Up, Up and Away with ATC MIXUP SWATTON #1 and ATC MIXUP SWATTON #2 Stencils!

ATC Mixup Swatton#1 and ATC Mixup Swatton #2, each 9" x 12", together bring you 18 images in stencils (with bonus masks), all sized for creating Artist Trading Cards.  But I've explored many other applications -- bookmarks, gift-tags, collage elements, embellishments for art journal pages, hanging ornaments, and even refrigerator magnets!  In today's post I'm showing greeting card covers.

Inspired by my original 6" x 6" stencil Osprey Wings --

6" x 6" stencil Osprey Wings

-- I created an ATC-size Osprey Wings, one of the nine images on my new 9" x 12" stencil ATC Mixup Swatton #2.  The brand-new osprey looks like one of those on the 6" x 6", but its size is reduced -- giving artists the possibility (and the fun) of using the two stencils together.

The first art sample below is a greeting card cover.  The base is a sheet of watercolor paper that had previously been washed with lavender and aqua watercolors.  Atop that is a tag that I'd speckled with a variety of paint sprays, then stenciled with the ATC Osprey Wings and blue acrylic paint. 

Below is another tag, first painted metallic blue, then stenciled with white acrylic paint thru the ATC Osprey Wings.  

Like Osprey Wings, the ATC Hot Air Balloon (one of the stencils in ATC Mixup Swatton #1) was based on stencils I'd designed in the past.  Those originals came in two sizes -- but the ATC version is sized differently; and it's all ready to be used alone or with the two other stencils that inspired it.  Below are several of the ATC samples.

Used once, on pre-painted orange-red paper.

Used 3 times, on pre-painted reddish paper.

Used once, on pre-tinted hot-press (smooth) watercolor paper.

More Osprey Wings imagery --

On a tag painted red, I used an old credit card to spread molding paste thru the stencil.  After that dried, I spread a thin layer of glitter glue (Ranger Industries) over the raised whitish area that forms the osprey.

Another paint-speckled tag, also printed with the Osprey Wings ATC, then layered onto flower petal inclusion paper.

After printing the reddish spattered tag with the ATC and white acrylic paint, I threaded yarn instead of ribbon thru the tag's top hole.  Then I glued the tag to a metallic ribbon.  The silver metallic base (thin cardstock) will be trimmed to create a narrow bookmark.


My sincere thank-you, for visiting here today!  To follow this blog by email, please use that option in the upper right sidebar.  To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here.

Newly Released: a brand-new collection of 18 images -- mostly stencils, with several bonus masks included -- all sized for creating Artist Trading Cards!  

ATC Mixup Swatton #1(9" x 12")

ATC Mixup Swatton #2 (9" x 12")

Embossing Paper with Stencils & Masks! Step-by-step Directions at StencilGirlTalk Today!

Do you love embossed papers and want a quick, easy way to make your own?

I wrote today's how-to article at StencilGirlTalk -- check it out here, where you can read how-to details, with step-by-step directions and photos.  You can create your own embossed papers using stencils, masks and a product called Solvy!

The above issue of StencilGirlTalk shows a number of my papers embossed with Solvy -- using StencilGirl stencils and masks. 

Another of those papers is below.  It's a leftover piece since part of it was already used in a collage.

The paper above was embossed using my 6" x 6" stencil Ginkgo....

6" x 6" stencil Ginkgo

  
To get the full effect of these embossed papers, it's necessary to run your fingertips across them, to better appreciate the depressed areas and the raised areas.  My photos can't bring that tactile sensation across, but it's one of my favorite things about embossed papers -- they are as much perceived by touch as they are by eyesight.

Above:  a collage greeting card cover.  The background centerpiece is embossed Solvy.  The mask used for the embossing was my 6" x 6" Trivet A....

Below is a photo of a stretched canvas that I'm using as a base for building this collage-in-progress.  You can click on the image to enlarge it.  Outlined in red is a piece of Solvy that I've embossed using StencilGirl's Circle Tile Stencil, designed by Mary Beth Shaw.

The piece shown above was cut from a full-size sheet of stencil-embossed Solvy.  The rest of that piece is below:

I was still learning when I embossed this sheet using Mary Beth's stencil, so it has holes where I added too much water.  But in this case, I think the holes add to the character of the piece, and I can't wait to use it in a future collage!

