Let the Good Times Roll

Some crafters who used to only scrapbook have started art journaling and I must admit that I have jumped on the bandwagon too. I love the creative process of this art form. And while the hoarding of supplies can be just as great, I've found that when frugality is necessary there are some other options that will yield the same results.  One of those supplies is the stencils that are used for masking.  While they add much to the creative process, they can get a bit pricey since there is a constant parade of new ones coming out all the time.

So I started to create some of my own.  Using one of my diecut machines I have created a number of stencils that I enjoy using.  And they are very economical because  I used cardstock that I have in my stash.

The great thing about these stencils is that even though they may have been designed for art journaling, they can be equally creative on scrapbook layouts.  So my project this month uses one of my stencils I created on a scrapbook layout.  Here is the stencil I cut: Since the setting for the layout is a brick and mortar building, I decided to use this brick pattern.

So I start my layout by adhering the stencil on a piece of yellow cardstock and spraying it using a Dylusions ink spray.  You can also use any acrylic paint or color stains. Here is the layout:

So why not try using some masks on your layouts.  Remember they are not just for art journaling.