Make the Most out of Your Stencils and Paints - by Claudia Neubacher

Hi, servus and thanks so much for stopping by! 

Today's project is all about making most of the paints you are using with your stencils. The artwork that resulted from this task is a tiny folder holding a series of stencilled, stencil-printed and stencil-paint-residue-smudged and -rubbed (yes, I've obviously just invented these words) ATCs and I will explain all of these techniques in this post (though there isn't too much "magic" or "technique" involved honestly). As always I went for a project where I would embrace any imperfections that I would meet on my creative journey (and as I have already mentioned that a good deal of smudging has been involved, imperfection was certainly expected and hoped for) - and that led to some beautifully textured layers. 

I especially love how the folder turned out! 

I have of course done all sides of the folder (and had to pay attention to not accidentally do the front cover upside down!), but I will share images of the other sides later. First I want to talk about the set of ATCs which were inspired especially by one of the stencils I had quite randomly picked to use for my happy messy session with various spray paints:

The stencils I've used were: 

Sea of Skiffs Mini Stencil (M109)

and 

Fort Hill (M380)

by

Rae Missigman

Twisted Forest (S914)

by

Cynthia Silveri

and

ATC Mixup -  Carriker (L651)

by

Pam Carriker

...and it was Pam Carrikers head design on this stencil which inspired me to do an ATC series all about heads and what's in them (or comes out of them...). The fact that this particular stencil design also comes with the mask makes this stencil even more rewarding and versatile to play with. 

Building up layers by not only applying paint through the stencil but also using the paint that's then left on the stencil to make a print is great fun - and not a single drop of your spray paint gets wasted. I even used the paint residue on my craft mat that came from the cap of my blue spray paint (I had shaken the bottle too wildly so some of the paint oozed out and the cap left a blue paint circle on my mat) and took a "print" from it. 

But let's start with the first initial layers:

I worked simultaneously on the tiny Kraft folder and eight white ATC blanks. On these I used whatever spray paints I had at hand (Ranger Dylusions - white linen, Distress OxideSpray Paint - marmalade spice, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - Teal High Heel, I Zink dye spray - Cerise) and the only acrylic paint on this project that came in a jar: yellow Pantheon Paint (a gift from my wonderful boss, MaryBeth Shaw). The picture above shows the very first layers on the folder. I heat dried these so I could continue with applying the yellow paint through the sequin design stencil using a silicone brush. 

The silicone brush kind of forces the paint under the stencil, so you get a beautifully smudged result (if you prefer crisp and tidy designs and edges, you better apply the paint with a stipple or stencil brush or a sponge). The picture shows the smudged on (yellow) layer to the left, on the folder. The result looks a bit like fish scales (which I absolutely love). 

Then I used the left over paint on the stencil to print with it (by flipping it over) and add a base layer to the ATC. To fill in the circles with the brighter yellow I used a baby wipe and rubbed across the stencil (that was still in place) in circular motions. This gives a smooth pastel-like effect (and you are cleaning and using your stencil in one go).

I did the same with the teal Glimmer Mist on the Fort Hill stencil: first I sprayed some hills through the stencil to my folder's front cover...

...then I printed the (blue) negative space around the hills to a different background and finally I did the baby wipe smudging on another ATC blank.

Actually the only paint that was "wasted" throughout the whole project, was the one that got soaked up by the baby wipe. But everything else went on one or the other ATC - either printed or (baby) wiped. 

Another thing I found gave a cool result, was to apply spray paint to the head mask and print a head image with trying to keep the paint drops visible. Usually you print with a sprayed stencil by flipping it over, putting it in place on your substrate, then covering the stencil with a sheet of paper (or kitchen towel) and rubbing thoroughly to divide the paint evenly. 

This time I just picked up the sprayed mask with a pair of tweezers and put it face down on my ATC blank without adding any pressure at all. I just let it sit for a few seconds and then lifted it as gently as I could. 

Afterwards I "cleaned" the mask on top of another ATC with the baby wipe. This way the smallest amount of left over paint gets transferred to the paper around the mask. This is perfect to create soft transparent layers on top of printed or stencilled ones. 

Some of the results so far: 

I wanted to find out how the Distress Oxide Spray paint would behave when being layered onto different paints and substrates. I used it together with the Twisted Forest stencil on one of the folder's cover insides (and really like how it looks on the Kraft card stock). I layered two stencils this time and put the head mask on top of the forest design. This way I ended up with a clean head shaped area on the folder and two misted stencils to use for printing.

I picked two of the ATCs that already had stencilled or printed base layers on them and put them closely side by side  as I wanted to get two halves of a printed head in one go. 

Voilà!

I didn't think too much about which print or baby wipe layer was to go where - I just played and went by what I felt was the most fun, interest or contrast needed.  And (of course) my favourite ATC from the series turned out to be the one that I additionally cut from the sheet of protective paper (and which therefore had come together totally by accident and without any thinking at all).

Some final touches were added by going in with the stencils or mask again and trace some of the designs with a black Faber Castell fine tip PITT artist pen. With some of the ATCs I also shifted the stencil/mask on purpose, so the heads or hills didn't all just get a neat outline but some visual interest instead. 

Last but not least I also added some splatters and scribbling directly with the nozzle from a black acrylic spray paint and some cut out words (matching the "heads" theme) from old dictionary pages and collage papers. 

I think I will continue doing ATC series that go into separate folders each as I really like the concept of having themed ATCs stored in a visually matching folder. 

