NEW Stencil Alert: 4 new ATCs by 2 talented artists!

Hi there! StencilGirl is jumping with excitement. We have four new ATC stencils, really that is 36 when you cut them into their individual parts. You get variety, value, and cool designs!

Cat Kerr's ATC Mixup Stencil is here. Use the math mark-making lines and shapes, flock, moon phases, phrases (I am enough. I am brace. I am worthy.), stars and planets, circles, tiny dots along with tiny squares in your art journal or to make ATCs, tags, or greeting cards.

ATC Mixup Kerr, L856

Just look at these darling ATC cards and Cat has prepared a tutorial for you.

Cat decorated a pouch to stash the ATCs:

Margaret Peot enchanted us with the Spirit Birds, Beetles, and Animals she designed for 3 new ATC Mixup Stencils. We are sure you'll be enchanted too.

ATC Mixup Peot: Spirit Animals, L854

"This is a time to meditate and reflect," Margaret says. "I am sure you have animals in your world that you look for and connect to. Here are some of mine: Bear, Otter, Rabbit, Wolf, and others. What are some of yours?"

 

ATC Mixup Peot: Birds, L855

"Birds live in that liminal zone, between the earth and the sky, Margaret says. "Whether we live in the city or the country, the feathered friends we see lift our hearts." Some of Margaret's important birds—the Crow, Barn Owl, the fierce Swan, the mighty Hawk, and more—found their way onto this ATC Mixup Stencil. 

ATC Mixup Peot: Beetles, L853

Beetles are the tiniest creatures, but somehow some of the loveliest to Margaret. She was sitting on a hill in Montauk, watching the day go by, and a brilliant red beetle with black spots walked out of the grasses next to her and strode on past. That gave her the inspiration for this set of fantasy beetles. 

Use the Spirit Stencils to create ATCs to share with friends, add to journal pages, or make your own Spirit Animal, Bird, or Scarab Beetle tarot cards.

Discover all of the latest, greatest stencils 

by Cat Kerr and Margaret Peot on StencilGirlProducts.com.

NEW STENCIL DESIGNERS! Ann Barnes & Helen Shafer Garcia

StencilGirl Products is excited about the six new stencils our two new artists, Ann Barnes and Helen Shafer Garcia have designed. 

We are so happy you are here to check out Ann's whimsical patterned alphabet and Helen's beautiful succulents. Drumroll, please!

The multitude of patterns found among many of the StencilGirl stencil designs inspired Ann Barnes to create the ATC Mixup Alphabet A-I, J-R, and S-Z Stencils. Each letter has a different pattern and may be used to create personalized stationery or gift wrap or to add a monogram. Use the letters to spell out a word, or simply use that pattern itself to create interest in your art journal layouts or designs.

Complete your alphabet now.

L823

L824

L825

Just look at the variety of ways Ann used these stencils!
 

Gotta love a tote full of art supplies.

Layered letters in a nearly monochromatic art journal spread: 

Whoever is getting these darling gifts will be grateful :)

Washi anyone? Yay!

Show that you care: Make and mail a card!

Keep track of Ann's aksbarchitect CREATES blog for upcoming video tutorials with her stencils.

Helen Shafer Garcia says she is always looking for seedling and sprig shapes to include in her paintings and journal. 

Helen says, “I love the upward growth of plants in my garden. I constantly draw and paint succulents and other plants with pencils and paint. I designed these shapes based on seed pods and new growth on succulents. They can also represent ocean plants and seedlings. Now, with the Filigree Sprigs Stencil, you have a great resource to use to explore and grow!”

Filigree Sprigs, L822

Filigree Sprigs Dropped in Color Forest Painting

Step 1: Stencil the design onto hot pressed watercolor paper. I overlapped the images to create a forest.

Step 2: Wet the entire surface with Cadmium yellow watercolor paint.

Step 3: While the paint is very wet and shiny, drop in other colors. I used Quinacridone Rose, Spring Green, and Carbazole Purple. The Carbazole purple was the last color I dropped in under the sprigs to create a “forest floor.”

The Echeverias Stencil design derived from Helen’s fascination with succulent shapes.

Helen says, “These plants have been the main focus for many of my paintings in watercolor. Echeverias have rosette shapes with a large range of colors. Here in Southern California, I have an advantage of living in the best environment for these plants. Needless to say, I have an abundance of succulents on my 1half-acre property. The shapes on the stencil are separated out for you to design your own arrangement. You can add a ceramic pot or go wild and plant them in the ground!”

L815

Blooming Echeverias Painting

Step 1: Stencil the shapes you have selected onto hot pressed watercolor paper using a fairly dark color acrylic.

Step 2: Using a large round watercolor brush, wet the background with plenty of water. While the surface remains wet, drop in colors. I used Carbazole Purple and Ultramarine Blue. Let the colors mingle on their own, allow the water to move the colors.

Step 3: Start painting the succulent shapes separately using the dropped-in color method. Start with a light warm color on the shape and drop-in cooler colors to show the darker areas.

Step 4: Finish up with glazes: paint over dry painted areas with darker colors where needed.

