Five-Slot Longstitch Book with Kirsten Varga

Welcome to another bookmaking adventure with StencilGirl® and me, Kirsten Varga! This month I am featuring the five-slot longstitch book.There are numerous variations of longstitch patterns. A quick internet search will deliver a multitude of tutorials from many talented book artists. 

I was inspired to try this book structure after perusing Cherryl Moote's book titled "Longstitch Books". So, grab your bookmaking supplies, a few snazzy stencils and let's dive in!

I started by preparing my book block and that means picking out paper for the signatures. The signatures of my book are made from single sheets of heavy weight mixed media paper. Usually signatures are comprised of 3-5 sheets of folded paper nested together but since the paper I chose is so thick I opted to have just one folded sheet be my book's signature. I made about twenty of them but in the end I only put fourteen into my book. 

I colored my signatures with watered down acrylic ink after I folded them in half. I wanted to take away the black page and give my book a "weathered" look. The dried acrylic ink won't react to wet media so I will have the freedom to use many different mediums inside my book.

The cover is made from a large piece of chipboard that was part of some packaging. I painted and stenciled directly on the surface and then folded it in half and glued the unpainted sides together.

Instead of holes (to attach the signatures to the cover) this structure uses slits cut onto the spine. Then the signatures are sewed onto the cover with a running stitch. The result is a book with a decorative spine that allows the pages to open flat! 

I created a tutorial video to show you all the details! Find it on the StencilGirl® YouTube channel HERE! 

Happy Creating!

Find me on Instagram: @kirstenvarga

Stencils used:

Graphic Mod Mask 3: Bubble - L865

Stone and Mortar Version 2 - S375

Abstract Grid - L850

Other Supplies:

Mixed media paper (6"x9")

Chipboard (approx 13"x19")

Acrylic Inks

Acrylic Paints

Matte Gel Medium

Craft Knife

Ruler

Scissors

Awl

Needle and Linen Thread

Bone Folder

Piercing Cradle

This is One for the Books! New Designs from Valerie Sjodin

Do you love the look and feel of Vintage books? Do you also enjoy adding art to your journals, crafting cards, and making things beautiful?

If you do, I have something special to share with you: The Vintage Book Stencil Collection. One stencil is designed to make many sizes, for many uses.

What if one stencil could make all the different sizes we use so often in our art making and make it easy ? 
            It can, and Valerie shows you how in her video tutorials.

What if a small collection of stencils spark your art journaling and card making to shine with a bright and cozy Vintage style? 

             It can! Check out the Vintage Book Stencil Collection.

•    Each of the Vintage stencils in the collection feature one stencil with many sizes and uses!

•    The Vintage Book Collection stencils are sized to fit standard sizes often used: 5x7” cards & paper, A5  (journals), ATC’s (2.5x3.5”), standard and mini tags etc.

•    Since all the stencils in the Vintage Book Collection are designed to fit standard sizes, many of their elements are interchangeable. The designs in each stencil can be combined to make numerous art designs that coordinate together

•    The Vintage Book Collection stencils are also designed as a companion with the mini Open Book stencil, creating beautiful book plates as well as fitting in the standard sizes.

•    The Vintage Book Collection stencils can be paired with themed and patterned stencils you may already have, so there are unlimited possibilities for their use.

Vintage Book Elements

 

Reminiscent of Vintage book covers and patterns, this Vintage geometric patterned stencil is designed to fit standard sizes often used: 5x7” cards & paper, A5 ( journals, ATC’s (2.5x3.5”), standard and mini tags etc. The individual designs in this stencil can be combined to make numerous art designs that coordinate together. The diamond patterns are repeatable if you want the pattern to cover more area.

 

This Vintage Book Elements stencil is also designed as a companion with the mini Open Book stencil, creating beautiful book plates as well.

 

All the stencils in the Vintage Book Collection are designed to fit standard sizes, so many of their elements are interchangeable and can be used together, offering you more design choices in the same piece of artwork or series.

 

This Vintage Book Elements 1 stencil can be paired with themed and patterned stencils you may already have, so there are unlimited possibilities for their use.

 

The video shows you how to make beautiful Vintage book art!

 

Vintage Book Leaves

Reminiscent of Vintage book covers and patterns, this Vintage leaf patterned stencil is designed to fit standard sizes often used: 5x7” cards & paper, A5 (journals, ATC’s (2.5x3.5”), standard and mini tags etc. The individual designs in this stencil can be combined to make numerous art designs that coordinate together.

 

This Vintage Book Leaves stencil is also designed as a companion with the mini Open Book stencil, creating beautiful book plates as well.

 

All the stencils in the Vintage Book Collection are designed to fit standard sizes, so many of their elements are interchangeable and can be used together, offering you more design choices in the same piece of artwork or series. Check out the Vintage Book Elements 1 stencil.

 

This Vintage Book Leaves stencil can also be paired with leaf and nature themed stencils you may already have, so there are unlimited possibilities for their use.

