How to create quick and easy patterns using stencils – FREE polymer clay earring project

Apr 18, 2016

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Have you ever wanted to create quick patterns using stencils?
Lupe Meter, one of my students, took my stencils freebie and made a whole new parade of beads!
Aren’t they fabulous?

Stencils are the “low cost” version of silk screens.
You can use them with paints, chalks, sprays, inks;
You can use brushes, sponges or even your fingers!
Their holes/patterns are large enough so they will not get clogged or blocked with paint, they can easily be cleaned with baby wipe or water and some of them have an adhesive back so you can also use them on other surfaces such as paper, metal, glass, ceramic, wood and polymer of course!

When I use stencils, I personally prefer to neutralise their adhesive back using cornstarch.
This way I can handle their positioning easily and lift and re-arrange them on my clay sheet if necessary.

To neutralise the adhesive back I use a small fabric bag filled with cornstarch and punch the stickiness away. you can use an old sock with no 2nd partner or a disposable fabric wrapped in a rubber band as the cornstarch holder.
The cornstarch prevents the stencil from sticking to the clay. This usually works for 4-5 uses and after that I repeat the “corn starching”.

I use my stencils in many of my classes including the INKredible 2 & the Cosmic Ceramic “Time for Tea” & “Xiang Incense sticks” class.

Here is a free video to learn how to use stencils on polymer clay as faux silk screen sheets creating beautiful fabric patterns – In this express tutorial we will create funky cool and colorful earrings using stencils as patterns, chalks or soft pastels and embossing powder to mix in our clay.

For the projects we will need —
* Embossing powders in all kind of colors, textures or patterns;
* Stencils;
* Cutters (earring shapes);
* Soft pastels / chalks;

► How to create quick and easy silk screen patterns using stencils – polymer clay earring project