Decorate a Metal Tin With a Mini Journal Inside

Hi Friends, it's Martha with a project that I have been wanting to tackle for a while now. I've decorated a metal tin that contains a mini journal inside. First I gathered some of my supplies to start gel printing on wet strength tissue paper. You could probably use regular tissue paper but be extra careful since it is more delicate. Deli paper could probably work too. 

I chose the paint colors in the picture above because I knew I wanted to use vintage black and white photos in this project and wanted colors that coordinated with this theme. I put some paint colors and stencils down on the gel plate and made a few prints. Then I lightly sanded the tin thinking that would help to adhere the tissue paper better. To be honest I'm not sure this is a necessary step but it can't hurt!

I started tearing pieces of tissue paper and using matte medium to adhere them to the outside of the tin making sure to use matte medium under and over the pieces. When the outside was dry I worked on the inside of the tin until all parts were covered in tissue paper. I tore off or cut the pieces of tissue hanging over the sides.

The stencils I used on the gel plate didn't show up well because there wasn't enough contrast in the paint colors I chose. So I decided to use a couple of stencils on the outside of the tin selecting a paint color (Paynes Gray) that I knew would show up and coordinate with my current color scheme.

I also used some gold paint to tidy up the edges of the tin.

Time to work on my mini journal. I used khadi paper to make my journal but you can use any type of paper you'd like - there are lots of options. Because I don't like to measure I used the tin to mark the approximate size of my journal. Note that since the lines indicate the size of the outside of the tin, I did tear the paper inside the lines I drew. I also doubled the width because I folded each paper in half to create the journal. 

Once the pages were torn to the correct size (I folded them in half and made sure they fit inside the tin) I rounded the corners of each page. Then it was time to add some color. I used Golden High Flow Acrylics in the same paint colors I used on the gel plate. I added the high flow on the papers, spritzed them with water and let them drip and move around the pages. I did that for both sides of the papers. You could also achieve this effect with sprays, inks or watered down acrylic paint.

To match the color scheme on the outside of the tin, I used Paynes Gray paint to stencil on each page. Again I stenciled on both sides of the papers. I wanted to create an interesting background for the vintage photos I planned to use. After the stenciling I added some spatters of gold, still following the color theme of the tin.

We're in the home stretch now! I gathered some vintage photos and bits of laces and ribbons to add a focal point to each page. Deciding which photo and which piece of lace to use is really a matter of opinion. I auditioned different pieces to decide which ones I thought worked well together on each page. As I was auditioning the photos, I decided to add a torn scrap of book page behind each photo. You can see that in the pictures of the inside of the journal below. To adhere the images and fibers, I used Dries Clear Art Glitter Glue (does not contain any glitter-that's just the name). Any strong glue would work.

I also added some pieces to decorate the top of the tin. Finally I tied a piece of ribbon around my pages to easily bind my mini journal.  With that my project is complete!

I do hope you enjoyed this project and will give it a try! All supplies I used are listed below.

Supplies Used:

Waves 6 Stencil https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-Waves-6-erri-Stegmiller-p/s087.htm

ATC Mixup Missigman #1 https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-ATC-Mixup-MissigmanArt-Marks-Rae-Missigman-p/l792.htm

Vintag Ledger Script Small https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-Vintage-Ledger-Script-Small-Jennifer-Evans-p/s827.htm

Acrylic Paints

Gel Plate & Brayer

Wet Strength Tissue Paper

Metal Tin

Sandpaper

Matte Medium

Khadi Paper

Ruler

Gold Paint Spray

Golden High Flow Acrylics

Vintage Photos

Scraps of laces, ribbons, etc.

Book Pages

Glue (I used Dries Clear Art Glitter)

Follo me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/

My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@madebymartha

Gloriously different floral stencils from 2 designers

Rosette stencil? You bet. Designed by Jennifer Evans 

 A Lemurian garden ATC stencil? Of course. Designed by Linda Edkins Wyatt.

Tutorials? Gladly provided for you by Jennifer and Linda.

Here's Jennifer to introduce her stencils:

Abstract Rosette Stencil, M329, 4" x 4"

Jennifer Evans adores flowers so her Abstract Nature set could not be without a stand-alone the Abstract Rosette Stencil. Perfect for when you want a loose flower or to tuck this mini stencil into your traveling art supplies. 

She how she paints wet on wet watercolor:

Inspired by her own Mid Century Modern Rocks and Leaves Stencil, Jennifer’s new Abstract Natural Sun Stencil was built off shapes you might find in a landscape, the sun, rocks, leaves, and linear elements.

Abstract Natural Sun Stencil, S870, 6" x6"

The Abstract Botanical Grid Stencil was designed by Jennifer Evans for versatility. The series of shapes and lines of the four quadrants may be stenciled, one with a flower, the rest with landscape textures, or you may choose to use the entire design in your art.

“Landscapes to me have a lot of horizontal and vertical lines so I wanted to give you lots of options to use within the same stencil,” Jennifer says.

Abstract Botanical Grid Stencil, S869, 6" x 6"

There are four strips in the Abstract Grid Stencil designed by Jennifer Evans. Each strip is wonderful for mixed media stenciling or you may choose a grouping of elements. The large triangular area is perfect for layering another stencil in your large art on canvas.