Open Book Stencil

This mini 4”x4” Open Book stencil has been designed for making personalized book plates in journals, and to fit Artist Trading Card and tag art. It is a great companion to the Vintage Book Stencil Collection, easily combining with the elements in those stencils.

 

The versatile open book image can be paired with themed and patterned stencils you may already have, so there are unlimited possibilities for its use.

Valerie's Stencils are available now at stencilgirlproducts.com

Stenciled Fold Book by Kristin Peterson

Do you get totally obsessed about your newest stencils? I can hardly wait to try them out once they arrive and the 4-Point Star and Create Face are no exception. I have so been enjoying those two stencil in my art journals! I knew I wanted to use both of these in my latest project here.

I also love making little books. Size wise, this one is perfect for holding in your hands to look through and of course, a nice opportunity to use some of my favorite stencils. And if you are not familiar with how I roll in the studio-  this little book is a good mix of all the things I love- stencils, collage, fabric and stitching.

I started with a couple of long skinny pieces of paper and sewed the two together. Covered all of it in collage and the started layering some of my favorite stencils. Some of the magic and fun for me, is the layering of the stencils.

Here is the list of stencils I used for this project:
Vintage Ledger Numbers
Numbers Stencil (I had cut this one down- so just used the numbers)
20 Color Grid Swatch Stencil
Closed Leaves
Repetition Stencil
Fragmented Line Columns
Bittersweet Mini
4-Point Star Grid
Create Face
Layers of Scallop
Pickleweed
StencilClub- Aug 2013 

Once I was done with the stenciling, I decided where to place my folds in the paper.  I machine stitched the ribbon tab and vintage gold trim onto the top of the inner pages, and added corduroy pieces to the front and back covers to add some textural feel. The soft tan color of the corduroy fit so nicely with the overall feel of my book. 

I did glue the inner pages together to help keep the pages nice and easy to open. I did add a piece of dyed polka dot fabric to hide the book folds and to provide a more finished look. To complete the book, I added my signature initials on a little fabric tab on the back and added a piece of gold sari ribbon to hold the book shut. Here is a video so you can watch some of my process and see the finished book.

Thank you so much!
Xo.Kristin Peterson (artist behind: AlteredStatesStudio)
Instagram: 
https://www.instagram.com/alteredstatesstudio/

StencilClub Voices take on the Shaw-Sjodin Mash-Up for June 2020

It's time for you to feast your eyes on the delightful art journals and books created by Susan Jennings, Anna Friesen, and Carol Ponsford made with the Shaw-Sjodin Mash-up Set as StencilClub Voices. Look for unusual doorways, subtle patterns, bold leaf (rather than gold leaf), and a video!

Susan Jennings painted in 2 different art journals

This page was inspired by MaryBeth Shaw and Seth Apter's Friday night journal session. I used her technique of spray ink on a stencil to make a "print" on deli paper, then when that dried painted the reverse side with acrylic paint which I learned to do in a Dina Wakely online class that same week! The phrase is from Dina Wakely's collage collective. I used paint pens through the 9" x 12" stencil to create the dotted patterns in the middle and leaves on the border.

I first created collage papers by mono-printing on a gel plate with colors in shades similar to the art and magazine graphics using this month’s club set. 

The woman's face is a StencilClub stencil from October 2018 by Pam Carriker which I've been using in a personal challenge to use one stencil 100 different ways (She's #49). 

Finally, I used the Shaw-Sjodin Mash-Up Set to decorate her blouse and create her pendant. (This 2-page spread was inspired by Laly Mille's art that was beautifully displayed on the current cover of Somerset Studio magazine.) 

A leaf spoke to Anna Friesen

I just love cabbage rose patterns, and the ones featured in this set are no exception. I tried to make them the star of the show in this layout, but the waves of color were yelling at me, so they had to take backstage this time. You can spy them among the pink swaths, but very quiet. 

And then the leaf on the right waved hello at me. 😂 I like that that the recycled paper packaging journal is seen here too, on the edges to the right, hosting the special leaf. 

Carol Ponsford is practicing random acts of art

When I received the June StencilClub set, the first thing that popped out was that it had all the elements for a walk in the woods so I immediately thought of doing a journal page and was able to create everything on the page from the 2 larger stencils even down to the water rings in the pond. 

The quote is one I have always liked and felt it worked perfectly with the page. 

What I had in mind before receiving the set was to make an art book. After taking Dina Wakley’s Facebook Live Accordion Book class and I knew that I wanted to use the Lost Coast Design stamps I had purchased several years ago. 

Knowing that the June set would be arriving soon, I was hopeful that the stencils would have designs I could use as my background layers and was thrilled when I received it to see that it had all the yummy patterns that would work perfectly for what I had envisioned. 

Bet you have beautiful projects of your own going through your mind! 

Want to see Mary Beth Shaw and Valerie Sjodin's Reveal of this stencil mash-up? Look here.

You can sign up for StencilClub by June 15, 2020, to get these exclusive stencils.