Monday, January 27, 2014

StencilGirl NEW Release Blog Hop Featuring Michelle Ward

Michelle Ward was one of StencilGirl's very first designing artists. I was thrilled when she made the decision to join us and remain delighted every time she submits new work, this latest batch being no exception. In fact, I happen to L-O-V-E this group of stencils and know I will use them over and over. I almost feel like Michelle crawled into my head with these designs, ha, but that would be a very scary place, my head.
Without further ado, here is the stencil I used:

I knew I wanted to use this stencil to work in my journal, that being the journal I made when I co-taught with Michelle, Pam Carriker and Andrew Borloz last November at The InkPad in NYC. It was such a cool teaching event, the energy of all four teachers seemed a teeny bit magical to me. It was the first time I had ever met Michelle in person and we hit it off so well I ended the weekend feeling sad that we didn't live closer to one another so we could connect more often. The journal I made during our class has become very special to me as a representation of that terrific weekend.
When I made the journal, it was constructed of a variety pack of painted papers and bringing them together color-wise can be a challenge. I have to really work the pages to find cohesion. When I first saw this stencil, I knew I wanted to create some 'parts' using Michelle's stencil, parts that I could keep in my stash to use when journaling.
So first, I got a piece of random painted paper and determined the parts of the stencil I wanted to use. I sketched lightly around the edge and cut them out as shown below.
Next, I decided to paint more papers. I am using a piece of plain ole text weight paper and I started out quite light then darkened the color as I moved on.

Using another of Michelle's stencils,



I added more layers at the opposing corners.


And then I went wild......moved the stencils over and over, changing the orientation of the paper as I went. More color, light, dark, repeat. Until I ended up with this, kind of busy, eh? But I could see that I had LOTS of good parts.

I got a circle guide and selected a couple areas of the paper that I wanted to use in my journal. The circles I cut are shown below. And see the linear part on top of each one? Another Michelle stencil; I used a Baby Wipe to remove paint from the circle, not going all the way down to the white, but kind of halfway. 
So what next, you might ask? Here are a couple spreads in my journal and I think you can easily get an idea how these circles will fit right in! Plus I also have a cool sheet of painted paper to use another time.

Be sure and hop all around and see what our Team has done, their talent amazes me every time we hop. Also, don't forget to leave comments. StencilGirl Products, LLC is giving away one entire set of Michelle's NEW stencils and you will be entered in the drawing every time you leave a comment. 
And trust me, you are going to want these stencils, they are so incredibly versatile!

112 comments:

  1. Oh yes I was here just after midnight. I am not sure if it was the blog hop excitement keeping me awake or the winds. We'll call it StencilGirl. Terrific stencils as I knew they would be.

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  2. I am in LOVE with the colors you used and the idea of cutting the circles out!

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  4. Love the overlapping patterns. So cool how you used the circles in your journal.
    <3 J

    jwoolbright at gmail dot com

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  5. I love the golden tones and blues you used in your initial paper palette. This ripple stencil is very soothing to see amplified on the page.

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  6. Wow, what interesting ideas you present. I felt very inspired. Love these new stencils.

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  7. I love what you created, and of course the chance to win! Thanks :)

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  8. Oh my goodness, another great stencil I want for my collection

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  9. Thank you for the ideas

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  10. Really like the openness of the design. This will allow for many color possibilities

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  11. Good to hear the thought process behind your journal page. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Anonymous4:47 AM

    I see lots f stencils peeking through in your journal. lovely muted colors with the bold circles. xox

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  13. Muchas gracias por la inspiraciĆ³n que proporcionas. Unos bonitos elementos para aƱadir a nuestro artjournal. Felicidades

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  14. Loving Michelle's latest stencil designs, and blog hopping for inspiration. Thanks for a chance to win :)

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  15. Great stencil and love the flexibility. Thanks for the opportunity.

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  16. Gorgeous work...fabulous stencils!

