Splashing Through Life - Art by Patricia Henderson

Why spend a lot of money on stencils? I make my own without any expensive equipment! Whether you’re a collage artist, scrapbooker, or just like stencils, this is a fun, cheap and easy way to create unique stencils. Head to your nearest dollar store and buy a package of those clear page dividers that you used to use in your binders at school. Draw a pattern on a piece of paper. Tape your paper to a cutting board, and then tape your clear plastic over top, so that both pieces are secure and won’t move. If you like, you can draw directly onto the plastic with a Sharpie. I like using paper first though, in case I make a mistake in my design. Keep your pattern simple to start. Remember, when you cut out the shapes it all has to stay together and it all connects! Using an X-Acto knife, cut out the parts that will be open, leaving the parts that will form the pattern. Once you get it all cut out, use it however you want! I’ve used mine to make some print...

Browsing through Pinterest the other day, I saw how a lady had made her own stencils for use on a Gelli® printing plate. I am always on the lookout for things that are fun, easy, and cheap (or free!) to use on my Gelli plate, and this fit the bill! Here's how I made one: I bought some of these plastic Index Dividers from the Dollar Store: Then I drew a pattern on to a piece of computer paper. I shaded in the parts that are to be cut out, so I don't get "lost". I taped down the paper and then taped the divider over top and traced the pattern. I filled in the places that I want to cut out with the marker. I then placed the divider on a cutting mat and using a craft knife, started cutting away the coloured-in pieces. I trimmed off the divider tab: Lets try it out! Using a brayer, spread a thin even coat of acrylic paint to the Gelli® plate. Place the stencil on top of the plate and then place a cle...