artJOURNALING daily: hot glue handmade stencils

If you've read either of my books Collage Unleashed or Doodles Unleashed, you know that I LOVE to create handmade tools. I'm always experimenting with fun ways to creatively make my mark. Inspired by a piece of decorative handmade paper, I started thinking about additonal ways I could make my own stencils. So, I've been experimenting with various glues and release surfaces. This technique is another way to incorporate your doodles into your artwork.

First up, I tried Collage Pauge Matte, pouring it straight from the bottle onto a Teflon sheet. Collage Pauge is GREAT for resists but it didn't dry thick enough to use as a sturdy stencil. It's all about experimenting to find out what works the best...

Next up, I doodled Tulip Slick Dimensional paint onto Freezer paper, which is a technique I've used to make colored embellishments for my art journals. It worked, but is a little fragile to use as a stencil but makes a fabulous window cling. Then I tried Aleene's Fabric Fusion on parchment paper, which also works but takes overnight to dry. I wanted something that I could use right away.Then, thought what about a GLUE GUN! I used my mini glue gun to doodle on a Teflon sheet, which created interesting thin layers of glue. Once it dried, I peeled the stencil right off the sheet.TIP: make sure the tip is touching the surface as you doodle, this helps to spread out the glue. You can also use Freezer paper or parchment paper with the hot glue gun if you don't have a Teflon sheet. I placed the glue gun stencils onto a piece of Strathmore Mixed Media 300 series paper, then sprayed with a mixture of my own acrylic sprays made with Golden Fluid Acrylics, Liquitex inks and distilled water to create stencil prints.

The mini glue gun made a set of interesting stencils with thin lines, but I was looking for something a bit more sturdy and thicker lines.

I searched online for an industrial glue gun at hardware stores, then discovered that iLoveTo Create makes Aleene's Ultimate Glue Gun which has interchangeable tips. So I ran out and purchased a new glue gun and continued experimenting.I had fun doodling different shapes...flowers, circles, words, letters, squares, leaf and feather shapes.

The regular tip makes thinner lines, so I changed it to the largest circular tip which releases a lot more glue. There is also a tip that lays down a wider straight line. Below are a few of the stencils made with the Aleene's glue gun. I really LOVE how they turned out and the stencils are nice and sturdy.

I also painted on various fabrics, paper towels and surfaces using Tulip Fashion sprays. One of my favorite surfaces to paint with the stencils is muslin because it can also take a good print of the stencil. To take a print, once I spray through the stencil I turn it over and press it into the fabric.

The glue gun stencils also double as window clings, these make great holiday decor! A view through my studio window with a stencil attached to the window...

have fun experimenting and making your own mark!

p.s. check out my artJOURNALING daily series

 

Comments

[M]

Wow, love this! I'm going to try it. Perhaps as soon as tomorrow because I was looking at my stencils/textures for a monoprinting workshop coming up. Thanks for sharing.
Marissa

[autumn hathaway]

So very very clever. Thanks for sharing more of your inspired ideas.

[Darlene K Campbell]

An extremely versatile and original idea. Thanks for the fun! Will certainly try this.

[Rita Juse-Cirkse]

Great idea! Thank you so much for sharing!

[A Forest Frolic]

What an awesome idea...i love it! Thanks for sharing with us.

Jamie :)

[A Forest Frolic]

What an awesome idea...i love it! Thanks for sharing with us.

Jamie :)

[Twyla Marti]

Totally Awesome! Can't wait to do my own alphabet....so many ideas buzzing!

[Mallie Lanham]

this is insanely cool.
which is a coincidence because you are ALSO insanely cool.

love it!

[Lillian]

Nice!! When you make the glue gun design, and then peeling it from the paper/Teflon sheet, are you coloring it and using it as a stamp? Or do you lay the glue design down on yr surface (fabric, paper, etc.) and then spray/color it that way? I hope my question is clear! I too have been looking for ways to create stencils for my work!

Thanks!!

[Debbi G.]

Wow!! Youa re so inspiring! Thanks!

[Sherri Welser]

AMAZING!! Love it Traci!! Thanks for sharing!

[Robin Kowalski]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing. I love my glue gun. I use it for so many different projects. I love making stamps with it. I get the styrofoam from the meat and produce packages and cut them in squares to use as a base for the glue. I Doodle a design on it and have a great stamp that lasts for such a long time. Your books have given me such great ideas and advice such as my glue gun stamps. Now i just have to try out the stencils.Thank you Traci

[Patti]

Thanks for the inspirational idea. I can't wait to try this!

[Ami]

Oh, I love this idea and I'm going to try it out tomorrow. Thank you for gat inspiration.

[Christina]

Cool idea! I can't wait to try it

[Bente Fagerberg]

Wow, love the look of this!!
...Sooo cool!
Tfs!

[Donna E.]

awesome idea! so cool! you have a new fan! :D

[liz thoresen]

Great idea!
Thanks so much for sharing!

[Sondra]

This looks like so much fun! Thanks for sharing!!!

[christa perdok]

great technique, thanks for sharing!!

[Yoli]

Fabulous! I've already tried a few simple designs. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Traci Bautista]

Thanks again to everyone who has pinned, commented and been inspired by tutorial! have fun!

[Susan]

How clever is this!? Thank you for letting us into the inside scoop! Keep thinking!

[Stacy]

This is awesome! I'm new to art journaling, my wishlist for more "stuff" is bigger than my wallet. I really love the fact that I can create this using my own ideas and products I already own, yay! :) Thanks so much for sharing!

[fairyrocks]

Found this on Pinterest. Thank You so much for sharing this genius idea!!