Create a Stenciled Americana Banner with These New Designs from Ann Butler!

Not only does Ann have new designs for you, but a project to go with them! Be sure to scroll to the end and bookmark this page so you can come back to make this adorable project!

Americana 1 - L979

This stencil is filled with bits and pieces of Americana…from stars and flat to burst of fireworks. This stencil is perfect for creating Americana themed projects along with cards, mixed media, journaling and so much more.

 

Americana 2 - L980

This stencil has four background that are perfect for Americana projects along with creating backgrounds for cards, and mixed media projects. Use bits and pieces inside your journals and art projects.

 

Fleur de Lis Squared - S963

This 6x6 stencils another fabulous background that can be used for cards, mixed media, quilting and journaling or parts of it can be used to create depth and texture to your projects.

Lots of Dots - S964

This 6x6 stencil is a fabulous background that can be used for cards, mixed media, quilting and journaling or parts of it can be used to create depth and texture to your projects. 

 

Stenciled Americana Banner with StencilGirl® Stencils

 

The Americana Stencils are perfect to be used for so many projects. Here I created an Americana Banner that is perfect to use for the 4^th of July, Labor Day and Memorial Day. It would also be great to use for anyone who has a Birthday in July!

For this project, each banner flag showcases one of the stencil designs, but put your own spin on it and combine the designs to make this banner your very own!

Supplies:

• StencilGirl® Americana Stencils 1 and 2 by Ann Butler
• Cardstock: Red, White, Blue
• Ink Pads: Red, Blue
• Blending Brushes
• Paper Trimmer
• Scissors
• Adhesive
• Foam Tape
• Ruler
• Painters Tape
• Baby wipes
• Craft sheet
• Hole Punch, 1/4"
• Twine
• Ribbon, optional

 

 

Step 1:

Cut banner shapes from the cardstock in the following sizes: 

• White 4” wide x 5” high (12)
• Red and Blue 4 ¼” wide x 5 ¼” high (6 each)
  
• Red and Blue 4 ½” wide x 5 ½” high (6 each)

Then measure and mark 1 ½” from the bottom edge on each side. Trim the bottom edges in a V from the center to the marked edge. Repeat for all banner pieces.

 

Step 2:

Place stencil design of choice over a white banner, tape off if desired. Apply Red or Blue ink with a blender brush. Remove stencil.

 

 

Step 3:

Reposition stencil if needed to fill in any desired areas. Remove stencil.

 

 

Step 4:

Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all 12 of the White banner pieces.

 

 

Step 5:

Arrange banner pieces for layering.

 

Step 6:

Adhere layers together alternating Red, White and Blue banner pieces.

 

 

Step 7:

Measure ½” from the top and each edge of banner pieces and punch with hole punch.

 

Step 8:

String banner pieces together with twine, alternating colors. Tie off each end and add ribbon bows if desired.

 

 

 

Have fun creating this quick and easy Stenciled Banner!

 

Designer Notes:

• Use different colors for other times of the year to create banners.
• Layer patterns for another look.
• Try this with fabric instead of cardstock.
• Add ephemera on each banner.
• When blending ink, go light and add more for a darker color. 
• Use paint instead of ink.

Links:

Ann Butler’s Website: https://bellacraftspublishing.com/  

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/BellaCraftsPublishing

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BellaCraftsPublishing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellacraftspublishing/

 

How to make your Own Decoupage Papers with Jane Bellante

Hello everyone!  

Jane Bellante here and I have to tell you, I absolutely LOVE making my own papers with StencilGirl Stencils! I'm mildly addicted (well, maybe more than mildly hee hee), and I use them for everything- collage, backgrounds, home decor, and furniture!

For this tutorial, I found a super cool large vintage toolbox at a local flea market.  I ordered some wood legs from Amazon so I could make this toolbox into a table.  The legs have a Mid Century Modern feel to them, so I decided I wanted to use the Kinsugi stencil by Jane Monteith.  It has clean lines, but also a more updated, modern look which I just can't get enough of.  

