Fantastic New Florals from Rae Missigman!

The inspiration for these was gathered from a wildflower garden that I visited in Washington DC. I remember that there were rows and rows of colored stalks that peeped over one another, row after row. It was their crowded space and tangled web of color that really caught my eye. And even in all of that jumbled tangle that was a garden I was able to pick out different shaped leaves, petals and stems. It was almost as if they were riding a line between realistic and imaginary in their chaotic little habitat. 

I envision using these on the Gelli Plate (with acrylic paint) as masks have the power to create such beautiful layers of color and lines using this medium. I also appreciate and LOVE the mysterious and unpredictable results that come from mixing inks with masks. The fluid lines that result are always a beautiful surprise.

Rae's newest collection is available today at stencilgirlproducts.com

Mary Beth Shaw's VLOG: July 2022

We hope you enjoyed this episode of Mary Beth's VLOG!

Stay tuned!

Mary Beth Shaw will be back again next month with another new VLOG post!

Going on a Journey with Creative Team member Jane Bellante

Hello everyone!

I am so excited to show you this beautiful layering technique that I love.  I'm using all 5 of the new collection of stencils from Jennifer Evans: Paperwhites, Sunflower, Carnation, Mountain Pasture and On the Water for this layering technique.

I also use the Emotions and Feelings 2 stencil from the fabulous Carolyn Dube.

After receiving the Jennifer Evans stencils, I knew right away that I wanted to create a little book with them.  They immediately spoke of a kind of journey to me, and the story came together in my mind pretty quick.  

It's an exploration of me and my path, of sorts.  Never quite fitting into the crowd, following my gut on where to go and what to do next.  Always pivoting. And not letting the negative thoughts and actions of others stop me from creating my life the way I want to create it. 

Letting those feelings of rejection fuel me into far greater places in my life.  Knowing they don't actually know anything about me, I keep growing. 

With blind courage, I step through the unknown, trusting the universe that everything happens for a reason, and following that open gate with assured acceptance.

Having been through these experiences, I know now that I am the journey, and life is the stage with which to experience it all.  Knowing I'm safe and sound, and relishing in that trek that is just for me. 

Essentially returning "home"- trusting myself and my art enough to keep exploring, keep teaching, and to always be curious enough to keep following that unknown path with reckless abandon.  

At once, I am that bird flying above it all, observing yet identifying.  Ever building upon my story.

I hope you'll check out this YouTube video on how I created the background to these pages using these gorgeous stencils, and how I created the cover to this book.  I also give you a little flip through at the end.

Products used:

Distress Oxide Spray in Picked Raspberry and Mustard Seed

Winsor Newton Galeria Acrylic in Titanium White

Golden Soft Gel

The "Shortstop" Brush from The Turquoise Iris Collection from Paint Pixie

Mixed Media Paper 

You can find me at www.janebellanteart.com

Thank you so much for watching! Until next time, 

xoxo, 

Jane

13 Days Adrift - StencilGirl® Collaboration

Hello and welcome to the heat of the summer!  Tina Walker here today with my latest collaboration. 

First of all, collaborations like this are some of my faves!  It's a little bit of recipe and prompt and a lot a bit of 'the same starting point'.  I love combining these two elements because the outcomes and completed projects are always a surprise!  They vary as much as we are individuals and that is what makes them perfect.

The concept behind this collaboration was the following -

Each participant received one of these vintage books - titled, "13 Days Adrift", the experiences of M. Stanley McLean.  

 

The participants had to deconstruct, then reconstruct the book into another book or journal with a specific technique or style of their choosing. They could add additional pages to their book, use pages from the original book as collage material, gelli plate backgrounds, or whatever they could dream up!

 

But.....to challenge them even more, the following had to be done.

 

1. They had to pick ONE shape (circle, square, rectangle, triangle, floral, etc.) and only that ONE shape could an be used throughout their new book/journal.

PLUS

2. Only Black & White (and all shades of grey in between) were to be used.

They could create with any theme, structure or story.  Intrigued yet?

Just wait - - - their finished books are truly works of art! Each artist interpreted the prompts differently and various reconstructions were used.  I am SO in love with this collaboration and the boldness of the black & white!  Let's check em' out!

 

(Be sure to click each participants name for more details and photos of their journals)

ANN BARNES

Ann's theme was CIRCLES, and she had this to say about the collaboration.

"Wanting to stay as true to the theme as the original booklet, my "new" book features driftwood covers with an exposed binding, it maintains a nautical theme and incorporates stencils that feature a circular shape. ( Full disclosure: since we were allowed to use black, white and all shades of grey, I used Payne's Grey as my main color with black and white...)"

 

Stencils Used:

ATC Mixup Apter

Circles Circles

Compass

JANET SCHMITZ

Janet's theme was also CIRCLES. Here's what she had to say about the collaboration.

