Make a Fabric Covered Journal Using Stencils

Hello! My name is Martha and I am a mixed media artist obsessed with making journals. So, of course, I decided my first project for the StencilGirl blog would be a journal. I also became quite enchanted with Sarah Gardner's moth parts stencil when I first saw it. I knew I wanted to create a beautiful, colorful moth as the focal image on a journal cover.

For this project, I decided to make a fabric cover. I have some canvas fabric that I tore to the size I wanted. I also cut a piece from a file folder that I will attach to make the cover a little bit sturdier. I planned to paint on the canvas fabric, but before I did that I wanted to make my moth. That will guide my choice of paint colors for the background of the cover.

Instead of painting the moth parts I decided to use colorful papers to try something different. (You could also use fabric for this step.) So I pulled out some colorful papers that I thought might work well together. I used them to trace and cut out the moth parts. After cutting them out, I arranged them the way I wanted, then glued them together.

I changed my selection of papers slightly for the moth wings to come up with a combination I was happy with.

Now that my moth was ready, I picked out some coordinating paint colors to use on the canvas fabric. I use acrylic paint on fabric and it works fine for my purposes. I used a couple more of Sarah's stencils on the background.

 

I also pulled out a couple more stencils in order to vary the shapes and make a colorful background. The stencils I used are listed below.

Happy with my background, it was time to finish assembling my moth and the front cover. I cut a small circle for the head of the moth and found some fabric to which I attached the moth with glue. I also attached a strip of that contrasting fabric to the back of the cover because I thought it tied the whole cover together nicely. After glueing all of these pieces down I did some wonky machine stitching around some of the moth wings, the moth background patch and the strip of fabric on the back cover. It's very colorful and I love it!

Time to finish up the cover. I glued the canvas fabric to the file folder using a strong glue. I planned to do more sewing around the entire cover so the glue is not the only thing holding it together. Not only does the file folder piece provide more stability to the cover, it also hides the stitching on the backside of the fabric if you don't want that to show. I used that same contrasting fabric for the inside of the cover gluing it on with a glue stick since it's a very thin fabric. I then stitched all around the outside of the cover.

NOTE: It's best to wait until your glue is dry before doing any machine stitching to avoid gumming up your sewing machine.

Finally, I sewed in some tea dyed printer paper using a three hole pamphlet stitch and my journal was finished!

I hope you enjoyed this project. I recorded my process if you'd like to watch the video:

Supplies Used:

Moth Parts https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-Moth-Parts-Sarah-Gardner-p/ll1047.htm

Squiggle Doodle https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-Squiggle-Doodle-Sarah-Gardner-p/l969.htm

Doodle Vocab https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-Doodle-Vocab-Sarah-Gardner-p/l970.htm

ATC Mixup Apter https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-ATC-Mixup-Apter-Seth-Apter-p/l664.htm

Intense Half Rings https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-Intense-Half-Rings-Andrew-Borloz-p/s534.htm

Fabric

File folder

Scissors

Glue

Colorful papers

Paint

Sewing machine 

Tea dyed paper

Waxed thread

Book binding needle

Follow me at:

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

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

A Valentine’s Day Box (and a Little Bingo Nostalgia)

💗Hi, I’m Kim Hamburg—a mixed media collage artist who uses stencils constantly in my work and who truly, deeply loves the color pink.

 💗 The February 2026 Three-Corner Bingo stencils immediately pulled me in, not just because of the subject, but because of how abstract and playful they are. The set includes a bingo card, dauber blobs, wooden buttons with Bingo numbers, and other mark-making elements that feel more like texture than illustration—and I love that.

They also took me straight back to my senior year of high school, when I played Bingo nearly every weekend at the Bandwagon Bingo Hall. I’d show up with my daubers and a ten-dollar bill, usually with my sister or a friend, ready for a fun night out. I never won a big prize, but I did win $25 now and then—and once, memorably, a fondue pot. It was simple and joyful, and it turned out to be a pretty great way to get through my senior year.

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I decided to make a Valentine's Day Box.  I kept the color palette small: pink, white, black, and red. Limiting my colors helps everything feel more intentional, and it lets the shapes and layers do the work. Pink leads the way here, with black adding contrast and helping the stencil marks really stand out.

