Stitch 1-2-3 StencilGirl® Collaboration Challenge

Hello and Welcome to Fall!  Tina Walker here with my latest Collaboration Column Post.  Today, we are inspired by NUMBERS, STITCHING, and BOOK-MAKING!  It really can't get better than that.

As usual, I put out a call on my social media sites for participants for my newest StencilGirl® collaboration and as usual, there were several willing candidates.  ♥

The concept behind this challenge was to create a fabric book (fabric pages only), but embellishments could be anything, such as paper, die cuts, washi tape, etc.  The journal/book had to use StencilGirl® NUMBER STENCILS in fun, exciting, and interesting ways.  StencilGirl® has a broad variety of number stencils, so the choice was endless.  The number stencils could either be the highlight of a page or for use in wonderful backgrounds.  The books could be any number of pages, really up to personal choice.

Without further adieu, let's check out everyone's incredible fabric book creations!

ANN BARNES

"Ann Barnes's "count to ten" is a handmade fabric book. The intention behind this creation: so often there are things happening around us or in our day to day that seem overwhelming or upsetting; stepping back and taking a moment to "count to ten" can make a world of difference. Whether those ten counts are simply deep breaths, or ten positive thoughts or maybe even counting ten personal blessings, they can be just what we need to give us a different perspective. Each page background consists of a painted number stencil repeated randomly. Each page also contains a pocket featuring the same (larger size) stenciled number that has been hand embroidered. An integrated Milagros bookmark can be moved from page to page and inserted into the pocket as one counts."

Stencil Used:

Vintage Typewriter Numbers

TRACY KRUEGER

"The biggest thing I love about the project is that it is made of fabric! Then add to that StencilGirl stencils! A match made in heaven! I love the tactile feel of fabric and being able to pop this baby in the sewing machine and let all the strings hang off. Another fantastic collab with Tina Walker!"

Stencil Used

Vintage Typewriter Numbers

 

HEATHER BALEY

"For the longest time, my use of Stencil Girl stencils was limited to just paper. However, participating in Tina Walker's numbers challenge introduced me to a whole new realm of possibilities - using stencils on fabric. I delved into experimenting with acrylics, dye-based sprays, and water-based sprays on different textiles. This challenge also allowed me to incorporate one of my recent techniques - slow stitching. I found joy in allowing the stencil patterns to inspire my design and color choices, creating personal and fun pages."

Stencil Used:

Stitch Sampler

DEEDEE CATRON

"When I think numbers I autofocus on years -- so I made a grungy fabric book with loads of image transfers and giant stenciled numbers (in relation to the pages) to commemorate milestones in my life."

Stencils Used:

Make It Count

Vintage Typewriter 

CATHERINE ETTER

Catherine used the 'number' challenge in a completely different way, using hashmarks as her 'numbers'.

"

My message of origins -

I was so very motivated to contribute to this endeavor in that numbers, however infinite in their existence can be found to be invasive and defining and limiting in our own every day lives. We are a populous relegated to numbers. In every aspect, they ultimately define where, when, why, how we communicate and exist. And yet, if we choose, we may elevate our lives, rise above the chaos and mundane and suspend our thoughts and artful voices for all to witness...... we are all accountable for the creative voice we have been gifted......."

Stencil Used:

Grate Full

CHRISTINA MALM

"Numbers are my thing. I love the representation of patterns that are expressed by numbers. Even with the restrictions of the assignment it was hard for me to narrow down to one cohesive theme, until I started looking through the family photos that I've amassed. Then it all came into focus, Family Counts. Now, I have nothing but new ideas of things I want to count."

Stencils Used:

Vintage Ledger Numbers

Pi Stencil

 

And lastly, my Stitch 1-2-3 Fabric book.

I was SUPER inspired by this project.  I've been *slightly* obsessed with #allthingsfabric lately, and I was to add the number stencils in nontraditional ways throughout my pages.

