LONGWOOD FLORALS MASK and STENCIL -- 2 of 5 Brand-New Stencils and Masks!

Longwood Florals Mask and Longwood Florals Stencil each measure 9" x 12" and are two of five brand-new releases available today at StencilGirl!

Longwood Florals Stencil ... 9" x 12"

l675 Longwood Florals Mask.....9"x 12"

The first project highlighted in today's post uses the mask.

I designed this mask (and its matching stencil) to be used either upside down, or right-side-up.  However, the original flowers and leaves were dangling as shown in the first photo below.  You can click on the image to enlarge it and better see detail.

First, I'd placed the mask onto the white canvas.  Above, on the left, are the disposable plate and sponge that I used to add Liquitex Super Heavy Gesso over the entire canvas.  I used one hand to hold the mask in place as I dabbed the surface with this ultra-thick gesso.  Since I was working toward a 3-D effect, I did a lot of up-and-down pouncing with the gesso-laden sponge.  I could have used any other white texture medium, such as heavy-body Titanium White acrylic paint, or any of the modeling paste gels, or one of the heavy-body gels.

Immediately after covering the canvas with gesso, I lifted off the mask and placed it in a basin of water.  That way, the gesso on the ask wouldn't harden while I moved on with the project.  Later, I lifted the mask from the water and cleaned it.  I seldom clean masks or stencils, but the exception is when I've used them with 3-D media.  If this kind of medium dries on the stencil or mask, it can interfere with getting detailed prints from that time forward.   

The photo below shows the very start of adding colors to the canvas.  I could have used acrylic inks or liquid watercolors, or even spray paints, but I chose to use Golden High Flow acrylics.  I could have waited for the ultra-thick gesso to dry before adding color, but there was no need, because I planned to allow the color to somewhat sink into the surface.

The above photo shows dribbles of high flow acrylic paint as they began spreading over the surface.

To speed the flow for the sake of complete coverage, I sprayed the dribbles with water in a spray bottle, as shown below.

The above photo was taken while the paint and water mixture were still wet.  I knew there would be a color shift, once the piece had dried overnight...

... and the photo above -- showing the final artwork -- shows that the colors have lightened.  

When I approached the second canvas, I started -- as shown below -- by spreading light molding paste thru the stencil that matches the mask.  (Note:  The stencil shown here has been stained orange as result of an earlier project.)

After I lifted the stencil, I had a raised imprint; see below. 

Right after lifting the stencil, I placed it in a basin of water, as shown below, where it would wait until I had time to clean it.  I don't clean stencils after using acrylic paint with them.  But after using any of the 3-dimensional media, I want to take the time for cleaning.  Build-up of heavy media can result in clogged stencil openings. 

I let this paste dry thoroughly on the stretched canvas, before I added Golden high flow acrylics in the same way as described in the early section of this post.

After those paints had dried, I went in with cotton swabs, heavy-body acrylic paint, and a white marking pen --

One reason I like Golden brand is that its high flow acrylics come in colors that match Golden's heavy-body acrylic and liquid acrylic paints.  

I used the white marker pen to highlight some of the stems and leaves, so that the finished artwork looks like this --

Before ending this post, I want to mention that the titles of this mask and its matching stencil come from my having seen these flowers and leaves at Longwood Gardens, Kennet Square, PA.

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Today beings a launch of daily posts with more art created with my five just-released stencils and masks.  To follow this blog by email, please use that option in the upper right sidebar.

Aluminum Foil Tape with Stencils -- and More about Embossing

Home improvement stores carry rolls of aluminum tape like this kind which measures  just shy of 2 inches in width.  When it comes off the roll, it has a paper backing that peels off, revealing this tape's self-adhesive side.  I'm sure it does a good job with ducts and in its other applications -- but for me, it's kept with my collection of art-making supplies!  Below are two examples of ways I've used it.   

Today's first art sample is a Christmas card that was quick and easy to make.  I simply rolled out the tape and -- while its white paper backing was still covering the self-adhesive side -- used one of my Borders series of stencils -- Swatton Borders # 2 -- with red paint, adding a pattern.  After that paint dried, I trimmed one end of the tape to be slanted, suggesting a candle being burned.  Then I removed the white backing, exposing the adhesive side of the tape and used that to attach it to the card cover.  (The flame was cut from marbled paper.)

Today's second art sample results from a technique with more steps:


For this project, besides the aluminum tape, I used stencils, alcohol inks, Sharpie pens, an embossing stylus, padding (a craft foam sheet and an old mouse pad), masking tape, and a non-stick paper (non-stick aluminum foil or freezer paper, shiny side up) to spread over the work surface for its protection.

Above, at the top of the photo, is a view of the tape as it comes, in a roll.  Here, I have cut off 2 lengths of it and secured them with masking tape to (left) a sheet of yellow craft foam and (right) an old mouse pad. 

