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Sure, just cut your shape (for a mask) or aperture (for a stencil) and ink away! I often use an acetate sheet because you can see exactly where you're placing it on your project and it's reusable but paper will work if you're doing a one-off or just want to try something out.
You do need to give a bit of thought to the dies you choose - anything that has lots of separate little pieces to pop out of your cut will make a mask but not a stencil. Take something like the Spellbinder Fancy Lattice die for example - I could lay that cut onto a project and ink or spray over it so I leave a negative image (mask) but not use it as a stencil.
If you're using a very intricate cut you might want to consider one of the masking films with low-tack adhesive but otherwise, just hold the sheet in place at the edges with a little tape if you're worried about it moving as you ink.
Thanks so much for posting that video. I enjoyed it, and will probably watch several more times, as I'm just now getting interested in using stencils.
The acrylic caulk that you used - I'm assuming that would be interchangeable with what I've seen in other supply lists as embossing paste? It would probably be cheaper per ounce.
Embossing paste or modeling/molding paste would also work... I would imagine, though, that a generic hardware item would be less expensive than an artists' medium.
I use them for masks/stencils all the time. Sometimes I make them out of acetate and other times I just use a sticky note for a disposable one that can be used several times and discarded. Have fun!
I was watching Martha Stewart the other day and she uses those flimsy cutting sheets; I can't think of the exact name of them but they are pretty inexpensive. I tried on an old one and used a Spellbinder with it through the Big Shot and it worked perfectly. Got me thinking that I could use an old Cricut mat also
I've been making my own stencils using my Cameo and Sizzix eClips machines with quilters plastic and poster board...check my blog post here for all of the details!!!
Making stencils