By the way: I've used a die cut folder (the one from the Tim Holtz "Specimen" Thinlits dies set), but you can just as easily cut out and fold a fast one from recycled sturdy envelopes or thin cardboard. This way not only paint residue on stencils gets a new purpose ;)

Of course I want to also share all sides of the folder - starting with some close up shots and then the back, the inside and finally the front cover again. I hope that you like this as much as I do and that I could encourage you to go wild with spray paints, silicone brushes, baby wipes and your favourite stencils! It's a great deal of fun (have I already mentioned that?) - you'll see! 

Once more thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have enjoyed your visit!

Hugs and happy creative times!

Claudia 

xxx

A Map of Us

February is the month that we celebrate love. Everything in the store is hearts, red and pink. When my husband and I were married, we decided that we weren't going to get pulled into the commercialism of Valentine's Day. What kind of a relationship does one have if they only show each other love on February 14th, once a year? Not to mention the overpriced candy and flowers. But when it comes down to it, I am a female and I want to be romanced. I love it when my husband comes home with flowers or a special gift. I love it when he does the unexpected to surprise me. Over the last few years, we have done a little something for the other not because we mutually agreed to start celebrating Valentine's Day, but because we have found it to be just one more opportunity to tell the other what we love about them.

This year, I decided to map out "Our Story," We have gone through some hard things in the past year and it seemed like the perfect time to commemorate all the battles fought and won in our marriage.

To start this project, I created a sketch.

Using stencils and other reference material, I came up with a final sketch.

One of my favorite reference materials was How To Make Hand-Drawn Maps by Helen Cann.

My sketch was transferred to watercolor paper using a pencil and graphite transfer paper.

I found a color palette that went with my theme and mixed up the colors before beginning.

I applied my first layer of color. 

I kept building up layers and here is the result. As you can see there are some wrinkles in the paper, so I pressed it for several days under heavy books.

Once flat, I used fine liner pens to add the text.

The last detail was adding the title in the bottom corner. I used this stencil to help me create a box.

S274

L978

L332

Thank you for joining me. I hope that you have found inspiration for creating a unique and personal way to show your love to someone.

Kate

 

Carol Ponsford: Let's have some fun in our journal!

Hello creatives, Carol Ponsford on the blog today to share a journal page I created using 

Pam Carriker's "Create Face" #S646 and an alphabet section of #L60 stencil.

 I used several other stencils for the background which I will have listed at the bottom of this post.

To start I spread a layer of Dina Wakley Media White Gesso on the journal page with 

an old gift card. After the gesso is completely dry, I used my fingers to loosely 

spread and blend a variety of PaperArtsy Fresco acrylic paint colors all over the page except 

where I planned to put my focal point on the page. (for this page it was in the bottom left)

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Next (while the paint is still damp), I laid a stencil on top of the paint and using a baby wipe,

I rubbed through the stencil to remove the paint and leave the stencil pattern on the page.

I then started layering some paint on top of the page by dabbing paint through a 

different stencil. I repeat this process using several paint colors with an assortment 

of stencils. Once I had the look I wanted I set this aside to dry. 

Then I went back into areas with some white gesso and lightly covered some of the areas

 (as shown below), I added an additional layer of color in some areas. This process of 

layering creates a great deal of depth that I like because I feel it gives more interest to the page.

I also used the edge of the gift card to add some vertical lines by dipping the 

edge in some paint and lightly placing it on the page and swiping it downward. I let 

this dry before going back to do some stenciling as a top layer as shown below.

To add the face I first lightly outlined where I wanted her hair to go since I 

wanted it to go beyond the edge of the stencil. I laid the stencil 

down and sponged the reddish paint for the hair and lips of the girl.

I then took the black paint and sponged the eyes, nose, and neck areas. I wasn't sure if

I wanted to have the diamond on both eyes or just one so on a separate piece of scrap paper

I sponged on the eyes and took a black Posca marker and drew the diamonds 

around them as shown in the picture below. I auditioned one, then both on the face to see how 

I wanted to finish the face then proceeded to add the diamond on the left eye only.

I also added some additional width to the neckline because it looked a little wonky, 

so I just continued the black lines as far to the left as needed to be in proportion.

I used a Micron pen to trace the letters from the alphabet stencil to say 

"Send in the clowns" and then filled them in with a black Posca marker. I 

ended up using a fine white pen to add highlights to the lettering.

To finish off the page I took an empty tape roll and dipped it into black 

paint and added some rings around the page. I also took a black Posca marker to 

outline the hair and face and sketched some lines around the edge of the page.

Here is a list of all of the stencils and PaperArtsy colors I used on this page:

Stencils                                                                     PaperArtsy Paint

S646 - Create Face                                              Snowflake                         Blueberry

S003 - Repeating Fleur de Lys                            Little Black Dress             Blew

M160 - Organic Roots #1                                    Zesty Zing                        Wisteria

M031 - Journal Texture #6                                  Slimed                               Electric Violet

L651 - ATC Mixup                                              Green Patina                     Cerise

L601 - Alphabet                                                   Smurf                                Scottish Salmon 

Jan 2022 StencilClub Pattern Party                      Peach Nectar                     Cherry Red

Thank you so much for joining me today on the blog. I hope you 

will find some of the techniques I shared helpful to jump start work 

in your journal or artwork. Until next time, happy creating!

To see more of my work please visit my Instagram page.