Below are two close-ups of the next step I took -- placing stencils over the tape.  The first photo shows my 9"X 12" Wrought Iron Gate stencil and, below that, the smaller photo shows my 9"X 12" Swatton Borders 1 stencil.

I traced inside the stencils' open areas with an embossing stylus, the top of which is shown below -- but a ballpoint pen would work, too.

My next step was to lift off the stencil to reveal the embossed tape -- 

Below are two photos showing the embossed tapes with alcohol inks added--

I liked the colors of these inks, but wasn't happy with the way the embossed line-work disappeared under them.  So I began experimenting.  One experiment was to remove most of the ink with rubbing alcohol.  I also got out my Sharpie pens, knowing that these deeply embossed lines would be easy to trace.  But to be on the safe side, I replaced the stencils, lining them up with the embossed line-work --

After lifting off the stencil a second time, I had the results below.

Above:  The lower strip of tape has been embossed, alcohol-inked, and wiped with rubbing alcohol.  Some of the alcohol ink remains, highlighting the embossed line-work.

Below is a 6"X6" greeting card I made using this tape --

Stencils used for today's two projects:

Swatton Borders #1 stencil (9" x 12")

Swatton Borders #2 stencil (9" x 12")

Wrought Iron Gate stencil (9" x 12")

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More metallic-themed posts will be posted here, later.  These posts will temporarily wait in the wings, preempted by tomorrow's special announcement, as well as a series of daily posts that will follow it. 

To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils, please start here.

Foil Embossing

Today's post appeared on this blog back in October 2016; it's posted again now, because it belongs in this series of posts focusing on ways to combine metallics and stencils in art-making.


Foil Embossing 

Supplies:

a ballpoint pen or an artist's stylus
masking tape
a sheet of Fun Foam
heavy-duty aluminum foil (the kind used for grilling)
acrylic paints of your own color choices
2 wide paintbrushes
a soft rag (or paper towels) for buffing
optional:  self-leveling gel medium

My first step is to use green masking tape to secure each of these layers, in this order --

Bottom layer:  a sheet of Fun Foam
Middle layer:  heavy-duty aluminum foil, dull side up
Top layer: my 9" x 12" stencil It's A Jungle Out There.

Below is a shot of the top layer held down with masking tape:

Now to emboss!

Embossing is a very easy process, done by simply tracing around the stencil's openings.  You can trace around every opening, or just the openings you want.

It works fine to use a ballpoint pen; because the foil's dull side is facing up, you are working from the back of the piece, so the ballpoint ink will not be showing up in your final art. 

But I'm using an artist's stylus, which works the same way.  Below is the foil after I have traced the stencil and lifted it off:
  

Here is a close-up:

The next step is not shown, since not everyone will feel a need to do it.

What I chose to do as my next step was to spread a thin layer of self-leveling acrylic gel across the dull side of the foil -- because I wanted to give the embossed foil additional strength.  After spreading the gel, I set the piece aside to dry overnight.

Fast-forward to the following day:

I turn the foil over to its bright side, then brush acrylic paint across the entire embossed surface.  While the paint is still tacky, I use a soft cloth to rub some of the paint back off.  

For variety's sake, I repeat this whole process with several sheets of foil and several colors of paint, as shown below:

I have a hard time capturing these results with my camera, since the foil turns out to be just what I had hoped for -- light-reflective.  And of course, the fact that I have rubbed off some of the paint makes the surface even more happy to reflect light!  Click on the 3 shots above to enlarge them and better see the embossed details.

How to use these new papers?

I offer these ideas:

Cut them up for use in full-size collages on board or canvas; or small collages on greeting cards, scrapbook pages, or gift-bags.

Wrap full-sized sheets over sturdy cardboard to create art journal covers.  This is easy, since the foil remains flexible, even with the layer of gel that I'd decided to spread across its dull side.

Because of this flexibility, it's also fun to cut the embossed papers into small sizes and wrap them over wooden craft pieces -- hearts are my personal favorite -- to make jewelry or Christmas tree ornaments or embellishments for greeting cards or gift-tags.

And medium-sized sheets can be wrapped around empty aluminum cans to create pencil-holders. 

Below is an example of embossed foil on the cover of a greeting card -- in this case, I've gone over the embossing with white acrylic paint, then buffed off some of the paint, before it dried completely.  Then I added dots of red glitter glue--

Complete directions will appear in my next post.

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To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils, please start here!

The Metallic Look and Stencils -- Part 3

Today's post touches on metallic paints and oil sticks ...

In developing the above, I started with molding paste and my 6" x 6" stencil Quilted Flower Garden.  After the paste had dried, I used two metallic oil sticks, silver and red, applying them straight from the sticks, then rubbing them into the surface with my finger (while wearing nitrile gloves.) 

