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Creating Stencils – Kwik Color    Project One    Project Two

Cheryl Hurttgam, #273
Rubber Roadsters
Advanced Stamping Team Designer 

Stencils are great if you need to color multiple images for swaps, conventions, business cards, etc.

Supplies for Stencils:

Acetate (Recycle Center, Kansas City, KS)
Utility Knife (Darice~Crafts 2000)
Cutting Mat (Darice~Crafts 2000)
Black StazOn Permanent Ink Pad (TSUKINEKO~*TAC)

Instructions for Creating Stencils

1.    Stamp images on acetate sheets several times with StazOn ink, leaving lots of room around each image for sponging.  The number of images to be stamped is determined on how detailed your image is.  Stamp at least 6 images and then add more if its needed (you can also use white glossy instead of acetate.  It doesn’t hold up as long, but works just as well).

2.    With open image stamps, cut out the basic products of the image as a whole first, from the acetate, just to the outside edge of the black line, using a utility knife and cutting mat. (i.e.; head of rosebud, stem and leaves).  With solid stamps there is no need to do this.

3.    Now cut out each individual section of the image (see example).  You can cut out more than one section from the image, but make sure they are not connected or you will have one whole image, again.  Try to keep same color images to one stencil cut out.

4.    Heat set the StazOn if possible.  If it is not possible, take care when sponging that your sponge doesn’t pick up the black and transfer it to your project.  The stencil is still good if the StazOn is removed.  It’s placement that counts.

Supplies – Project One – Using an Open Stamp

Rosebud Stamp (TAC)
Sweet Thoughts Stamp Set (TAC)
India Black Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
Sunshine Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
Bubblegum Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
Glamour Girl Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
Princess Pink Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
Grasshopper Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
Alligator Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
Ponderosa Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
1 piece 2 ½” x 2 ¾” White Card Stock (Hollo’s)
1 piece 5 ½” x 8 ½” White Card Stock (Hollo’s)
1 piece 2 7/8” x 3 ½” Dark Green Card Stock (Hollo’s)
Mono Adhesive (Tombow~*TAC)
Southwest Corner Punch (Marvy~TAC)
Holo Shimmer Thread (Sulky, JoAnn Fabrics)
Cellophane Tape (Scotch)
Hydro Sponge, cut into wedges (TAC)
Bone Folder (TAC)

Instructions – Project One

1.    Stamp the rosebud image onto the 2 1/2” x 2 3/4” white card stock with India Ink.

2.    Using the stencil you made from above place the large open cut out over the rose and sponge with Princess Pink.

3.    Now place one of the individual cut outs over the image making sure it lines up perfectly.  With Bubblegum Pink on a new wedge of sponge, brush just one side edge of the section from the outside inwards.  Don’t cover the section completely.  You just want to shade the edge.

4.    Continue to place another section of the stencil cut out over the rosebud and sponge with Bubblegum Pink until the whole image is shaded.

5.    Repeat this process with Glamour Girl Red.

6.    Starting with step 2, repeat for the stem and leaves, starting with the whole open image and Grasshopper green.  For step 3 use Alligator green and finish off with Ponderosa green.  Be sure to use a new wedge for each color.  Mark one side of the sponge with the color’s number and save for another time.

7.    To finish off the image, sponge around the whole image with Sunshine yellow.

8.    Punch the corners of the green card stock with the Southwest punch.

9.    Tape the beginning of the thread to the back of the green card stock and wrap the thread around the corner slots.  Tape the end of the thread down to the back to finish.

10.           Fold your large piece of card stock in half to create an A2 size card.

11.           Using your Mono Adhesive, mount the rose image to the center of the green card and then adhere that to the upper part of the A2 card.

12.           Stamp the words “Thank You” from Sweet Thoughts below the rose layer in Ponderosa green.

Supplies – Project Two – Using a Solid Stamp

Pretty Petals Stamp Set (TAC)
Sweet Thoughts Stamp Set (TAC)
Forget Me Knot Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
Sunshine Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
La La Lavender Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
Moonstruck Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
Grasshopper Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
Alligator Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
Ponderosa Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
1 piece 5 1/2” x 8 1/2” White Card Stock (Hollo’s)
1 piece 4 1/4” x 5 1/2” White Card Stock (Hollo’s)
Mono Adhesive (Tombow~*TAC)
Ribbon (Darice, Crafts 2000)
Hydro Sponge, cut into wedges (TAC)
Bone Folder (TAC)

Instructions – Project Two

1.    Stamp the Pretty Petals flowers in Forget Me Knot and stem and leavesin Grasshopper green, on the 4 ¼” x 5 ½” white card stock.

2.    Using the stencil you made from above, place the individual cut outs over the image making sure it lines up perfectly.  With La La Lavender on a new wedge of sponge, brush just one side edge of the section from the outside inwards.  Don’t cover the section completely.  You just want to shade the edge.

3.    Continue to place another section of the stencil cut out over the petals and sponge with La La Lavender until the whole image is shaded.

4.    Repeat this process with Moonstruck.

5.    Starting with step 2, repeat for the stem and leaves, starting with Alligator green.  Finish off with Ponderosa green.  Be sure to use a new wedge for each color.  Mark one side of the sponge with the color’s number and save for another time.

6.    Stamp the center of each flower with Sunshine yellow.

7.    Finish off the background by sponging around the flower images with Sunshine yellow and around the stems in Alligator.  Add Ponderosa if you need to highlight or hide a flaw.

8.    Fold your 5 ½” x 8 ½” card stock in half to create an A2 size card.

9.    Mount the entire stamped piece to the front of your A2 card.

10.           Stamp “Birthday Greetings” from the Sweet Thoughts stamp set to the front of the card using La La Lavender.

11.           Wrap ribbon around the front side of card and tie into a bow.

For this one, my leaves would have overlapped my flowers when I stamped.  So I masked off a portion and stamped.  Then when I was sponging, I added a little more to the leaves so they were not just cut off straight and they blended well.

I’ve used this on many occasions when I had a LOT of coloring to do.  It’s much faster than any other technique I’ve found and it looks almost airbrushed.  If you use acetate you can save the stencils for another time.  If you need to use glossy card stock, you may find you have to make more than one stencil as it will wear out from the wet ink and the sponging action.  Also, if you are using light colors, try stamping your stencil images in yellow or another light color. Hope you enjoy.

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