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