Below are more art samples created with Solvy embossed papers and my own StencilGirl stencils and masks --

Above:  The embossed lines created with my 9" x 12" Mimosa Stencil begged me to cut part of this green embossed paper into a Christmas tree shape.

9" x 12" Mimosa Stencil

Above and below are two greeting card covers decorated with cut-outs from my Solvy paper embossed with my 9" x 12" mask Garden Montage.

9" x 12" mask Garden Montage

Thanks for taking time to stroll thru my blog today!  To follow my blog by email, please use that option in the upper right sidebar.  To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl masks and stencils, please start here.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's continuation of art samples made with my brand-new collection of 18 images -- mostly stencils, with several bonus masks included -- all sized for creating Artist Trading Cards!  

ATC Mixup 1 -Swatton (9" x 12")

ATC Mixup 2 -Swatton (9" x 12")

Rubbings as Art -- Wet or Dry, but Today's Focus is Dry

Dry rubbing is an art-tool/technique that I've covered, with directions and photos, here. 

Above is a close-up shot of a dry rubbing I made using a China Marker, mineral paper and my 9" x 12" stencil Blooming Where Planted.  Almost any dry medium will work for dry rubbing, but I usually opt for a water-resistant or waterproof medium  -- China Marker, oil pastel crayon, regular crayon, Shiva Stick, color pencil, charcoal, graphite pencil, etc. -- because after the rubbing is finished, a waterproof or water-resistant medium will allow me to come back in with a wet medium like acrylic ink, Golden High Flow acrylics, watercolor, etc.

Below:  a pair of recent close-up shots of dry rubbings, this time swinging the spotlight over to an image from ATC Mixup Swatton #2, which is one of my two new 9" x 12" stencils.  

The first image below was made with a reddish Art Bar crayon and textured off-white (creamy) paper.

Above:  a dry rubbing of Sprigs, an ATC-sized graphic from ATC Mixup Swatton #2 ; this design is derived from my original 6" x 6" mask Sprigs, but its swirls and loops are differently sized, so that these two can be used together for beautifully intricate results.

Above:  my original 6" x 6" mask Sprigs

Below:  a dry-rubbing bookmark made with the ATC-sized  Sprigs.  In this example, I used gold metallic paper and a black crayon. 

Many thanks for stopping by my blog today!  To follow this blog by email, please use that option in the upper right sidebar.  To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here.

Newly Released: a brand-new collection of 18 images -- mostly stencils, with several bonus masks included -- all sized for creating Artist Trading Cards!  

ATC Mixup Swatton #1 (9" x 12")

ATC Mixup Swatton#2  (9" x 12")

Let's Make Jewelry with ATC-Sized Stencil and Mask Prints!

Newly Released: a brand-new collection of 18 images -- mostly stencils, with several bonus masks included -- all sized for creating Artist Trading Cards!  

ATC Mixup Swatton # 1 (9" x 12")

ATC Mixup Swatton #2 (9" x 12")

One of the fun aspects of ATC-sized images is that parts of them can so easily be cut down to ultra-small sizes for making jewelry.

Bracelet and pendant "blanks" are available to make the process easy; some ideas are here.  

And here....

...here....

...here...

...oh my!  here ....

And for a wider choice of style check here.

My just-released stencils (and masks) ATC Mixup Swatton #1 and ATC Mixup Swatton #2 (each 9" x 12" and each containing 9 images) give lots of opportunity to make prints, then hunt for small detailed areas that can shine, literally, as crowns on pieces of jewelry.

Diagonal Mania, from ATC Mixup Swatton #1, used in creating the greeting card cover below, is just one example that offers areas of intricate design.  

  

Altho not pictured in this post, one way to make the jewelry pop is to start with a black glossy cardstock background, then make the stencil or mask prints with intereference or "metallic" acrylic paints, both of which glow because of tiny chips of mica embedded into the paint.

Below is a print made with Ornamental Iron Curls, another of the images included in my new 9" x 12" stencil ATC Mixup Swatton #2.  In this art sample, I used gold foil background paper -- which would be yet another good basis for developing papers to use in making jewelry. 
  

For making jewelry, the ATC Ornamental Iron Curls design would work equally well as the original 6" x 6" mask Ornamental Iron Curls -- both yield areas of intricate details. 

