NEW Product: Ephemera Tape Holder

Except for Random, Eastern & Middle States, StencilGuts are SOLD OUT.

But we do have a cool

TAPE HOLDER!

Mary Beth Shaw has a new product, a Tape Holder, for you to store your handmade ephemera tape!

There are 6 sections incrementally sized to hold your beautiful tapes.

Perfectly designed for storage, travel, and gifts!

Nab a Tape Holder

Just a Few Minutes with Mary Beth Feb 2020

Once upon a time, a girl (that was me!) decided to start a stencil company. 

Here's what happened!

Interested in classes with Julie Snidle:

Check out her website.

Carolyn Dube: When I Can't Decide What to Do

Carolyn Dube here and it’s always an honor to bring you a guest post but I ran into a bit of problem. When I went into the studio to create, I couldn’t decide where to start. Way too much overthinking happening.

Then I realized that was just an O.O.P.S., an Outstanding Opportunity Presenting Suddenly for you to see how I handle that. Then if it ever happens to you, you don’t need to be stuck!

It’s fitting that one of the stencils left out was It’s Time to Play because every time i pass by those words on the wall, I’ll be reminded to not take things so seriously and just play! Should things ever feel too serious to you, give play a try and see where it takes you!

Carolyn Dube

Blog https://acolorfuljourney.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/

An Art Quilt Block Filled With Circles by Jill McDowell

It’s Jill McDowell here with you today with my take on the current  StencilGirl®️ Creative Team challenge; Fill it with Circular Shapes. This month I’m heading down another creative rabbit hole with a project that’s been on my bucket list for some time.  A few years back I attended a quilt show that left me aghast. Ever since then I’ve had dreams of making an art quilt but the size and scope of the project was just too daunting for me to start.  Fortunately for me, a recent purchase sparked some ideas about how I might actually tackle the project.

I bid on this vintage lot of linens in an online estate auction.  My plan was to use the fabric for eco printing.  I was pleasantly surprised when I got the lot home and found that I’d scored three large tablecloths, 90 napkins, several table runners, and a few dozen doilies.  It was really a good lot and I found myself swimming in linens. But I knew I’d never be able to use them all up with just eco printing. They were destined for bigger things. That’s when I realized that the napkins could make a great substrate to build a quilt block on.  It was time to overcome the art quilt intimidation factor.  

I choose a 17” X 18” napkin for my first block and prepped it for quilting by soaking it overnight in Oxi Clean Odor and Stain Remover. (You can find this detergent in the laundry section of your grocery store.) The next morning I rinsed it out thoroughly and then set it outside to dry in the sun.

To color the background I spritzed the napkin with water and left it to sit for a few minutes so that all the fibers had a chance to dampen.  Then I mixed together GAC 900,(fabric painting medium), a few squirts of Quinacridone/Nickel Azo Gold, a touch of Iridescent Gold Fine, and Glazing Liquid to make a wash the consistency of the creamer I put in my morning tea.  I applied the wash all over the napkin with a large paint brush.
   

Then I wrung out the napkin to get rid of any excess moisture and hung it up to dry.

This left me with a cloth that was soft and had a vintage feel that I knew I would enjoy stitching on.

For the background, I choose three stencil designs from StencilGirl® Products' vast collection: my own Crest Stencil, Carol Wiebe’s Asian Character Impressions 3 Stencil, and MaryBeth Shaw’s Hunab Ku Stencil.

I used a layering technique with VersaFine Clair ink to lay down my design. Layering stencils expands the versatility of your stencil collection and it’s super simple to do. With only two stencils you can add a multitude of cohesive designs to your art.

Here’s how I layered two stencils: 

• I positioned a circle from the Crest Stencil, (or any other stencil with an open shape) over an interesting area of the Asian Character Stencil, (or any other busy stencil).

• Using a stiff brush, I scrubbed Chianti VersaFine Clair Pigment Ink through the stencil sandwich.

• I slipped the Asian Character Stencil out from underneath the Crest Stencil leaving just the open shape on the cloth.  Using a smaller stencil brush, I scrubbed Acorn VersaFine Clair ink around the edge of the stencil to add depth to my design.

• With the Crest Stencil still in place, I traced the outline of the circle with a black fine tip fabric marker.

Here’s what a finished circle looks like.

I continued to use this technique to create more circles on the cloth and then generously sprinkled some Crests and Hunab Ku through out. 

I kept going until I was happy with the overall design. 

I put the napkin in my dryer on high for 40 minutes to set the paint and the inks. 

I made a different quilt sandwich with a square cut from an old sheet as the backing, and low loft batting in the muddled, topped with my stenciled napkin.  Then I basted all three of the layers together to keep them from shifting.

Next, I added my focal point; an image I found in an old 1920 Japanese Block-print book. I had altered the image in ProCreate, printed it with my inkjet printer onto Transfer Artist Paper, and then ironed the image onto another piece of vintage linen.  I hemmed the edges and then whipped stitched it onto my stenciled napkin block base. 

