'Stencil Mania' ~ New Challenge for Artist Trading Post Exchange

Julia is the host for our new challenge at the Artist Trading Post Exchange and she has chosen a subject that I absolutely love 'Stencil Mania'. The challenge is to produce a piece of work where stenciling is the main focus. You can find the challenge details as well as some inspiring work by the design team, over on the ATP Exchange blog by following this link. There is a £10 voucher for the amazingly well stocked Artist Trading Post, for one lucky winner.
Julia's challenge had me reaching for my art journal and believe me I had a lot of fun creating this double page spread ! I started the pages by firstly laying down some texture with torn book pages and brown paper, adhered with Matte Multi Medium.

Once dry, I coated the pages with gesso. I then set to with my stencils and my newly acquired Tim Holtz Distress Stain Sprays. Heaven !

I used  Harlequin and Dot Fade Layering Stencils with Antique Linen, Tumbled Glass, Pumice Stone  Mustard Seed and Barn Door Distress stain Sprays. I know, I know, there's quite a mix going on  there! but I just couldn't stop myself. I love the spontaneity of using the combination of sprays and stencils. The gessoed  background, also has the effect of muting the colours as they dry. this layer took quite some time to dry completely. I used a heat gun to try and speed it up a bit.

Here you can see the blend of colour and texture of this first layer. Once dry, I added some further stenciling but this  time I used embossing paste. The stencil I used is by the Crafters Workshop.

The embossing  paste I used was actually white, To acheive this gold effect, I replaced the stencil once the paste was dry, and brushed some Inka Gold Paste onto the embossed patterns. I quite liked this effect, but it under went several changes before I was completely happy. That is the joy of working in a journal. You can experiment and change your mind as much as you like, just make sure that things are completely dry before trying to alter them. Next up was some stamping with black Archival Ink.......

...and a bit more stenciling, as well as some around the edges with Black Soot Distress Paint. I also replaced the stencil over the butterflies and coloured them with Black Soot Distress Paint. The next day, I reviewed the journal pages and decided that I wanted the gold on the embossing paste to be a bit more glitzy, so it was back to the stencil. I replaced it and sponged through some Indigo Blu Flitter Glue. I removed the stencil and added Mega Flakes.

This effect is much more to my liking. Well if you're going to add some bling then let it shine eh?

As usual, I couldn't just stop there, so I added Mega Flakes to the butterflies as well !
If you love using stencils as much as I do, or if you've been meaning to try them, then this'Stencil Mania' challenge is for you !
Here's a list of some of the products I've used which you can find at the Artist Trading post Shop, just click on the item and you'll be transported straight there. until next time... Happy Crafting ! x
 Golden Gesso
Embossing paste
Matte Multi Medium
Black Soot Distress Paint
Fired Brick Distress Paint
Dylusions Creative journal
Heat Tool
Tim Holtz Layering Stencils
Spinning Tops Template
Specimen Template
Chicken Wire Template
Archival Ink