Stencils, stencils, stencils

I love using Artistcellar stencils for my Tuesday blog.  I start with one and just keep on layering for my backgrounds.  I've heard it said that you can't fake layers and guess what?  It's true.  This is a short tutorial with lots of photos showing how to get those layers in your work.  Here's my finished canvas.

I start with a gessoed small canvas, 6" by 6".  I just slather the gesso on with an old hotel key or credit card and allow it to dry.  Next I wiped off some excess Turquoise paint from my brush that I was using on a different project and set it aside to dry.

To add interest to the background I stamped Dyan Reaveley's Basic Background numbers and alphabet with StazOn Jet Black ink.  I needed more layers so I began by placing a stencil on top of the canvas from the Coral Series (ACSET006) and applied more gesso through it.

The background needed a little boost at this point so I pulled out another stencil and added some more Turquoise with an applicator.  I used the Balzer Designs stencil made by TCW called Pattern Strips.

Now it needed a pop of a contrasting color so I used DWM Tangerine and another stencil called Halftone Circles (TCW418).

While all the background elements were completely drying I started working on my subject matter.

I decided to use Dyan Reaveley's stamp called "Pondering Petunia" as my main character and one of Dyan's phrases.  I stamped these with StazOn Jet Black ink and heat embossed it with clear powder.  I colored these with Copic pens and cut them out.

Petunia is a tad too tall for the canvas that's why I chose that phrase and cut her legs off, now she can sit down and relax.  To finish it I inked the canvas edges with StazOn Midnight Blue.

Stencils to me are like shoes.....I don't think a girl can have too many!  Thanks for stopping by today, I'll have another tutorial on how to use your stencils next Tuesday.  I hope to see you then!  ~Hugs~ Renee xxx

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