Stencil Club June 2026: Prairie Harmony by Cynthia Silveri -- A Stenciled Fabric Journal/Notepad Cover

Hello again from Kim Hamburg, mixed media collage artist, collage enthusiast, and collector of more notebooks than I'll probably ever use.

One of my favorite things about mixed media is finding ways to bring art into everyday life. This month, I used Prairie Harmony, a beautiful stencil set designed by Cynthia Silveri for StencilClub, to transform a simple notebook into a custom fabric-covered journal.

Inspired by Prairie School architecture, stained-glass design, geometry, and pattern, the Prairie Harmony stencil set reflects Cynthia's love of structured design while still leaving plenty of room for creative interpretation. The repeating motifs and clean lines immediately reminded me of the architectural details and decorative elements often associated with Prairie School design. These geometric patterns translate beautifully to fabric, creating a journal cover that feels both artistic and functional.

This is Cynthia's third time designing stencils for StencilGirl®, and her passion for color, pattern, and design shines through in every stencil opening. The architectural elements create an all-over pattern that feels sophisticated and timeless, making this set especially well suited for fabric projects.

I've made several fabric-covered journals over the years, and they never fail to elevate an inexpensive notebook. Whether you use one for journaling, sketching, note-taking, or gift-giving, a custom cover turns an ordinary object into something unique and personal.

Supplies

        Prairie Harmony Stencil Club Stencils June 2026

• White cotton fabric (canvas or duck cloth works best)

• Mod Podge for Fabric

• Acrylic paint

• Paintbrush or blender brush

• Paper tape or painter's tape

• Chipboard or cereal box cardboard

• Scissors

• Glue, Fabri-tac or PVA or use Mod Podge

• Notebook, journal, or notepad

• Decorative paper for lining the inside cover

• Clothespins or clips

Prepare the Fabric

Start by ironing your fabric if needed. A smooth surface will help ensure cleaner stencil prints.

Cut the fabric slightly larger than the stencil design area. Position the stencil on top and secure it with painter's tape or paper tape along the edges. Taping the stencil down helps keep it from shifting while you work.

The Mod Podge for fabric will stiffen the fabric and there will be no loose threads so it becomes easy to work with much like paper.

Stencil the Fabric

In a small container, mix your chosen acrylic paint color with approximately one tablespoon of Mod Podge for Fabric. Stir until the mixture is smooth and evenly blended.

Using either a paintbrush or a blender brush, apply the paint mixture through the stencil. Work gently and build the color gradually to avoid forcing paint underneath the stencil.

The architectural and stained-glass-inspired patterns in the Prairie Harmony stencil set work especially well for this project because they create an all-over design that feels intentional and sophisticated once wrapped around the journal cover.

Allow the paint to set for about five minutes before gently lifting the stencil. Be sure to clean your stencil immediately after use. Because the paint contains Mod Podge for Fabric, it will harden as it dries and can become difficult to remove later. I like to take mine straight to the sink and wash it with warm water and a soft brush before the mixture has a chance to cure.

Once the stencil is clean, allow the fabric to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Create the Cover Structure

While the fabric dries, prepare the new journal cover.

Remove the front and back covers from the notebook, journal, or notepad you wish to customize. Use those pieces as templates to cut matching covers from chipboard or a cereal box.

You'll also need a narrow strip for the spine or top edge, depending on the type of notebook you're covering. Arrange all of the pieces in their proper position and tape them together, leaving a small gap between sections so the cover can fold properly when finished.

Cover the Chipboard

Once the fabric is dry, place the assembled cover structure on the unpainted side of the fabric.

Cut around the cover, leaving approximately ¼ inch of extra fabric around all sides. This extra fabric will wrap around the edges and create a neat, finished appearance.

To adhere the fabric, thin the Mod Podge slightly with a small amount of water. Brush it onto the back side of the fabric and carefully position the chipboard cover onto the adhesive.

Fold the excess fabric over the edges and glue it into place. You may need to make small cuts at the corners to reduce bulk and help the fabric lie flat. Usually a small snip at each corner is all that's needed.

Allow everything to dry thoroughly.

