Stencil Spotlight | Creative Backgrounds with Becky Harrison

Stencils are some of the most versatile tools in any crafter's stash. With a little ink blending, texture, or layering, a single stencil can create endless backgrounds -- not just for cards, but also journals, mixed media, memory keeping, and even Bible journaling.

Today, our Stencil VIP Subscription Ambassador, Becky, is sharing three inspiring projects that showcase just how versatile STAMPlorations stencils can be.

For her first project, Becky combined our Floral Burst stencil with Floral Parade Cut-Outs and Floral Magic clear stickers to create two elegant Memorydex cards. The softly blended stenciled background adds just enough color and pattern without competing with the beautiful lavender floral bouquet. Layering the large die-cut florals over the stenciled panel creates depth, while the kraft cardstock base grounds the design with a warm, rustic feel. The white ric-rac trim provides a subtle finishing touch that ties everything together.

This striking card demonstrates how a stencil can become the focal point of an entire design. Using the Profile 1 stencil, Becky created a softly blended portrait in shades of teal and green before adding darker ink around the edges for dramatic contrast. She then framed the face with delicate hand-drawn doodling, adding movement and texture without overwhelming the clean design. A sentiment from our Floral Magic Clear Stickers finishes the card perfectly, allowing the artwork to remain the star.

Stencils aren't just for cards, and Becky beautifully demonstrates that with this Bible journaling page. Using the Bloomdalascopic #1 stencil, she added soft golden-yellow accents around the "Faith Moves Mountains" sentiment from our Faith Expressions stamp set. The repeated stencil pattern creates visual rhythm while remaining subtle enough to keep the Scripture passage readable. A touch of pale blue ink adds balance and softness without distracting from the focal sentiment. This project is a wonderful reminder that stencils can enhance journals, planners, Bible pages, mixed media projects, scrapbook layouts, and so much more.

Creative Takeaway

One of the greatest strengths of a stencil is its versatility. It doesn't have to cover an entire background every time. Use it behind die cuts, as a focal image, along the edges of a project, or even as subtle accents in journals and Bible pages. The same stencil can create completely different looks depending on the colors, placement, and techniques you choose.

If you enjoy creating with stencils, be sure to check out our Stencil VIP Subscription. Choose your 3 favorite stencil each month and enjoy free worldwide shipping, while building a collection you'll reach for again and again.