Hello! Valerie Sjodin here, and today I’m going to be showing ways you can add the beauty of pattern and color in your journals using stencils. One of my personal favorite ways of using stencils is in journals like the Olive & Archer notebooks.

Included in this post is a how-to video demo showing 7 ways of how to use stencils in your journal and a PDF of a simple stencil you can make to use in your journal.

Supplies

• Archer & Olive notebooks. Under each stenciling technique, I list the size of journal used in the video.
• Acrylograph pens
• Archer & Olive Washi tape & Kit club
• Stencils. Under each stenciling technique the stencil I use is listed
• Watercolor paints. I’ve used mostly metallic paints, but any watercolor paints will work
• Spray bottle with water
• Paper towel or rag
• Blotting paper
• Cosmetic sponges or stencil applicators or stencil brushes
• Fine liner pens, .01 and .05 size.
• Metallic pen
• Scissors

Use discount code Valerie10 to save 10% on your purchase with Archer & Olive!

Stenciling in a dotted journal notebook

You may wonder if the dotted pages are thick enough or durable enough for wet media. It is not like using watercolor paper that has an ease of moving the watery color around, but I’ve found that light watercolor will work on dotted notebook paper, but it does tends to buckle a bit, depending on how much water is used. 

When I use stencils, however, there is so little water used with the paint, that my pages don’t buckle.  I apply the paint on top of the stencil and on the paper with a cosmetic sponge, making sure to test and blot before applying the paint to the page. I think the same stencil application would be true of lightly applied acrylic paints too. Often I layer the stencil with pencil and/or pen. 

Watch the video below to see the techniques in action. 

There are so many possibilities for stenciling with various media. I think it’s a good idea to start with what is on hand. Some dry media I have used and enjoyed stenciling with in my dotted notebooks, and often combine with pencil and pen are Gelatos® (applied with a bristle brush), and Pan Pastels. (Not shown in the video)

7 ways to use stencils to add beauty to your journals. 

Watch the video and check out the PDF that follow the list. Here's what is demonstrated in the video:

1. Stencil the edge of the paper with overall pattern

• TIP: When applying the paint to the stencil along the edge of the page, I lighten up the pressure on the sponge as I go away from the edge, and towards the center of the page.

Supplies: 

• A5 journal notebook 
• Stencil used: (Stencil Swirl Mask)
• Metallic watercolor paints 
• Cosmetic sponge, spray bottle with water, paper towel, paper to blot
  
  

2a. Mask off part of a stencil to put title, quote or image 

TIP: You can cut a shape to put on a stencil to mask off a portion of the stencil in order to make room for a quote or an image.

2b. Tracing around the edge of a stencil with a pen and adding metallic dots

TIP: Following up stenciling with pens is a great way to finish off an edge and tie in any writing on the page.

Supplies:

• B6 journal notebook https://www.archerandolive.com/collections/notebooks 
• Watercolor notebook also shown https://www.archerandolive.com/collections/notebooks
• Stencil Vintage Book Leaves  
• Watercolors, fine liner black pen, metallic gel pen
• Cosmetic sponge, spray bottle with water, paper towel, paper to blot, tape
   

3. Stencil and cut page edge + small coordinating page border

TIP: When choosing a stencil to use as a border or Dutch door, look for one that has a continuous pattern or border that would look good along the edge of the page. Some stencils are made with a shaped edge, but you can also look for ones that have interior patterns to line up on the edge, like the one used in this video.

Supplies:

• A5 notebookhttps://www.archerandolive.com/collections/notebooks 
• Stencil used: Circle Line Stencil Mask; + Circle Line Borders also shown 
• Watercolor paints
• Cosmetic sponge
  
  

4. Stenciling the back pocket and end pages of the notebook

TIP: When stenciling the back pocket of the journal, make sure to put a piece of paper in the pocket so the paint won’t go on the end pages behind the pocket.

Supplies:

• Stencil used:  Stars Stencil with Stars Mask Edge
• Washi tape and stickers
• Metallic watercolors https://amzn.to/3Z9gRnt 
• White Acrylograph pen 
• A5 notebook https://www.archerandolive.com/collections/notebooks 
• Cosmetic sponge, blotting paper, spray bottle of water, metallic pen
  
  

5. Stenciling a frame and heading spaces to put quotes in

TIP: Stenciling with Distress inks or Gelatos® work well for stenciling finely cut stencils. I apply them with a stencil brush or bristle brush. 

Supplies:

• B6 notebook 
• Stencil used: Vintage Book Elements 
• Distress inks https://amzn.to/4fLVhg1 
• Stencil brush, bristle brush, or stencil applicator

6. Use letter stencils to make a background pattern and banners to make headings and focal points in your journal.

TIP: In the video is a quick show-n-tell of the various types of stencils you can use in your journals, such as letters, numbers, banners, and simple shapes. 

7. Make a homemade heart stencil and heart garland in your notebook

TIP: Refer to the PDF and video for step-by-step project you can follow along. 

• A5 Notebook https://www.archerandolive.com/collections/notebooks 
• Acrylograph pens https://www.archerandolive.com/collections/pens 
• Distress inks https://amzn.to/4fLVhg1 
• Stencil brush or applicator
• Printable and/or paper
• Scissors, Black drawing pen, Gold metallic pen

Here is a video showing 7 ways to use stencils in your notebooks to add beauty, color, and pattern to your journals.

https://youtu.be/QangzQ1ySZQ

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you are inspired. You are welcome to share and tag @archerandolive, @archerandolive.community, #AOShare and #archerandolive and #valeriesjodinstudio.

If you’d like more inspiration on art journaling, planner journal set-up, word of the year journaling and more, visit my blog at: https://valeriesjodin.com/blog.

Be inspired!