Finish the Inside

To give the cover a polished look, glue a piece of decorative paper to the inside. This covers the raw fabric edges and chipboard while adding another opportunity for color and pattern.

Use clothespins or clips to hold everything securely while the adhesive dries.

Once dry, reattach your notebook pages or notepad, and your custom journal is ready to use.

Turning the Everyday into Something Special

One of the things I love most about this project is how easily it transforms an inexpensive notebook into something that feels thoughtful and high-end. The stenciled fabric adds texture, pattern, and personality while remaining durable enough for everyday use.

These journals also make wonderful handmade gifts. Teachers, writers, journal keepers, and list-makers all appreciate having a beautiful notebook close at hand. Choose colors that reflect the recipient's personality, add a favorite stencil pattern, and you'll have a practical gift that is both useful and unique.

The architectural inspiration behind Cynthia Silveri's Prairie Harmony stencil set brings a sense of structure and elegance to this project. Much like stained-glass windows and geometric architectural details, the patterns create rhythm, movement, and visual interest. It's a simple project with a surprisingly professional finish—and a wonderful way to carry a little handmade art with you every day.

If you've been curious about StencilClub, members who join by June 15, 2026, will receive the exclusive Prairie Harmony stencil set designed by Cynthia Silveri. Membership includes artist-designed stencils, a project and PDF from the featured artist, an additional members-only project from me, creative inspiration from fellow makers, and a 25% discount on all regular collection stencils.

You can learn more about Cynthia Silveri and her colorful creative work on Instagram at @thepassionatecolorist.

I'd love to see what you create with Prairie Harmony. Be sure to tag me on Instagram at @gluepaperscissors_ so I can see your projects and share in your creativity.

---

About the Artist

Kim Hamburg is a mixed media collage artist living and creating in Springfield, Missouri. A self-taught artist, she began making collages during the COVID lockdown and has created art daily ever since. Working primarily with vintage papers, paint, stencils, and found materials, she enjoys finding unexpected ways to combine storytelling, texture, pattern, and composition in her artwork. Follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gluepaperscissors_/

Decorate a Journal Cover Using Stenciled Address Labels

Hi art friends, it's Martha and I'm excited to share a project today for my second StencilGirl blog post! This is an idea that was inspired by a mixed media artist named Cat Hand. I saw her video sharing this technique about 10 years ago when I first started doing mixed media and thought it would be fun to try it again. There is a link to her video down below.

I'm decorating a book cover using stenciled address labels. The first step is to choose a book you would like to use and paint the cover. I happened to choose a book that has a cover similar in color to the painted background I wanted. 

Next, it's time to add paint to those label sheets. I decided a mid-century modern theme would be cool for my book cover. Here are the paint colors and stencils that I chose to use.  I've listed the supplies below.

I used standard white mailing labels as you can see. For my project I wanted an off white background on the labels so I used a brayer to cover two label sheets with Titan Buff paint.

The next step is to decide in which order to use the paint colors and stencil shapes. Something to keep in mind if you are trying this project is which shapes and colors you want to stand out and which ones you want to be more in the background. If you are unsure practice first on a piece of copy paper. That's what I did. 

I decided to use the yellow color and this stencil as the first one in the background. This is the lightest paint color I used and it will look nice as a background color. I will use darker colors as I go along which will stand out more.

Next is the orange color. As you can see, I taped off the part of the stencils that I wanted to use. Another tip is to vary the shapes and sizes of the images.

This shape in green adds a nice contrast to the pattern and colors I have so far. Note that I am overlapping some of the shapes. I don't want to cover every single part of my labels but do want to spread out the shapes and colors so that when I pull off the individual labels they will have a nice variety of colors.

Continuing with this curly shape in dark blue. I want these next stenciled parts to stand out more. 

A rectangular shape in magenta is next - another nice contrast to what I have so far. 

Finally, I stenciled the shape that I wanted to stand out the most in turquoise. I love the way these colorful sheets look so far!

The last step before I start adhering the labels to my book cover is to outline and add marks to some (not all) of the shapes with a gold pen. This is optional of course, but I like this look for my project.