Metallic crayons might work, too.  Being harder than oil sticks, they would have a different effect.

My oil sticks are Shiva brand, but probably other brands are available.

Below is a collage Christmas card.  The king on the far left was cut from scrapbook paper that had originally been white with gold marbling.  The middle king was cut from blue paper embellished with heavy-body silver metallic paint, with my 6" x 6" Marbles 6 Stencil.  Both the left king and the right king were cut from papers that had been printed with another 6" x 6" stencil of mine, Sprigs.

The art sample below started as a piece of plain red paper.  I used silver metallic paint to make a casual-looking background.  After that paint dried, I made a print on it with dark blue acrylic paint and my 6" x 6" stencil Heron.

Below is a very faint metallic piece, made with gold acrylic paint and another 6" x 6" stencil of mine, Sassy Spray.  Because the paint is so faint, you may want to click on this photo to enlarge it.  

In its entirety, Marbles 6 Stencil looks like this --

And Sprigs (6" x 6") Stencil, in its entirety, looks like this -- 

Quilted Flower Garden (6" x 6") --

Sassy Spray (6" x 6") --

More ways to pair stencils with metallics  will show up here tomorrow.

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To scroll thru all my StencilGirl stencils, please start here.

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Metallics and Stencils -- Better Together!

Some time ago, on StencilGirl Talk blog, I did a how-to write-up entitled Foiled Again!  You can read it, and see its step-by-step photos, using this link. 

Among the photos posted there are the first three below --

In the above art samples, each features a ribbon that's become metallic with the help of rub-on foil and my 6" x 6" stencil Kaleid.  A full list of supplies is included in that write-up at StencilGirl Talk blog.  

Another approach to getting a metallic look with stencils is simply to start with foil, textured or plain.  You can use copy-paper-size foil sheets available at art/craft stores; or metallic gift-wrap; or even pieces of foil-laminated paper that comes for a free ride in some types of junk mail.  I've used all three.

Above:  I started with plain gold foil-paper, made a print on it with Ornamental Iron Curls (6" x 6") stencil; then cut it into a Christmas tree shape.

Above:  On heavily textured silver foil-paper, I made a green print with Ornamental Iron Curls , followed by a yellow print created using Pavilion Shadows (6" x 6") stencil.

Above: With my 6" x 6" stencil Swaying Grasses, I used red acrylic paint to make a print on faintly textured silver foil-paper; then I cut it into a heart shape.  After giving it a red background, I added a small red heart that I'd made with a heart-shaped hole-punch.

To see more ideas for pairing stencils with foils, or achieving a metallic look in other ways with stencils, just stay tuned.  

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To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils, please start here. 

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Mary Ann Russo's Art and Other Metallics Created with Stencils

On the day that I got an idea to do "a post" on the topic of using stencils with various types of metallic materials, I had lost track of how many artworks there are to show.  Most are ones I made, that have accumulated over the last six years.  

But what kicked off the idea -- an idea that will, I see now, stretch out into a series of posts, rather than just one post -- was a stunning piece of metallic art created by my friend Mary Ann Russo.

Mary Ann started with multi-media paper.  She first used my 9" x 12" stencil Steampunk to apply soft gel medium as a resist.  Once that had dried, she painted the surface with FW metallic inks.  Then she rubbed off some of the inks.  Her last step was to come back in with black acrylic paint, rubbing it on and off in areas.  (Some artists call this technique "antiquing.") 

Bearing in mind that any photo of metallic/reflective artwork just can't do it justice, I'll post a photo of Mary Ann's finished art --

   
Clicking on the above photo to enlarge it, you can better see its details.

Another metallic artwork I'll show today is this one --

This artwork was done by me, using my 9" x 12" stencil Fantasia.

Again, a photo fails to do justice to the reflective sparkle in this artwork.  I used a quick and easy technique that I recommend to everyone wanting to try something new in an art journal.  Just let the first step be a layer of reflective metallic paint.  Then bring on the stencil or stencils! -- using them with either matte or glossy acrylic paints (or both); also using them with opaque and/or translucent acrylic paints.

Below is an example of something metallic that's somewhat similar; this piece was created with part of my 9" x 12" stencil Blooming Where Planted --

   

This time, rather than add metallic paint to paper, I started with textured reflective foil gift-wrap paper.  I chose matte acrylic paint to use thru the stencil, because of its contrast with the background.

More metallic-look artworks -- made with stencils -- will be posted here ... in fact, they will be the next 7 posts.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils, please start here.

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Halloween Ideas

For those who celebrate Halloween ... may I suggest using these 2  stencils in your projects?  Each measures 6"X 6".

CATS

HERON

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