Your most used stencils? Favorite stencil paste/butter?

I don’t use paste but I should- I love the look. My problem is that I’m an art teacher so I spend the day up to my armpits in mess so when I get home I want my life to be less messy.

I do use ink pads all of the time though because they aren’t that messy.

My favorite stencils are:
Tim Holtz distressed numbers
Tim Holtz brick wall
Echo Park checker board
Echo Park fern
Echo Park music notes
Echo Park bats
Echo Park spider webs
Echo Park diamonds
Scrapbook.com waves

I own a ton though so I’ve used a lot. I just need to use them more than once because they are crazy expensive for what they are.

I used a cloud one yesterday.

I really adore stencils- I need to try a paste and experiment more.

What paste did you use for the stars and dots on the 4x6 card you sent in the swap?

Looking to give paste a try in the new year and curious what you used.

Thanks! Will look at that and lunar paste which I have been seeing a lot of. I follow the young man who crafts (blanking on his name) and love what creates.

My favorite pastes and glazes are Picket Fence (any), Vicki Boutin, Nuvo Glacier Paste and the Lunar Paste. The other Nuvos and Gina K dry out FAST. Way too many stencils to pick a favorite! Right now it’s dog bones and snow flakes.

The stencils I reach for most often are basics made by non-scrappy companies -- Staedtler + C-Thru Ruler Company, etc.

I just got a few stencils from Simple Stories that I anticipate will become my most-used. Their Simple Vintage Seas stencil is something I can use on zillions of my pages, and I also just got one that has plus signs that I think will become a new favorite. I also got their pineapple stencil that will be used on multiple pages of an album I am making, but maybe not much after that. 

Other than that, Pinkfresh's Cloud stencil is pretty much my favorite, most-used scrappy stencil.

Quilled Creations makes a circle sizer template that I use almost daily. I got it from A Cherry on Top, but I'm not sure if they still have it.

I use Carta Bella's Shiplap stencil frequently for journaling -- not its intended purpose, I don't think. I also occasionally use Pinkfresh's Horizontal Stripes stencil for journaling, too.

I use old school Fiskars Shape Xpress templates often, too. I have the circles and squares. Would use the others, too, if I had them -- have thought about getting them on the secondary market.

Altenew has a leafy stencil I use fairly frequently.

I just got a Maggie Holmes stencil that I anticipate using often. It's from her planner collection. It has lines for journaling plus icons plus a couple of small, planner sized journaling spots.

I also just got a Happy Planner stencil set that I probably won't use immediately, but it will come in handy for when I get back to designing crochet patterns again -- hopefully in 2023. It is intended for sewing and was part of JoAnn's Happy Planner sewing collection.

I also misuse a lot of other stuff that wasn't intended to be a stencil, as a stencil. I use old chipboard packaging as stencils. I use clothing hangtags as stencils to spray around. I have a lot of Clear Scraps acrylic and chipboard shapes that get used as stencils -- now they are actually making stencils, and I should get some of those, but I haven't yet.

Thanks a million for this gold mine of a stencil list! I'm excited to check these out. I appreciate it that you took the time to post all these.

i'm going to keep an eye on this thread because i want to get better at using stencils with paste.  i tried once before it it was a disaster.  i need to watch technique videos.

Some tips that I've learned: Designate one inexpensive plastic palette knife to glitter pastes (because glitter is impossible to eradicate despite promptly & thoroughly washing the palette knife after each use), scoop an ample amount of glaze onto the length of the blade, apply (holding the palette knife at ~45°) over the stencil in only one direction like you're frosting a cake, & try not to go over any part of the stencil (in the same direction) more than twice. "Overworking" the paste (ie multiple swipes of the palette knife across the stencil often in various directions, due to getting either too little or too much glaze onto the blade from the outset, or in the futile pursuit of perfection) causes seepage & a less crisp image. Also, using chunky glitter paste with a delicate stencil pattern & other product-tool mismatches lead to less than ideal outcomes. Like everything, it takes practice to consistently achieve your desired results (which will never be "perfect" due to the medium used). I recommend you play with your stencils & pastes until you find what works for you (& you can incorporate the successful attempts in future projects as photo mats, card panels, etc.). HTH, & have fun!

I’ve been swamped and haven’t been around for a few weeks. Thank you so much for tagging me! Hope you are loving all your goodies.