Category Archives: Papercrafting

Apr15

My First Big Stencil!

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My First Big Stencil!

I had copied several Japanese family crests, or Kamon, to turn into stencils for gel printing. I found them at Encyclopedia Japan.

I printed this one to make a large stencil.

I realized that I needed to connect the round circle to the white areas, or my Scan N Cut would cut the entire outer circle in one piece and would leave me the insides as a round stencil.

I got out my white Posca acrylic paint pen and a ruler. I made several white marks across the outer circle before I scanned it. I had to go over them several times, letting them dry between. It looked like this:

I scanned this image into the machine and saved it. I removed the image and added a sheet of thin Yupo plastic paper to the cutting mat.

I pulled up the saved image and began cutting. I realized I had misjudged the placement of the image and the cutting knife went off the Yupo. I hit the Stop/Start button, and removed the mat. It appeared I had enough uncut Yupo to cut the stencil. I could even turn the mat around and start again! But First, I had to adjust the position of the image in the machine. The display screen is very small.

This is what I got:

I was able to cut the bottom off:

Not perfect, but not bad for a first!

#the100dayproject2024, #fix,finishandfind Day 47

Apr13

Scan 2 Cut Data

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Scan 2 Cut Data

One of the special features of the Brother Scan N Cut is a built in scanner! One of the functions is scanning images to saved data that can be recalled at another time. I practiced that function yesterday and today. These are some of the images I scanned and saved as cutting files:

I found these images on a poster-making app called Free Form.

#the100dayproject2024, #fix,finishandfind Day 46

Apr12

5×7” Gel Plate!

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5×7” Gel Plate!

I found where I had buried my new 5×7”gel plate! I got it out if the package and put it to work!

New gel plates are oily, so I expected bubbles in the paint.

I test drove my newly cut Japanese stencil!
Metallic gold Craft Smart paint pulled with Art Smith acrylic in medium magenta. The gold, “celled,” as expected. The magenta was thick, smooth and opaque.

I let both layers dry before pulling them. I used copy paper to pull, and a new brayer to paint! I am well pleased!

#the100dayproject2024, #fix,finishandfind Day 45

Apr8

Extending My Challenge

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Extending My Challenge

I have decided to extend my challenge tag to, “fix, finish and FIND!” Look what I found, yesterday!

This is a Carol Doak paper piecing box that I do not have! I found it in a thrift shop in Matthews, NC. $2! It’s in new condition and still has its CD of patterns in adjustable sizes.

I also found this:

It was $4 but has three full page circus posters like this one:

Despite the title, there’s really not much else worth harvesting. I still thought 3 prints were worth the money. I feel a triptych coming on!

#the100daychallenge2024, #fix,finishandfind, Day43

Apr6

Nice Try!

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Nice Try!

Tonight, I tried combining images to form a “scene” with my stencils. One boat, though, sailed too far down stream! I can fix that by moving the stencil slightly when I print.

#the100dayproject2024, #fixandfinish, Day 42

Apr3

Good and Bad

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Good and Bad

I tried stencils and masks with my Scan N Cut, again. I put two designs on one piece of yupo to save space. Both were pre-programmed in the machine. Both fit the 5×7” space, but I didn’t get the lower design scooted to the left enough.

I’m not sure I can fix the lower stencil, but I did fix the mask! I took the scissors to it!

If the mask is used vertically, It can be a fancy, “Y,” or a lower case,”h!”

Y
h

#the100dayproject2024, #fixandfinish, Day 40

Mar26

Another Harvest!

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Another Harvest!

Tonight, I finished harvesting this 2022 Hammacher Schlemmer Christmas catalog.

The Hammacher Schlemmer is one of the absolute best for harvesting images! The catalog can be requested for free! I got this many images:

I have sorted them by size and shape. One category is words. I store them in different size baggies.

There was something usable on every single page, including the covers.

Back cover

What a great choo choo on the front!

Day 38, #the100dayproject2024, #fixandfinish.

Mar25

First Mask, First Stencil!

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First Mask, First Stencil!

I am pleased with the mask, but that stencil’s not much! 😄 I guess it could be a door or a tag.

I made this with my Scan N Cut on cardstock weight Yupo. I used a pattern loaded on the machine. I guess it could be a large open window! 🙃 Maybe a mailbox!

I have to remind myself that in cutting a stencil, the innards have to be attached to the outtards! 😆😆😆

I hated to waste that space around the “window,” so I loaded the Yupo back in the machine.

I chose two other built-in patterns. I had to shrink them both and rotate one.

I had a little fun!!!🙄😄

I’m gonna count this one. I fixed this stencil, or at least I finished it! Day 37, #the100dayproject2024, #fixandfinish