My 6" x 6" stencil Pressed Leaves was chosen by Artist Kathy Nyquist when she gave finishing touches to what had been a clean-up page in her art journal.  What had started as a page to catch leftover paints, became the work of art that you see below.

Above:  So much to love here! -- the translucency of the blue paint, the white outlining and calligraphy, all floating over a grid background.  What spirit!

Above:  Kathy Nyquist again has used 6" x 6" stencil Pressed Leaves on this greeting card cover, created with crackle paste and a piece of junk mail, redeemed!

Sylvia Lokhoff de Bruijn, another StencilGirl StencilClub member, will have a post dedicated entirely to her, showcasing her outstanding artworks created by putting into use several of my stencils and masks.  Today's post however narrows the field to this work in monochromatic blues --

Above: Sylvia has used 6" x 6" stencil Pressed Leaves in several applications, over a background that I think was created with June Pfaff Daley's Coral Fan Stencil L356. 

6" x 6" stencil Pressed Leaves is one that I've used often, myself:

Above: Here I've used it with modeling paste; after the paste dried, I went over it with orange pastels and a gold glitter glue (Ranger's Industries.)

Above:  Working on bronze "metallic" cardstock, I used heavy-body silver paint thru the stencil; after allowing drying time, I added highlights with silver glitter glue from Ranger Industries.

Above:  With a watercolor pencil, I filled in all the open areas on 6" x 6" stencil Pressed Leaves.  I lifted off the stencil and applied a light spray from a mister bottle.  This controlled amount of moisture caused just enough bleed to give the piece a "painterly" look.  This was done on heavy watercolor paper. 

Above:  This gorgeous Christmas card was created by Martha Lucia Gomez. 

Today's final idea for using Pressed Leaves comes from MaryBeth Shaw of StencilGirlProducts.com.  Enjoy this short but highly informative video made by MaryBeth, featuring a mixed-media process that came as totally new to me.  Something fun to try!

Thanks for checking out my blog today! To scroll thru my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here. 

Announcement:  Because the Feedburner team has released a system update, the email subscription service will be discontinued.  After July 2021, the automated emails to blog subscribers will no longer be supported.

If you want to continue subscribing to this blog by email, please leave a Comment that gives your email address.  Comment options are given at the end of each blog post.  Since I have Comment Moderation, I can read comments but prevent them from being published on the blog.  In other words, your email addresses will not appear here on my blog.  Rather, I will be collecting them and creating my own private list.  

I do not sell anyone's email address, period.  I don't like it when mine gets sold and I try to live by the Golden Rule!  

 ANNOUNCEMENT:  Because the Feedburner team has released a system update, this blog's email subscription service will end.  After July 2021, the automated emails to blog subscribers will no longer be supported.

If you want to continue subscribing to this blog by email, please leave a Comment giving your email address.  Comment options are given at the end of each blog post.  Since I have Comment Moderation, I can read comments but prevent them from being published on the blog.  In other words, your email addresses will not appear here on my blog.  Rather, I will be collecting them and creating my own private list.  

I do not sell anyone's email address, period.  I don't like it when mine gets sold and I live by the Golden Rule!

6" x 6" Pavilion Shadows s464

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I do not sell anyone's email address, period.  I don't like it when mine gets sold and I live by the Golden Rule!

Mikki's Flowers Mask s605 (6" x 6") with a commercial white applique of flowers

  ANNOUNCEMENT:  Because the Feedburner team has released a system update, this blog's email subscription service will end.  After July 2021, the automated emails to blog subscribers will no longer be supported.

If you want to continue subscribing to this blog by email, please leave a Comment giving your email address.  Comment options are given at the end of each blog post.  Since I have Comment Moderation, I can read comments but prevent them from being published on the blog.  In other words, your email addresses will not appear here on my blog.  Rather, I will be collecting them and creating my own private list.  

I do not sell anyone's email address, period.  I don't like it when mine gets sold and I live by the Golden Rule!