Abstract Grid Stencil, L850, 9" x 12"

NATURE TRIAD

Paint the Nature Triad

Additional Supplies:

• Substrate of Choice (I used 9”x12” Watercolor Paper, 140 lb. Cold Press)
• Acrylic Paint
• Plastic Card or Angled Palette Knife
• Water-Soluble Pencils (Jennifer used Derwent InkTense)
• Water-Soluble Pastels (Jennifer used Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Aquarelles)

1. Tone your substrate with the background color of choice. For the dark background, I used Golden Fluid Acrylic Payne’s Gray.
2. Begin stenciling areas of the grid. For the bottom 2/3rds, I used part of the 9”x12” Abstract Grid stencil. For the top 1/3, I used the bottom left quadrant of the 6”x6” Abstract Botanical Grid, the 4”x4” Abstract Rosette, and a portion of the right side of the 6”x6” Abstract Natural Sun. I used a combination of paints including white, warm gray, and light blue to frame the details of each stencil.
3. Add marks by scribbling and coloring with colored pencils and pastels. Introduce greens, blues, purples, and browns by imagining what each vignette would represent in nature. Scrape paint over some areas using a plastic card or palette knife. Don’t worry about whether you’re covering up some of the stenciling. Just have fun and layer color.
4. Allow drying time.
5. To gain definition in any areas of your grid, reposition stencils one at a time and trace openings with a pencil. In some areas, block in color with a topcoat of stenciling to bring back any solid shapes. Use a brush to paint in colorful accents.
6. Trim excess paper. My finished size is 9” wide by 10” high.

Blooming Violet Stencil, M332, 4" x 4"

This sweet Blooming Violet Stencil was developed by Linda Edkins Wyatt from a doodle, reminiscent of the wild violets that grew wild in her childhood yard; seeing them was one of Linda’s first joys of spring.

Blooming Violet is lovely for use with watercolor, in delicate shades of lavender and purple, but it also looks great in all shades of the rainbow.

Lemurian Leaves Stencil, S875, 6" x 6"

"I constantly doodle, and most often, the doodles are leaf shapes," Linda says. "I realized as I was using my first stencil collection, Lemurian Garden, that I lacked small leaves, so I gathered my doodles and created an assortment of leaves to fill the need. The Lemurian Leaves Stencil works with the florals in my new ATC Mix-Up, as well as the Lemurian Garden designs, but they also stand on their own. 

"With a pastel palette, they say Spring and Summer, but with deep greens and red accent, or done in blues with gold and silver, I can also visualize them used for holiday décor and greeting cards."

Linda has been making and trading ATCs for about 15 years, so creating the ATC Mixup was a natural idea.

The designs for her ATC Mixup Stencil sprang from her fabric designs, silkscreens, and hand-carved blocks; she also adapted some of her Lemurian Garden designs to ATC size. Each of the 9 bold or small and subtle motif stands on its own yet combines nicely with each other as well as any in her Lemurian Garden stencil collection. 

Use these designs for fabrics, wrapping paper, home decor, greeting cards, and art quilts. They would be right at home on an art journal page or, of course, as ATCs.

ATC Mixup Stencil - Wyatt, L852, 9" x 12"

Linda combined her new stencils on paper and created this cute book:

Discover all of the latest stencils at StencilGirlProducts.com.

Irish Travelers are arriving for September 2019 StencilClub!

Contemplative.

Three women, rendered from stone to stencil-mask to infuse your art with history.

One building surrounded by a garden or hedge.

One abstract background stencil.

All together in Tina Walker's Irish Travelers for StencilClub.

Here's Tina herself to share why she created these stencils and what you might do to make them artistically yours.

She's using sprays to showcase them in this StencilClub reveal but her exclusive project for club members is something she excels in making ~ a mini book!

Although this is Tina's first club set, you can discover stencils she designed for our public collection here.

Psst! Members can also order past StencilClub sets.

We'd sure love for you to join us on our art journey!

Oh and Ah or Om over new stencils by Kristie Taylor and Gwen Lafleur

Kristie Taylor and Gwen Lafleur have new stencils!

If line and pattern intrigue your senses, then Kristie's hand-drawn pattern stencils will make you oh and ah.

If om is your words of the month, we listened and are delighted to release small and mini Buddha stencils by Gwen.

Hand-drawn Pattern Stencils

The Streamers and Dots Stencil, designed by Kristie Taylor, was inspired by her love of pattern. The flowing lines suggest a chalice or an opening flower, while the dots give this tribal-like motif grandeur.

The Rough Maze Pattern Stencil, designed by Kristie evokes a maze of woven steps. 

Paint a striking background pattern that unifies the art in your journal or create beautiful collage paper on your printing plate with the Rough Maze Stencil.

Buddha, Buddha, Buddha

By popular demand, Gwen Lafleur's Buddha stencil is now available in small 6"x6" and mini 4"x4" sizes!

Gwen's Chinese Garden Buddha Stencil was inspired by her travels throughout Asia and the image was taken directly from a soft pastel portrait in one of her art journals.

She has used the mini in a miniature book and art journaled with the small one in the works below.

The original large Buddha Stencil:

You can discover all the latest stencils right here, or go straight to designs by Gwen or Kristie.