This ballet of shapes will have you dancing in no time. The Echeveria Ballet Stencil design was derived from Helen’s fascination with succulent shapes. Echeverias have rosette shapes with a large range of colors. The seed pods are abstracted in the stencil for you to use as accents.

Echeveria Ballet Stencil, L821

You can see Helen's actual garden of inspiration HERE.

You can add these fine stencils to your collection by heading over to StencilGirlProducts.com.

Mixed Media Postcards by Mary C. Nasser

Hi, everyone! Mary C. Nasser here! I am so honored and excited that Rae Missigman asked me to be one of twelve Creative Contributors for The Painted Paper Project, a free online course she created with Sandi Keene. The Painted Paper Project is dedicated to spreading joy through art! It is a project that promotes kindness and gratitude. The idea is that you make a project and either mail it or hand-deliver it. I love both happy mail and practicing gratitude!
​
I hope you enjoy my Mixed Media Postcards project and make your own Mixed Media Postcards, too!

Have fun and happy creating!

Mixed Media Postcards by Mary C. Nasser on YouTube

Art Supplies I used in this video:

• Strathmore 400 Series Toned Tan Mixed Media Paper Pad 6" x 8" cut in half to postcard size: 4" x 6"
• Strathmore 400 Series Toned Gray Mixed Media Paper Pad 6" x 8" cut in half to postcard size: 4" x 6"
• Strathmore 400 Series Toned Blue Mixed Media Paper Pad 6" x 8" cut in half to postcard size: 4" x 6"
• StencilGirl® Stencils: Map with Roundabouts, Map Stencil, ATC Mixup - Nasser, Let's Go 1 and
  Let's Go 2
• Vintage maps and gel print on newsprint (for collage ephemera)
• Metal Ruler (for tearing)
• UHU glue stick
• Yellow scraper
• PaperArtsy paints in Buff and Mermaid
• Utrecht white gesso
• 6B pencil
• Cosmetic sponge, InkBlusher and sponge dauber
• QOR watercolor in Pthalo Blue (Green Shade)
• Liquitex Heavy Body Artist Acrylic in Turquoise Deep
  
• Black uni-ball pen
• Pam Carriker's acrylic ink in Turquoise
• StazOn Ink in Jet Black and Blue Teal
• Black IDenti-Pen
• Map stickers: Vintage Hemispheres
• Wow! Embossing Pad
• Aegean Sea embossing powder
• Teal Golden High Flow Acrylic in Fineline Applicator (for splatters)

Thanks so much!

Mary C. Nasser
Website
Facebook
Instagram

West African Symbol ATC Mix-Ups by TreWen

You are in for something totally different today! StencilGirl is delighted to introduce an artistic collaboration on 4 dynamic ATC stencils, between Wendy Featherston and Trena Brannon.

The West African Symbols in this collection of ATC Mix-up Stencils are called Adinkra. Each symbol is a visual image that represents a concept or an aphorism - a pearl of wisdom. 

The selected Adinkra symbols are a collaboration between Wendy Featherston and Trena Brannon aka TreWen. Wendy and Trena both have an appreciation for beautiful Adinkra symbols and for the words that describe them. 

Ghana Adinkra symbols were originally created by the Ashanti of Ghana and the Gyaman of Cote d'Ivoire in West Africa. Adinkra symbols are used extensively in fabrics, pottery, logos, and advertising. 

When Wendy and Trena received the stencils, they cut them into 9 rectangles :)  If you are familiar with the “ATC format,” it gives you a bit more creative flexibility with your stencils.

L817

L818

L819

L820

After the stencils arrived in the mail, Wendy (East Coast) told Trena (Midwest), "Let’s just get together and play!" And that’s what they did! Below is a video sharing a portion of the time they spent together - they ended up playing for an entire afternoon!

Here are some photos of what Wendy and Trena created with the symbols and words, starting with a photo step-out series in an art journal - there are so many, many possibilities!

Apply color with pastels (L819):

Gelli print, paint, and doodle to create greeting cards: (L818, L819, L820):

Gelli print and draw in an art journal: (L817, L818, L819,L820):

Drip alcohol ink and let it dry in place; spritz the stencil with isopropyl alcohol and make ghost prints from all that rich color (L819):

Paint and texture paste on canvas (L818):

Use texture paste on canvas and fill in openings with a paint pen (L817, L819,L820):

Use metallic paste on design paper for bookmarks (L819, L820):

Gelli plate on fabric:

(L817,L818, L819, L820) rainbow

(L817,L818, L819, L820) aqua

Washi Tape Slap Down: Lay down washi tape randomly on a piece of cardstock, then trace the stencil on the back and cut it out (Shout Out to Mary Beth for the idea!) (L817, L818, L820):

Drawing and Painting in an art journal (L818, L820):

Drip watercolor over the stencils and let them dry in place (L817, L818, L819):

Wendy and Trena bid you: 

"Thank you for allowing us to share with you today!"

 

You can see all 4 of the West African ATC Mixup Symbols Stencils HERE :)