Here's a close up of one of the label sheets. As usual it's difficult to photograph the shiny gold, but hopefully you get a good idea of what they look like.

I used a thin layer of gel matte medium to adhere the labels. Starting on the right side of the cover I moved left in perpendicular rows toward the spine. Each row is staggered a bit and I left a small gap in between each label to create a tile like pattern.

This is what the front of my book cover looks like before I trimmed the top and bottom. I let that dry really well then followed the same process on the back cover, leaving the spine area open. 

Here is what my final project looks like. I like to add a closure to most of my journals (also an optional step) so I attached a couple of charms to a black elastic. I wanted to keep it simple so as not to detract from the busy and colorful patterns on the cover. I really love the way this bright and happy cover turned out! I have not worked on the inside yet, but plan to use the pages on the inside of this book to do some art journaling. I hope you're inspired to give this a try. There are so many different options with colors and styles.

Suplies Used:

Hardcover book

Paint

Address labesls

Stencils

Make up sponges 

Paint marker

Gel matte medium

Scissors

Stencils Used:

Mid Century Modern Vibe 2 https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-Mid-Century-Modern-Vibe-2-Jennifer-Evans-p/s584.htm

Mid Century Rocks and Leaves https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-MidCentury-Mod-Rocks-Leaves-Jennifer-Evans-p/s586.htm

Slices 6  https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-slices-6-terri-stegmiller-p/s094.htm

I recorded my process if you'd like to watch the video:

Cat Hand inspiration video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvEYq7O2ImU&t=14s

Follow me at:

https://www.instagram.com/mymixedmediafun/

https://www.youtube.com/@madebymartha

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

Using Stencils with Encaustics Along with Jane Monteith

Jane Monteith here. I wanted to share a few tips using stencils with surface inks and reducing the amount of bleed from under them.

I recently tried using Jacquard's brand new alcohol ink formula. As you may know, I've been a fan of their products for many years, including the Pinata Rich Gold. 

They've now created a smoother, finer type formula which has been renamed to Gold Leaf. There are other colors too, as you can see here.

They work great on the the surface of encaustic because it's non-porous, and alcohol ink is designed for these types of surfaces.

To hold stencils in place, we generally use a temporary tack spray. But with wax we can't really do that because it leaves a residue on the surface.

So, here's the tip.

Start by warming your surface with a heat gun. While your wax is still warm, sit your stencil on top, and using a brayer, roll over the stencil a few times to set it in place. 

This will prevent it from moving and embeds it slightly into the surface.

 

You can now begin painting over it.

Keep in mind you'll see all brush marks, dents and pinholes in your encaustic because of the light reflecting off the metallic ink. 

I used the gold leaf formula with an old paint brush. Probably should have used a better brush. So don't be me. Use a foam brush or a nice soft bristle one. 

Once the surface is painted, leave it to dry and then simply peel back the stencil.

I ended up with a big pinhole in mine because I over heated (wasn't wearing my glasses to see what I was doing). 

But, we can fix that with the ink!

We can also fix any areas that did bleed. There were a few on the outer edges and a little bit in the middle. 

I suggest using a micro-makeup applicator for getting rid of excess ink. I use them ALL the time for things like this. 

I also use Jacquard's Claro-Extender (aka blending solution) because this isn't as harsh as rubbing alcohol. 

It's also great for cleaning the ink off your stencils. 

Once you've removed the unwanted ink, you can go back in with more ink on a fresh applicator and cover areas with more gold. 

You can also fill in any small holes, like the pin hole I created :)

You may decide to scrape away areas, too. I wasn't very happy with the overall look so I created a few guidelines guidelines with my ruler and removed the unwanted sections. 

I ended up with a more interesting pattern. 

To finish, lightly fuse with your heat gun to set it in place. Don't over fuse or the alcohol ink with burn and separate. Just a light touch is all you need :)

Whether you use stencils to create inlays or for surface patterns using inks, they're a great way to add interest to your encaustic work. 

The stencil I have used is called Linework.  It and all of my stencils are on sale until May 28th.  Use code ENCAUSTIC to get 20% off. 

Stay creative.

xo Jane.