Origami Treasure Boxes by Martice Smith II

Origami Treasure Boxes

by Martice Smith II

Hi everyone! Martice back on the blog again, sharing a super cute and functional way I like to use up my scraps of paper from my printmaking sessions. one way to help me keep my work desk neat and uncluttered.

Stencils used to create these origami treasure boxes:
Kilim Patterns by Cathy Nichols 
Scribble Scratch Handwriting Stencil by Carolyn Dube
Ancient Marks by Suzi Dennis

STEP 1: Stencil the paper with bold patterns and bright colors!

I love the gritty, mottled effect produced by a sponge roller. I think it resembles paint or chalk markings on concrete. The lines are jagged, expressive and just sit on top of the surface instead of being absorbed into the crevices. I’m always experimenting with different surfaces to get that cool, unexpected look. Kraft paper does the trick! 

I used a sponge paint roller for these origami treasure boxes but you may want to try a rubber brayer for a smoother paint application, or a cosmetic sponge for more control and ability to really lay down heavy layers of paint. Try them both to see which look you love the most.

Experiment with layering two stencils - try to create a new stencil design!

Use the gel plate to pull a print, choose a contrasting paint color, load the sponge roller, then roll over a stencil that has a bold pattern. 

STEP 2: Fold the paper to create the origami box.

I trimmed the kraft paper into squares. Some are 10” x 10” to create medium-sized boxes and 6”x 6” for smaller boxes.

STEP 3: Embellish!

These origami treasure boxes make handmade gift-giving even better! Gently tie a colorful piece of yarn around your new treasure boxes.  

Here are some of the items I like to keep inside of my origami treasure boxes:

Unmounted rubber stamps, rolls of washi tape, push pins, jewelry, and of course M&M candies! Yum!

That’s all for today, friends! I hope you enjoyed learning how I repurpose my stenciled papers and if you’re interested in learning more stenciling techniques, please check out my eBook ‘7 Unbelievably Easy Stenciling Techniques’. Use the secret code STENCILPRO20 to get 20% off!

Happy creating!

-Martice Smith 

To learn more about Martice and her mixed media art tutorials, please visit her website or follow the inspiration trail on her Instagram  @MarticeSmithArt.

NEW! Spontaneous Intent Workshop with Mary Beth Shaw

Join Mary Beth Shaw for her Spontaneous Intent Workshop at Ephemera Paducah in 2020! In this class, we will explore tons of spontaneous techniques that focus on printmaking, surface design, collage, and painting – all with the intent to make interesting component parts for our art journal and other mixed media projects.

In our first half-day, we will make a Collagraph plate and experiment with several types of printmaking to create beautiful painted papers. We will make marks, fling paint, tear paper and then pull it all together in beautifully layered journal spreads.

Expect to learn specific ways to design a layout, ramp up the visual interest and fully integrate the page. We will use acrylic and watercolor products including paint, ink, texture medium, pencils, markers, and pastels. Any level of student is welcome and prior students will find lots of new techniques to expand their mixed media repertoire

Mary Beth will bring all the acrylic and watercolor paints, mediums, gessos and other supplies to make Collagraph plates. She will furnish crayons, markers, inks, papers, stamps, stencils and collage items.

Registrations are going on now.  Sign up HERE!

StencilGirl® Stencils, Paints, Copper Leaf & Patina

Hello everyone, Ann here today, sharing my new painting entitled “Holding Onto Hope” that incorporates StencilGirl® stencils, paints, copper leaf and patina.

 

These days it seems, any way you turn there is chaos; so many terrible things happening around the world. Sometimes it's overwhelming and all encompassing; it is during these times that I do my best to get a firm grasp on Hope; hope for a brighter future, hope for peaceful understanding, hope for a more compassionate world. The one constant that I comprehend fully, is that all of these attributes must originate within ourselves; this is the inspiration behind my piece.

