Blog Hop with StencilGirl and Seth Apter

Here I am again, doing another Blog Hop with StencilGirl for the NEW RELEASE of Seth Apter’s stencil designs.

I just love Seth’s art style and for him to create stencils.. well.. is a bit exciting. Take a look at his blog HERE.

I will be using Seth’s “Timeless” stencil. I love these markings he’s made and the words… and what better way to use all this texture than with polymer clay.  Are you surprised?

When I begin the process in my head of what I will create for each blog hop, most of the time, I don’ t know what I’m going to create until I sit at my art table. This time was no different. I knew I was going to use clay.  Let’s see.. bookmarks, buttons,  journal… yes a little funky journal. Let’s HOP to it.

I started with a package of beige polymer clay. Then conditioned it by softening it with my hand and through my clay dedicated pasta machine. Not loving that it is not getting soft. I’ve been through this before. Maybe my basement is too chilly or the clay is old.. not sure. But, let’s go with it, shall we?

Once I got a good sheet of clay soft enough, I sprayed the clay with water and put the stencil on top. Put my pasta machine on a thinner setting so I could get a thin cover for a journal.  Cool, huh?

FOR A CLOSER LOOK, CLICK ON ANY PICTURE.

Now, I have to think about what shape of journal I want. At this point, I still don’t know and let’s face it, I don’t have a lot of options. So, I’m gonna split the clay in half and make a “shard” shape, as if it were ripped. Get them even enough so the front and back covers somewhat match.  I wanted the words to be engraved into the clay. I took a pencil and went over the letters to indent them. I did this because when I stain the clay, the paint will sit in them.  That’s coming up. I put holes at the top of the covers and now it’s time to bake in my clay dedicated oven.

While the clay was baking, I had to choose some pages to go inside of the journal. I had some scrapbook paper from years ago that was double-sided. A neutral color to go with the covers. I stamped a clock image and a “remember” rubber stamp over the pages. Now, I had to trace the covers on the paper so I could get the same, sort of, shape. Then punch holes with an awl into the paper to match the holes I put in the clay. I used a distress stamp pad to darken the edges of each page.

 

Now, it’s time to “antique” the clay covers. I took brown acrylic paint and with a bristle paint brush (or an old toothbrush), I smooshed the paint onto and into the clay getting into the deep lines.  Let it sit for about 30-45 seconds. Then wipe it off with a damp paper towel until you like the look. After this was dried, I brushed a coat of Liquid Laminate over the front and back covers (cuz, I can’t find my Future Floor Polish… ugh).

Time to add some color.  I took acrylic paint and started to make the covers look purdy. Going over the parts of the design that are risen.  Turquoise, red, black, orange.  After the paint was dry, I put another coat of Liquid Laminate over the covers again.

What do I use to bind this funky journal? I tried binder rings, too shiny and clunky. I had some twine and using a dental floss threader, I ran the twine though the holes with the inside pages in between.

  

Here is the final journal… you likey???

Well, thank you, Seth for creating such fun stencil designs.

Before you go off to the next artist, let me tell you about the giveaway…

All comments on the hop are eligible for the giveaway. The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to win.  Giveaway will close on Sunday, May 4th at 11:59PM Central Time.

PRIZE:   2 lucky winners, each will get a set of Seth’s new releases.  Seems pretty cool to me.

Before you leave me to go to Leslie’s blog, I want to thank you, as always, for stopping by and supporting my crazy work/life/unbalanced world.  Ok, now you can  go to the next person on the list….  Judy ♥ ♥ ♥

StencilGirl Talk

Seth Apter

Mary Beth Shaw

Mary C. Nasser

Linda Cain

Carolyn Dube

Kirsten Reed

Linda Kittmer

Janet Joehlin

Judy Shea (U R HERE NOW)

Leslie Tucker Jenison (NEXT)

Paula Phillips