Fun in the Sun with Tropical Faux Batik – Rainy Day StencilGirl® Collaboration/Challenge

Disclosure: This post contains amazon affiliate links for supplies I am referencing in this post. This means that–at no extra cost to you, I can make a commission on a purchase you make if you use my link.

Hello friends! What is the old phrase "April showers bring May Flowers"... well Spring has sprung, right?! Here in South Florida there's been no rain for weeks and weeks and it seems we have skipped from March to AUGUST.

Today I am participating in a special collaborative project hosted by Tina Walker where she challenged a group of creatives to art up umbrellas using StencilGirl® Stencils.

I'm inspired to make something Impressionistic
with a beachy, tropical feel.

For my umbrella I have used the StencilGirl® Products

design Mimosa 6 Stencil S126.

I start out I spraying the umbrella with a base coat of Green Apple Ultra Painter's Touch® Ultra Cover Rust-oleum®. This paint acts as a paint and primer in one.

With the base layer completed, I sprayed through the Mimosa stencil building up an impression of a continuous pattern -- alternating between Rust-oleum® Gloss Rich Jade Green and Satin Ink Blue Painter's Touch® Ultra Cover Rust-oleum®.

I kept going around and around alternating colors and building up layers. When completed I have 6 layers of stenciled colors woven in and around the umbrella surface.

The layers have a beautiful impressionist feel,
similar to a tropical batik fabric.

I have to say my even stencil looks quite lovely!

The paint did not sink through the fabric -- and the design texture is visible as the light shines through.

"Tropical Faux Batik"

One would never know that I didn't purchase the umbrella this way, except for the small spritz of green on the under side when a gust of wind picked up my umbrella and tossed it over mid-spray.

The resulting design has a painterly feel and is quite impressive!

CLICK HERE to jump over to see more of the beautiful creations made for the Rainy Day StencilGirl® Collaboration.

Thanks for dropping by! What household object would you stencil up on a rain day?! xo Sb

Products used:
StencilGirl® Products - Mimosa 6 Stencil S126
Totes Umbrella - Amazon
Rust-Oleum® Painter's Touch Satin Green Apple - Amazon
Rust-Oleum® Painter's Touch Satin Ink Blue - Amazon
Rust-Oleum® Gloss Rich Jade - Amazon

Disclosure: This post contains amazon affiliate links for supplies I am referencing in this post. This means that–at no extra cost to you, I can make a commission on a purchase you make if you use my links.

Sparkling City Lights... a StencilGirl® Pop-Up Extravaganza

Disclosure: This post contains my amazon affiliate link for a book I am referencing in this post. This means that–at no extra cost to you, I can make a commission on a purchase you make if you use my link.

Hello Friends! It's a new year and January is always a whirlwind. Today I am proud to be part of a special COLLABORATIVE project hosted by Tina Walker and StencilGirl®... a StencilGirl Pop-Up Extravaganza! CLICK HERE to POP on over and be inspired to make your stencil art POP off the page!

I am a city girl from Chicago who lives in SoFL and I love my hometown skyline at night. So for this pop-up project, I stenciled a layered and mirrored skyline onto two base papers painted with an ombre of three colors of ColorShift paints, using only 2 stencils: S305 Apter, Text and Texture Transform and ATC Mix-Up Borloz L655.

After creating the skyline by repeating the stencil across my papers, I added highlights, water reflections and windows details using a couple Sakura Gelly Glaze pens.

 I traced this textural pattern over the row of buildings which brought the night sky to life!

A larger look...

I have quite a collection of books on bookmaking and folded paper techniques and for this artwork I selected a technique that creates a pop-up dueling accordion pullout from the book, "Pockets, Pullouts and Hiding Places".

 

"Pockets, Pullouts and Hiding Places"
Amazon affiliate link

For added contrast between the two layers, I trimmed one skyline down around the buildings before scoring, folding and assembling.

Sparkling City Lights

To frame this pop-up I have nestled inside of a notched cut-out accordian of navy blue cardstock. When closed and folded flat this mini will fit into an A2 envelope -- how fun is that?! Enjoy these details.