Supplies:

February 2026 StencilClub, Three-Corner Bingo by Kristin Peterson

repurposed household box like a shoe box, or cereal box

Acrylic Paint

Paintbrush or spatula

Paper, book pages, scraps of painted paper, collage fodder

adhesive (glue stick, mod podge, PVA glue)

Optional:

Posca markers

Acrylic markers

Black Fine line marker

other ephemera

Start by finding a box around your house and removing any paper or labels so you’re working with a clean surface. This doesn’t need to be precious—just ready for layers.

Next, gather collage fodder that already feels Valentine-appropriate: scraps, bits of text, painted papers, and anything else that catches your eye. I also painted vintage book pages in my chosen colors. Once those dried, they became perfect surfaces for stenciling.

After the painted pages were fully dry, I stenciled over them using black paint. The Bingo designs really shine here—the dauber blobs, numbers, and grid shapes read as marks first and imagery second, which makes them incredibly versatile.

I didn’t aim for perfection. Some prints are bold, others are faint or slightly off, and that variation adds energy. I’m especially drawn to the circles, which repeat beautifully and create movement without feeling literal.

These pages aren’t meant to stay whole—they’re meant to be cut, layered, and partially hidden.

Collaging the Box

Once I had a stack of painted and stenciled papers, I began collaging directly onto the box. You can use almost any adhesive—glue sticks, spray adhesive, or Mod Podge all work well.

I used a diluted PVA glue mixed with a little gloss medium, which gives me time to move things around and dries with a soft sheen. I worked in layers, letting each one dry before adding more papers and stencil elements. That pause between layers helps everything feel intentional instead of rushed.

I kept adding shapes—especially circles—as the box evolved, letting repetition tie everything together.

I used a Posca Pen for adding details. I love adding dots!

Make It Yours

Valentine’s Day boxes are a tradition many of us remember from childhood—made to hold classroom valentines, notes, and small treats exchanged at school. They’re usually created from repurposed household items like shoeboxes or cereal boxes, decorated with whatever supplies are on hand, and meant to be playful rather than perfect. 

This project borrows that familiar idea and gives it a mixed-media, stencil-loving twist.In the end, this Valentine’s Day box can be anything you want it to be. A gift, a keepsake, or a place to hold notes or art supplies. You can add words, marks, or extra layers—or stop when it feels finished to you.

Three-Corner Bingo is only available to StencilClub Members who join by February 15th and will ship on that day.  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 here! 

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

Facebook Kim Hamburg Facebook 

Create Expressive Collage Papers with Masks

Hi Stencil Lovers!  I'm Roben Marie Smith and am so happy to be a guest blogger for StencilGirl this month!  

In this video, I’m sharing how I create easy, expressive collage papers using stencil masks—no gelli plate needed. I’ll walk you through how I use stencil masks to build layered surfaces while keeping the process loose, playful, and approachable from start to finish. This quick + intuitive approach is perfect for art journaling, mixed media, and building a stash of colorful papers.

I’m using stencil masks from StencilGirl Products along with acrylic paint and a brayer, alcohol inks, pencils, and Infusions Powders to layer color, texture, and mark-making in a relaxed way that encourages exploration rather than perfection. You’ll see how staying flexible and working intuitively allows the layers to evolve naturally as the paper develops.

If you’ve been curious about stencil masks or you’re looking for a simple alternative to gelli plate printing, this technique is a fun way to experiment without pressure—no rules, no overthinking, just creative play.

 

Supplies:

Imagined Flower Mask Stencils by Susan Rossiter (LL1051)

Infusions Powders 

Alcohol Inks 

Acrylic Paint 

Brayer 

Paint Brush 

Sketchbook Paper

 

About Roben-Marie

Roben-Marie is a mixed media artist and dedicated art instructor, as well as the creator of The Roben’s Nest, a creative community rooted in connection, exploration, and making together.

She teaches both seasoned and beginner artists to embrace the creative process without fixating on perfection, encouraging curiosity, confidence, and enjoyment along the way.

Her art has been featured in numerous books, industry magazines, and publications, and she has shared her creative practice through in-person teaching both nationally and internationally.

Roben-Marie is passionate about helping others confidently share their creativity with the world—no matter where they are on their creative journey.

