Striped Leaves Art Journal

Hello Creative Friends, 

I for one love creating my own art journals and as a curious creative I am endlessly experimenting with unique and interesting shapes for my journals.

Todays little journal is created with two diffent stencils.  Striped Leaves stencil created by Terri Stegmiller and Sprigs stencil created by Cecilia Swatton.

I love the creative possibilities both these stencils offer.

The  Striped Leaves stencil hosts a variety of 6 leaves and an assortment of various size circles and the Sprigs stencil is full of lovely flourishes.

In addition to this project the stencils can be incorporated in your art a mulititude of ways which can be found under the description and details of each one.

Let's get started!

On a gel plate spread your choice of acrylic paint. This will be the base colour of the leaves.

• place watercolour or mixed media paper down and pull the paint ( a sturdy paper is needed and will be used for the front and back covers)

              

Adding the layers ~ add a contrasting colour directly on top of the base (step 1) I am adding black~it adds wonderful contrast and depth 

While the paint is still wet, place the sprigs stencil on top and with a baby wipe remove excess paint to reveal the delicate outlines (see below).  

Allow to completely dry.

For the final layer, add white acrylic paint.  Select the leaf you will be using from  Stiped Leaves stencil, place that section on to your paper and once again remove excess paint with the baby wipe.  This will real the beautiful background we created above

NOTE: 

• lift the stencil and flip it over so that now we have the mirror image of the leaf.  Remove excess paint as before.   These are the front and back covers of your journal
• repeat the process with the various leaf sizes and these will be used as journal pages 
• if you prefer both sides of the leaves to have pattern then repeat the above process on the other side of your watercolour or mixedmedia paper

Cut out the leaves and place to the side with the exception of the front cover leaf

Use the top cover leaf as a template ~ trace and cut as many pages as you like to fill your journal.

I used dyed found papers from old books, some painted papers and some stenciled papers

Stack your leaf pages together and puch a hole in one end 

Now for the my aha! moment.

I could not for the life of me find a ring clip that would work and I was concidering some thin rope but then I saw these! Yes they are shower curtain rings and let me tell you they work so much better than a regular ring. 

This made me so happy!!!!

For added flair, tie some vintage ribbons, lace and torn strips of fabric.

Thank you for stopping by. 

Enjoy creating your own Striped Leaf journal and adorning it with all the bits that represent you.

Supply List:

Tina 

Instagram @tinahoisart

YouTube

2022 is the Year of DO!

For the past 8 years or so I’ve chosen a Word of the Year in January to help guide and focus my efforts in the coming months. Past words have been Joy, Thrive, Love, Focus — inspirational, you get the picture.

It helps me to have a large visual image to reinforce it usually placed in a high-trafficked area of my Studio (the bathroom). And, I always create the artwork, usually with a friend or two, using Mixed Media techniques. 

After conversations this year with friends and students, coupled with a sense of inertia, at times, my word of the year for 2022 is DO. My Mantra for 2022: Do Not watch, scroll, ponder, procrastinate, avoid, ignore, but DO.

Coming out of the Pandemic I think something has shifted. Magically we were awash in online content that could take up days upon days of time to watch. I’ve had many conversations of late with folks frustrated that after hours upon hours of watching, they were not nearly as proficient in DOING as they assumed they would be. Not just mixed media videos but also home renovation and repairs, new crafts, and other instructional programs that were solely watched. 

I think my brain can trick me into thinking I did it rather than just watched it. 

I can’t stress enough that it is in the DOING that I learn and grow. I’ve never been able to just hear, watch or read about something and perfect it. It’s in my hands that I learn. And I never regret the time spent in the Studio. 

So, in 2022 I am gonna DO. Help hold me accountable.

This sign was developed with one of my absolute favorite mixed media techniques - reductive painting and collage. 

Here’s what I did: 

1. Grabbed a canvas I had already painted on - @ 18” x 18”
2. Pulled together a random stack of papers (about 15 -20 sheets) including ledger paper, old book pages, rice paper, deli paper, and plain white paper. 
3. Using a variety of colors of heavy-bodied acrylic paint I spent a lovely day painting papers. I used my Boro Stencil, parts of the Stitch ATC Stencil, Michelle Ward's Ray Circles, January's StencilClub Pattern Play (swoon!), and lots of others to paint the papers. For random texture, I used a palette knife through the stencil with the heavy-bodied paint. Because my word indicates getting busy, I wanted lots of color and images going on my canvas. 
   