"I have been in a few collaborations with Tina and Stencilgirl and this one by far has been the best!  I believe it is because the challenge of using neutral colors, 13 Days Adrift book, and one shape but the freedom of however shape the journal may be.  it was absolutely freeing for me and the best challenge.  In fact, I'm going to take these same to create a similar journal!  Just loved it!  Thank you Tina!!!"

Stencils Used:

Crazy Quilts

Eucalyptus

Winter Berries

KERRY MOLINA

Kerry's theme was COMPASSES.

Stencils Used:

Ornamental Compass 

Compass Rose

Compass

KRISTI NAZARRO

Kristi's theme was CIRCLES.  She incorporated some of the book words with some form of texture and used slow stitching for that. Here's what she had to say.

"I found it really challenging with the limited palette but was super happy with the way it turned out. It stretched me as an artist and I was happy with my little journal in the end."

Stencils Used:

ATC MixUp Missigman

Bittersweet Mini

River Rocks Mini

LEACA YOUNG

Leaca's theme was CIRCLES. That seems to be very popular.  :)

Stencil Used:

Large Bubbles

LINDA WYATT

Linda's theme was HEARTS.

Stencils Used:

Four Sacred Hearts

ATC Mixup Mika

MARTHA CHRISTOPHER

Martha's theme was also CIRCLES. Here's what she had to say.

"When I first read about this challenge I couldn’t wait to join in! I love making journals, vintage books and love a challenge. But I have to admit that I had a moment of doubt when I was getting started. I wanted to make something different than the journals I usually make, but my brain was finding it difficult to deal with using only the colors black, white and gray and focusing on only one shape. Once I turned off the part of my brain that was blocked and just started, the ideas started flowing and I thoroughly enjoyed the process."

StencilClub Jan 2019

Inky Circles

River Rocks

MARY NASSER

Mary's theme was WAVES!  Love this so much!

Stencils Used:

Water's Edge

Mini Waves

MICHELLE PIERRON

Michelle's theme is CIRCLES.  Here's what she had to say about the collaboration

"My book was inspired by a quote from Karen Marie Moning: "I was adrift in a sea of questions and 

if answers were lifeboats I was in imminent danger of drowning."  The book was called 13 days adrift 

and i kept thinking what does adrift mean to me.

It makes me think of all those times in the last couple of years with the pandemic that we have kind

of been adrift without any real answers or any idea of how to make the best of a weird situation.  

This is definitely a tongue in cheek kind of book and on the front i cut a little snip from the book 

that says, "To all my shipmates who paid the supreme sacrifice I dedicate this book." Maybe some 

of the same thoughts going through the author's mind back in 1943 were spiraling around in mine 

while i was trying to make sense of life recently. 

Stencils Used:

Speckles and spots

Arrows within Rounds

Deconstructed Della Robbia

MICHELLE SANDERS

 

Michelle's theme is faces. 

Stencils Used:

Stone Face 

Thoughtfull Face

Sweet Girl Face 

NINA FICKETT

 Nina's theme is CRESCENTS.  Here's what she had to say. 

"I started with b&w alcohol ink gel prints. The original 13 Days Adrift booklet is completely embedded in every page. The shape I focused on was on the crescent. Focal points are vintage scraps of book bindings with alcohol ink's. The binding is vintage upholstery fabric mixed with collage."

Stencils Used:

StencilClub Jan 2022

StencilClub Oct 2021

SANDY BABB

 Sandy's theme is FACES. Here's what Sandy had to say.

"Adrift…to float as if neither being moored or steered…pretty much sums up how I felt at the beginning of this project.  I found my course within the parameters of the challenge Tina set and embraced them as an artistic story began to unfold with the inspiration of Stencil Girls Faces in the Crowd stencil.  In the end it was a wonderful journey that stretched my imagination."

Stencils Used:

Faces in the Crowd

TRACY KRUEGER

Tracy's theme was BONTANICAL. Here's what she had to say.

"When challenged with this collaboration and using one stencil "type", I knew it had to be botanical. Only using a black, white and grey palette actually made it easier for me, once I started my book, I was hooked and couldn't stop!"

Stencils Used:

Curvey Stems

Wildflowers and Grasses

Leavy Doodle Border

TRACY VILLAUME

Tracy's theme was also BOTANICALS. Here's what she had to say.

"I really loved this collaboration and seeing all the different interpretations...It is amazing how unique stencils can make a piece even when using a single shape and limited color palette!"

Stencils Used:

ATC Mixup Missigman

Botanical Wildflowers

Floral Embellishments

KATHY BERG

Kathy's theme was WATER.  Here's what she had to say.