6" x 6" LOVE s828

Summer's Flowers and Greenery

Once upon a time, it would have bothered me to see a flower printed all in one color -- bloom, stems, leaves and all.  But that was an awfully long time ago.  I got over it!  Clearly, there are many ways to present flowers ...

Above:  Made with 6" x 6" stencil Silhouette of a Wildflower Bouquet, printed over an old encyclopedia page previously coated with pale pink acrylic paint.

"Greenery" need not be green, either!  Below, this collage-built greeting card cover features a print made using "metallic" pink paint and Unfurling Leaves, one of the nine Artist Trading Card-sized stencils (plus bonus masks) that come included in 9" x 12" ATC Mixup Swatton # 1 --

Today's next art sample, below, was printed on glossy black cardstock using my 9" x 12" stencil Queen Anne's Lace and pink acrylic paint.

Above:  Step 1 -- I used a sponge to spread green interference paint across the black cardstock in the areas where the flowers would be printed.  Step 2 -- With a ruler, I drew in 3 pink lines to add drama to the background.  Step 3 -- I applied pink-tinted molding paste thru the stencil.  Step 4 -- After the molding paste had dried, I added darker pink to some areas of the flowers and stems. 

Above:  Created in 2 steps with 9" x 12" Prayer Flags stencil  and 9" x 12" stencil Branching Blossoms Silhouette.

Above:  A collage created with cut-outs from papers printed using 9" x 12" mask Garden Montage.

Below is another greeting card cover made using a cut-out from a Garden Montage print..  The vertical strip along the left edge was cut from paper printed with 6" x 6" Sprigs.

Next up:  a sheet of Yupo (a synthetic substrate) dyed with "bleeding" tissue papers and -- this time -- I've used the entire 9" x 12" mask Garden Montage:

Above:  the speckled look comes from my spraying the surface with water while the dye from the tissue had dried completely.  To learn about dyeing substrates using "bleeding tissue," check here -- https://fb.watch/4f7dsOc2r8/

 

Above:  Printed with Mikki's Flowers stencil (6" x 6"), which comes with a matching mask. Here the background is a page from an old encyclopedia that came with a floral illustration.

Above:  Printed with 6" x 6" stencil Quilted Flower Garden.

Above:  Made with 6" x 6" stencil Swatton Flowers Version 1.  Background: a page from an old encyclopedia that featured a botanical illustration.

Above:  6" x 6" Heron stencil printed over paper previously printed with 9" x 12" stencil Blooming Where Planted (which features abstracted versions of flowers.)

Above:  Created with 6" x 6" stencil Tiger Lily.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!  To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here.

Announcement:  Because the Feedburner team has released a system update, the email subscription service will be discontinued.  After July 2021, the automated emails to blog subscribers will no longer be supported.

If you want to continue subscribing to this blog by email, please leave a Comment that gives your email address.  Comment options are given at the end of each blog post.  Since I have Comment Moderation, I can read comments but prevent them from being published on the blog.  In other words, your email addresses will not appear here on my blog.  Rather, I will be collecting them and creating my own private list.  

I do not sell anyone's email address, period.  I don't like it when mine gets sold and I try to live by the Golden Rule!  

 ANNOUNCEMENT:  Because the Feedburner team has released a system update, this blog's email subscription service will end.  After July 2021, the automated emails to blog subscribers will no longer be supported.

If you want to continue subscribing to this blog by email, please leave a Comment giving your email address.  Comment options are given at the end of each blog post.  Since I have Comment Moderation, I can read comments but prevent them from being published on the blog.  In other words, your email addresses will not appear here on my blog.  Rather, I will be collecting them and creating my own private list.  

I do not sell anyone's email address, period.  I don't like it when mine gets sold and I live by the Golden Rule! 

Left:  6" x 6" Heron s175.  Right:  Partial print of 9" x 12" Steampunk L201  

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If you want to continue subscribing to this blog by email, please leave a Comment giving your email address.  Comment options are given at the end of each blog post.  Since I have Comment Moderation, I can read comments but prevent them from being published on the blog.  In other words, your email addresses will not appear here on my blog.  Rather, I will be collecting them and creating my own private list.  

