CRUSADE No. 19 ~ Cut It Out: II

As you know, we are continuing the custom tool making crusade - this time we'll focus on stencils.  I've tried to gather and present information to encourage you to design, cut, and use your own stencils and masks.  During the month I will add to this and share how I use these tools.  Let's start....

I have purposely not covered "people" or "portrait" stencils.  It's not the best route to go if you are new to stencil cutting.  I will cover that later in the month.  I suggest you start simple - if you don't have acetate available try using cardstock or manila folders. 

You all did such a great job crusading for creativity by cutting your own stamps - I think you will really enjoy this too.  To be successful the main thing you have to wrap your head around (with more complicated images) is to watch for islands and alter a design with appropriately placed connectors.  So show us your custom cut stencils - and how you use them - even if it's just your test pages.  We love to see "in process" don't we?  Once you've made a post on your blog come over here and leave a comment and I'll add you to the link list.  New links will always be on top for the current crusade, archived months are alphabetical order by first name.  As always, you are welcome to participate in previous crusades, just label accordingly but leave your link here to be in the Top Hat drawing. 

If you've been hanging around here a while you know I tend to use my stencils with spray paint.  DO NOT FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO USE SPRAY PAINT.  You can show us how well your stencil turned out by swooshing across it with acrylic paint, or sponge ink through it, or try spray ink.  I'm not advocating for anyone to become a spray paint addict, I just want to you see the value in making your own custom tools.  You can see some of my sprayed work HERE.

DUE DATE for CRUSADE No. 19 ~ Cut It Out: II , May 1st.

Want a button?  Take this.  Want to know more about the Street Team?  Click on link, top left or go HERE. 

Comments

[Julie Prichard]

First...let me say: BEAUTIFUL tutorial!!! You did an outstanding job, Michelle!!

Second, let me say: Hello. My name is Julie and I have a serious problem.

http://lostluggage.typepad.com/the_land_of_lost_luggage/2008/04/gpp-street-team.html

[Caty]

wonderful tutorial! thank you Michelle! Late for the Crusade 18th I will try to make both this month

[Belinda]

Just finished my stenciled pieces. Awesome tutorial, really useful with the pictures. Am not surprised you have a heated-tip tool!! Thanks for the hard work!! Here goes
http://belindaschneider.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/new-moon/

[Hanna]

Yay!

[susan w]

Thank you for a wonderfully detailed and specific tutorial Michelle. I print them out and pet them when I have your tutorials on paper.
Instead of spraying with spray paint, Blow Pens work well - in short puffs, otherwise you hyperventilate and your cheeks hurt from puffing too hard. It is non-toxic though and a good assortment of colors is to be had.
Your Michael's has a better selection than mine. I started using the Versa-Tool for stencil cutting but switched to the pointy tip kind you show - MUCH better. I ordered that from PJ Stencils (and some nice stencil film as well).

[Chris]

Is this all the information you're going to give me? What the H ?

(I'm SO EXCITED ABOUT THE BURNER TOOL!!)

YOU are the one who rocks.
xox

[Chris]

I just printed this post out in color for my

Michelle Ward Manual of Art Techniques (which already contains the stamp-carving, the tag-dyeing, and the grave-dirt collecting instruction packets)

and it's so AWESOME!

I'm only going to stamp and spray from now on. If people want me to glue, they're going to have to pay me.

[inge Bekaert]

Hello Michelle,

I do recognize the stencil of the flames and "mailart" !...

This is a perfect international class ! Glad that you are my teacher !
I'll be a good student and make my homework the coming days.

see you later !

greetings
Inge ( from Belgium)

[Chris]

Me, again. I actually never really got the concept of the mask before. The mask is the part you cut OUT of the stencil, right? revelation!
But I'm here to ask you about the 'You Rock' part of the instruction. How to make text out of a stencil. What do the 'bridges' signify? I mean, the arrows in the diagram. Is that where the stencil is cut out?

Maybe I won't get it until get home and try it.

[Maralena (aka: mcdc3s)]

I'm in. I will have to pack stuff and take it with me. Running a copy of this off right now.

I have been away from blogging for too long. My computer is up and running again. I see I will have a lot of catching up to do as far as checking out my list of blogs… and btw: I am going away for a week – leaving Friday. Will I ever catch up?

[Hermine]

Hi,
What a great challenge, and thank you for the tutorial. I am trying for the first time but will try more in the next time. Love your stencils. Here is my first attempt: http://herminesplace.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/crusade-no-19/
Warm regards
Hermine

[inge Bekaert]

hello Michelle,

back again...
When thinking about the crusade, a light went on in my head...: I did a lot of stencilling in the past !
So, I picked up my camera and wandered through my house...
I already have two posts about stencils and masks and I'm afraid that's just the beginning...