For the tool box, I used Paint Pixie Undercover Primer to cover up all of the old paint and give this homemade paper a good chance of adhering.  

Then I grabbed my Dina Wakely Gloss Sprays in Gilt and Syrup and got started spraying my large tissues.

You can watch the full tutorial on how I made my papers right here:

This process is so easy and so much fun! Just make sure your area is protected because sprays can be very messy.

I took my tissue and decoupaged it onto my toolbox using soft gel, then I did two coats of Paint Pixie Forcefield to protect my paper from getting damaged. I'm dying over the result!

Thank you so much for watching, I hope I inspired you to use your favorite StencilGirl Stencils to create your own papers and tissues for decoupaging anything and everything!

You can find the Kinsugi stencil right here, and you can find on all social media platforms at @janebellanteart, and on my website at www.janebellanteart.com.

Please let us know if you enjoyed this tutorial by leaving a comment below!

xo, 

Jane

Decorating your journal covers with Stencils

Hi all,

I'm writing this from a very cold and wet Tasmania, so its a great time to be playing in my studio as the rain pounds down outside. I have recently finished a number of journals and I wanted to make them stand out from the others by decorating the front and back. While I have done this before with collage and stickers, I haven't every used paint. 

I started by inking up my large gel plate with acrylic paint and laying down a stencil. I then pressed the book onto the surface to pick up the paint. This is a really good way to decorate awkward shapes and objects. 

To change colours and patterns I place down a piece of deli paper (or greaseproof paper) to pull the print and clean the gel plate. This results not only in a decorated cover for your journals, but some collage fodder as well!

Once I had finished adding all the patterns and colours, I added some extra detail with stencilling the 'now' mask and marks in darker colours. I also added some highlights and shadows with a white paint pen and stabilo black pencil. 

To see the full process of creating this journal cover, check out the step by step video below:

Here are the close ups of the finished pieces.

The Stencils I used are listed below:

now is the time mini

create face

mixed pattern double diameters

alternating circles

dream imagine inspire create

tropical floral stencil

Happy Creating,

Niamh

Check out the latest designs from Linda Edkins Wyatt!

Picnic Check (S957)

Linda Edkins Wyatt’s Picnic Check stencil, S957, was inspired by medieval flags. The small heart shapes surrounding the diamond, as well as the paintbrush shapes inside the rectangles, add whimsy to the hard-edge geometric shapes. This design complements and contrasts with the flowing, abstract designs in her previous collections.

Woodcut Garden (S958)

Linda Edkins Wyatt’s Woodcut Garden, S958, was created from several of her hand-carved stamps, and is a companion to Woodcut Mix, M335. The flowing leafy and floral shapes were designs she constantly doodled, so she carved them into stamps, printed them together in an allover arrangement, then interpreted the new pattern as a stencil. It coordinates nicely with some of her small geometric patterns from the Wyatt ATC Mix Up, L852.

Paper Doll (S959)

Linda Edkins Wyatt’s Paper Doll stencil, S959, was inspired by her childhood love of paper dolls, especially Betsy McCall. As a child, it frustrated her that the paper dolls were stiff and unmovable, so she designed this stencil to have movable parts, allowing the dolls to express the feelings and energy of the person creating the doll. The dots can be poked with a needle or awl, and a small brad will join the pieces, keep the limbs together, yet allow for movement and pose-ability, and inspire storytelling.

Linda's stencils are available now at stencilgirlproducts.com

Using Stencils to Carve Stamp Designs with Tracy Villaume

Using Stencils to Carve Stamp Designs with Tracy V.

Hi Everyone,

Tracy V. here with a great way to duplicate your stencil designs for a different look! (I also find stamp carving very soothing.) Using a carving tool is not difficult to learn, but it can really hurt if your hand slips. I try to provide some tips below to make your carving experience a little smoother. 

Hope that you enjoy this activity as much as I do!

