Free Downloads Stencil Girl: Mixed-Media Techniques For Making And Using Stencils
It's time to see what the stencil can do!The simple stencil can be the most versatile tool in your creative studio. Stencils create background effects, foreground details and a complex beauty that's surprisingly easy to achieve. In Stencil Girl, Mary Beth Shaw will lead you step-by-step through 18 projects that will have you thinking about stencils in a whole new light as you discover how to use them with paint, wood burning, encaustic, hand stitching, metalwork and much more. Prepare to be inspired by what's inside!Helpful tips for the best way to use stencils in a wide range of applications.Complete step-by-step instruction for a variety of projects including art for the wall, home decor, gifts and "just for fun."Inspiring gallery pieces from 20 contributing artists, plus many bonus projects with links to online instruction. Start to explore the potential of the stencil today. See how Stencil Girl will open up a new world of art-making possibilities to satisfy your creative cravings.
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: North Light Books (October 23, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1440330174
ISBN-13: 978-1440330179
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.4 x 10.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #346,037 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #49 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Papercrafts, Stamping & Stenciling > Stenciling #260 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Mixed-Media
****I bought this lovely book hoping that it would help me find creative ways to use the many stencils I own. It is a gorgeous book and the author seems very talented. Each chapter has step-by-step instructions for a project along with pictures of each step, followed up by examples of other artists' work using the same medium; for example, if it was working with felt, there would be some examples of what other artists had done with stencils and felt. The work seemed very creative to me.Unfortunately, I wasn't able to follow the instructions for any of the projects. I couldn't understand how to do the steps. I would need definitions of some of the words and instructions for the techniques the author wrote about--maybe to have the steps broken down into 4-5 mini-steps. It was far beyond me.For example, the first instruction for the first project: "Begin with a Claybord substrate. Carve into the surface with a craft knife or carving tool, using geometric stencils as a guide." I don't know what a Claybord substrate is. I have a craft knife but can't really tell exactly what she is doing in the picture. The second instruction: "Add another more detailed stencil under the original stencil. Put a thin layer of Wood Icing (about as thick as the stencil itself) on the area covered by both stencils, using an offset palette knife." I don't know how to position the stencils...there is a picture, but I still can't figure it out from looking at it. I don't understand Wood Icing. I don't have or know how to use an offset palette knife. There are pictures, but I was unable to understand this project--or any project--by studying them.It gets harder as you go along. If you understand what I wrote above, this book may be perfect for you.
(My review seems to have sparked a lot of feelings of hatred. For my part, I don't like these feelings, so I decided to pull the review, but not my rating. The furor seems to have died down now, so I'm re-posting it.)I'm trying to decide if this deserves three stars, but I hesitate to bash the book. Some people might like it. For me it's a 1.5 star book, for the rest of the art world, maybe a three.There are NO PICTURES on the Supplies page which is unfortunate because the projects call for a number of supplies I haven't heard of or am not sure about: wood icing, wood burning tool with shading tip, Thermofax screen (no instructions on how to make or get one). You'd have to use the Internet to make sure you were getting the right things. But in essence she says you can use anything. To quote, "I think you get the idea."The book promises techniques for making stencils. These are LISTED on the supply page: Hand-cut stencils (examples include E-Z Cut Stencil Material, acetate, contact paper, scrap paper), found objects, masks. She didn't even say anything about using masking tape. It's like you have to do the work, but you've paid her to do it by buying her book. A picture is worth a thousand words and would generate ideas for stencil material, but NO PHOTOS of supplies. The only technique I see for making a stencil in the book is cutting accordion-folded paper dolls out of paper.There should be a section on Making Stencils where you're shown a number of fundamental ways to make and use them (besides cutting them out of paper or using an X-acto knife and Mylar sheets). Instead, the book plunges into a complicated and ugly first project using unfamiliar materials and a complimentary pair of stencils you might not be able to find at the local craft store.
Stencil Girl: Mixed-Media Techniques for Making and Using Stencils Country Design Cut & Use Stencils: 65 Full-Size Stencils Printed on Durable Stencil Paper Soap Making: 365 Days of Soap Making (Soap Making, Soap Making Books, Soap Making for Beginners, Soap Making Guide, Soap Making Recipes, Soap Making Supplies): Soap Making Recipes for 365 Days Stencil 101: Make Your Mark with 25 Reusable Stencils and Step-by-Step Instructions Farmhouse Kitchens Stencils (Stencil Collection) Stencil Style 101: More Than 20 Reusable Fashion Stencils with Step-by-Step Project Instructions Early American Wall Stencils in Color: Full-Size Patterns Traced in New England Homes and Stencils from Early Coverlets, Together with Complete Directions Showing How Anyone Can Use Them with Ease Fun with Zoo Animals Stencils (Dover Stencils) Fun with Flowers Stencils (Dover Stencils) Fun with Sea Life Stencils (Dover Stencils) Fun with Christmas Ornaments Stencils (Dover Stencils) Fun with Airplanes Stencils (Dover Stencils) Fun with Egyptian Symbols Stencils (Dover Stencils) Fun with Bugs Stencils (Dover Stencils) Fun with Chinese Symbols Stencils (Dover Stencils) Autumn Scene Stencils: Create Sweet Seasonal Displays with 20 Reusable Stencils! Halloween Laser-Cut Plastic Stencils (Dover Stencils) Fun with Spacecraft Stencils (Dover Stencils) Dinosaurs Laser-Cut Plastic Stencils (Dover Stencils) Fun with Rain Forest Animals Stencils (Dover Stencils)