Stencils Used:

Planner Words 4

Bullet Planner

Never Ending Calendar

On the cover, I stenciled on a scrap piece of acetate for a transparent look.  Love how the bundle of stitching mess is visible underneath the number.

For this page, I continued the acetate stenciling, by machine stitching an entire sheet over the fabric, then layering additional number elements.

One of my favorite pages.  I stenciled on some feathers for a really fun, interactive element.

This page features stenciled fabric as the background, and some painted StencilGuts over the photo.  When StencilGirl offers stencil guts - you should grab 'em quick.

This page has a subtle hint of numbers, stenciling on top of a large number chipboard piece.  Simple but effective.

This page was an experiment that I really love the outcome.  I originally stenciled on a piece of vintage paper, then scanned the image.  Printing the scanned image on my laser printer, I created an image transfer with the printed image + gel medium.  It's not perfect or exact and that is why I love it.

I love the look of a 'peak-a-boo'.  This page features a bold stenciled background with a lace overlay.  It softens the stenciled background and makes it much more interesting.

And the last page of my fabric book is a simple stenciled border, then highlighted with hand stitching in a contrasting color.

Whew, that is everything!  I hope you enjoyed everyone's Stitch 1-2-3 fabric book creations! Be sure to click their name to see even more details and/or visit their social media pages.

That's all for now.  Until next time!

XOXO

Autumn Leaves Three Ways

Hello stencil friends! Nicole here with an easy little project (or three!) to add a touch of fall to your home. I don’t know about the weather where you are, but here in Central Texas we recently had three days of amazing, fall weather. It was glorious! I made chicken soup, my favorite pumpkin bars, and had the most amazing (cold!) morning walks while dreaming of wearing pants and long sleeves. 

Unfortunately, it didn’t last long as our temps went back up to near 100. Ugh! However, despite our rise in temps, I officially declared it fall. I bought all the new fall things from Trader Joes and put out my fall décor.

One of my favorite things about fall, besides the weather, is the changing of the leaves and fall colors.  

With leaves and the colors of fall on my mind, I thought it would be fun to make something new for fall. I grabbed the Autumn Leaves stencil and began blending colors to create leaves.

First, like most of my painted paper projects, I began by adding watered-down gesso to some old book and ledger pages. This does a couple things. It adds some integrity to the sometimes-brittle pages and allows for a better surface to paint on. Since I don’t want to cover up the text and I don’t need a thick layer of gesso, I water it down. You can also use clear gesso.

Then, I grabbed all the fall colors of paint, an applicator and began to play. This is a fun, simple process but does require some patience. The Autumn Leaves stencil is a bit more delicate, so sometimes you have to hold down parts of it while you stencil. 

I love how fall colors blend together, especially purple and orange (trust me, try it!). 

A couple ideas and tips:

1. Less is more! Don't over-saturate your applicator.

2. However, if paint seeps under the stencil, don’t stress! Just go back and stencil again a bit when it dries. This creates a cool shadow look. 

3. Lift the stencil to peak at your leaf before completely removing it. Then, set it back down if you need to add more paint.

4. Use one color on several leaves, lifting the stencil each time, and then go back with another color, for more of a two-step approach (or even three). The paint blends a little less this way for a different look.

5. Try an ombre palette, or a candy-corn one. 

6. Start with a lighter color, add a darker one and then go back and blend more with the lighter color.

7. If you don’t like how one turns out, stencil over a bit with a darker color. 

8. Don’t forget a few solid leaves, too!  

9. Flip the stencil over half-way through for more variety (or to make your leaves double sided in the end, more below) 

10. Put your favorite fall movie on a screen and have fun!

My favorite fall leaves are the ones with spots of color, so when my leaves were finished, I splattered leftover paint on them.

After the splatters dried, I cut them out and grabbed some kraft-colored card stock to give them some strength.

I stuck them down with matte medium, front and back, and then also added another layer on top for extra protection. 

Then, once they dried, I had to cut them out again! I chose to leave a border each time, one with the original paper and one with the kraft paper. 

Check out the beautiful pile of leaves! 