Tracy 

Supplies:

• Stencils - select stencils (or portions of a large stencil) that do not have super detailed fine lines. I am using Abstract Rosette and one of Tina Walker's Rolodex Designs from the February StencilClub set.
• Carving Tool
• Rubber Carving Block or Large Erasers work too (I've found round ones at the Dollar Store that work great!)
• Archival Ink Pads and/or Ink in a Tube (if using, you will need a Brayer to apply)
• Substrate of your Choice

Steps:

1. Trace your design onto the block with pencil or use archival ink to stamp the design onto the block.

2. Use your carving tool to remove areas around the design.

TIP A: Try to always start on an inner part of the design and work out, stab gently into the block and skim away from the design.  

TIP B: I like to make a trench to create smaller sections, so that I can carve in shorter strokes.

TIP C: Be careful to always cut away from your other hand!

3. Do a sample stamp. If you see little bits of color around your design, remove.

TIP: I like to trim tightly around the entire design, you can use scissors or a blade.

   

4. Stamp your designs with ink of choice! 

Process Video:

For more of my work or to join my mailing list, find me on Instagram @tracyvillart or www.corkandbrush.com

New Stencils From Cecilia Swatton are Available Now!

Cecilia states, "I wanted to create simplified, black-and-white masks that show the flavor of Rex Ray’s art, without copying any of it.  That was a challenge!  Stripped of color, the designs by themselves sagged.  It was those colors that gave them life.  But because of my love for his work, I soldiered on.  Champagne (6” x 6”) and Carnival (4” x 4”) are the results.  I wonder what Rex would say if he could see them?"

 

CHAMPAGNE (S960)

Champagne (6” x 6”) is the title that popped – like a cork? -- into my head as I designed this image. It’s influenced by the whimsy and energy of mid-century modern art, especially that of Rex Ray. 

CARNIVAL (M340)

Carnival (4” x 4”) is a design that makes me happy.  It’s influenced by the playfully fanciful mid-century modern art, especially that of Rex Ray.

Cecilia's stencils are available now at stencilgirlproducts.com

Creanouk - I Love Neutrals

Hello again you beautiful artist,
Anouk here to share another art journaling page. I have a massive love for neutral colours in my art journal. This wasn't always the case though. My earlier pages contained all the colours of the rainbow. But lately my work has been all about neutral colours with the occasional pop of colour. There's just something about the colour of old book papers mixed with grounded coffee, lace trims and a bright pink that makes my heart sing!

I even dedicated a whole journal for this special combination. It's made with tea stained paper, a recycled cover of faux leather and some vintage dyed fabric. I love to make small journals to explore a certain style in. This journal is already half filled with pages full of pink, neutral pages embellished with vintage lace and fluorescent pink splatters.

For the page that I made today I used the gorgeous Eucalyptus stencils by Rae Missigman. I used gesso as base layer with the mask stencil so that the colour I would layer on top of it would pop a bit more on the background. Working with a brownish neutral background can make your colours appear a bit more dull. That's why Gesso is my best friend in art journaling. A simple layer of Gesso applied through the outline part of the mask stencil makes a huge different. You can also do this when you are working on a more busy background. Just apply a little bit of gesso on the part that you want your stencil to pop out. Now you don't have to apply the next stencil on the directly to the gesso-ed part. Keep it fun and stencil it a few millimetres beside it. This will create a lovely dimension in your page. I used two different shades of pink in this page to layer my stencil. But if you wish you can always use two entirely different colours. Just have fun! Okay. Enough taking! I hope you enjoy the video.

Stencils used:

S941: Eucalyptus Stems Mask Small

S945: Eucalyptus Stems Stencil Small

Productlist:

Handmade journal Vintage Music and Book Paper
Amsterdam White Gesso
Mod Podge
Tea Bags
Lace
Napkin
Instant Coffee
Dina Wakley Acrylic Paint - Heather

Amsterdam Acrylic Paint - Fluorescent Pink
Amsterdam Acrylic Paint - Titan Buff

Ranger Ink - White

Thank you so much for reading my blog post. I hope that I have inspired you to create today! My name is Anouk or Creanouk on social media, and I'm an all-round creative from the Netherlands. I love art journaling because I can put my heart and soul into it. You can find my work on Instagram and Youtube.