I do not sell anyone's email address, period.  I don't like it when mine gets sold and I live by the Golden Rule! 

6" x 6" Garden at Nemours Mask s658

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I do not sell anyone's email address, period.  I don't like it when mine gets sold and I live by the Golden Rule! 

6" x 6" Heron s175 (modeling paste) and 9" x 12" Feathers L228 (marbled paper)

Sylvia Lokhoff de Bruijn, a Netherlands artist, has floored me repeatedly with the ways she has used a number of my StencilGirl stencils and masks.  Today's post happily brings out a number of artworks by this prolific member of StencilGirl's StencilClub.

Brace yourself for a feast for the eyes!

Above: With colors that boldly catch the eye, Sylvia has created a background using my 9" x 12" Garden Montage.  In the foreground she's used Deconstructed Cluster of Lilies Mask and Stencil as well as Deconstructed Lily Mask and Stencil, both designed by Traci Bautista.  I'm happy to say that I had the pleasure of meeting Traci years ago in Red Bank, NJ.  Note:  This is not the final version of Sylvia's artwork.  Keep scrolling down.... 

These are the steps Sylvia took in creating the artwork above:

Above: The final artwork. Under the quote is a print made with Pam Carriker's Journal Notes 6 Stencil.  Sylvia used a rubber stamp to add the quote.

Above and below:  a work in progress by Sylvia.  The top photo shows an earlier stage that this richly textured piece went thru.  The photo below shows the piece as it's been further developed.  Among the StencilGirl stencils and masks Sylvia used was L490 Dangled Pods Stencil (9" x 12").  Also used: August 2014 StencilGirlStencilClub set and another stencil that I can't identify, altho I'm sure it's available at stencilgirlproducts.com.

Above:  Notice how beautifully the rich purple goes with the metallic gold; notice also that Sylvia has used the purple to create the impression of a frame that emphasizes her focal area.  The metallic gold paint that Sylvia chose was gold gesso.

Sylvia used Distress Inks and my 6" x 6" mask Tiger Lily in designing the cheerful artwork below that takes advantage of the hot color palette --

Above:  Tiger Lily was used on the left art journal page and on the right, Maria Maguire's 4" x 4" Live Your Beautiful Life. 

Below:  Sylvia Lokhoff de Bruijn's next masterpiece made my smile bright with her usage of ATC Mixup Swatton #2, a sturdy Mylar 9" x 12" sheet that holds 9 Artist Trading Card-sized stencils plus bonus masks.  

Above:  Sylvia's neutral grays and monochromatic blues are delightful together!

Sylvia clearly had fun the day she ran off the variety of Gelli Plate prints displayed in the photo below.  Among the StencilGirl stencils and masks that she chose for her printing were my 6" x 6" Ferns 6, 6" x 6" Flowers Version 1 Swatton stencil, 6" x 6" Sassy Spray, 6" x 6" mask Tiger Lily and 9" x 12" Palm Fronds Silhouette Large.  Also, in the lower left of the photo below, Celtic Spirals Mask by Valerie Sjodin was used beautifully with gold, green and blue paints.

Above:  A print made with Branching Blossoms Silhouette (9" x 12") takes center stage in this shimmering gold-and-lavender artwork.  Its enhancing frame was designed using  two other StencilGirl stencils/masks.

Here are my stencils and masks showing up in today's post:

9" x 12" Garden Montage

Branching Blossoms Silhouette (9" x 12")

L490 Dangled Pods Stencil (9" x 12")

6" x 6" mask Tiger Lily

ATC Mixup Swatton #2

6" x 6" Ferns 6 Stencil

9" x 12" Palm Fronds Silhouette Large

6" x 6" Sassy Spray

6" x 6" Flowers Version 1 Swatton stencil

Many thanks for stopping to check out my blog today!  To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here.

