StencilGirl® Coin Folder Collaboration Challenge with Tina Walker

Hello lovelies!

Tina Walker here with my latest StencilGirl® collaboration challenge. This month, we have a super fun and interactive challenge - I challenged artists to create a project, any type of project (altered, dimensional, book, or more) using Coin Collector booklets.  Look below in case you are wondering what we are talking about.

 

Ah...you now know what I'm talking about.  ;)

Combine these wonderful little booklets with StencilGirl® stencils - OH MY! When you open up these bad boys, the mind just races with creative possibilities.  Let's see what the artists did with this challenge.

 

TRACY KRUEGER

 
"I knew for this challenge, I wanted to do something involving flowers since Spring is right around the corner. Shrinky Dinks are an absolute PERFECT substrate for StencilGirl products! I paired my shrinky dinks with pressed flowers in resin and floral acetate pieces from Tina Walkers etsy shop and I think it turned out beautiful!"

 

 

Wow, oh WOW, oh wow!

This type of project NEVER crossed my mind.  How creative and fun

Stencils Used:

Stencil Club Feb 2018

Stencil Club Mar 2013

Mosaic Flowers Repeat

 

MICHELLE KOSCIOLEK

 

"My quarter coin book made the perfect base for a special birthday card!  I used white and gold gesso to coat the entire book.  Stenciled with StencilGirl Stencils Ray Circles, Circle Rays, and Wall of Words using Dina Wakley paints (malachite, sedona, cheddar, tangelo, apricot and lemon).  All chipboard pieces are custom designs from Stuff by Belle for this special milestone card. Minimal products but they make quite an impact! You can find more images of the finished project by clicking the link for Stuff by Belle."

 

I would LOVE to receive a card like this - it would instantly make me happy!

 

Stencils Used:

Ray Circles

Circle Rays

Wall of Words

 

ANN BARNES

"Using the openings of the coin folder as portals to view into the next layer, each page displays a different "type" of flower field. As the pages are turned one can look forward or backwards into the different "fields" by turning the circular pieces. The final spread is a field of lavender. "

 

Another incredible project by an incredible artist!  I am diggin' the dimension!

 

Stencils Used:

Botanical Wildflowers

ATC Mixup Botanical

Garden Montage

 

JESSICA WALTHALL

 

"I decided to make an artist book, and I started by chopping up my coin folder and cutting out some of the holes. Next came layers of gesso, vintage paper, acrylic paint with stencils, mark making, stamping, and a couple wax seals. I bound it all together with torn strips of a vintage flour sack."

 

 

I can't decide if I love the colors or the patterns, or the overall design the most.  This is simply stunning!

 

Stencils Used:

StencilClub Mar 2026  

 

SHEILA FLENER

 

"I removed the center section of the coin book and made a bookcloth to cover the spine. I made a flag book using face images and the following stencils: Number Chaos, Small and Inky Circles Stencil, because they referenced coin shapes and numbers related to cash."

 

 

This book is so architecturally intriguing...I love Sheila's art - she is so inventive. 

 

Stencils Used:

Number Chaos

Inky Circles

 

and MOI!

 

TINA WALKER

 

My head was going in a 1000 different directions with this challenge, but they all revolved around a book - because, why not?!?!  ;)

 

and how cool is a book with holes, lil' cubbies, and places for fun little bits?

 

I used my stencils in various ways - gelli prints, key focal points, such as numbers, extra-large embossed page, rust paste, to backgrounds.  All the wonderful ways to use stencils.

 

Here's some close-ups of my pages...

 

 

 

I loved pulling out some of old school, traditional scrapbook techniques, such as glitter and embossing.  I forgot how cool these were.

 

Stencils Used:

More

Gaol Stairs

Stone Face 

Art Deco Alphabet 

Loren Ipsum

Garden Joy

Letter Mania

 

If you want to see a video p-through of my finished book, please visit me over on IG for the short reel.

 

I hope this lil' challenge inspired you to pick up some Coin Collector folders and make some art!  Please tag me if you do, I'd love to check your creations out!

