Hello There!  Tiff here with a Zine project using some of my favorite stencils. What begins as copy paper becomes an exploration of stencils, resist, accidental FUN, layered paint, collage, and mark-making. 

Supplies 

• Copy paper 
• Stencils 
• Matte medium 
• Acrylic paint 
• Water 
• Instant coffee mixed with water 
• Black paint 
• Ephemera or collage scraps 
• Thread or stitching supplies 
• Tissue Paper 
• A journal pen or similar writing tool 
• Washi Tape 

My approach: I treat every transfer, stain, and imperfect edge as information. The surface keeps a record of the decisions I make—and the accidents I decide to keep.

Abstract Jungle - May 2024 StencilClub Collection

1. Start with copy paper and the first stencil 

I begin with a sheet of copy paper and my first stencil. I place the stencil over the paper, then apply matte medium through the openings. I am creating a resist rather than adding a visible layer of color, so the important thing is the pattern the medium leaves behind.I work with a light touch and let the stencil define the beginning of the surface. 

Wild Dreams Stencil (L949)

2. Repeat with a different stencil—and keep the surprise 

With the first resist dry, I place a new stencil over the paper and repeat the process with matte medium. This second pass adds another layer of structure without asking the image to become too complete too soon.While I work, leftover spray ink on the stencil transfers onto the paper. I did not plan that, but it creates an unexpected and appealing visual effect. The residue gives the surface a little more history, as if the stencil is carrying evidence from another piece into this one. I let this layer dry as well. 

3. Build a grunge effect with paint, water, and coffee ☕

Once the resist layers are dry, I start building the grunge effect. I mix acrylic paint and water with instant coffee, allowing the materials to move together across the paper. I am looking for variation rather than a flat, even coat. The coffee adds grunge and distressed qualities to the painted layers. It shifts the feeling of the surface and gives the paper a sense of age without requiring me to imitate a specific texture. Some areas feel soft and worn; others hold a stronger concentration of color.I move between transparent and more concentrated applications, watching how the earlier resist marks reappear or recede. A partial shape or faint pattern can be just as important as a bold one.

4. Fold the paper into a small book 📖

After the painted layers dry, I fold the paper into a zine. The flat sheet becomes something with movement: it opens, closes, and reads like a small book. Folding changes the way I see the composition. I do not need every section to match. The variety is part of the experience. Once the zine has its form, I can respond to the pages individually while still thinking about the whole object. Razzle Dazzle time !!

5. Add focal areas, collage, and stitched details 🧵

Now I add the final visual layers. I use dark paint through the focal stencils to make it stand out. The dark marks give the eye somewhere to land, especially when the earlier layers are light, transparent, or densely patterned.I do not cover everything. I choose where contrast will help the zine speak more clearly, then allow other areas to remain open and layered. A small dark shape can pull several quieter marks into relationship.Next, I incorporate ephemera and collage fragments. Finally, I add stitch details with thread and sewing machine if you have it. The stitches bring a physical, tactile line into the work. 

Inked Hands Stencil (S938)

6. Finish with found words and personal journaling ✍️

I finish with found words and personal journaling. I place found words where they can sharpen an image, create a pause, or introduce a new association. Then I use a pen to add my own personal messages. These final marks pulls it all together. Zines are such a great way to share a little art with a friend or your own personal collection.

What I carry forward: The strongest parts of the zine often come from embracing accidents, residue, layering, and experimentation. I do not need to know the final image at the beginning; I only need to stay present for the next mark.

I'd love to see what you make!  Tag me on instagram @southergals_designs and don't forget my stencils are now on sale through November 2nd use code ECHOES to get 20% off!