Perhaps it is due to my Irish heritage, or maybe it is simply the fact that the stencils are rich in detail and represent the timeless design of stone carvings, but either way, I simply love working with StencilGirl® stencils from Tina Walker. They are based on her travels to Ireland and contain some fabulous images. I have combined two of her stencils, Stone Face and Stone Statue, with Wing Stencil designed by Pam Carriker for StencilGirl®. My vision is to layer these three different stencils to create a whole, and then, experiment with metal leafing medium and copper leaf through the stencils to create an angelic appearance. This is what I consider my "plan".

I begin with a large sheet of Bristol and experiment with layering the pieces, trying to understand what sections will create the foreground and how I will fade into the background. I have a "thing" for scale, and I realize that the stone head is a bit small for the statue and wings; however, by adjusting the placement, I believe I should be able to make it fall into place. Using ink and a foam blending pad, I ink through the stencils to create my initial layout.

 Once I have the layout correct as I envision it, I go with it. Over my inked concept, I create a background of layers of paints and collage. Then I use the paints to highlight the areas beneath where the focal image will be. Once the layers have dried, I begin to add the stencil images back onto the page with paint and a foam wedge. I am careful to add the buff paint sparingly, and set aside to dry completely.

 The next layer focuses only on the wings. Shifting the stencil a bit off of the painted images previously applied, I apply metal leaf medium (adhesive) through the stencil's openings. Once the medium is tacky, I lay pieces of copper leaf over the medium and burnish. Next I use a stippling brush to remove the sections of copper leaf that are not adhered, and brush them away from the surface.

 I want to give the copper on the wings a subtle patina. To do this I add a bit of patina solution onto the copper details using a paint brush. 

 

The result was a bit more aggressive than I anticipated; however, I like the way that areas of the copper remained among the patina covered areas.

I repeat the leafing process through the stencil once more, focusing on the areas where the patina solution completely dissolved the leafing, to add back a bit of shine.

I also "draw" lines with the adhesive to create a halo effect, as well as draw a bit of attention to the carving at the top of the angel's head and add the copper leaf in the same manner as initially. 

When I have achieved the desired effect, I add some of the lines from Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope" along the top of her wings.

"Hope" is the thing with feathers - 

 That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words - 

And never stops - at all -

Emily Dickinson

I am thrilled to be sharing this piece with you today. When StencilGirl® asked if I would like to do a guest post, I was truly honored. My name is Ann Barnes, some of you may know me from my blog aksbarchitectCREATES. I am an architect and an artist, as well as a mom. I currently design for a few design teams and love experimenting with different mediums and finding unexpected outcomes. In addition to my blog, you can find me on Instagram (@aksbarchitect) and Facebook (Ann Sullivan Barnes). Thank you so much for taking the time to visit today. My heartfelt gratitude to StencilGirl® for allowing me this opportunity.

~Ann 

StencilGirl® stencils used:

Stone Face (S696) by Tina Walker

Stone Statue (L737) by Tina Walker

Wing stencil (L065) by Pam Carriker 

Gated plus two more stencils from Mary Beth's travels have arrived!

Go through a gate and into Mary Beth Shaw's imagination. No need to hesitate. You are most warmly invited!

The six stencils in Mary Beth's Gated Collection reflect the wide assortment of wrought iron gates she saw when she visited Puerto Rico. (Psst! There are 2 more not in the collection so please keep reading!)

The Trapezoid Squared Stencil is reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright. Stenciling it and maybe adding words, now that is up to you!

Are you hot? The Exploded Fan Stencil is here to increase the artistic heat or cool it down. It all depends on your choice of color.

Oval Grate and Brilliant Star are made for fabulous background touches.

Draw attention in your art journal and mixed media work with the Square Circle Rectangle Stencil.

These Iron Flowers have staying power and are useful when you want to make a beautiful statement in your artwork.

And as if Gated Stencils were not enough, Mary Beth has designed 2 more stencils for your art-making pleasure.

Remember viewfinders? Seeing exotic locales through the lens of a plastic, hand-held device that your parents probably bought you? The mini 4"x4" Finding Your View Stencil is Mary Beth's homage to that vintage toy!

Greek Pattern, a small 6"x6" stencil made for her recent trip to Greece. Now it can be yours!

Discover all Mary Beth's latest designs here, and all the latest stencils here.