See you at web.mac.com/pinkepinke

greetings
Inge

[Kimbo]

Hi Michelle !
Your tutorial is so clear, beautiful to look at and professional ! You are such a talent !We are so lucky you share it with us.
I have such a great time with #18 - couldn't wait to jump in again! MELTING PLASTIC ROCKS!
Here's my first day with my new stencil burner
http://queen-of-arts.blogspot.com/

[Maj Carita]

Oh dear, Michelle! I went and did it... ordered the long desired heat tip tool. And some rubber for carving more stamps.
Now I will have to go to the wedding and the confirmation next month wearing trainers... because once I have bought the stencils and the spraypaint and gotten addicted and in - and detoxicated, there will be no ressources left for buying pretty new shoes! Sorry family, you'll just have to take me as I am, trainers and all! ART ROCKS - and so do you, Michelle :)

[Fran Meneley]

Whoa and whopeeee! What an amazingly generous, creative and thorough tutorial. I can hardly wait! I just ordered some supplies - our Michael's is small and lame-o. I played around with Tracy's stencils and japanese art pens at the journaling retreat, but think I want to try wielding the spray cans, like the big kids! Love the paint booth too. My son is going to go crazy with this too! Thank you for your generous and talented spirit, Michelle. You seriously do ROCK!!! Will post as soon as I have something to show! xo fran

[Nicole]

Hi there...here is what I made of the challenge...

http://sshaythiel.blogspot.com/2008/04/making-stencils.html

Hope you like it..;-)

Hugs
Nicole

[ArtKat]

I could've gone on a long time making stamps, I was so enjoying it (and I still haven't run out of possibilities for the foam ones)! Well, I 've finally moved on to stencils, and this one has lots of possibilities as well! Thanks for the inspiration! :)

http://creativeartscraftsspot.blogspot.com/2008/04/stencil-cutting.html

[Suzanne]

Great crusade! Love all the stenciling both here and on the main page!
Here's my Photoshop digital stencil tute:
http://suzannerenfrow.blogspot.com/

[JeriAnn]

Michelle, I'm trying to resist -- I have a month until my son's bar mitzvah and I'm cooking the entire thing myself (talk about nuts!) but this Crusade is calling me. The only problem, where does one get a stencil burner? I saw that PJ's Stencils and Dharma Trading carry them online, but are they available in the Tri-State at any of the local craft stores like JoAnn's, Michael's or AC Moore? I could sneak in some time if I could do it right away...of course, do I need another addictive hobby beside stamp carving, especially now? Oh, the dilemma!

[Laura]

Michelle, thank you for the awesome tutorial. I also recently read your article in Digital Studio (super cool). Here is my first stencil. It's simple but I had loads of fun - especially with the application I used it for!

Best,
Laura

http://ladylulu.wordpress.com/2008/04/05/athenas-army/

[eb]

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!

spray weather
just getting started - BUT...
my cans made it through the VT winter and that's impressive

come on over...

http://www.elizabethbunsen.typepad.com

thanks for the fabulous tutorial Michelle!

xox - eb.

[michelle infantino]

I have an idea for this one!

[Viki Banaszak]

It just so happens that I have been playing along without even knowing it. LOL I haven't been around in awhyle but, I am glad to be back. http://www.angelfire.com/ks/BurningRubber/blog/

[Laura]

Uh-oh... I think I may have a new love- stencils. Here is my second one:
http://ladylulu.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/yachting-navy-blazers-and-monograms/

[susan w]

More Johnny. sigh...

[eb]

sun sun sun...

singing the Crusade song - they have multiplied...

due to favorable conditions...

come see - we GOT birds...

http://www.elizabethbunsen.typepad.com

xox - eb.

[Hanna]

My first stencil have been cut now:

http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/?p=788

:-)

[stephanie]

No time for new stuff now, but I've played in the past...

http://rodrigvitzstyle.typepad.com/rodrigvitz_style/2008/04/pears-on-that-f.html

Looking forward to May so I can PLAY with your great tutorial here!

thanks!

[Suzanne]

Stencils ROCK!
I couldn't help myself...here's another entry:
http://suzannerenfrow.blogspot.com/2008/04/banksy-wanna-be.html

[lee]

Well here is mine

http://leekre.blogspot.com/2008/04/blog-post.html

[eb]

ok - this one is on canvas - a further development...

http://www.elizabethbunsen.typeppad.com

xox - eb.