StencilGirl® stencils used: ATC Mix-Up by Andrew Borloz and Text and Texture Transform stencil by Seth Apter.

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Thanks for dropping by! I hope you are inspired add a POP of dimension to your handmade books and cards using StencilGirl® stencils! Have a creative day :) Sb

The TIME is NOW... for #thestencilfiedjournal Project -- Prompt No.1

Hello Friends! The beginning of summer is like NEW YEAR's for me. I focus on learning and stretching that creative muscle by playing along with many fun challenges happening over the summer. One of which is a new COLLABORATIVE project hosted by Tina Walker and StencilGirl®. Tina is officially one of StencilGirl's new Columnists with her focus being on Collaborations -- of which she is QUEEN! 

This week is the beginning of a new collaboration project with 80+artists participating from around the world. CLICK HERE to jump over to Tina Walker's blog who is hostess and organizer of this Cre8time adventure and see her journal creation and to give her some love for dreaming up another fun challenge!

For this challenge you can make or use a ready made journal or field book. I'm using one of these mini pocket-sized field books {approx 3" x 5" in size}. There's something about a pristine blank book -- just ready for a new adventure. 

This particular book has a faint grid pattern on the pages. I thought that would be a little interesting and not as daunting as blank white pages. 

With this small format, I can bring a handful of supplies with me to work on each week's prompt anywhere I go. And with my new work-for-myself and around my health lifestyle... I am always on the run...

I travel 3 days a week 50 miles away for work, and I left all my stuff stashed in my desk there smiling brightly at me upon my return yesterday. So let's pretend it's Monday!

I will briefly share a few steps of how I transformed this spread for Prompt No. 1 to share how quick and easy it is to squeeze some art journaling into your week.

I spread a thin layer of clear gesso across the pages with a recycled gift card I'm ready to go! 

 

In the effort of finding the clear gesso... I had to move a tube of Heidi Swapp butterscotch acrylic paint {circa 2005} and a Maya Road Maya Mist green mist. OH YEAH! One-touch rule is in full effect. I spritzed the green mist through the Mimosa 6 StencilGirl® stencil overlapping in different directions, then dabbed on some of the butterscotch yellow with a papertowel. 

 

I wanted to add a bit more color and contrast. I have a travel tin of 10 Caran-Dache crayons that go with me everywhere. I used the blue and green to color through the stencil, then used a purell hand wipe cloth to blend out the color. Base layer DONE!

Next I painted in butterscotch circles using my finger and added some smaller circle details from my assortment of Seth Apter StencilGirl® stencils awaiting. 

A few weeks back I took a little creative road trip to meet up with my art sister Cat Kerr to take an all day workshop with Seth Apter. A wonderful day of arting!

Channeling inspiration from Seth Apter's circle motifs, I added the phrase "I'm certain... the TIME is NOW" with some pens, Caran-Dache Crayons and finger smudging.

I love the tropical foilage feel from the stenciled background and the pops of yellow!

Love ALL the yummy layers and detail. I spent the most time on getting the letters to pop as some layers of pen ink just soaked right in to the back ground. My words exemplify the turning of a page where I am taking a business course for artists this month at the same time that this artsy challenge is beginning. Time is at a complete crunch, though I believe making time for learning and playing is always good!

StencilGirl® stencils used: Mimosa 6 Stencil by Cecilia Swatton; and the following by Seth Apter -- Splat, Text and Texture Transform stencil, Inside out stencil, and Timeless stencil.

You are invited to join the fun!
Here's Prompt No.1

The only rule is use ONLY StencilGirl® stencils {sorry, no other brands}. Anything else goes as you are inspired to follow the prompt.

Share your pages and keep
a lookout in blogland
and social media using
#thestencilfiedjournal

Gotta run... Thanks for dropping by! I hope you are inspired to go grab a blank journal and your StencilGirl® stencils and join in the fun! Have a creative day :) Sb

Welcome to the #Cre8time Tropics...StencilGirl Products + Amazing Casting Products Bloghop Day 1

Hello friends! Today I am participating in a very special bloghop where the creative teams from Amazing Casting Products and StencilGirl Products have put their spin on projects using products from both lines.

