Wannabe Washi Tape

Hello there, it's Renee Day with thediyday here to share a fun wannabe washi tape do-it-yourself. Washi tape is such a fun tool to have in your arsenal and can be used in many craft projects. However,  sometimes colors and designs are needed and not readily available. That's where this DIY comes in handy.  

For this particular project I used file folder labels.  But if you're using acrylic paints this technique will work on masking tape (oxide inks smear on masking tape).  Just be sure to adhere the tape to wax paper before designing for easy removal.    

After randomly stamping some texture designs onto the labels, add various colors to the top with oxide inks.  Be sure the stamp ink you're using waterproof, otherwise it will eventually smear and cause a big mess, I'm using Ranger Archival Ink.

Add a stencil to the top of colorful labels and spray with water to activate the oxides. I'm using the Pebbles Layer Me Stencil (L368) and the result is a milky chalky look in the design of the stencil.   

Add additional stamping to the labels.  This gives the background a bit more noise.  

Next, I grabbed the Fade Horizontal Stencil (L027) and a light grey ink pad and added various sized circles to the labels.

The last stencil I'm using is the Soulful Scribbles Dots Dash (L605).  I applied this right on top using black acrylic paint and a stencil brush.

Here's how the wannabe washi tape turned out.  Tear off a small piece from both edges of the label to give that torn off the washi tape roll look.  

 

Enjoy!

Renee Day

Washi and Watercolor, Collage, Inks, & a Homage to Vets by StencilClub Voices

Hello and welcome! What do you see in the abstract shapes and patterns of this StencilClub set and what will those visions lead you to create?

Our wonderful StencilClub Voices, Geri Beam, Tricha Hartman, Amy Vetter, (and me) broke out watercolors, acrylics, and our imaginations to collage, paint, ink, and washi our merry way with Mary Beth Shaw's Private Collection. 

Geri Beam's Computer Bug & Watercolor

Geri found these stencils to be versatile. When she first saw them, she thought about circuit boards and computers and also saw the flowers and twigs. 

This first piece is called Computer Bug. 

Geri says, "This was done on black paper using Tim Holtz Oxide Spray.  I put a layer of gel medium down on the places where I wanted the "chips" and circuits so that they would appear black.  I then rubbed the surface with oxide inks.  Once it was dry I used the stencil and a baby wipe to wipe away parts and pieces. I used Sharpie water-based paints to color the 'bug' with his bug eyes.  Needless to say, I had a fun time doing this project."

"The next piece is my first watercolor painting. I used the stencil to color with watercolor paint and then dabbed away the excess water. I started with the flowers from the stencil. Next, I added the grass at the bottom using the other part of the large stencil. I am happy that my first watercolor turned out. Couldn't have done it without the stencil."

Geri loves the versatility of this club set. She used alcohol ink dropped over the stencil. When it dried she cleaned the stencil with alcohol and pressed it onto watercolor paper.

Tricha Hartman's Memories Painting

All the little details in this collage are quite enjoyable!

Amy Vetters' Veteran's Day Poppies

Amy says, "I played with gelatin prints for quite a while before I finally settled on using this one for a background. It is a gelatin monoprint background with acrylic paint, then stenciled over with more paint for details and embellished with a black Sharpie and white Posca pen. It was a little bit of a struggle [abstracts], but we need to expect that with art. It does not always come easy. But worth it."

"Veteran's Day Poppies" November 11, 2019. By Amy Vetter, Roseburg, Oregon.

Carol Baxter's Washi Tape

Carol says, "A few years ago Kiala Givehand made washi with removable first-aid tape. (You can see it here.)

"I have had a roll or two sitting in a drawer for far too long and it called to me when I sat looking at the abstract December StencilClub set.

Armed with stencils, butcher paper (the shiny side), a paper trimmer, tape, and paint, I spent an afternoon making a dozen different 7ish by 7ish inches sheets of washi. I cut the tape in different widths and added Avery Label round stickers for good measure. Later, while half-watching TV, I doodled with pens to complete the tape. 

