Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Stencil Test Drive - Borders

Welcome to the Borders Test Drive & Giveaway, featuring Marjie Kemper, Natasha May, Maria McGuire, Maggie Nemetz,  and Judy Shea.

I love borders.  I never feel like a creation is complete unless I've added some sort of border around it.  So I created the borders stencil.  It has an assortment of borders that can be used around the edges of your project, or to give texture, or as design elements.

On the book I altered for my parents, the checked border on the top and bottom of the back cover are from the borders stencil.  I used one of my favorite texture techniques -- mixing gold mica powder into glass bead gel and spreading it across and through the stencil with a putty knife.  Here's the back of the book again...


Now for the front of the book!  There, I pulled the gold-tinted bead gel through the leafy border, as well as through some of the stars and spirals:


On the inside spread, I covered the book pages with gesso, and used a credit card to scrape Quinacridone Magenta and Nickel Azo Gold over the gesso.  When the paint was barely dry, I scrubbed it off with a baby wipe through the geometric border on the stencil.  I like the distressed, textured look this gave me.  It inspired the other elements that I added.




On the spine, I wrote: Sam and Ellen, a love story.  They'll be married 59 years this August!  Here they are seeing the book for the first time! 


You can also use the border stencil to create an overall design:


Here's a journal spread I did using inspiration from Marjie Kemper's use of tags in this post, and Carolyn Dube's tag post from her free online workshop, Use Your Words.  

1.  I laid out three tags side by side on scrap paper.

2.  I placed the border stencil across them horizontally, and sprayed randomly with Dylusions spray in Calypso Teal and Fresh Lime.

3.  I placed the border stencil vertically and sprayed again.   

4.  Using a neocolor  II crayon in golden yellow, I scribbled around the areas not touched by the stenciling.

5.  I misted the three tags with water and spread the inks and neo color crayon around.  Then I sealed them with clear gesso.
 
6.  I wanted the tags to go from small, medium to large in my journal.  So I cut the bottom off of one of the tags, and attached it to the bottom of another tag.  This created 3 different sizes.  I stenciled across the tags using the border stencil and white acrylic paint, to give them contrast and make the bottom tag more cohesive.

7.  Once I knew the layout of the tags, I removed them and used my yellow crayon to color in letters from the letter stencil Carolyn's been using in her workshop.

8.  I removed the stencil and loosely colored around the letters with Vermilion and Scarlet neocolor II crayons.

9.  I misted the page and washed the colors around.  The letters disappeared into the background, but one step inspires the next -- plus I know they're there!

I adhered the tags onto my background using heavy gloss gel, which both sealed the background and tags, and also acted as an adhesive for scraps of lined paper for journaling and some inspirational words from a sheet of Tiny Text stickers by Cosmo Cricket.  Then I darkened the background with a red Portfolio Pastel. 

 I liked it so much, I had to do the other side of the page for a full spread!


I added letter stickers to spell "GUATEMALA" on the top left of the spread.  By the time you read this, we will be in Antigua, Guatemala, for a week with our families and the children at the two schools.   I am excited to have my art journal all prepped to memorialize my trip.  I will be sharing pictures and observations as soon as I can!
 
Please be sure to visit Marjie Kemper, Natasha May, Maria McGuire, Maggie Nemetz,  and Judy Shea and see how they've used the Borders stencil.  I am so very grateful that they took this test drive with me!

GIVEAWAY!  Comment by Sunday, March 3 for a chance to win the Dots and Dashes stencil!

UPDATE:  and the winner is Arnold Romero! 

And finally, I just have to share these gorgeous tags that Annette made using the stars and swirls stencil that she won as a giveaway and uploaded to the Jessica Sporn Designs Flickr pool.  I LOVE THEM!  
http://nettyscraftings.blogspot.com/
Thank you for visiting! I read and treasure every comment and will answer any questions as quickly as I can.

48 comments:

  1. That gold-tinted bead gel looks like gold embossing. Fabulous! I love this stencil so much. :) Thanks for letting me test drive it with you.

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  2. I just love everything you did here.. from the bead gel to the deep and rich colors of the book. NOW.. your parents are gorgeous. You look just like your mom. I can see how much beauty and energy they have and how it all was given to you. Now you are ready for your trip's stories.. how wonderful to capture them with your art.

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  3. What a beautiful gift for your parents, and the border stencils embellish it so perfectly. Congratulations to them on their long marriage!

    The tag/journal project is super creative. I can't wait to see how you will memorialize your trip on these pages. Have a wonderful time!

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  4. I love that book you did for your parents and love even more seeing there smiling faces as they look through it. What a marvelous idea and a great way with all that gold and love colors to create a memorable piece. xox

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  5. Your parents must have been so happy with your lovely book. Thanks for giving us so much detail. I look forward to a chance to win as well!

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  6. What a memorable gift! Thanks for the chance to win.

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  7. Your book is incredible...what touches me the most is the look of pure JOY on your parents face as they look at it. I love all the ways you used the border stencil and I too feel that something always needs a border. You know what that means Jessica!!!!! You need to make Borders 2!!!!!

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  8. found you through stencil girl products. beautiful! have many of your designs on my 'wish list' - sweet inspiration, for sure! looking forward to seeing more

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  9. I've lerarend alreeds, just by reading your post about the use of stencils. I am new to journaling and woud love to incorporate your border stencils!

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  10. I also loved Marjie's tag page. Seeing yours as well...I think I'm going to have to do one myself!! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. Love free products!