Now that you’ve made some amazing leaves, what can you do with them?

Create a Garland 

Grab some bakers twine or thin jute and string them up! I am putting together a fall-themed thank you basket for a friend, and adding a garland to it is the perfect final touch. I’m also going to hang a small one in my house.

All you have to do is punch a couple of holes in each leaf and add them to the string of choice. I added some extra colors of twine by weaving it around my original one after I added the leaves.

Make a Mobile or Wall-hanger 

Similar to the garland, string some leaves to dangle from a branch, old paint brush, vintage wooden spoon, or anything you can think of! You could add some beads or other fall-themed items. 

Start a Thankful Tree Tradition

Use bakers twine or string to create single, hanging leaves. Place them in a container with a pen or makers. 

Then, find a fun branch and add it to a vase or other container. Each day leading up to thanksgiving, write something you are thankful for on the back of the leaf and hang it on the tree. You could use multiple leaves for each family member, or all write on the same leaf each day. After the fall season, save them in a special container for a fun keepsake from the year.

More Ideas

For the garland, mobile, or wall hanger, if you think your leaves might twist in the wind, you could always make them double sided. All you need to do is add a back-side leaf after you cut them from the Kraft cardstock. This will take a bit more planning to match up your leaves so you have a front and back one (stenciled from each side of stencil).

I have a few leftover leaves even after the three projects. I’m going to scatter some on our Thanksgiving table, tuck them inside letters and packages, maybe make a card or two, and I think I might add a couple to my door wreath. I might even need to make more. They are so fun to create!

You can watch how I made the leaves + the projects following in the video below: 

Happy fall!

-Nicole

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Stencil

Autumn Leaves

Supplies for the leaves:

• Gesso
• Vintage book and ledger papers
• Matte medium
• Fall colors of acrylic paint (I used Golden's SoFlat)
• Scissors
• Kraft card stock
• Palette paper
• Round applicator

Extra supplies for projects:

• Bakers twine or another string of choice
• Twig (and anything else you want to add to your mobile) 
• Branches, Vase, Bucket, Marker, etc... for your tree
• Hole punch

Guest Designer Frieda Oxenham

Here is my September project inspired by summer. Our Scottish summer this year hasn’t been the best but there have still been days when it felt and looked tropical. I always try and hold on to that during the winter months to come.

This is the tutorial:

1.     Working in a 7 x 9” ring bound journal on 2 facing pages, I covered the pages in paint using 4 different colours of acrylic paint, including one metallic gold one. While the pages were still wet I dropped water on them and then rolled a paper towel over them to dry the pages. I also rolled a textured brayer to add more interest.

2.     Brush white and gold acrylic paint onto the pages and remove again through the A stencil of the June 2024 StencilClub, using a baby wipe.

3.     Drip on green liquid acrylic ink and spray with water to make it spread. Distribute it around the pages by moving the journal in different directions.

4.     Repeat step 2 with both blue and green paint.

5.     Stencil on the pages using stencil S970 Yin with pink Stencil Butter and a cosmetic wedge.

6.     Using stencil L719 Jardiniere outline one of the vases on a piece of blue and white dots wrapping paper, embellish with permanent coloured markers, cut out and glue onto the pages.

7.     Using a variety of green acrylic paints, stencil on leaves using the medium stencil of the December 2021 StencilClub. Outline with turquoise permanent market.

8.     Add a flower to each vase by tracing through stencil L600 Mosaic Flowers. Colour with permanent paint markers. Outline with a black Stabilo All pencil.

9.     Using stencil L211 Simple Geo Circles and a previously gelli plate painted page (I used one left over from my July 2024 project) mark out circles on that page and cut out. Glue them onto the pages and outline with water soluble oil pastels.

10.  Using stencil S767 Crocodile Repeating, stencil on titanium white paint and pink spray ink. Spray with water to make the spray ink run. 

11.  Drip on some red Bombay ink

12.  Outline the circles with a permanent white marker

13.  Glue on text

© Frieda Oxenham 2024