Do you have a bunch of journal stencils but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you’ve given them a go but it never seems to turn our right? Don’t worry, we got you!
Check out our 7 top tips for using stencils in your journal…
1. Use the right tools
First of all, let’s talk stencils! Are you using the right product for your needs?
The Oops a Daisy stencil range includes a wide variety of stencil types, so the one you choose will vary depending on not just the design, but also what you want to achieve with it.
Want a quick spread? Go for a Super Easy Stencil. Want some room to be creative? You probably want our Classic Stencils. Need help with lettering? Our Font Stencils are the way to go.
Check out the pages below to learn more about our different stencil types.
Now you have your stencil, what pen or pencil are you using?
Personally, I am a big fan of the Pigma Micron 04. This is the thickness of nib that we test all the stencils with, so bear that in mind when you are chooseing your pen! You may also want to grab a pencil, although the tip will need to be fairly narrow to fit through some of the more intricate designs, so make sure you have a pencil sharpener at hand, or use a mechanical pencil!
2. Tape it down
If you are finding that your stencil moves while you are using it, try taping it into place with a small piece of Washi Tape.
If you remove it carefully, Washi can be reused multiple times for this purpose.
3. Take it slow & remember the weak spot
Don’t be in a hurry!
Carefully trace around the shape with your pen or pencil without using too much pressure. Allow it to glide around the stencil, rather than pressing it against the edge.
Remember the weak spot
This is my most common mistake! For designs that have long, straight edges (like the ones in the picture) the pressure of the pen naturally increases as you run down the side and this can cause the stencil to move.
Take it slow and gentle and you’ll be fine 👌🏼
Stencils shown: SE23 – Hygge Week, C59 – Vertical Week.
4. Join it up
This one is a personal bugbear of mine… PLEASE join up the elements of your stencilled objects if they would be joined up in real life!
In order to certain shapes to work as a stencil, some elements need to separated. This means you will need to add extra lines or miss some out when tracing, otherwise your drawing will be disjointed.
For example… In order to create the detail needed, the banner and bunting stencil has the folded parts of the banner separate to the front part. Take a look at the video below for a step by step guide on how to use these stencils correctly.
5. Add the details
This is the difference between a cute design and a SUPER cute design.
Add stitching to your banners, eyebrows to your characters, or a drop shadow to your text!
6. Using multi-part stencils
Our multi-part stencils are a stumbling block for many. The key thing to remember with these is that you should always start with the foremost element first and work backwards.
For our characters, often this will be the facial features and smaller details. Take a look at our Gonks on Vacation stencil tutorial for a detailed step by step illustration.
7. Watch the pros for inspo!
Last but not least, if you are still stuck for ideas on how to use your stencil collection then take a trip to the socials! We have so many different ways for you to view a whole bunch of inspirational content… Here are our top 4!
- FOLLOW our Creative Team on Instagram and join the Bullet Journal Squad Challenge
- JOIN the Bullet Journal Squad community on Facebook
- SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel!
- FOLLOW us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok
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