Announcement:  Because the Feedburner team has released a system update, the email subscription service will be discontinued.  After July 2021, the automated emails to blog subscribers will no longer be supported.

If you want to continue subscribing to this blog by email, please leave a Comment that gives your email address.  Comment options are given at the end of each blog post.  Since I have Comment Moderation, I can read comments but prevent them from being published on the blog.  In other words, your email addresses will not appear here on my blog.  Rather, I will be collecting them and creating my own private list.  

I do not sell anyone's email address, period.  I don't like it when mine gets sold and I try to live by the Golden Rule!  

 ANNOUNCEMENT:  Because the Feedburner team has released a system update, this blog's email subscription service will end.  After July 2021, the automated emails to blog subscribers will no longer be supported.

If you want to continue subscribing to this blog by email, please leave a Comment giving your email address.  Comment options are given at the end of each blog post.  Since I have Comment Moderation, I can read comments but prevent them from being published on the blog.  In other words, your email addresses will not appear here on my blog.  Rather, I will be collecting them and creating my own private list.  

I do not sell anyone's email address, period.  I don't like it when mine gets sold and I live by the Golden Rule! 

Trivet B s167  and bleeding tissue paper on cardstock

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If you want to continue subscribing to this blog by email, please leave a Comment giving your email address.  Comment options are given at the end of each blog post.  Since I have Comment Moderation, I can read comments but prevent them from being published on the blog.  In other words, your email addresses will not appear here on my blog.  Rather, I will be collecting them and creating my own private list.  

I do not sell anyone's email address, period.  I don't like it when mine gets sold and I live by the Golden Rule! 

s394

 ANNOUNCEMENT:  Because the Feedburner team has released a system update, this blog's email subscription service will end.  After July 2021, the automated emails to blog subscribers will no longer be supported.

If you want to continue subscribing to this blog by email, please leave a Comment giving your email address.  Comment options are given at the end of each blog post.  Since I have Comment Moderation, I can read comments but prevent them from being published on the blog.  In other words, your email addresses will not appear here on my blog.  Rather, I will be collecting them and creating my own private list.  

I do not sell anyone's email address, period.  I don't like it when mine gets sold and I live by the Golden Rule! 

M267

For today's post I've started with 140-lb. hot press (smooth surface) watercolor paper and covered it with dark gold "metallic" acrylic paint.  My goal is to create a luminous background because this luminosity goes beautifully with alcohol inks.  Here I've used the Golden brand; other brands are available.

After the paint dried, I added stencils and masks, holding each in place with masking tape --

The stencils and masks used above are:

on the far right, my 9"X 12" Borders #2 L221 stencil -- 

at bottom left, a portion of my 9"X 12" Boxed Vines L247 stencil;

my 6"X 6" Mimosa s126 stencil (upper left);

my 6"X 6" Kaleid s085 stencil (middle top.)

Next, I very lightly pounced thru the stencil openings with a Ranger alcohol ink applicator and just a few drops of Ranger alcohol inks, pictured below. 

 

Below is the sheet of gilded paper after the stencils were lifted off.

Since the photo above can't capture the luminosity of these prints, please take my word for the fact that the "metallic" paint shimmers thru the colors of the alcohol inks.  

Another "metallic" paint that works well as background for alcohol inks is the pearl "metallic" acrylic paint.  Below is an example printed using part of my 9" x 12" stencil Boxed Vines L247.

In its entirety, Boxed Vines L247 looks like this--

Thanks for visiting!  To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here.

ANNOUNCEMENT:  Because the Feedburner team has released a system update, my blog's email subscription service will end after July 2021. 

Want to continue subscribing to this blog by email? -- please leave a Comment giving your email address.  Comment options are available at the end of each blog post.  

Since I have Comment Moderation, I can read Comments, yet prevent them from being published on the blog. I will be collecting email addresses and creating my own private list.  

I do not sell anyone's email address, period.  I don't like it when mine gets sold and I live by the Golden Rule!