It's been a while and my poor blog has been neglected, but that doesn't mean things haven't been just as busy, if not more so, than ever!

Today I want to highlight my latest free tutorial on the StencilGirl blog as well as two upcoming online class opportunities (which will be my last classes in 2021.)

First up, 5 Step Collage Fodder... with stencils!

In my latest Paint & Texture column on the StencilGirl blog, I'm sharing how I used paint with my stencils for 5 quick and easy steps to collage fodder. I'm also showing how I used my resulting pieces to complete this fun mini art journal spread.

Second, I have a stand-alone live online class coming up this Saturday, October 23rd. Wrap & Roll is happening in partnership with my local store, Artistic Artifacts. The pre-class video is already done and archived in group, but there's still time to join in for the class!

Registration will be close before the live class begins on Saturday. If you can't make the live but are interested in the class, be sure to sign up - the videos will both be archived and available indefinitely, but as of right now there are no plans to allow signups after the class has begun. There are lots of fun ideas and techniques, so I hope you'll join us! Class is Saturday, October 23rd at 1pm eastern time.

Last but definitely not least, I'm excited to be one of the participating artists in Gratitude Junk Journal 2021! This is a great opportunity to join in and learn from 14 different artists as we share how we document things we're grateful for in our art journals (plus, you'll learn how to turn an ordinary notebook into a fab junk journal!) 

​Here's a peek at all of the amazing artists participating in this year's class:

And... a little sneak at the project that I'm sharing in my lesson (which is almost an hour long!)

Need a little extra incentive? The course is only $69 to start, but if you sign up between now and October 31st, you can get 20% off when you use the code JOY2021 at checkout. 

Just popping in with a heads up that my most recent quarterly Paint & Texture column on the StencilGirl blog is live today! This month I'm sharing how you can use printmaking and stencils for quick, easy, and deceptively simple layered mixed media art.

It's that time again... my quarterly Paint & Texture column is up over on the StencilGirl blog. This month I'm using my Boho Faces stencil with paint and stitching to show how thread (and a few beads, of course,) is a great way to add texture to your artwork. Head on over and check it out! I've got a free photo tutorial showing how the painted and embroidered face focal point came together.

And if you like this project, you may also be interested in my next Live online class, Make a Statement - it's this Saturday, April 24th, at 1pm Eastern time (but you can watch the archived version at any time as long as you register in advance.) The samples are mixed media statement jewelry, but you can just create the components and use them for other projects if jewelry isn't your thing. Hope to see you there!

As a lifelong bird lover, (inherited from my mother and her parents,) I love to incorporate birds in my artwork. For this set of stencils I paired them with global and tribal influences from my travels - both real and imaginary. 

You can check out my introductory video to learn more about the inspiration behind each stencil and see some of the samples I created with them (also shown in photos below.)

This collection is only available to members of StencilClub, but if you join before February 15th then you'll start your membership with this set (and also have the ability to purchase any previous set - more than 10 years' worth!) And while I think it's one of the greatest deals around with fantastic stencils from different designers every month, membership is always month to month - you can cancel for months you know you won't use and join again for the ones you want, or just stick around indefinitely! There's also a fantastic private Facebook group with lots of ideas, swaps and collaborative projects, and fun tips and support.

As a member of StencilClub you'll get all three stencils plus an accompanying project with a video lesson, a downloadable PDF and printable, and 20% off regular stencils from StencilGirl. All of that for just $25 a month!

For this month's collection, my video shows you an easy way to make painted collages using stencils. Here you can see the samples for the project and accompanying lesson:

I've also been having a blast working on other projects with my new stencil designs. First and most simple of the bunch, I made a background that shows how the 4" x 4" stencil can be rotated and repeated for a cool patterned design.

Next I used bits and pieces of each of the three stencils to make size 3" x 3" mini collages. I really like how you can get so many looks by using only a part of the stencils.

Lastly, and probably my favorite so far, I used the small songbird design from the top of the 9" x 12" stencil as an embroidery pattern. I embroidered it and added some seed beads, then stitched it into a nature-themed artist book that I'm working on.

I'm looking forward to continuing to use these in my work as well as seeing and learning from what club members do with these.

​If you're not already a member of StencilClub but want to get your hands on this set (along with the video class, PDF, and printable that come with it,) head on over to StencilGirl - make sure to sign up before February 15th to start your membership with this set. (And if you can't join now but want to later, once you're a member you always have the ability to purchase past sets.)

I have a new mixed media / art journaling tutorial available today! Today on the StencilGirl blog I'm sharing a step-by-step photo overview of how I created this art journal page, including an amazing textured grid in the background. It's full of fun tips and techniques and I'm excited to also be showcasing a few of my latest stencil designs in this project. I hope you'll stop by and check it out!

I'm excited today to be releasing 7 new stencil designs with StencilGirl! I'm adding three new stencils to my Boho collection, a new mini Palmistry Hand stencil, and three new Suzani designs that coordinate with some of my PaperArtsy stamps as well as my July 2020 StencilClub collection.

The Boho Faces stencil was inspired by a piece of artwork I created as a sample for one of my rubber stamp collections. There was so much interest around the piece that it then inspired a set of rubber stamps with PaperArtsy. Of course, once I started playing with those small stamp designs, I started thinking that it would be even more fun to have different faces in a much larger size. Thus, the Boho Faces stencil was born.

