Megan Whisner Quinlan: January 2021 StencilClub Stencils

When I first saw this month’s StencilClub stencil set (designed by the amazing Mary Beth Shaw) I immediately got excited. Upon seeing the “orb” motifs, my gears started turning. What if I could create orbs with all the patterns from the set? Of course, when I saw the architectural design, I also thought of creating doors that opened to reveal something interesting. Because I like to work with mixed media techniques on my pages, I often like to create interactive elements that invite the looker to interact with the page. Follow along to play with this month’s stencil set!

Step 1:

After prepping a journal page with gesso, spray the page with Ranger Ink’s Dina Wakely Media Acrylic ink sprays in Mineral and Sand. I often use these sprays to create quick, grungy backgrounds.

Step 2:

With a Ranger Ink Mini Blending tool and Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Marine paint, stencil the orb motifs onto different scrapbook pages, or similar ephemera. Use your blending tool to create “orbs” with the other stencil designs, by swirling in an orblike pattern onto your paper. Allow to dry.

Step 3:

Cut out your orb shapes and set aside. Next, stencil your architectural design onto the upper middle of your page. Allow to dry.

Step 4:

Cut your “doors” open on your page. Fold open the doors, and use your blending tool to paint the backs of the doors and white space from the under page. Stamp a focal image onto some of your ephemera scraps with Jet Black Archival Ink from Ranger Ink. I chose this ink because it is steadfast and won’t bleed should any paint blend in. (Here, I chose an image from the Lynne Perrella LPc005 set with Paper Artsy). Although, I chose to stamp, any magazine or personal image could work just as well. The possibilities are endless.

Step 5:

Add your image to the inside of the door. Glue the back of your journal page to the one beneath to seal it together as one page. Arrange your orbs in a cascading design coming from out of your doors. This effect will invite the onlooker to open the doors once closed. What you put on the backs of your doors is up to you. I always feel like my pages are “unfinished” unless I add text, so for this page I used some text from the Tim Holtz Idea-ology line to finish. Finally, I collaged some torn bits around the edges to create a border and to give my page more texture. Have fun finishing your piece with marks etc. and collage elements to make your page uniquely you.

Join StencilClub by January 15 to receive these three exclusive stencils and accompanying video tutorial with PDF, and 20% OFF STENCILS EVERY DAY!!

Hello! My name is Megan Whisner Quinlan. I have been art journaling and book binding for about 20 years. However, I took a 10 year break from paper arts when I had my first 2 children. About 5 years ago, I came back into journaling after some big life changes, including 2 more children. Journaling had always been a part of my life, especially to work things out in life on paper. When I first started out, I really only focused on making books by hand and some basic collage and stamping. I was intimidated by the amazing art journaling artists out there who could create elaborate, mixed media spreads.  When I came back to journaling after such a long break, I decided that I was going to really push myself to learn all the techniques I had been too afraid to try.  Painting and drawing have really allowed me to find so much joy in my creative process, and I now almost exclusively create mixed media every day. I feel excited to have joined the art journaling community and you can find me on Instagram @Megan_Whisner_Quinlan or on Youtube: Megan Whisner Quinlan.