"I chose the theme adrift from the title and contents of the book. The word adrift caught my attention so I went with the theme adrift and knew I wanted to go with some sort of water, wave, flow theme.  This is the first collab I had ever participated and it was a little challenging when I started. I skimmed through the book and then did research on the word adrift trying to visualize journal pages. Once I started and chose the papers for my cover I found my direction. I decided I would make a journal focusing on quotes about being adrift, wandering anything along that theme. I gathered hand died papers I had collected from other artist, my own painty papers and pages from the book. The journal has several pages because I had so many pretty papers to use along with the book pages. I decided to make a journal that would be an ongoing project. An art journal to add quotes an things about water as I found them. A place for stamps, pictures, my own art and keep it along the black and white theme. It will be an inspiration of quotes and ideas. I really enjoyed working on the collab. It gave me the opportunity to work on something in a way I have not worked on other art journal pages or art journals."

Stencils Used:

Water's Edge

Mini Waves

KATHY MASONE

Here's what Kathy had to say.

"I thought Adrift = pandemic, and that's where I went with it. Such a metaphor for what we are experiencing (me still)."

Stencils Used:

FLOCK

Tiny Medallion

DEEDEE CATRON 

DeeDee chose ARCHES as her theme.  Here's what she had to say.

"I chose arches as my book shape & pretty much loved every second! I utilized my factory & cut some custom shaped chip to build this book. The pages have been collaged with the 13 Days Adrift book pages, stenciled heavily with StencilGirl Products & embellished with various goods like tissue paper from Tina Walker, washi tape, chipboard & diecuts all from UmWowStudio. There are also image transfers & paint, marks & fabric, gesso + loads more on these pages, which were finalized in order with a tab binding."

Stencils Used:

Cathedral Arch

Mix and Match

Towers of Arches 

CHRISTY STRICKLER

 

Christy's theme was CIRCLES. Here's what she had to say.

"I chose to deconstruct the book, using words and phrases from the text to tell a story in my journal. You can see a few small bits on this page. I used Payne's grey with it's bluish grey tones to help pull the blue from some of the images in the book and make it color consistent throughout."

Stencils Used:

Circular Patterns

Art Deco Medallion

StencilClub December 2019

 

ALEXA DOEBLER 

Alexa's theme was FACES.  

Stencils used:

Delicate Face

Asteria Small

Love Face

And lastly, my project.  My theme was CIRCLES (again!).  Circles seem to the crowd favorite.

I completely took the book apart, collaged the book pages on a master sheet, then cut the master sheet into smaller sizes. 

I bound these smaller sizes into a flip journal/book, machine stitched together.  I really loved my finished project and the focus on the limited color palette of black & white.

Stencils Used:

StencilClub July 2019 

StencilClub June 2021 

River Rocks

I made a short video for your viewing pleasure.  ♥

 Till next time.

XOXO Tina

Replicate a lace cut page using stencils

Hi everyone,

I love creating lace cut pages in my journals, spending time cutting our intricate designs and messages which images and text can peek through from behind. But sometimes I want to create something similar in a quarter of the time. So if this sounds like you as well – this is the blog post for you!

To begin, paint a large red heart on your double journal page. I used the small 4 x 4 masks to help me work out what size heart I needed, but any size will do. Once I have painted the heart I chose to journal inside the space. I call this a brain dump as I just write every thought in my head down that is bothering me. I write in really messy writing, overlapping text and little to no spacing. I don’t want to read the journaling again, just getting the thoughts out, so it doesn’t need to be legible.  

Once I have journalled, I use the 3 small masks to hide the journaling with black paint and create a faux lace cut page. If you don’t want to use text masks like me – any decorative stencil over the top will so – you just want to have the journaling peek through from below. Once I’ve finished stenciling, I neaten up the edges with the black paint. 

 

To recreate the Greek chorus of advice echoed in my journaling, I used a mix of face stencils to fill in the background. Overlapping the images and focusing on the eyes helps to create a cohesive background. I also added some white paint pen to the whites of the eyes and a catchlight so that the eyes are a real focus on the page. 

 

Finally, I added some extra line detail using a white paint pen around the border of the heart, a drop shadow on the lettering and some additional doodling through another stencil to add some extra detail and interest to large areas of black in the heart. 

 

Here is a step by step video of me creating this page from start to finish:

Here is a list of the StencilGirl® stencils I have used in this project to create this art journal page:  

You got this mini M136: 

Make it count mini M137 

Now is the time mini M138: 

Pretty as a peacock Mini M305: 

Cassiopeia Mini M306: 

Strength face S653: 

Laugh Face S651: 

Remember Face 

Love Face S648:

Maltese Mix Stencil L175: 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog. I hope that this video has inspired you to get into your journals and create something beautiful using the fabulous face stencils. 