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  11. Lovely shades of green and red on the background.The tags are also great. Stencils are so awesome so many creative things to do with them. Thank you for sharing this.

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  12. What a beautiful gift for your parents, Jessica! Love the way you used the stencil both as border and background and I'm tickled you were inspired to make a tag page that way. Also VERY impressed that you had the page prepped before you even got on the plane. Hope the trip is wonderful!

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  13. Fabulous! I would love to do a book for my sister and brother-in-law! I love the stencilling and I'd love to have a go too!

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  14. Oh, my! This is the most beautiful gift a person (or persons) could ever receive.....a gift of time, love and creativity. Obviously your parents were most overjoyed. Absolutely stunning piece. thank you for posting this.

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  15. Wow, love the book and the tags, just amazing work! Looks like you had fun with those stencils, a great look! Thanks so much for the inspiration. hugs, Kimberly

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  16. Awesome projects- and love the stencil work! What a fabulous book you created for your parents- WOW!

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  17. All those borders on 1 stencil make it extra versatile! You are the book master! Such a heartfelt book rich with pattern, color, and texture!

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  18. I think this border stencil is my favorite. Or one of my faves! There is a place for them all! The book for your folks is precious! What a gift! They made a beautiful (inside and out) daughter!

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  19. Your book is lovely; the stencils and ideas have my imagination whirring ...thanks for the inspiration!

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  20. What a special book. It is obvious by their faces that they love it.

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  21. Oh Jessica, you have inspired me tremendously seeing what you've made! What a beautiful tribute to your parents! The colors & textures rock my soul! I love all the Stencil Girl products. AND you! Thank you for sharing so many yummy ideas with us.

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  22. I love playing with tags too. Motivated to try some of your techniques!

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  23. What a very special gift, the book is so beautiful! HPPF!

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  24. wow the book is totally awesome, so many beautiful colours and textures. Have been following the makes on these terrific and useful stencils.
    Brilliant gift for your parents.
    Happy PPF, Annette x
    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  25. I love borders, too, Jessica...and LOVE what you did with these in glass beads on your altered book! Magnificent!!
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  26. I just came from Natasha May's blog where she used this same stencil. I can't get over the diverse creativity that comes from different artists using the same thing. It is amazing and wonderful to see. I think your book is wonderful, Jessica. Beautiful work.

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  27. Your stencil work is fabulous, Jessica. I love the borders designs.

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  28. Awesome, so rich in detail, color and feeling that it is positively jewel like! <3

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  29. This is really a lot of work and you've done a wonderful job with the book. How exciting your pages are. Thank you.

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  30. What a lovely tribute to your parents.
    I always am amazed at allyour creations and the lessons you teach. Thanks!

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  31. That book is stunning, your parents must be very proud to have such a tribute to them. Love the other pieces as well, so rich and full of texture.

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  32. The colors are lovely...seem so full of life! Your parents look so happy! What a wonderful gift!

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  33. Lovely clours love you're work what a wonderfull present

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  34. I love this post...your parents seem thrilled with the book...it is truly gorgeous, both art and words!! Everything is so inspiring! You sure look like your mom... beautiful couple!!

    Have a fabulous holiday with your kids!! Can't wait to hear how happy everyone was to see you!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  35. That book looks amazing, Jessica. Your stencils look like they would be a blast to work with. Blessings!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Arnoldo - YOU WON THE STENCIL! Send me your snail mail address (jessicabethsporn (at) gmail (dot) com, and I will mail it to you right away. Congratulations!

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  36. Oh Jessica, that book is amazing!! love all the intricate design, textures, colors on it. EVERYTHING!
    It's absolutely amazing. Just a treasure!!

    Have a great day!
    Nora

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  37. What rich elegant work! So amazing...I also love EVERYTHING! ;) Thanks for sharing. I think I will forward this post to my friend who is starting out with collage on her art journey! xoxo

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  38. I have a friend who starts each work of art with a border. The border becomes the catalyst for the work and keeps him from having to face the blank page. I like how you incorporate border elements into the collages. Fascinating stuff. Makes me want to touch it!

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  39. That looks like a beautiful book! Bet your parents are loving it! 59 years married! So they must be close to 80? They look incredibly good I must say! The colours of your art journalpages really bring forth a taste of Guatemala. Hope your trip is lovely!

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  40. Wow...loved each and everything displayed here...so hard to say which one I liked the most! loved the gold borders and Netty's tags have come out so well.
    BEAUTIFUL work Jessica :)
    HPPF!
    http://deepazworld.blogspot.ae/

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  41. Missed to say, Best Wishes and Prayers to your loving parents :)

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  42. At first I thought I was looking at you and your husband or father. Your mother looks amazingly young!!! The book is such a treasure! As beautiful as the couple it's about and the woman who created it! Wow, Jessica, I will follow you forever! And mazol tov to the happy couple!

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  43. Hi Jessica: What a jam packed lovely post! You are the spitting image of your mom!!!! What a great memory pack you made and I love the pages. I'm taking Carolyn's class too and just did my tags tonight so I really loved seeing yours. They are absolutely gorgeous and I love the way you describe what you did. Brilliant. I just had to see what was up with you. At PPF it looked like you painted cucumbers!!!! Yummalicious! What a surprise I was in for. Lovies, Samara

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  44. Gosh what an amazing and inspiring post and what a fabulous present!

    Have a brilliant holiday :)

    Karen x

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  45. Great border designs! I like the way you've used them.

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  46. I love border stencils too!! Count me in!

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  47. Any stencils are great! I love how you used the notebook paper for journaling!

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