   
   
   
   
4. Once painted, I got out the acrylic inks and made marks, painted on ink over the acrylic paint,  made patterns, and some illustrations on the painted pages. My favorite tools for mark-making are wooden skewers and vintage dip pens. I even wrote the word DO. Over and over on some of my papers.
5. Satisfied with my pile, I tore it up. 
6. Using Matte Medium I began randomly adhering the pieces to the canvas knowing at the end I would cover a lot of it up with paint.
7. Once glued in place. I made more marks and added stenciling in black and white paint.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Then I covered it in one more layer of Matte Medium. 
9. I struggled with where to put the DO. Cray-pas pastels are great for this because if you don’t like the placement, a baby wipe erases it and the layer of Matte Medium below it protects what you've done. 
   
   
   
   
   
10. I committed and choose a heavy-bodied paint color. Eeek. It's a pale pink but looks white in the photos. 
11. Painted away everything but the word and left a border because I really like the stuff underneath.
12. Came back in with the skewer and wrote in the wet paint. Also went over the black lines with the Cray-Pas for emphasis.
    
    
    

I hope your 2022 is full of DOING! 

Unique One-of-a-Kind Gift Tags with Renee Day

Hello there!  It's Renee with @thediyday here to share a simple way to create your very own gift tags.  Mass-produced store-bought gift tags are a bit impersonal for me so I like to up my game and make my own.  The beautiful part, these can be any color, any shape, and modified for any occasion!  See how I incorporated some of my favorite StencilGirl® stencils on my tags.

Because I'm blending colors together using Distress Oxides and water, I decided to use 140lb watercolor paper to help prevent the paper from curling.  First, I blended the lightest Distress Oxide color in the center, followed by the next two colors - ending with the darkest color on the outside edge.

Next, I heavily misted the paper with water to help blend the colors together.  I attempted to allow the paper to air dry, but it was taking too long so I dried it with a heat gun.  

Once the paper was completely dry, I used a script stamp to add more design to the future gift tags.

Then I stenciled in some triangles using the Mini Triangles Stencil (S061).  I wanted the triangles to lightly blend into the background without being overly pronounced so I used yellow acrylic paint.  

The next stencil I used is one of my go-to stencils,  The Circles Layer Me Stencil (L380).  This stencil is literally 3 stencils in one and I wanted this one to pop!  I used neon pink acrylic paint for the base and then added a 3D Matte Gel (for texture) to the mini circles.

Once the Matte Gel dried (I gave it about 2 hours), I used a gift tag die cut to make the shape.  I added a little more eye appeal to the tags with ribbons, buttons, and drawing some imperfect circles around the neon circles to give it a little edge.     

Enjoy!

Renee Day   

   

        

    

Decorate a Photo Box - Mixed Media Style

Hello there, it's Renee from @thediyday for my first post as a StencilGirl Creative Team member, here to share how I add some fun to my photo boxes.  Although I don't print and store photos as often as I once did, I found other uses for them.  They make for excellent storage for other items including markers, greeting cards, phone chargers, tea light candles, etc.

They come in all sorts of colors and patterns and they are budget-friendly too!  I prefer the plain white boxes as it gives me a chance to be creative and decorate them with my own designs, it makes for an excellent canvas.

For this photo box I used an assortment of supplies:  StencilGirl® Stencils, acrylic paints, water mister, plastic wrap, pages from an old book, matte medium, gesso, 3D matte gel, and an ink pad.

To start, I added gesso to the top of the photo box lid.  Not only does gesso provide a slight texture, it also helps paint stick and not chip off.  Once dried, I applied a few torn pieces of book paper to the top and used matte medium as an adhesive.

Then I applied 3 colors of blue acrylic starting with the lightest color.  With each layer, I lightly misted water right on top to help spread and thin the paint.

Next, I used the Mini Triangles Stencil (S061) and applied the design with a make-up sponge and pink waterproof ink.  Then I splotched the box with pink acrylic and plastic wrap.  Plastic wrap makes for a fun unique design (it adds a bit of texture too).