 

Happy Creating,

Niamh

Instagram: @niamhbaly

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/niamhbaly/

Exploring Cyanotypes with Kecia Deveney

Last week I took a 2-day class on using cyanotype fabric sheets. I dabbled in the medium last summer and really enjoyed experimenting with it. When I really embrace a process, I like to research it more to get a good idea of the possibilities. I had a great time watching videos and reading up on cyanotype. 

 

Cyanotype is a photographic printing process dating back to 1842. Once the medium is applied to fabric or paper (or you can order pretreated sheets), It is then placed in the sun and a chemical process occurs between the UV rays and the synthetic treatment. 

 

So many fun things can be used to create an image, such as botanicals, negatives, flat objects ( or slightly dimensional), and more. One of the things that caught my eye was to try stencils. So of course, I got very excited about experimenting with those. 

 

On a pretreated cyanotype fabric sheet, I placed a face stencil by Pam Carriker, a botanical image by Flora Bowley, and a flower by Traci Bautista. I laid it out in a way to create a scene that I knew I would later develop with embroidery floss. On the second sheet of pre-treated fabric, I laid out the four sacred hearts stencil by Laurie Mika. It was my intention to cut one of those out and add It as a separate layer to the final piece. 

After about 15 minutes, in good sunlight, your piece will be developed and ready for a rinse in bleach water. It’s the bleach water that really heightens the blue colors. From there you rinse well in clean water and dry. 

 

Once my fabric was dry, I ironed it and in my mind began developing ideas. I was working with some limitations with the main color being all blue, so I decided to make a limited palette of blue, white, and rust colors. I also knew it would become a wall hanging. I set about hand stitching on it and layering it with vintage fabrics.

Once I finished the piece, I decided to add a crystal inside the chrysalis for a double meaning. I am calling the piece, “Pure Energy”. 

Stencils Used: 

Traci Bautista’s - Deconstructed Zinnia Mask & Stencil (S290)

Pam Carriker’s  - Create Face (S646)

Laurie Mika’s - Four Sacred Hearts (L782)

Flora Bowley’s - Chrysalis (L390)

Gold Leafing with StencilGirl® Stencils

Hi StencilGirl Friends,

I had so many different projects in mind for my first blog post here, but as soon as I saw the results on a test run of this technique, I knew I had to share!

If you follow me at all, you might know that I love to incorporate botanicals into my artwork and I am a big fan of eco-dyeing. I have stacks of eco-dyed papers in my studio and I am always looking for new ways to use them. (But please know that you do not need to try this on eco-dyed papers! This technique should work with most backgrounds.)

I also had golf leaf (intended for a completely different use) that had been laying around for weeks and weeks. Since I am a big proponent of using what you have, I gave gold leaf stenciling a try. I found that using modeling paste as the adhesive worked best because it is so easy to see both wet and dry. 

I hope that you will enjoy giving this technique a go...ld!

Tracy

SUPPLIES:

• Substrate - I used eco-dyed papers, but any background on any paper, journal page or other surface should work!
• StencilGirl Stencils - For each piece, I selected one stencil with a pattern for the background and a larger image stencil for the gold leaf. Here are my selections:
• Sidewalk in Puerto Rico #2 by Mary Beth Shaw 
• Rock Wall Small by Mary Beth Shaw
• Create Face by Pam Carriker
• Bouquet Greenery by Wendy Brightbill
• Modeling Paste
• Palette Knife
• Black Gesso (or other dark colored paint)
• Applicator 
• Gold or other Metal Leaf
• Small Soft Paint Brush (flat or round)
• Gold or other Color Gel Pen (optional)

STEP ONE:

Use your Black Gesso/Paint and your Patterned Stencil to stencil randomly over your background.

TIP: You want to create enough stenciling that is at least 3/4 of your Image Stencil size (so the leaf really pops off the page).

STEP TWO:

Once dry, use your modeling paste and palette knife to stencil your image over top. 

TIP: Scape a nice even layer over the entire image or the section you’d like to use,  AND wash your stencil right away once done! 

STEP THREE:

Gently lay sheets or small broken pieces of your leaf over the modeling paste.

TIP: Pat if you need to make contact with the paste, but do not push too hard or you will flatten and distort the image.

STEP FOUR:

VERY IMPORTANT! Allow paste to dry completely! 

STEP FIVE:

Use the soft brush to gently wipe away the leaf that is not in contact with the paste.

TIP: If you accidentally scrape away some of the leaf from the paste, put the tiniest bit of adhesive on the “bald spot” and patch with a gold leaf flake.

STEP SIX: (optional):

Line some of your dark shapes under the leaf with gel pen.

I would love to see what you create!

Find me at www.corkandbrush.com or @tracyvillart on Instagram.

Tracy