I have to admit I was a bit unsure of what to create, there possibilities with the challenge at hand are endless... so I decided to create an altered torso. 

I've had this papier-maché torso lying around for more years than I'd care to admit {over 10} and it has nice wood accents. I'm painting her up with spray paints and StencilGirl stencils and gave her some handmade resin tropical flair and WINGS!

I created several molds using Amazing Mold Putty: an Art Deco style vintage mirror, a hand-carved polymer clay palm leaf, and some interesting shaped shells.

For two of the shells, the details on the front were just as beautiful on the back. So I rubbed the cured mold with petroleum jelly {inner and outer edges}, and pressed another batch of Amazing Mold Putty onto the top of each, overlapping down around sides to create a two-part mold. **TIP** A mold-release is needed to do this as mold putty fuses to itself, so in this case petroleum jelly works perfectly.

I selected three StencilGirl Products designs: Art Deco Wallpaper Stencil L319; Tribal Leaves Stencil L213; and Mimosa 6 Stencil S126.

The first thing I did is put a border of clear packing tape around the edges of each stencil, on the front and backside, and burnishing with a bone folder. I remember hearing this trick from another artist and thought it was worth a try.

First I added some color to the wood accents on the torso. I used Carbon Gray Varathane Wood Stain - it's easy to apply and dries quick. I never heard of gray stain... I happen to love this color and the color it achieved. 

Some areas didn't take the stain too well and looked a bit spotchy {most likely due to wood glue in the composite shape} so I added a little more color with a white-wash from a paint pen, then brushing over with a grey acrylic glaze. That's more like it!!

When this is dry I use some plastic wrap to cover the wooden parts and get ready for some fun... spray painting with stencils! I used some Mod Podge Matte finish to seal the papier maché torso in preparation to accept a layering of spray paint.

I have a bright gloss green and a bright blue which I sprayed alternating in no particular pattern.

After I had a nice base layer, I continued adding color spraying through the stencils. The shapes are organic and look like shadows peeking through palm branches at night.

I brush the inside of each mold with Ocean Blue Alumidust and also mix some into a batch of Amazing Casting Resin. This resin turns an opaque white when cured and the Alumidust will give it a pale blue hue.

I always make sure to have extra molds on hand to pour any leftover resin so it doesn't go to waste. This is all of the molds poured with resin cured. I needed two of the mirrors so all the small bits are extras for the rainy-day project bin.

Look at the AMAZING detail in the front and back of each shell cast in resin. The overpour {flashing} tears away pretty easy while resin is still soft and any remaining can easily be trimmed away. I sanded edges with an emory board.

I gave a little shine and brightness to the resin pieces by brushing the high points with Tonic Nuvo Embellishment Mousse. This color is a nice pearly pale blue... perfect for beachy themed projects!

I finished off by adding a section of recycled jewels around the neck to dangle the resin palm leaf and a faceted gem. I crossed the mirror shapes and wrapped with wire to form wings and secured with wrapping wire around the torso. I brushed a little of the spray paint onto the wire to blend it in to the background pattern. I'm so happy with how this looks that I left off the other two shell pieces I prepared... in this case less is MORE! I hope you love my tropical winged torso as much as I do. She will be a beautiful addition to my creative workspace.

To see more AMAZING projects for the StencilGirl/Amazing Casting Products Blog Hop follow along at the links below!

Today's stops on the hop are as follows...

StencilGirl Talk Blog

Mary Beth Shaw

Tina Walker

Kristie Taylor

Susan Brown

Lyn Gill

One lucky winner will receive both a $25 Gift Certificate to StencilGirl Products - AND - a $25 Gift Certificate to Amazing Casting Products!

Visit the fabulous designers from both teams and comment for your chance to win!

The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to WIN!

(One comment per blog please.)

You have until Sunday, April 23rd at 11:59PM Central Time to leave your comments.

Winner will be announced on StencilGirl's Facebook page and Amazing Casting Products’s Facebook page on Monday, April 24th.

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Thanks for dropping by and I'd love to hear what you are creating with stencils! xo Sb

** This is a sponsored post. StencilGirl Products and Amazing Casting Products® have provided products for use in this project in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions. My ideas and opinions are my own.