Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
I use Distress Inks and the Ranger ink blending tools – it gives a really cool almost airbrushed look. Using those tools, you can stipple, dab or use round movements through the stencil to get different looks as well.
Dylusion spray ink and water color paper. I tried several others but I love the intensity of that ink and the thickness of watercolor paper. I also laugh at how people will buy tiny squares of water color paper when they can go down to the artist aisle in Hobby Lobby or Michaels and but tablets of the same thing.
I bought my "tiny squares" of Tim Holtz watercolor paper for $2.99 on Amazon Super great deal, and precut for cards. Pads of watercolor paper are super expensive at big box stores here. Wish I could find a budget friendly source of it!
Here is what I've done yesterday and for a bit today. I used makeup sponges with the distress ink. The results are ok. I'm thinking that stenciling isn't my thing.
I did watch a Tim Holtz video where he talks about using the round headed tool. He says that avoids any harsh marks on the paper. I have one, just didn't get around to trying it.
Cleaning...I took a box lid and have it laying next to me. I spray the ink off and just use a paper towel to clean the stencil. It is working and helps as I'm not totally mobile at the moment!
I'm going to tell you a secret. You really don't have to wash the stencils off immediately after use, unless you are going to use them again soon. After my crafting session I wash them off then. I urge you to try spray ink or stain before giving up.
I use a 12 x 12 x 4 plastic paper storage box with about an inch of water in it. Set it up on a tray table next to your work space. Just throw in it immediately after use and clean when you have a break.
I'll use any ink or medium (modeling paste, embossing paste, etc.) with stencils on any paper, canvas, wood, etc. It all depends on the project.
My favorite tool when using ink are airebrushes made in Germany. I have brushes for each color group (reds, blues, etc.) and I only use this brand of stipple brush because IMHO they have the most bristles. On occasion I also use daubers.
You're talking about using the stencils to create a print, rather than sponging through them? There's a tutorial here:Stencil Monoprints Tutorial - Splitcoaststampers. Lee-Anne has several different suggestions.
Thanks so much for the tutorial link! I'll check it out.
I want to use the stencils for a background for cards. I just can't seem to get the look I want. Now, what is "the look"....that could be the issue. I guess I'm not sure! LOL!!
My thought is to also use the distress inks. How do you clean the stencils?
Please try this before you clean your stencil! If the stencil has dried, spray the inked side lightly with water and press a piece of paper/cardstock onto it so the paper absorbs the ink. I usually put a piece of scrap paper on top of my good paper and rub that so the paper doesn't move. When you lift off the paper you have a reverse of your usual stencil and I find they are just as beautiful as the stenciled image. It is kind of like "pulling" a print.
I couldn't find any pics to show you, so I just went in my craft room to do a very rough demo using 3 different sprays, but you will be able to see what I am talking about. The top piece is the traditional stencil image and the bottom is what I got from the ink left on the stencil itself.
I hope someone tries this and lets me know what you think.
I should have said, you won't be able to do this with Copics, they dry to quickly. Perhaps if you were able to spray blending solution on the stencil and immediately lay down your paper? Give it a try!
It was the way you said "stamping using a stencil..." that made me wonder if you were thinking of something like the monoprint technique, which is pretty much what pennydouph is showing too. I have a couple of stencils which I've never been happy with the look when I sponged or sprayed colour through them, but loved the result when I used them to create a print.
Cleaning ink off a stencil is pretty easy just rinse with water. However if you use paste, try scrubbing with a dish brush while the stencil is flat in the bottom of the sink. It works really well.
Chalks (by Petaloo) are what I use with plastic stencils, on Neenah 110 lb. white cardstock. The chalks come with a "roach clip" and tiny cotton balls so it's easy to control where the color goes. I've tried inks and sprays and just can't seem to get clean images, especially if I want to use more than one color.
When finished, I spray with hair spray so the chalks don't smudge.
With brass stencils, I use Dreamweaver pastes and have no problem getting really clean images. However, I've seen instructions for sandwiches to use with brass stencils in Cuttlebug or Big Shot.....that bends the stencils and makes them totally useless for anything else.
Here is a video on cleaning stencils. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO-ph0PVqHk
This women rarely cleans stencils until she started doing gelli printing. Her stencils are filthy at the beginning of the vid and clean at the end. I was impressed!
Here is a video on cleaning stencils. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO-ph0PVqHk
This women rarely cleans stencils until she started doing gelli printing. Her stencils are filthy at the beginning of the vid and clean at the end. I was impressed!
Wow - I have Murphy's Wood Soap so I'll give this a try.
My biggest problem is that I have a lot of stencils with small spaces and it's really hard to get pastes off without ruining the acrylic stencil. I actually bought a back-up of one of my favorites because it's starting to tear through. You can't use a brush or sponge, I just have to use my fingers and it's a real pain to do. Hope the soap works as well on paste as it does paint.
I use spray inks through my stencils. It's really fun. Give it a try. I also use the "leftover" ink to get a second print. Many times - I think the second one is prettier than the "original ".
__________________ Creativity is intelligence having fun. - Albert Einstein
Here is a video on cleaning stencils. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO-ph0PVqHk
This women rarely cleans stencils until she started doing gelli printing. Her stencils are filthy at the beginning of the vid and clean at the end. I was impressed!
Oh! Thank you for this! I need to do it. Gelli printing is definitely a stencil destroyer because you're working very fast and you resist stopping to wipe off your stencils because you figure you're only going to use them again in a minute on another print and you do end up with very gunky stencils.
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY
I'm sure there is a best - or at least better - procedure I can use, but when I do mono printing it's all very fast and improvisational. I'm working with six pieces at once and going from one to the next. (Keeps me from thinking too hard about any one piece.) I try (!) to give my stencils a quick wipe after each use, but some are too delicate for a wipe, edges to catch and bend, and putting them in water would make them wet so I'd have to blot them before laying them on the plate again, which I am too impatient to do, I want to be able to grab and go. So I guess I have made a decision to put my creative workflow first and deal with the collateral stencil problems later. The Murphy's Oil Soap is a great solution for me, I can just do a stencil cleanup every so often when things get out of hand.
The water tray is a good idea for working with stamps and paint, though, which I have not been doing at all so far because of the cleanup issues, but intend to try. Shallow pan, very thin layer of water, place stamp in after use so paint won't dry.
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY
Stamping/stencils/ink/cardstock?
