fabric stenciling with archival inks...

last fall,

I stenciled some fabric bags...

do you remember this guy?

that was really fun, so

here's another, with a different theme...

stencils are actually very easy to use on fabric...

maybe even easier than stamps...

if you remove the stencil & discover that you either missed an area, or maybe you want to add more color or shading, 

because you can see thru the stencil,

it's simple to reposition the stencil over the stenciled area...

then continue adding ink...

remember that archival inks are permanent on fabric when dry...

so that means you can stencil on clothing...

it's on my TO*DO list...

for this bag, 

I used the add a stencil with 

forget-me-not archival...

I also used forget-me-not for the gift box...

you'll see the new borders stencil used at the top & bottom of the bag...

it's stenciled lightly with tree branch at the top to get a lighter tree branch color...

at the bottom you'll see light tree branch & darker tree branch...

to darken the color, just add more ink...

the 2 part gift box stencil

makes it simple to add a second color...

I used leaf green for the gift box bow and to stencil the stem for the little flower...

keep in mind, 

you can stencil the stem longer or shorter as needed for your art...

the sentiment is also a stencil...

it's the new all occasions stencil...

very useful for events thru the year...

there's lots of mix & match words that will create other sentiments...

look at the word HOPE below...

turn it upside down & mask off the P & E...

you have the word "OH"...

I like OH HAPPY DAY...

now look at CONGRATS...

mask off CONG and you are left with RATS...

which can be combined with OH for...

OH RATS for a funny card...

OH RATS...

I forgot your birthday...

OH RATS...

I hope you feel better...

check it out...

lots of possibilities with this guy...

another thing I like about stencils is their versatility...

because you can see thru them, it's easy to add stenciling to backgrounds 

(over other stenciling or stamping) 

to add more layers...

and it's easy to avoid your main image...

now back to the bag...

can you see that with the border stencil in place,

I stamped polka dots THRU the stencil?

same thing with the gift box stencil...

I like that any stamp can be used...

it can be a small pattern or tiny text looks great too & that changes up the look of both the stencil & the stamp you chose...

my little art parts flower was inked with

 orange blossom archival ink,

 then sprinkled with

orange blossom embossing powder...

after I embossed it, 

I used the emboss-it pen 

(which is embossing ink 

in a super convenient pen form)

to color the flower center...

then sprinkled it with 

watering can embossing powder & 

then melted the powder to create 2 differently colored embossed areas...

a few black glaze pen dots finished off the flower...

these bags are inexpensive and really fun to create...

  they are a nice presentation for gift cards, notes or even small gifts...

this same design 

could easily be made into a card...

one thing to think about...

the thickness of the fabric...

if it's really thin fabric, 

slip a paper scrap into the bag 

before you stencil 

to prevent any color being added 

to the back of the bag...

I didn't need it with these 2 bags...

but it's something to consider 

before you start...

OK...

it's back to pacing for me...

that "little brown truck" has a package that I've been waiting for...

"on the truck for delivery"

makes me start pacing...

it's bloody FRIGID again today...

think I'll stay in the studio and...

make art!

wendy

ps...that's AFTER that 

brown truck delivers the goods...

wait...

one more thing...

how AWESOME is 

the NEW MERMAID LAGOON?

you will be seeing lots of that beauty here...