You can find Roben-Marie at: 

Website: https://www.robenmarie.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robenmarie/
The Roben's Nest: https://www.therobensnest.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RobenMarieSmithArt/videos 

Everything Page: https://www.robenmarie.com/everything

Turn Medical Tape into DIY Tape for Mixed Media Art

Making Meaning, One Strip at a Time

 The goal of this blog is not to produce a single artwork, but to create a humble, useful thing—artsy tape—made with intention and ready to use in your mixed-media practice. Think of it as infrastructure for creativity: functional, adaptable, and quietly expressive.

Hello!! This is Kim Hamburg, a mixed media artist known as gluepaperscissors_ on Instagram. The project I’m sharing today is one I return to again and again in my own studio practice—a simple, adaptable technique that becomes a quiet workhorse in my mixed media collages.

The stencil at the center of this project is the Fade Horizontal Stencil (L697), one of my longtime favorites. Its graduated dots move from large to small, creating a sense of rhythm and motion that feels almost like it's moving once it’s on the page. I’m drawn to dots and circles because they offer so much with so little: instant texture, visual direction, and endless flexibility with color. They can whisper or shout, depending on the palette.

In this post, I’ll show you how I make both paper tape and fabric tape using two types of medical tape. I find both of these at the dollar store, though they’re easy to locate at most drugstores. The paper tape behaves much like washi—lightweight, flexible, and easy to layer—while the fabric tape is woven, slightly sturdier, and brings a richness that instantly elevates a mixed media piece. Fabric tape adds visual weight, subtle shadow, and a tactile quality that makes a surface feel more intentional and complete, even in small doses.

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Supplies

• Medical paper tape

• Medical fabric tape

• Fade Horizontal Stencil (L697)

• Acrylic paint, fluid acrylics, or paint pens

• Ink, acrylic ink, or spray ink

• Paintbrush, sponge, or spatula

• Glue stick

• Parchment paper or another non-stick surface

• Markers (including paint markers, if desired)

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The Process

Begin with a sheet of parchment paper and apply cut pieces of both types of tape directly onto the surface. The parchment paper serves two purposes: it keeps the tape from sticking permanently, and it allows you to store the finished tape sheets for later use, peeling off strips as you need them.

Once the tape is in place, apply a base layer of paint. This can be acrylic, fluid acrylic, or even sprayed ink—whatever suits your mood or color palette. Let this layer dry thoroughly before moving on.

After the tape has dried, place the stencil on top and add a second layer of color. I often use black ink or black paint here, and I especially enjoy working with Posca markers for this step. One of the things I love most about this stencil is its versatility: you can align it so the fade runs along the length of the tape, or rotate it so a single dot size repeats from end to end. Large dots feel bold and graphic; smaller dots feel delicate and rhythmic. I use both approaches regularly.

If you’re interested in more texture, you can mix acrylic paint with modeling paste or spackling paste before applying it through the stencil. This creates raised dots and adds a tactile dimension that works beautifully in more dimensional or layered pieces.

Once everything is dry, feel free to continue adding marks, colors, or additional layers. These tapes are meant to be built upon, not treated as precious.

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Using the Tape in Finished Work

I’ve included photos of three mixed media pieces to show how this tape can be used in different ways. The first is a mixed media collage on paper.

The second is a chunky 6" x 6" x 1.5" wooden panel designed to sit on a shelf or mantel, where the tape helps build structure and visual weight.

 The small book is made from index cards, collaged and put together with the tape…adding color, movement, and a sense of play throughout the pages.

My hope is that you’ll try this technique and begin making your own art tape—something personal, practical, and endlessly reusable. It’s a small project with a big payoff, and once you start, you may find yourself reaching for these handmade strips again and again.

I would love to see how you interpret this month's project -- which stencil did you use?  What colors inspired your work?

Tag me with your work on IG @gluepaperscissors_ or FB:  @KimHamburgArt

Happy making.

Using January's StencilClub Set to Build a Library of Marks, Texture, and Future Possibilities

Happy New Year, 2026!

I am Kim Hamburg, a mixed media collage artist who happens to love all things stencils and all things numbers.

There is something quietly reassuring about numbers. They suggest order, sequence, logic—ideas that can feel grounding inside a creative practice built on intuition and experimentation. I’ve long been drawn to typography and numeric forms for this reason. Frequently you will find a number or a series of numbers in my work.