 

That's all for today!

 

XOXO 

 

 

 

Make a Pocket Book out of Envelopes and the April 2026 Stencil Club Set

There is something quietly satisfying about a stack of envelopes—especially the kind you don’t quite remember saving. They surface in drawers and boxes, tucked between the practical and the sentimental, carrying with them a faint suggestion of intention. This project began, as many good ones do, with that kind of rediscovery: a small collection of envelopes made from thick, watercolor paper, too beautiful to discard and too intriguing to ignore.

Hello again—I’m Kim Hamburg, mixed media collage artist, and today I’m working with the April 2026 StencilClub stencil set, Ribbon Dance, designed by Jennifer Evans. In this project, I’ll be transforming a handful of envelopes into a small, sculptural book with exposed pockets—spaces ready to hold ephemera, tags, ATC cards, and whatever fragments of story you feel compelled to tuck inside.

Jennifer Evans’ designs feel particularly at home in this kind of work. She creates stencils that lean into abstraction—marks that resemble intuitive, almost instinctive gestures. They are wide, expressive, and open-ended, suggesting a structure without confining it. There’s a generosity in that approach: the stencil offers a starting point, but leaves plenty of room for the artist to respond, layer, and reinterpret.

And of course, when faced with envelopes and pockets, I had to make a pocket-book.

Supplies

• Envelopes (any size; I used five, but the number is entirely flexible)
• Acrylic paint (at least two colors)
• Paintbrush, brayer, or sponge
• Adhesive (I used PVA glue)
• April 2026 StencilClub Set - Ribbon Dance

Optional:

• Gelli plate
• Markers, pens, or other embellishing tools
• Additional collage materials or ephemera

The Process

I began by painting each envelope, front and back—thinking less about perfection and more about establishing a base layer of color and movement. Some envelopes were printed using a gelli plate, which gave them a soft, atmospheric variation. Others I painted directly, letting the brushmarks remain visible, like handwriting.

Once everything had dried, I returned with the stencil set and a second color. This is where the structure began to shift into something more expressive. One of my favorite moments in the process was layering all three stencil designs together on the gelli plate at the same time. The result was unexpected—a kind of visual overlap that felt almost chaotic, but in a way that suggested rhythm rather than disorder. Marks collided, repeated, dissolved. It created a beautifully abstract, slightly jumbled surface that I wouldn’t have arrived at if I had approached each stencil separately.

From there, the envelopes began to take on a new identity—not as individual objects, but as pages. Glued together along their edges, they formed a small book, each pocket left open and accessible. The structure invites interaction. It asks to be filled.

How to Assemble the Pocket-Book

Take two envelopes and place them with the flap side facing up. Tuck the flap of one envelope into the body of the other, so that one flap is secured inside while the other remains extended. That remaining flap becomes your connector—it slides into the next envelope, whose flap will then extend outward in turn.

Continue this rhythm—tucking one, leaving one—until you’ve linked together as many envelopes as you like. To finish, simply glue the final flap to the envelope it meets.

What makes this structure especially satisfying is its flexibility. Because nothing is glued along the interior spine, the book isn’t fixed in size. It can grow. You can continue adding envelopes, extending the piece over time—an expandable object that evolves alongside whatever you choose to place inside it.

Why This Works

There’s something compelling about using envelopes this way—their original purpose lingers, but shifts. Instead of containing a single message, they become containers for many small ones. A scrap of paper, a stamped tag, a handwritten note—each addition becomes part of a layered narrative.

And that’s really what this project is about: not just making something, but making space. Space for collecting, for holding, for returning to.

It’s a small book, yes—but also a quiet archive of whatever you choose to keep.

---

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 Stencil Club here
Stencil Club

I would love to see your work. Please tag me on Instagram — check out my IG

https://www.instagram.com/gluepaperscissors_/?hl=en

Kim Hamburg on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/kimhamburgart

Artist Jennifer Evans on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdoBz3l_piQ

Make Upcycled Cork Coasters Using Stencils with Michelle Schenker

Hello Stencil Fans,

My name is Michelle (@michelle.schenker.art on Instagram), and I am a mixed-media and watercolor artist who loves transforming trash into treasures. So, my first project for the StencilGirl® blog follows this passion. 

