Happy Times | StencilGirl®

Hi everyone!

I can't believe I missed sharing this project created for the StencilGirl® Creative Team last month! (This year is going waaay too fast!)  For this piece I was tasked with the theme "texture it or make marks on it". Texture or mark making? Hmm...how about a bit of both?! I knew I could incorporate both of these onto a scrapbook page.

I looked through my box of photos and was immediately drawn to a photograph of some of my favourite crafty friends and I. Over the past couple of years we have all gone away for a long weekend of eating, drinking, laughing and crafting together. It is something we all look forward to, and a tradition I hope continues for many years to come.

I began my page with a sheet of 270gsm cardstock and decided to create a soft, watercolour style background. I chose Ranger Distress Oxides in two different shades of green - Mowed Lawn and Twisted Citron. I stamped each of the ink pads randomly onto my non-stick craft mat; added a few spritzes of water and then swirled my finger tip through the inks to mix them up a bit. I then placed my cardstock on top, smoothing my hand over it to allow it to soak up the inks before lifting it off and drying with a heat tool.

Once the background colour was in place; I looked through my stencils and chose the January 2019 StencilClub "Shaw-Apter Mash Up" set designed by Mary Beth Shaw and Seth Apter. This is an amazing set featuring three (9x12"; 6x6"; and 4x4") stencils; and was absolutely perfect to hit the "mark making" brief. I love that these stencils have a variety of different patterns that can be used together, or masked off and used independently of one another.

If you haven't heard about the StencilGirl® StencilClub yet, you can find out about it HERE. Each month there is an exclusive artist designed stencil release, along with several other benefits that are available only to club members.

I wanted to create an "anchor point" to begin building my page from. I chose a contrasting colour of Distress Oxide (Picked Raspberry) and the 9x12" stencil from the set. The pattern I was focused on was the long row of soft edge squares, which I added near to the central horizontal line of my page by sponging ink through the stencil. I also added a small amount of the same pattern along the top and bottom edges of my page.

Once I had the pink stencilling in place, I reached for another stencil from the "Shaw-Apter Mash Up" set - this time it was the 4x4" stencil with the rows of crossmarks. I masked off the largest set and used Faded Jeans Distress Oxide; once again applied by sponging through the stencil. I moved it repeatedly around the page, in some places layering the pattern over the top of itself.

With plenty of marks made on my background, it was now time to add some texture! As the marks I had already added were quite structured, I wanted to use a stencil over the top that had a very organic shape. I chose the 9x12" Wildflower Bouquet stencil designed by Wendy Brightbill. I applied Colour Blast Colour Paste (Apple of My Eye) through the stencil using a palette knife. I did not use the design in its entirety; instead I stencilled the top third of the design, before moving it and stencilling a section from the bottom.

After drying off the green paste with a heat tool, I then went back to add some flower details to my foliage. I used Fire Engine Colour Paste this time, in conjunction with Rose Bouquet stencil. I used washi tape to mask off the largest rose in the centre of the stencil then added three large roses to my page. I then repeated the process with one of the smaller roses from the stencil, adding two to the page before again drying with a heat tool.

With my background largely complete, it was now time to add some other layers to my page. I used patterned papers from the Cocoa Vanilla Studio 'Happiness' collection - first creating a layered mat for my photo to sit on, and then adding a couple of small torn pieces to the top and bottom of the page. I also fussy cut some floral pieces that I tucked in around the edges of the photo mat along with some matching floral die cuts. I topped the papers with some frayed gauze to add soft texture, before sticking the photo down on top.

To add a few extra pops of interest to my page I decided to add a few circles with x's from the 6x6" stencil from the StencilClub "Shaw-Apter Mash Up" set. I masked off a few circles and used Stormy Sky Distress Oxide with a sponge.

To finish off my page I added some Cocoa Vanilla Studio stickers; a die cut title and a fussy cut butterfly.

Time and patience really does pay off - just look how much depth and vibrancy this piece has because of the care that has gone into creating layers with contrasting colours, shapes and textures.

I am so happy with this piece - bright colours, flowers, and treasured memories of special friends - what's not to love?

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. Until next time, happy scrapping! X