Mini Triangles 6 Stencil by Andrew Borloz

The next stencil I used was the Fade Horizontal Stencil (L027).  With my stencil brush, I randomly added circles to the box.  

Fade Horizontal Stencil by Michelle Ward

Last, I used several parts from the Mathman Stencil (L641) to complete this project.  To give some of the design on the box a bit of a raised look, I mixed 3D matte gel with green acrylic and applied a thin layer right on top of the stencil.  

Math Man Stencil by Cat Kerr 

Now for the hard part.  I patiently waited 3 hours before running my hand on top of the box.  I'm a texture person so the touch and feel is my favorite part!  

Thank you so much for following along today.  If you give this project a try, be sure to tag @stencilgirl_products and @thediyday so we can see your amazing work.     

Renee Day

                 

 

   

Mary Beth's Book Club Featuring Sue Pelletier and a Giveaway!

Tomorrow!!!

There is still time to sign-up and we are so excited that we are celebrating with a GIVEAWAY!!!!

Mary Beth's April Book Club

at Create Mixed Media

 is featuring 

StencilGirl Artist

Sue Pelletier's NEW book Collage Paint Draw!!!

Here are the details about the webinar:

Join Mary Beth Shaw as she welcomes Sue Pelletier, author of Collage Paint Draw, for an hour-long live web seminar! During this online event, Mary Beth will show you how she combined techniques from several projects in Sue's new book to create a dimensional, textural mixed-media collage with lots of flair and kick. During the presentation, Mary Beth will talk to Sue about choosing personal imagery, using unusual materials like rigid wrap and more. Then they'll answer your questions on the air.

The Details

• Date: Thursday, April 23, 2015
• Time: 1PM (EDT)
• Where: Your Computer via a GoToWebinar Link

What You'll Get Before the Live Event

A unique GoToWebinar registration link.

What You'll Get After the Live Event

48 hours after the live event you'll receive a recording of the full webinar plus a demonstration video, not shown during the live event, of Mary Beth creating the complete project. You'll also receive a supply list so you can create the project.

Spend an hour with Mary Beth and Sue Pelletier with video demo's and tons of laughs all for the awesome price of just $6.99!!! Registration Link.

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

Winner--Tracy Van Niel

Here are the details of the GIVEAWAY from 

Mary Beth and StencilGirl Products:

We are so excited about Sue's new book that we are giving one away! Not only that you will receive the piece of art that Mary Beth made for the webinar!!! Want more?? 

How about some stencils so you can make your own piece of art with what you learn in the webinar??!!!

Yes! this is one awesome prize!!!

All you have to do is leave a comment below telling us what your personality is more like....a Cowboy Girl or a Mary Jane Girl and also what is the reason you do (or do not) sign-up for webinars and online classes.

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

Winner--Tracy Van Niel

Comments close Tuesday, April 28th @ 11:59PM Central Time

One comment per person.

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Art Journal Webinar with Mary Beth Shaw

Maria here...just wanted to pop in and tell you about an upcoming event from Create Mixed Media staring our own StencilGirl....

Mary Beth Shaw!!!

The response has been overwhelming to Mary Beth's past webinars for Create Mixed Media and she is back! I have seen these video's and let me tell you they are JAM packed with tips and techniques. Not to mention that you will get the recording and an EXCLUSIVE downloadable PDF to go along with them.

Don't delay....the webinar is starting soon!!!!!

Get all the information HERE and click HERE to register!

Hope to see you there!

Art Journaling With Mary Beth Shaw Online Event

When: Thursday, May 22, 2014

Time: 1PM Eastern Daylight Savings Time (click here to find out what time that is in your timezone)

Cost: $5.99

What You’ll Get:

• Registration for the live event (including 2 video demonstrations and a chance to personally ask Mary Beth questions)
• A recording of the event and the 2 videos to watch whenever you want
• An exclusive bonus step-by-step PDF including a full, detailed materials list of products used in the video
• Exclusive special offers from event sponsor, Jerry’s Artarama

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR REGISTRATION

This webinar is sponsored by Jerry’s Artarama, empowering artists since 1968. During the event, you’ll learn about several specials Jerry’s Artarama has created exclusively for webinar attendees (psst…they’re pretty awesome!). In the meantime, visit www.jerrysartarama.com!

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