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  17. Love the idea of painting/doodling in between some of the stencil areas and leaving some blank. Great springboard idea!

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  18. I think I NEED all these stencils to create some amazing papers like yours! love your color combination and balance!

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  19. That truly was a magical weekend MaryBeth - love seeing your journal and those beautiful papers.

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  20. Love Michelle's stencils and what you've done with them.

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  21. I love what you've done with these stencils. That paper is so delicious!

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  22. That paper looks like it will be fun to play with.

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  23. Beautiful colors.

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  24. Those colors, wow. Soft, but yet strong designs. LOVE.

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  25. Mary Beth, I am such a fan of your artwork with all its color combinations and layers! You are inspiring me to keep an art journal!

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  26. I get so inspired when I see what others are creating... wonderful indeed!

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  27. I love seeing your work in your journal! Such rich colors, layers, and lines!

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  28. Anonymous9:34 AM

    I thought the squares were my favorite but you changed my mind. The ripples are so free-flowing. Love the idea of cutting out parts of the design to use on another project. I could see some photos behind the cut-out portions of the big page. thanks for sharing.

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  29. very nice. thanks for the inspiration

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  30. Love the bright colors.

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  31. Great way to use the stencils. I love blog hops for the inspiration I get from others.

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  32. another fabulous use of these stencils

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  33. I enjoyed your process and seeing the beautiful results.

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  34. What a great set of stencils.

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  35. Love your ideas. I have several papers that are overwhelming as a whole, but cut into shapes and added to another background makes them really pop. Thanks for sharing.

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  36. What a fun new stencil! Thanks for the post and opportunity to win one!

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  37. Great stencils. So much can be done with them.

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  38. I often find I end up with pieces that are too busy or too dark. I like how you solved that problem by cutting up the paper into circles and adding that to your journal. I am trying to figure out how to use some of the more organic stencils (like Pods) in a layered way that doesn't completely loose the whole image. Tricky I think.

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  39. Anonymous12:05 PM

    MB, this has been such a fun blog hop, to see how everyone uses the stencils. Love that you are working in your Ink Pad Journal. The multi layered circles are crazy cool. That weekend together was a blast and such a treat to finally miss my *boss*.

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  40. Love how you've used Michele's stencils! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  41. Wow...you've certainly made these stencils work for you. I can see those windows framing photos in a scrapbook..... and the cut-outs gracing a beautiful collage.

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  42. I was thinking all those layers would become mud. But I love how it turned out!

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  43. Gotta love those circles. The layering of colour and design is beeeeautiful!

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  44. Great inspiration - love cutting out circles and other shapes for fun!!!

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  45. Glad to see that I´m not the only one who changes ideas during the making of a project! Aslong as it is fun making it that can happen 2-3 times in my case...The cirkels give a great effect!

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  46. I love the colors you used in the stencil and your journal pages are delicious. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  47. Hope you know how much you're contributing to my stencil mania! Layers+Collage= Artful Genius!!

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  48. Very nice, love all the layers of colors, makes me want to go play.. guess I will thanks.

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  49. Reductive stenciling is my new Thing!

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  50. love your pages. New to stenciling…never have done a journal before. Think it would be fun to do with PRE teen girls & how to get a positive & affirmative messages for them to read.

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  51. I immediately could see the possibilities in these stencils - it's wonderful to see what you do with them as well!

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  52. They DO say more is better. very cool!

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  53. I love these stencils!
    Thank you for sharing your beautiful artwork and tutorials!!

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  54. Your colors are wonderful and I love the way you use these stencils. Thank you for sharing.

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  55. These are awesome...can't wait to get my hand on some.

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  56. like the variety of items. more inspiration

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  57. Wow! Thanks for showing me how to use the stencils with my journalling. I expect ally love how you cut into your art following the shapes from the stencils.

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  58. Beautiful, and those circles contrasted against the marakech stencil in the book, gorgeous!

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  59. Great use of the new stencils.

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  60. WoWzA! Love what you did!

