5 Stencil Techniques To Share!

The following posts are each a technique that can be used with stencils.

My friend Cecilia has a new line of beautifully made stencils at Stencilgirl and I wanted to share some techniques for using them with you.  I am a hoarder of stencils.  I love, love, love them and have them hanging on pegboard hooks.  I have them filling plastic bins and simply overflowing in some drawers.  They are like rubber stamps, just can't ever have enough. 

Here is a quick and easy way to get layers of fabulous color:
Start with a decorated Artist Paper, also known as: Scrapbooking Paper.  Thin some acrylic paint in your choice of colors and base coat the paper.  You want the paint to be transparent so you see some of the decorative paper underneath.
Once this paint layer is dry, you will want to work relatively fast for the next step.

Paint this paper with Black Gesso and while it is still wet, lay your stencil down on top and spritz with rubbing alcohol.  (The cheapest you can find is OK.)  Keeping the stencil in place, take a paper towel or baby wipe and lightly scrub away the gesso from the design.  As you can see from these samples, what you get is determined by the acrylic paint you first selected.  Let everything dry and your newly made paper is ready to use in a journal, add images, etc.

PS The gingko leaf is one of Cecilia's stencils available at Stencilgirl. 

To view even more techniques and stencils that were designed by Cecilia, please visit her BLOG

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