Found stencils make for fun printing

I am a big fan of using found objects for new purposes.

Leaves and twigs as masking stencils

Leaves and ferns for monoprinting on fabric with the gel plate
Natural Materials for monoprinting with the glycerin and gelatin plate

Nearly all my stamping and braying tools are found objects.

found stamping tools to use with gelatin printmaking

Most recently I enjoyed learning new ways to cut up and re-combine books and all their parts to make collages.

book collage by linda germain

Think this way makes me see the world in a new way – filled with new FREE art making materials. Another recent repurposing was using Tetra Pak packaging as an etching/collagraph plate.

Tetra Pak prints by Linda Germain

I discovered that I could use sticky labels as masking stencils. So of course I went to the Dollar Tree Store and got a few different styles of sticky labels to play with.

sticky labels as masking stencils

I love the backing sheet. It creates a strong crisp pattern.

monoprinted fabric made with sticky stencils

Play with all the parts back and forth and enjoy the lovely impressions.

hand printed fabric with sticky labels a stencils

Want to play with stencils???

Join us in the Make Stencils Workshop – the online art class starts soon. Read all the details on the workshop page.

We will make stencils to be used alone or with other processes like gelatin printing or screen printing. You will start to see stencil making tools in everyday materials.