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  61. WOW! Incredible pages made with the new stencil(s). Great inspiration for me and my art journals! Thanks for sharing :)

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  62. love everything about it! love seeing all the different interpretations of the stencils!

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  63. love these stencils, so many ideas.

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  64. Beautiful pieces as always MaryBeth!

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  65. Your ideas are very inspiring. I really like the cut-out idea. Thanks!

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  66. I love all the Stencil Girl's stencils and Michelle's new set are no exception. Would just love to win the set. All of the blog hoppers samples are great. Thanks.

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  67. They're perfect!!!

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  68. interesting using various papers to fit into the circles...I'd like to see more of that.

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  69. I like the cut-outs. Something I often forget to do.
    textilerecycler (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  70. These are great new stencils. I LOVE how you used them!!!
    ...Raine

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  71. Really loved your ripple/sphere circles...

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  72. Followed the hop, first time at your blog. Great stuff, inspiring!

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  73. Anonymous11:44 AM

    You've inspired me to cut out shapes for collage elements after I've used a stencil. Thanks!

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  74. Great art journal ideas! Thanks so much!

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  75. What a great inspiration to use parts of your stencil. I am going to try this immediately - thank you for sharing your talents

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  76. Great stencils as usual. Love the way you used it and then cut out.

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  77. I love what you've done with this stencil!

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  78. I love to work with circles. These stencils offer so many possibilities. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

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  79. Anonymous5:06 PM

    I love these stencils!

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  80. love the new stencils! Thanks for sharing

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  81. Love these stencils and love seeing them used!

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  82. is fantastic how you do this amazing stencils!

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  83. I love blog hops as they are such a great way to find new inspiration and discover artists and products that you may not have been familiar with. I just love how you have used these new stencils, and in an entirely different way to Michelle.

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  84. I love how the new stencils use such simple shapes, but they elevate what they are used on into something fabulous. I could see myself using these designs over and over again.

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  85. I love circles. And your colors are right up my ally also! So beautiful !!!!

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  86. Great design for a stencil line! I like to cut outs and the layering process.

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  87. So much can be done with these designs. Love em!

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  88. This is a great set of new stencils that Michelle created!

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  89. Love the use of the stencils! So creative and love your colors!

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  90. Love how you cut out the circles!

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  91. Great ideas! Thanks for sharing them with us, and for the opportunity to win the stencils.

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  92. I love this! Actually, when I came to the part where you turned it loose and went wild, my first thought was, 'Oh, no!', but then you used a linear stencil and cut out circles - oh my! That's when I started drooling….lol. I'm loving this blog hop for all the very cool effects that can be make with stencils…I'm starting to wonder, how did I get through life before stencils???

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  93. Love how cutting the circles out of the paper changes the look a bit. You certainly had fun!

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  94. Really cool projects and lovely colour combos, thank you.

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  95. Stenciling,cutting and gluing! Oh, my!
    Super! What fun!

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  96. Beautiful use of Michelle's stencils. =)

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  97. these are wonderful stencils cant wait to get my hands on them. I love your projects!

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  98. Oh I do love what you've done with this gorgeous stencil!! Wonderful creative ideas!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  99. Love seeing all these ideas!

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  100. Love it ALL! My husband bought me all of your books for Christmas...I am one spoiled girl.

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  101. I love Michelle's stencils. I want them all.

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  102. Mary Beth--You DID go wild with the stencil! Very cool!

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  103. Very nice work. Can't wait to try this too.

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  104. Caught MBS's work in Somerset Studio and had to take a look at this post to see how I could create such beautiful journal pages. Can't wait to get started.

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  105. You are one of my favorite artists I really love your site, and I've been using that hot cut technique with foam for awhile! I have to remember to be in a well ventilated place, though, and it does cut like Buttah! If you use a regular glue stick and stick the foam down to foam core then you can cut your own stamps out, too! It is easy to life the pieces...so much fun, right?

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