Hello again from Kim Hamburg!
This month’s StencilGirl® Club set, Grungy Layers, designed by Nicole Watson, is right up my alley. Circles and numbers are two of my favorite collage elements, and this set gives me plenty of both. Add in the playful botanical shapes, and I immediately started imagining all the little pieces I could make.
Rather than use the stencils to create one finished composition, I decided to make something I could use in many projects: a whole collection of collage fodder.
What Is Collage Fodder?
Collage fodder is simply a collection of papers and small elements ready to use in your artwork. These might be painted scraps, cutout shapes, numbered tickets, or little embellished pieces you have made yourself.
In mixed-media collage and junk journals, fodder can become a focal point, a border, or that small finishing detail a page needs. A botanical might stretch across a journal spread, while a tiny numbered ticket or colorful circle can tuck into a layered arrangement.
I like making these pieces without deciding exactly where they will go. For now, their only job is to be interesting!
One Stencil Set, So Many Possibilities
Number tickets. The section filled with numbers was perfect for making little tickets. I stenciled the numbers over colorful papers, cut them into groups, and clipped the corners diagonally. Some have quiet backgrounds, while others have several colors and patterns competing for attention. I like having both.
Three-leaf flowers. The three-leaf shape on its long stem makes such a playful cutout. I followed the stencil’s silhouette, keeping the leaves and stem together as one piece. The numbers within the leaves add another layer of interest without needing much extra decoration.
Multi-leaf botanicals. The larger branching botanical gives me a more substantial piece of fodder. These can remain as full sprigs or be trimmed into shorter, five-leaf versions. I also like adding small circles and number labels over individual leaves. A separate leaf can become a useful little accent, too.
Small dots and medium circles. Using circle punches in two sizes, I made tokens from my decorated papers. Some capture a whole number or ring; others catch only a fragment. Those partial designs are often my favorites. A shape that looked ordinary on a larger sheet can become much more interesting inside a small circle.
Donut circles. Removing a smaller circle from the center of a larger one creates a wide paper ring. These are wonderful for layering because the opening lets part of the artwork underneath remain visible. I decorated some with little lines and loops around the centers.
Connected circle clusters. Instead of cutting every stenciled circle apart, I also cut around groups of circles, leaving paper between them so they stay connected. The result is a wonderfully irregular shape. Extra outlines, dots, and little marks make each cluster different.
Three-leaf borders. The repeating three-leaf design along the bottom of the stencil offers another possibility: keeping several motifs together as a strip. It can become a decorative border across a journal page or a layer tucked behind a larger piece of fodder.
The same shapes appear throughout the collection, but changing the paper, color, and details keeps them from looking identical.
How to Make Your Own
You will need your stencils, papers from your stash, acrylic paint or ink, a sponge or blending brush, scissors, and circle punches in different sizes. Gather a few markers and pens for decorating, too. I especially like Posca pens and brush-tip markers. A small box will give your finished pieces a home.
1. Start with what you already have.
Pull out scrap paper, gel-printed papers, painted leftovers, and patterned pieces you have been saving. There is no need to begin with a fresh sheet.
For this project, my attitude was: the more colors, the better! Even a scrap that does not seem especially promising can make a terrific little ticket or dot.
2. Add the stencil designs.
Place the stencil over your paper and apply acrylic paint or ink with a sponge or blending brush. Use a light amount and build up the color rather than loading the applicator heavily.
Try different combinations: dark numbers over bright paper, contrasting circles over a painted background, or a botanical over a patterned scrap. Let everything dry before moving on.
3. Embellish before cutting.
While the paper is still in larger pieces, add extra decoration with your markers and pens.
Outline a leaf, draw a second line inside a circle, add dots, or make a few loose marks across the background. Some pieces need only a small detail; others invite more.
Use the colors you enjoy. There is no requirement to match mine—or to make every piece match the next one.
4. Cut out the botanicals, tickets, and clusters.
For the three-leaf flower and multi-leaf botanical, cut around the outside of the shape, keeping the stem attached. Leaving a narrow paper margin makes the delicate areas easier to handle.
For tickets, cut out groups of three or more numbers, then snip each corner diagonally to create that ticket-like shape.
For connected circle clusters and botanical borders, leave enough paper between the individual motifs to hold the whole piece together.
5. Punch the circles and rings.
Use two sizes of circle punches to make small dots and medium-sized tokens from your decorated papers.
For donut circles, you need a larger circle with a smaller opening in the middle. An easy way to center the opening is to punch the small hole first, then position the larger punch around it.
Save those little centers—they are more fodder!
Move your punch around the paper before committing. Changing the placement slightly can give you a completely different combination of color, number, and pattern.
Once the pieces are dry and finished, collect them in a small box. I found a little box for mine, and I love seeing all those colors and shapes together.
The next time I am working on a collage or junk journal page, I will have a collection ready to go.
Ready for the Next Page
A leaf, a ring, and a number ticket can become a small collage cluster. A few dots can repeat a color across a spread. One long botanical might be all a page needs.
That is what I enjoyed most about this project: I could experiment with Nicole’s stencils, use papers already in my stash, and make something useful without planning a finished artwork.
Now, when a project needs a little something, I have a whole box of possibilities.
Keep Creating with StencilClub
For more opportunities to experiment, explore StencilClub from StencilGirl® Products. This monthly subscription features artist-designed stencil sets created especially for club members, along with access to exclusive videos and a private Facebook community where members can connect and share their work. Join by November 15th to get this month's set from Nicole Watson.
You can browse the wider collection at stencilgirlproducts.com and follow @stencilgirl_products on Instagram for more stenciling inspiration. When sharing your projects, include #stencilgirlproducts so the StencilGirl community can find your work, too.
Show Me What You Make!
I would love to see what you create! Whether you make a handful of colorful tickets, a collection of botanicals, or an entire box of fodder, share your art with me on Instagram and tag @gluepaperscissors_ so I can see it.
You can also find more of my mixed-media artwork, tutorials, and experiments on Instagram and visit my website at kimhamburg.com.
You can find this month’s artist, Nicole Watson on Instagram @nicolewatsonart
Until next time, keep experimenting—and save those little scraps. They might be exactly what your next collage needs.
Kim Hamburg
Mixed Media Artist
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