[Tracey Dean AKA rattytatty]

Wow. Love your blog. Found it through back surfing comments on my blog. Its great fun you find loads of wonderful sites . Like yours. Love your tutorials, and yopur crusades i will be putting a Your button on my blog
Don't have much time but will be attempting some when I have. Your blog is lovely

[belinda]

just used my self portrait stencil. i can see why you use the heated tip thingie :)
http://belindaschneider.wordpress.com/2008/04/09/ws-arrows/

[Tracey Dean AKA rattytatty]

I have tried adding a button to my blog. I am not very HTML literate. Have you got HTML for this link
Thanks tracey
you can e mail me or leave comment on my blog

[Tracey Dean AKA rattytatty]

Have been playing, what a great challenge. My efforts are at
http://rattytattysblog.blogspot.com/
plus a free graphic for you to cut you own template

[Tracey Dean AKA rattytatty]

Hi Michelle
Thanks for your comment. The outside frame is the stencil. The owl is the mask. so you can stamp in the features and then stamp right up to the body of the owl. Hope this sorts out any confusion. A gsd. is a craft robo cutting file

[Rosie]

You got me at it again... a whole new voyage of discovery!! I'm addicted already, expect more - lol!!

http://alteredartandstuff.wordpress.com/2008/04/09/cut-it-out-ii/

[Jo Wholohan]

http://artheartstudio.blogspot.com/2008/04/gpp-crusade-19.html

And so the addiction continues :))

[Maj Carita]

I don't know why I was waiting for the hot tip tool to arrive, while the whole time, I had a little stencilled birdie lying around, just waiting for it's wings... well, it is flying now! http://secondnature.typepad.com/maj_carita/2008/04/gpp-street-team.html
And NOW back to trying out that awesome tool!

[Maj Carita]

A little stencilled and stamped bird is trying out it's new wings: http://secondnature.typepad.com/maj_carita/2008/04/gpp-street-team.html

[hedwig]

Hi Michelle,
GREAT Tutorial, AGAIN!!! Specially the bridges thing is good for a newbie on stencil making! It took me some time to make stencils, cold water fear it is called in Holland. Thought i did not have the apropiate tools and was stuck... Reading Hanna's blog reminded me of using paper instead of plastic sheets. And if you start, then go with the flow... This is the link http://belle2create.wordpress.com/2008/04/11/stenciling-and-cold-water-fear/ .
Have a great weekend!
Hedwig

[Julie Prichard]

Still burning and spraying over here! I love it!
http://lostluggage.typepad.com/the_land_of_lost_luggage/2008/04/more-quick-proj.html

Thanks, Michelle!!

[JeriAnn]

Michelle --

With the riches this tutorial offers, I couldn't resist joining in although I have bar mitzvah on the brain (or maybe BECAUSE I have bar mitzvah on the brain!) The results are at http://commutersjournal.blogspot.com. It was far more fun than figuring out poached salmon for 100!

-- JeriAnn

[Maj Carita]

The hot tip tool is really cool! Want to see my first stencil made with it?
http://secondnature.typepad.com/maj_carita/2008/04/be-bold.html
xoxo Maj

[ArtKat]

I got more into the stencils this time, haven't even tried all the ones I made, but I've been thinking about MORE that I want to make! ;D

http://creativeartscraftsspot.blogspot.com/2008/04/more-stencils.html

[Gillian Allen]

Here are some of my stencils and how I did them,
http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/stentut.html
I really got inspired when I visited Shepard Fairey's awesome exhibition here in London. Its really exciting to see everyone taking stencilling up.
Gillian in London

[gaby braun]

Here more works with stencils. This time I've tryed with silhouettes:
http://gaby-cajubrasil.blogspot.com/2008/04/working-with-stencils-iv-silhouettes.html
Thanks for looking!

[Maralena (aka: mcdc3s)]

First set complete! I am really going to enjoy using these in my visual journals. I'm cutting away in between other projects. Here is a peek of first set.
http://mcdc3s.blogspot.com/2008/04/crusade-19-cut-it-out.html

[Suzanne]

I didn't see a way to leave a comment for Gillian on her site, but I am totally drooling over her stencils (eSPECIALLY the digi-stencils!). I'm hopelessly hooked on all things stencils now!!!

[Maralena (aka: mcdc3s)]

http://mcdc3s.blogspot.com/2008/04/crusade-19-cut-it-out.html

Updated: The sprayed effect. I love the process and will be doing more over the weekend! I'm off to buy more colors of spray paint.