There are two faces on this 9” x 12” stencil that are a mash-up of tribal influences from my travels as well as my imagination. You can use one or both of the designs and you can also mask them off to use bits and pieces. This stencil also coordinates beautifully with my new Boho Daisies Small and Mini stencils as well as the other designs in the Boho collection (as you can see in the sample artwork above.)

The Boho Daisy stencils were inspired by the daisies that I started drawing around the eyes of my tribal or Boho faces. I wanted to have two sizes of this daisy design so that you can use them together for variety in size or layer on top of each other in your work. They're also fabulous as embroidery patterns or for cards and tags, scrapbooking, and lots more.

The Palmistry Hand stencil was inspired by my experiences having my palm read while traveling through Bali and India. The design is a right-handed palm showing the Life Line, Wisdom Line, Love Line, Fate Line, and Marriage Line. This design also includes the symbols for Venus (love, sympathy, and grace,) Moon (courage, mysticism, and imagination,) and outside of the palm are Jupiter (confidence, wisdom, and leadership,) Sun (ambition, success, and creativity,) and Saturn (discipline, balance, and independence.)

My new Suzani stencils were inspired by inspired by the traditional hand-embroidered Suzanis (textiles – usually bed covers or wall hangings) found through Central Asia, and especially in Uzbekistan. I saw them in markets and and was especially intrigued by many displays of traditional Suzani motifs in a museum in a Summer palace in Bukhara. All three designs were intended to stand alone but also to coordinate with some of my PaperArtsy rubber stamp collections (EGL11 and EGL12) as well as my July 2020 StencilClub “Suzani” collection (which is exclusively available to StencilClub members.)

The Suzani Circle Flowers stencil has a detailed floral design that can also be repeated - turn it in different directions for even more versatility in creating backgrounds and larger designs.

The Suzani Circle Medallion stencil was particularly inspired by the large circular embroidered medallions found on many of the traditional Suzani textiles. This beautifully detailed design can be used with or without the thin circle border, or you can mask off other elements to use just the center section or other shapes in the design.

Finally, the Suzani Flower Medallion stencil is a lacy and detailed stencil that can be used as an embroidery pattern, but it’s also ideal for art journaling, mixed media, handmade cards and tags, and much more.

I'm super excited to be adding these to my repertoire of stencils available from StencilGirl as well as seeing how perfectly they coordinate with some of my recent stamp collections. I can't wait to make more art with them and to see how you all put them to work in your own projects.

Things have been busy lately with lots of new product announcements, new online classes, and other goings on, so today is a quick combo post to share info on two of my upcoming live online workshops along with a new free mixed media tutorial.

​First up... I'm up today with my quarterly Paint & Texture column on the StencilGirl blog and this month I'm sharing a few ways that you can make and use acrylic skins with stencils in your art journal (or mixed media, scrapbook layouts, and lots more.)

I'll share the steps for creating the bulk of the art journal page shown here. Head on over and check it out!

I've been incredibly busy putting together and teaching live online workshops all year, and I still have a few more coming before we close out 2020.

And save the date! I have a second class with Artistic Artifacts, "Ornaments & Amulets," which will be held on Saturday, December 5th. More details and registration coming soon.

One last quick note... my latest stamp release from PaperArtsy is now in stock and available in the shop!

My newest online workshop, Interactive ATCs, is now up and open for registration! This live 2-hour online class, held in partnership with Scrapbooking Fairies in Alberta, Canada, will take place live in a private Facebook group on Saturday, August 22.

We'll turn your traditional Artist Trading Cards into interactive artwork that can also be used in art journals and more as we mix stamps and stencils with paint, collage, and mark marking for a layered background and embellishments. The class also includes downloadable patterns and hand-drawn labels.

(Or go straight to registration)

Hi all! Just a quick post to let you know that I'm up on the StencilGirl blog today with my quarterly Paint & Texture column. This month I'm sharing three ways that you can incorporate watercolor and stencils into your mixed media projects and there are three mini tutorials to go with it!

​Here's a peek at each of the three projects I'm sharing:

Make sure to head over to StencilGirl Talk to get all of the details, including the step-out instructions for how I used watercolor and stencils to create each of these projects.

I'm excited to share that I'm this month's StencilGirl StencilClub designer! Those of you who aren't already members might be wondering... what exactly does that mean?

StencilClub is a monthly club run by StencilGirl where you get an exclusive collection of three stencils shipped to you for every month that you're a member. (And there's no commitment, but trust me... it's worth it to stick around.) In addition to the stencils you also get a video tutorial and downloadable PDF from the designer for a project using that month's stencils. At $25, it's one of the best deals around.

My stencil collection for July is called Suzani and was inspired by textiles... Suzanis, that are traditional in Central Asia - particularly in Uzbekistan. Check out this reveal video to see the stencils, hear more about my inspiration for these designs, and get a peek at my samples as well as the project that we'll be making in this month's video tutorial.

Ready to see those samples up close? Here are the art journal pages and backgrounds that I made using each of the three designs.

And here are a few peeks at the project I'll be sharing in the accompanying video tutorial where I'll show you how to make this stenciled handmade art journal.

For those of you who are already StencilClub members, I hope you're looking forward to getting these in your mailbox sometime after July 15th! And if you aren't a member but want to make sure you get this month's collection, head on over to StencilGirl for the details and to join the club.