I often go to my local Goodwill to seek out unsung treasures, and I found a set of Bunco coasters for $2! I could not resist bringing them home to see if I could create a new coaster design for my house!

StencilGirl® Stencil:

• Portugal Tiles by Laurie Mika

Other Supplies:

• Cork Coasters
• Sandpaper
• White Gesso
• Lukas Acrylic Paint, Terracotta
• Lukas Acrylic Paint, Fern
• Lukas Acrylic Paint, Prussian Blue
• FolkArt Outdoor Satin Varnish
• Painter's Tape
• Makeup Sponge 
• Wet Cloth or Baby Wipes 

Step 1:

Gently peel off and sand the coaster surface to remove any plastic or other protective covering. Wear a mask if you are sensitive to dust, and consider working outside for this step. Dust off with a baby wipe or a wet cloth and let it dry before moving to the next step. 

Step 2:

Add tape if you wish to protect the sides. Paint White Gesso onto the sanded surface. Let dry.

Step 3:

Apply a layer of paint (I used Terracotta by Lukas for that old Europe vibe). Let dry. 

Step 4:

Once dry, center the Portugal Tile stencil on the painted coaster.  Apply paint with a sponge (I chose Fern by Lukas for a bright pop of green). 

Bonus Tip: If you wish to isolate certain colors to certain parts of the design, use painter's tape to block off certain areas of the stencil. Then, once each layer of paint is dry, you can move the tape to the next section to add your next paint, etc. (after Fern, I used Prussian Blue)

Step 5:

Remove the Stencil. Repeat with the other coasters, varying the colors as you desire. Let dry.

Step 6:

Repeat Steps 1 through 3 for each coaster.  Feel free to vary the colors or even the stencil design (since there are 6 tile designs to choose from!) if you want a variation on the theme for each one. Let dry.

Step 7:

Once all coasters are dry and you are happy with them, add 2 layers of FolkArt Outdoor Varnish, waiting 30 minutes between layers (or any water-resistant varnish). This helps them resist condensation from glasses.

Step 8:

Let dry overnight, remove the painter's tape, and enjoy!!

Cheers and have fun creating! If you decide to make these, please tag me on your social media posts (links below) - I'd love to see what you make! 

All the best,

Michelle Schenker

Michelle Schenker's website | Instagram | Facebook

Etsy | YouTube | Pinterest

Master Sheet Spring Tags

Hello friends, 

Tina here from, Tina Hois Art. Today we will be creating a stencilled master sheet and with it we will make some lovely tags that can be added to gifts, journal pages or made into a tag journal! 

I love working on master sheets or master boards mainly for the efficiency- rather than working on individual tags for example - working on a large scale paper also allows for more freedom and another favourite, creating beautiful depth with layers.

Step 1:

On a sturdy piece of watercolour paper collage the first layer of torn book pages.

Step 2: 

With a brayer spread the first layer of acrylic paint~ this is a very organic layer as are the ones to follow.

Allow enough transparency so that some of the first layer is visible.

Step 3:

The first stencilled layer will be with Lacey Lotus stencil designed by Jessica Sporn. With your favourite acrylic colours dab on the stencil randomly (I used purple, sea foam and yellow ochre) 

Step 4:

To add contrast I decided on the delicate Nosegay stencil, designed by Cecilia Swatton  black acrylic paint to create a silhouette.

At this point feel free to leave your master sheet as is or proceed to step 5.

Step 5:

For the final touch of interest I added some

Fluorescent pink splatters and marks using acrylic ink.

At this point  the master sheet is ready to be transformed into a variety of projects.

Supplies

Stencils 

Nosegay

Lacey Lotus

Acrylic paint

Book pages

Mod Podge

Brayer