I decided to quilt the non-stenciled areas of my block by hand.  I outlined each circle with a running stitch and then radiated the circles outwards until all the spaces were filled in.  Although not perfect, I was happy with my stitching considering that it was my first time quilting. 

I used a water-soluble marking pen to trace extensions of the background circles onto my focal point fabric and then stitched around the edges.  It was easy to wipe the pen marks off later with a damp cloth.  

I love to embroider with plain old spool thread. I like the texture it adds and the play of the delicate knots and lines against the rustic stenciled designs. I used French knots and lazy daisy stitches to embellish some of the circles.

So far I’ve spent about 8 hours stitching on this block and although it’s not completely finished I think it’s close.

My art quilt block has been a perfect lap project to work on.  It’s so relaxing to stitch while watching tv or visiting with friends.  I’m so glad I traveled down this rabbit hole and I’m planning on staying here a while.  I’ve got just a few more blocks to stencil and stitch.....

Are there any projects in your bucket list that you’re too intimidated by to try?  If so, I hope I’ve inspired you to break a small piece of it off to try.

Hugs until next time,  Jill

For more inspiration:
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Art Journaling Faces

Hi everyone, it's Kate here today and I have an art journal page to share with you. Lately, I have spent more time cultivating my sketching and painting techniques than mixed media so today's project was  good practice. 

  I love browsing thrift shops and recently I found 3 Smash books for less than $1 each at Goodwill. These books are great for practicing face painting especially when using this larger face map stencil. This past year I have spent far less time creating than I would like but it is nice to have a project that I can work on as I get the time. Painting faces is perfect for that because of the various layers of paint involved. I can add a layer of paint, walk away while it dries and then come back at a future date and do the same. While it may take longer to complete a painting, I am able to fit some creativity into my busy schedule instead of none. Thankfully, the busy seasons will not last forever. 

To start out, I layered gesso on my paper and then traced the Face Map Front Stencil. To be honest, I had no idea what I was going for when I started this page so I pulled up a vintage photograph I had previously downloaded and used that as my inspiration.

Using a pen, I sketched in the facial features. These face maps have guidelines on them which makes facial feature placement so much easier for those that struggle. I am one of those! 

And then comes the fun part...adding the paint. I used PaperArtsy Paints on this entire project because they layer well and some even allow for transparency.

The highlights were added first and then the shadows. 

After completing the face, I decided I wanted something more, such as a hair decoration. The Collage Textures and Patterns: Leaves were perfect for the headdress.

And to finish the background I used the Succulent stencil. Overall, I am pleased with the way she turned out but I need to work on the highlights in her eyes. She looks a little crossed-eyed.

I love that this whole page was achieved using paint and stencils. I never thought that a stencil could help me on my quest to conquer faces but I have found these face map stencils by Pam Carriker to be so helpful and addicting! 

I hope you enjoyed seeing how I used these stencils and that if you are afraid of faces you will give them a try.

Until Next Time,

Kate

StencilGirl® Stencils & Solvy

Cecilia Swatton here, asking questions!

Do you – like me – love the look and feel of embossed paper?  Have you – as I once did – felt it would be too hard to make your own?

Fear no more!

Readers with fiber arts experience probably know about Paper Solvy. Dry, it’s like paper.  But, with enough water, it dissolves.  In fiber arts, it’s a temporary stabilizer.  Once stitched, the fabric is washed and the stabilizer melts away. 

But I use PaperSolvy – and StencilGirl® stencils or masks! – to make “embossed paper.”

Look for this Paper Solvy, not Sulky Stabilizer.

For the most dramatic embossing results, I recommend stencils and masks with large openings.

Here, I’m using…

Garden Montage

Facets

Mimosa

Trivet A

Hot Air Balloons

After spreading absorbent papers, I gather my watercolor bottles, Solvy and cake cooling racks. 

Note: I could use readymade sprays like Colorations – but I use DrPh Martins watercolors.  They come in bottles with “eyedropper” lids, so, to make custom color-blends, I drop Martins colors into clear plastic 2-ounce mister spray bottles, and shake to mix. 

Next, I place a stencil or mask on each rack.

Over the stencil or mask goes a sheet of Paper Solvy.

Now I start slowly spraying the Solvy with watercolors.

Gradually the Solvy dissolves to form sagging areas that will resemble embossing.

If the colors start to look too dark for me, I lighten them by alternating the color sprays with sprays of plain water.

Too much spray will create holes, so I stop spraying when the stencil or mask outlines become raised.

Each rack’s support bars will gradually take shape right along with the shapes of the stencil or masks.  I’ve tried this technique without the racks, but no other method has worked well for me.  So I accept the racks’ lines as part of the finished product.  Racks with square patterns, instead of lines, are an option for anyone who loves grids!

After the Solvy dries, I peel it carefully off the rack.  Then I gently peel the Solvy away from the stencil or mask.

After Solvy dries, it cuts like paper.  Dried embossed areas can be emphasized with dry-brush painting, Pan Pastels, metallic rub-ons, etc.

To see more embossed samples, please visit me here.

Try this!  Have fun!