Sunflower Stenciled Camping Shirt

Greetings and salutations! Carol Baxter here with my Wear It project.

A long time ago I saw an ad for a t-shirt with half a sunflower imprinted on the right side front and I liked the look of it. As I recall it was traditional - yellow leaves and a black shirt.

I stenciled up my fave soft-warm-but-not-too-warm camping shirt and even put a bluebird on my shoulder.

1. Cut a mask out of cardstock to use for the petals and the 1/2 center. 

Tip: Reinforce the tip with clear packaging tape. 

2. Spread your shirt out and slip a nonstick kraft mat in between the front and the back so your paint won't seep through to the back.

3. Use painters tape to secure as needed.

4. Place the 1/2 center and tape down. 

5. Start with a petal in the middle: Place the petal mask you made down and slip the stencil you want to use underneath. Tape down.

6. Paint away. 

Tip: A Smudgee works great for this project!

7. Repeat steps 5 & 6 until you have painted all your petals.

Petal stencils:

Web of Roses, L595, by Mary Beth Shaw

Scattered Bunnies, Birds, and Blooms, L558, by Margaret Peot

Pomegranate Seeds, Grape, Apple, Flower Mask, L577, by Valerie Sjodin

Eastern Leaf, Lotus, and Flower Repeat, L421, by Jessica Sporn

Feeling Groovy StencilClub large stencil by Jessica Sporn

In the Garden StencilClub large stencil by Terri Stegmiller

Nature and Nurture StencilClub large stencil by Jessica Sporn

8. Remove 1/2 center mask and use a contrasting paint on your center. I purposely chose a word stencil, Words to Live By, L209 by Carolyn Dube.

The bluebird and other embellishments (tidy up spots and a couple little stains):

Hearts and Birds StencilClub small stencil by Jennifer Evans

Musical Roundabout, S608 by Sandee Setliff

Tip: Had I been painting on a new shirt I would have mixed my acrylic paint with Golden Fabric Painting Medium. I heat set it with a dryer.

There's a bluebird on my shoulder! I hope there iwill soon be one on yours, literally or figuratively!

Happy stencil wearing!
Carol B

Mixed Media Collage with StencilGirl® Stencils

Paper Dolls: Dress It

                         I struggled quite a bit with the "dress it" theme for this month, since collage typically involves a lot of glue, and that's not always compatible with things to wear!  However, I started playing with the idea of making some kind of paper dolls with collaged dresses.  I didn't want to end up with a lot of loose pieces for this project, but rather something where the clothes could be changed while INSIDE an art journal.  I also wanted to play with the idea of transparency:  what we reveal when we get dressed, what's too much to reveal, what we want to hide, what we want to communicate.   For that reason, I used a lot of tissue and vellum for the clothing in this project.  I wove it, cut it, shaped it, pleated it.

          I also wanted to use some of the concepts I am attempting to address in my life - my meditation mantra for strength and loving-kindness includes words like brave, kind, wise, safe, strong.  For this reason, I used number of stencils that include script and words, or flourishes that look like beautiful and confident calligraphy.  I wanted to clothe my dolls in power words and in intention.
           There are two women here.  In my mind, both of them are me.  Each has three different dresses, which are revealed by flipping the cut/shaped pages.  Their clothes have ambiguous details: a flapper's sequins or St. Joan's chain mail?  Elizabethan collar or Pierrot's ruff?  cook's apron or

farmer's overalls?  There are lots of words peeking through, or obscured.  I added some lines to highlight the planes of the faces, and used them to add more words.
      We communicate so much with the way we choose to dress.  We can make ourselves look approachable or formidable.  We can announce our professions or signal our intentions.  We can disguise our true natures or wear our hearts on our sleeves.  Do clothes make the man or woman?  Or do we reveal ourselves no matter what we wear?

 

 Stencils used in this project:

Romance Face S652 by Pam Carriker

Strength Face S653 by Pam Carriker

Wall of Words L318 by Carolyn Dube

 

Letter Mania L400 by Suzi Dennis

Art Nouveau L273 by Lizzie Mayne

Zippy S352 by Daniella Woolf

Club Set from May 2019 by Cecilia Swatton