Stencils make great textures for a crayon rubbing. If you did the leaf rubbings as a kid in school, it’s the exact same idea, just with a stencil!
Start by placing a piece of tissue paper on top of your stencil. I’m using my Words to Live By stencil.
Next, use a crayon to make a rubbing. This isn’t a fancy art crayon. It’s just a kids Crayola crayon with the wrapper removed. To get the clearest image, use the wide side of the crayon and work on a firm surface.
If it slips or moves a little, it isn’t a big deal. Can you see the touch of ghosting around the the BE BOLD at the top? That won’t impact the next step at all.
Color in each open area with a colored pencil. This does 2 things. First, you create a fun colorful piece of paper uniquely yours. Second, it helps with concentration by keeping the mind from wandering when stuck on a very long Zoom conference call. So using art supplies is a very practical thing to do!
Along comes the invariable question, “What do you do with it now?” Before I answer that, I need to make one thing very clear. The point of making this was the process. The journey. The end result is a bonus.
Now that I have this bonus, I have a wide variety of options. Any way that I use tissue paper, I can use it. In a collage, in an ATC, on an art journal page, or I can simply frame it.
An inexpensive frame, like one from IKEA, can immediately turn it into wall art. From a distance it looks abstract and when you get up close you can see the words.
Here are the supplies used. Some of these links are affiliate links which means I get a small percentage. For example, I’m an Amazon Associate & I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t cost you anything extra and you get a really good feeling knowing that you are helping keep the free tutorials coming!
you know you can use the crayon (or better yet oil pastel) rubbings on the gelli plate? have a go – it’s so much fun
Can you give a little more detail about how to use the rubbings on the gelli plate, please?
fun and simple, so perfect. Love it 🙂
What a GREAT idea, Carolyn! And it’s so fool proof! Even I can do this technique.
I’m sharing one of your other great ideas with a group of friends tomorrow using “found objects” to make patterns on our gel prints….I had so much fun doing your workshop I started telling other printmakers about it and now we’re doing a printing Zoom session together!
You are a genius….
This is an awesome idea! I started my art journey with adult colouring books (although I don’t like the name, why does something have to be ‘adult’ to be worthy). I never thought of using tissue paper.
Unfortunately I have ADHD, I need to focus on one thing at a time. If I started colouring I would forget I was on Zoom.
Thanks for a great tutorial. This has inspired me to give it a try! Ordered supplies from your listed resources. Look forward to seeing your next tutorial!
This is such a fun piece!!! Thank you for all the fun ideas.
Fun video Carolyn!!!
I’ve tried the crayon rubbing with a mandala stencil and colored the shapes in with colored pencils. I used shades of blue. purple and red, – almost finished.
Now I plan to put a colored piece of matt board or cardstock behind to shine through the tissue and find a shadowbox frame. Voila!
What a fun idea. And I agree – when you don’t have time for creativity, you need it twice as much. Thanks for this!
you are an inspiration Carolyn. Thank you.
Really easy play and looks so colourful and meaningful…
Love this! Great idea! I will have to try this when I am stumped on what to do next…or when I “don’t have time to play in my room” ! You’s looks adorable framed!
This is great! Sometimes I don’t have a lot of time and other times I just don’t want to get into anything complicated..and this is perfect.
Would be fun to do with my grandkids