"Here are a few of the sheets, ready for art collage, card making, or gifting to an art friend."

The negative to using butcher paper is not being able to easily see the washi strips or dots.

Watch Mary Beth's Reveal of her Private Collection set right here.

Sign up for StencilClub here and get all the extra perks: a loyalty coupon, video & pdf, access to the secret group on FB, and more!

Art Journaling with Stencils and Posca Paint Pens

Hi all, it's Gwen back with today's column featuring paint (pens) and stencils.

A few months ago I posted several pieces on Facebook that used poster paints and Posca paint pens along with some of my stencil designs. I had several comments both on my post and in person from people who didn't like or were having trouble using their Posca markers, so I thought I'd share a short tutorial showing my favorite way to use them.

Posca paint pens are some of my favorites of the different paint markers out there. I've tried just about every kind I can get my hands on and I use several brands since many of them use different kinds of paint and work best for a variety of applications. Poscas are a water-based paint, very similar to a poster paint but with a thinner consistency. This makes them very opaque, but also easily blendable. I like to use them to create gradient effects that go from opaque to translucent and to layer and blend colors and shades.

To show how I like to use these pens, I put together a short tutorial for a layered art journal spread with bright stenciled and "painted" focal images.

To start, I opened one of my art journals to a spread with nothing but paint that I'd cleaned off of my brushes onto the pages. Lately I'm really enjoying working in mini journals, so this is a handmade 3" x 3" art journal. I added strips from several different rolls of washi tape onto different parts of the background to start building up layers.

Next, I added some stamping in the background using images from my brand new line of rubber stamps with PaperArtsy and VersaFine Clair pigment ink from Tsukineko / Imagine Crafts.

Once I was happy with all of the pattern in the background, I stenciled the focal image onto the background using more pigment ink and a brush applicator. For this spread I used my Chinese Garden - Koi stencil.

This is where the Poscas come in... for this technique, I pick out a few shades in the same color family and then start with the lightest color. I don't color the entire area, rather I just scribble a bit so I can blend it out. Sometimes I do one color at a time, but as you see below, sometimes I also layer several colors at once, coloring wet into wet with the pens.

Once I have the color down, I use my finger to blend it out. (You could also use a sponge or brush if you prefer, but I find that my fingers are my best tools in this case.)

I continue to add and blend out the color, frequently going back over with darker colors in smaller areas to create a sort of ombre, blended effect.

When I've added all the color to the stenciled areas, I'll frequently add shadowing outside of the image with my gray Posca marker, then I'll either replace the stencil and re-stencil the lines or just trace over them with my black Posca pen. Then I use a pen to add marks and journaling and on these spreads I added some dots with my Posca pens. If you like, you can stamp a focal word or title like I've done here:

Here you can see the finished spread with the koi stencil - I love how you can make the color translucent enough that it's still obviously there, but you can also see bits of the background pattern peeking through.

I repeated this technique on a few other spreads in my mini journal so that you can see how the same technique works with different stencils and color palettes. In this instance it was a great way to cover up and push back a background that had gotten way too dark and busy. For this one I used my Chinese Garden - Lotus stencil:

For the next... the one I showed above where I was stamping the words, I used my Collage Textures and Patterns - Leaves stencil.

For this spread, I used my Chinese Garden - Plum Blossoms stencil.

Finally, I did the first page in my mini journal using my Boho Birds stencil.

So there you go... one of my favorite techniques for using Posca paint pens. You can use the same method for stenciling cards, scrapbook layouts, or other mixed media artwork. It also works for more geometric or abstract shapes if you want to do something a little less representational.

That's it for today - I hope you enjoyed today's tutorial and either discovered a new must-have set of paint pens for your studio or found a new way to use Posca pens if you already have some. And if you try this at home, make sure to link me up so I can see what you make.

Until next time, happy stenciling!
Gwen

New Designer Kristin Reese Williams has stencils for Stitching and there are 4 more must-have stencils from 2 designers!