That balance between structure and freedom is what immediately drew me to By the Numbers, a pair of stencils designed by Sarah Short for the January 2026 StencilClub.  Based on the numbers three and four, these stencils feel less like numerals and more like visual rhythms—curves, dashes, and pauses that hint at typography without fully declaring it. Sarah’s love of letterforms is present, but softened and abstracted, inviting interpretation rather than instruction.  

As a mixed media collage artist—and a guest designer for this month—I approached these stencils not as finished images, but as tools for building a visual language.  The papers I made will remain in my stash and I plan on using them in future collage work.

Image caption:

The By the Numbers stencils by Sarah Short—abstracted interpretations of  the numbers three and four, ready to move from structure into mark-making.

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Supplies

• India ink

• Acrylic paint (any colors you enjoy)

• Vintage book or textbook pages

• Pre-made Gelli printed papers, or other favorite papers

• Sponge roller

• Sponge brush

Optional:

• Wood panel

• Glue stick or gel medium

• Utility blade or scissors

• Ephemera

• Hole punch (any size)

.

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Building a Library of Painted Papers

Painted papers are an essential part of my practice. I think of them as future ingredients—materials made without pressure, ready when a collage needs something graphic, textural, or quietly directive. Having a small stack of prepared papers nearby removes the friction of starting and allows me to stay responsive once I’m composing.

I began with India ink and a sponge roller, rolling the ink directly through both stencils onto a variety of papers. Vintage book pages are a favorite because they introduce text, diagrams, and subtle grids, but this process works just as well on Gelli prints or plain paper. The sponge roller keeps the ink layer thin and even, catching the stencil edges without flooding the surface.

I repeated this step across multiple papers, switching between the two stencil designs, then let everything dry completely.

Image caption:
India ink rolled through the stencil with a sponge roller, allowing the dash marks to read as rhythm rather than number.

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Isolating Sections for Intentional Design

Once the ink layers were dry, I returned with acrylic paint and a sponge brush, this time resisting the urge to use the entire stencil. Instead, I isolated smaller sections—the curve of the number three, or the dash marks embedded in the number four stencil.

This approach transforms the stencil from a single image into a system of marks. By focusing on fragments, the numbers dissolve into shape and pattern. I also paid close attention to alignment, allowing stencil lines to echo the lines already present on the paper—text columns, margins, and subtle grids—so these papers would feel compositionally resolved when used later in a collage.  I tend to use a grid system when collaging, so making sure things were lined up felt more intentional.

Image caption:
By isolating sections of the stencil, the number begins to dissolve into shape, texture, and pattern.  Think of stencils not as images, but as systems—sources of marks that can be repeated, rearranged, and reimagined.

From Painted Paper to Finished Piece

After everything had dried, I selected a small wood panel and adhered one of the stenciled papers using a glue stick or gel medium. The wood immediately adds weight and presence, shifting the paper from background to surface.

I added more acrylic paint at this stage, scraping it across the panel with a playing card. This tool creates uneven, expressive marks and helps integrate the paper into the surface rather than letting it sit on top.

From another painted and stencilled page, I punched out a few circles—simple shapes that subtly reference the numeric origins of the stencils. These were layered onto the panel, followed by a flower and a bingo piece. Found elements like these bring their own histories and associations, grounding the composition and adding quiet narrative weight.

Image caption:
Painted papers move from preparation to composition as layers, shapes, and found elements come together.

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Letting the Stencils Do Their Quiet Work

What I love most about the By the Numbers stencils is their flexibility. They can be bold or subtle, central or supporting. You can use the full design, isolate a single mark, or cut the resulting papers into fragments that disappear into a larger composition.

Vintage textbook pages add visual interest through typography and diagrams, while painted layers soften and unify everything. In the end, these papers are less about numbers and more about readiness—about giving yourself a library of marks, textures, and shapes that already speak the same language.

When you sit down to make a collage, the conversation has already begun.

Sometimes the most expressive work starts with something as orderly as a number—and then lets it wander.

Image caption:  Finished Mixed Media Collage on Wood Panel

By the Numbers is only available to StencilClub Members who join by January 15th and will ship on that day.  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 here! 

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

Facebook Kim Hamburg Facebook