To cut out your stencil-print in the small size needed for jewelry, there is a new-to-me product that may be just right for this kind of delicate cutting.  It's a ceramic bladed knife "pen." (But be warned -- this pen knife takes FOREVER to arrive!  If you're in any kind of hurry, don't bother ordering it.)

 ATC Mixup Swatton #2 includes an image titled Sprigs; a sample print is shown below.  For making jewelry, the ATC Sprigs design would work equally well as the original 6" x 6" mask Sprigs.  Both give you areas of intricate details. 

Have fun making your own unique jewelry!

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

Idea for Launching a New Project with my two 9" x 12" ATC MIXUP SWATTON #1 & #2 Stencils

More ways to use my two new 9" x 12" stencils ATC Mixup Swatton #1 -and ATC Mixup Swatton #2:

Pictured below:  the first of several paint-stained cat masks from ATC MIXUP Swatton #1.  Now that the paint has dried, my next step will be to place a sturdy round magnet to the underside, making it a refrigerator magnet.  

This magnet comes with a self-adhesive surface, but, for those who want a stronger hold, it can be reinforced with a glue like heavy gloss gel medium.  

I'll be adding the magnet right behind the darkest area of paint, to keep it from being visually obvious, since the paint-stained mask is somewhat translucent.

More paint-stained masks ready to become refrigerator magnets:

The two paint-stained Swan masks, below, come from ATC Mixup Swatton #2 --

The paint-stained mask Osprey Wings, above, also comes from ATC Mixup Swatton #2; and this design was inspired by one of my original stencils, 6" x 6" Osprey Wings, which looks like this:

The new, ATC-sized Osprey was created to be used in tandem with these original, larger images of osprey -- because the new stencil is differently sized, using it along with the original can help create a sense of depth in an artwork.  Objects that are smaller to the eye, appear to be more distant than the same objects larger in size.  A sense of depth creates more visual drama than would exist otherwise.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!  To subscribe to it by email, please use that option in the upper right sidebar.  To scroll thru my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here.  

Newly Released: a brand-new collection of 18 images -- mostly stencils, with several bonus masks included -- all sized for creating Artist Trading Cards!  

ATC Mixup Swatton #1 (9" x 12")

ATC Mixup Swatton #2 (9" x 12")

More Fun Ways to Play with my New 9" x 12" ATC MIXUP SWATTON #1 and #2 STENCILS and MASKS

How did these ...

...ATC masks acquire their paint stains?

After carefully separating these masks from the rest of ATC Mixup Swatton #1 -- it helps to use fine-detail-cutting scissors, or a plastic cutting mat with knife -- I placed them on a sheet of wet media film (polyester film that's pre-treated to accept wet media; it comes in matte or glossy.)

Next, I randomly scattered small squirts of Golden High Flow acrylics around the masks, and atop them.  

I weighed each of the masks down onto the wet media film, using jumbo-sized "glass pebbles" (normally used as decoration on fish tank floors.)  It was important to keep the edges of each mask firmly in place; otherwise, its outlines would come out blurry or too faint in the finished piece.

Below is one of several sheets that I made in this way; I've red-circled an imprint left behind after I used one of the "glass pebbles" to weigh down the center of the wet media film.  On this particular sheet, I used cool-range Golden High Flow colors (blue, green, etc.)

On another sheet, I used warm-range Golden High Flow acrylics.  After the paint had dried, I cut this sheet into pieces of irregular shapes --

I may make refrigerator magnets with these irregular shapes, the same as I plan to do with the masks themselves (shown in an earlier post.)

Another idea is to punch one hole in the top of each piece, string it with wire or metallic thread, and attach it to a suction cup -- creating a window sun-catcher like no other!

But with one piece, I'm making a greeting card cover, using this paper --

-- as my background.  This sheet of gorgeous paper was decorated by bookmaker-artist Carlotta Holman, and she generously included it in a swap among members of StencilGirl StencilClub.

The card cover:

Tomorrow's post will continue showing ways to use my just-released 9" x 12" stencil-and-mask sets ATC Mixup Swatton #1 and ATC Mixup Swatton #2 .

Thanks so much for coming to see my blog today!  To follow it by email, please use that option in the upper right sidebar.  To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here.

Newly Released: a brand-new collection of 18 images -- mostly stencils, with several bonus masks included -- all sized for creating Artist Trading Cards!  

ATC Mixup Swatton #1 (9" x 12")

ATC Mixup Swatton #2 (9" x 12")