Brass stencils are a great, versatile tool for any mixed media artist. They can be used with a variety of colorants for an amazing variety of results I’ve used them to stencil walls, wooden projects and clothing. I’ve stenciled scrapbook pages and cards, and used them to create unique embellishments like I’ve done with these samples. One company I’ve found that has a fantastic assortment of brass stencils is Heritage Handcrafts. Their variety of stencils includes seasonal/holidays, sports, Celtic, kaleidoscope patterns, children and babies, mosaics, animals, text, and more. There is something for almost everyone in their inventory! I had the pleasure of meeting Paula Hallinan at CHA in Anaheim. We had a great conversation about her variety of products and I am looking forward to trying them all. I’ve had the chance to use one of her stencils and I’m very pleased with the results! They are good quality brass with excellent details. Some of my favorites include those that can be used to create an almost “kaleidoscope” effect, or in this case, an Asian water lily! Heritage Handcrafts stencil XDAH-242 Circle Flower Medallion is very versatile.

(Tip: use EarthSafe Finishes Tackifier for an environmentally safe temporary adhesive to hold your stencils in place while working!)

I used pearl and pink Tulip Slick paints to create the Asian water lily on the card. I created this tag for a friend celebrating Chinese New Year and the Year of the Tiger by stenciling the same flower 4 times onto cardstock using the same paints as in the first sample. Once dry, I cut portions of each one, then layered them to create this beautiful “water lily”. The heavier paint caused the petals to curl a bit, giving a more realistic effect. If the flower was stenciled with ink, you could gently curl the petals upward manually if desired. I’ll be reviewing some of Heritage Handcraft’s other great products in the weeks to come. To see more great samples done with their Kaleidoscope stencils and learn more about all they have to offer – visit their website at www.HeritageHandcrafts.com.