Ever have a background that you love and when it comes time to cover some of it up, you don’t want to? That’s what happened to me but I found a way around it by using a butterfly stencil-mask and some white paint.
You’ll also see a new gizmo that I used to stencil the words with little letters. Yes, the letters are filled in with little letters!
Watch How I dealt with a background I loved and didn’t want to cover up on YouTube.
This is the background at the start of today’s play. You can see how this was created here. This background was a blast to create with the paint splatters and I didn’t want to cover it up. But I had an idea for this page that would involving covering up at least part of it.
![](https://acolorfuljourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/reducing-stress-art-journaling-background-tutorial-carolyn-dube-7-600x600.jpg)
Using a mask and white paint isolated parts of the background creating the color and pattern in the butterflies. When stenciling with a mask, if you pull the paint away from the mask as you apply it, you are less likely to get any paint under it. That will give you a crisper image. You can see it in action in the video.
The butterfly masks come as a part of my Butterfly Journeys stencil set.
![](https://acolorfuljourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/covering-background-art-journal-tutorial-carolyn-dube-1-600x600.jpg)
There was a part of my brain that was a bit freaked out by the white paint covering up the background. After all, what if I don’t like it? I can never ever ever get that white paint off and go back to the background I loved.
A bit of high drama happening in my head. But if I don’t like it, you know what I’ll say. OOPS. And the absolute worst case scenario is that I have to splatter more paint and make another. Twist my arm!
As much as I loved this background, it needed to be covered up.
![](https://acolorfuljourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/covering-background-art-journal-tutorial-carolyn-dube-2-600x600.jpg)
The layers underneath began still peeked through a touch, a compromise to the voice in my head. That voice also would not agree that the white turned the butterflies into magic.
![](https://acolorfuljourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/covering-background-art-journal-tutorial-carolyn-dube-3-600x600.jpg)
To create the title, the stenciling was done with a non-traditional tool, an identity protection roller stamp and the Jumbo Vintage Typewriter stencil. I just love that was pre inks and rolled little letters and gibberish text. There’s a link at the bottom of the post if you’d like to more about this gizmo.
![](https://acolorfuljourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/covering-background-art-journal-tutorial-carolyn-dube-5-600x600.jpg)
Since it rolled and was little it was a snap to get into the stenciled areas of the letters. When you try this, just be aware that you do need a more open stencil or a large pattern so that the stamp can get in there to make contact with the paper.
![](https://acolorfuljourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/covering-background-art-journal-tutorial-carolyn-dube-6-600x600.jpg)
Outlining the letters and butterflies gave the page the finishing touch it needed.
![](https://acolorfuljourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/covering-background-art-journal-tutorial-carolyn-dube-7-600x600.jpg)
Here are the supplies used. Some of these links are affiliate links which means I get a small percentage. It doesn’t cost you anything extra and it helps keep the free tutorials coming!
What a terrific idea to use one of those ID protection stamps on your stencil – I love It AND your page!
Kathyk
I love how you turned the page into a party of colourful butterflies and you also gave me an idea how to use my roller stamps. 🙂
As for the naming of your jumbo journal (which I adore by the way) I have a suggestion: THE M.A.S.H.
Mash can stand for:
Mega / marvellous / majestic
All-access
Stress
Hideout
or whatever words you fancy or need to hear on a particular day.
Wonderful video! Whenever I have a background that I just love, but still want to keep working on, I take a scan of it to print copies for other pages or use digitally. My own “sparks of artspiration”! 🙂
Hi Carolyn……….another lovely day filled with colour. Your completion of this amazing background was stunning. I thought you might do this but in black. This white looks so bright and beautiful. Making the butterflys appear as if emerging from a magnificent mist………just like their true emergence. For myself im the caterpillar as I don’t like flying 🙂
The use of masks without tape to adhere them to the picture is new to me and I struggle as to where my hand should be for the best coverage. I think more practice is needed.
I think its about time the designers of pens should produce pens that we can use with enjoyment instead of trepidation. I have ruined a few pens this year and keep forgetting until its too late. I do find even the bigger poscas struggle for random fun use.
I think the finished piece is a fitting end for such a wonderful old book.
The roller security stamp is a good idea, ive not seen these before but have a simple downward stamp one with the same crazy letter supply. I have more ideas now after watching this.
Kindness and Respect , Mandy x
Cool little gadget from Amazon there that you used. I like that white paint because it brings that beautiful background shining through those butterflies. Nicely done. xox