Rotating stencils is a fun technique that allows you to get a lot more from your stencils and masks. By turning your stencils to different angles, rotating a single stencil or mask and adding various colours of ink, you can create an entirely new look! Here I’ve detailed a few bits of advice for using the technique.

Firstly, I’d recommend using stencils that have a repeating pattern because they possess rotational symmetry – this makes the finished result appear quite organic. However, anything from a clean and simple look to a busy style can be achieved depending on the stencil design and the number of ink layers you apply.

What’s great with this technique is you can use any kind of ink, even paste will do, providing you leave time to try in between individual coats – this allows for experimentation. Should you wish to use Distress Oxide Ink as a top layer, you can very lightly spritz with water to achieve a different look altogether.

While it’s good to plan colour schemes, you never really know what will happen when layering your contrasting colours as they often mix in unprecedented ways. This is part of the fun in rotating stencils – embrace it! If you find however that the end combinations are a little overpowering, simply use your stencil to add white pigment ink for a muted look. It’s easy to achieve great effects when rotating stencils, so don’t be afraid to get creative!

1

Apply Worn Lipstick Distress Ink through the stencil along the top and bottom edge then blend Spun Sugar ink in the centre

2

Carefully remove the stencil from the panel, move along 0.5cm and replace using low-tack tape

3

Apply Scattered Straw ink through the entire the stencil. Remove the stencil, rotate 90°and secure using low-tack tape. Repeat using Wedding Dress ink

Pink, Yellow & White Celebration Card With Paper Flower
Create this card using Creative Expressions That Special Touch Wavy mask, ink pads, Distressed Edges Nestabilities Card Creator & Paper flower
Stamping1 min read23 Sep 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • Gift from Papercraft Essentials issue 153
  • White 14x11cm tent-fold card blank
  • White cardstock
  • White textured cardstock
  • Creative Expressions That Special Touch Wavy mask
  • Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges Nestabilities Card Creator
  • Scattered Straw, Spun Sugar & Worn L

This article is tagged as:

Die-cutting Paper techniques Contemporary Clean & Simple One-layer cards Distress Oxide Ink skillbuilder technique Papercraft Essentials Claire Rhodes-Brandon rotating stencils PE161 papercraft how-to