A talented entrepreneur, artist, and no stranger to anyone who has been following StencilGirl, Kristin Williams has joined our cadre of stencil designers. She brings one of her current obsessions for embroidery to her new designs. She has lots of tips to share for using these stencils.

Cecilia Swatton has two new abstract stencils and Valerie Sjodin has new Leafy Doodle stencils (and a diy washi tape video), so please scroll on down.

Floral Sampler, S706, 6"x6" Stencil

Kristin’s art oftentimes revolves around flowers, and her Floral Sampler Stencil is a nod to her mother’s wildflower garden. No rhyme or reason for the Daisys, Cone Flowers, or happy little flowers swirling around this stencil. Just flower happiness.

Your stencils can be used as patterns for stitching! Kristin recommends using matte acrylic paint (like Paper Artsy) or white or black gesso. Your paint can be part of your design, or you may cover everything up with stitches.

For stitching on the Floral Sampler, you have opportunities for Cross Stitch, Satin Stitch, Running Stitch, French Knots, Spider Web Rose or whatever stitch strikes you! Same with choosing your colors for painting or stitching. It’s a wildflower garden so, go wild!

Kristin has used this Stencil as a key element on her pocket for her in-progress stitched shop apron.

Boro, meaning “rags” or “tattered cloth,” refers to textiles that have been patched many times over and were passed on through generations.

Boro is an ancient art form and alters a wonderful textural creation of stitches upon stitches and cloth upon cloth to mend and repair garments. Generally involving patches and many “tiny stabs” of stitches, Japanese Boro cloth is a sought-after textile.

Kristin designed this stencil as she loves the texture, history and utilitarian beauty of Boro. A stitcher, herself, she finds beauty in the multitude of stitches and tattered cloth that preserved clothing through the years.

Here Kristin shows you a background using the Boro stencil. As always, you can use the stencil as a whole or just stencil through parts as she did in white gesso. 

Boro, S705, 6" x 6" Stencil

ATC Stitch Mixup, L729, 9" x 12" Stencil

Oftentimes when Kristin was teaching stitching classes, she’d grab a dishtowel or random piece of fabric to use to show how to create specific embroidery stitches. She had an “Aha! Moment” realizing a stencil with her favorite stitches would be great to use for students as well as teachers.

Using muslin or any lightweight fabric, stencil so that you have about 3-4 inches on each side —this makes it easier to place a hoop anywhere on the fabric. Stencil with any matte acrylic paint (like Paper Artsy) or black or white gesso.

Kristin stitched with all 6 strands of DMC floss using a Chenille Needle as it has large eye and a sharp point. The larger stitch patterns on this Stitch ATC Stencil are great for beginners as they can learn the intricacies with less frustration.

Starting at the top left the stitches used are: Seed, Cross, Chain, Spider Web Rose, Lazy Daisy, French Knots, Running, Couching, and Fly.

Not a stitcher? Cut this stencil up and use these great patterns in your art journaling backgrounds or to integrate your designs!

Abstracted Letters by Cecilia Swatton

Cecilia Swatton is in her happy place when she is customizing letters. Her R & E and M & Y 4" x 4" Mini Stencils are each a combination of two letters that evolved into an abstract pattern. 

M & Y , R & E 4" x 4" Mini stencils

You can check out Cecilia's blog in the coming week for more inspiration with these stencils.

Leafy Doodles by Valerie Sjodin

If you want to make a repeated leaf border, Valerie Sjodin's large 9" x 12" Leafy Doodle Border is the stencil for you.  The stencil includes three borders, a leafy branch mask, and random leaves to stencil on your artwork. Random leaves can be sprinkled over artwork and journal pages.

L736

handmade washi tape

S714

Leafy Doodle Verge is the small 6" x 6" version.  The stencil pieces fit nicely in the pockets of a Moleskine or Leuchturrm 1917 journal.

All three borders on either stencil are repeatable.

You can discover all the latest stencils on our website.

Happy stenciling!