Leafy Vines
Posted: May 11, 2026 Filed under: AALL & Create, The Crafter's Workshop, Watercolour | Tags: AALL & Create, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, The Crafter's Workshop 4 Comments
I have a stack of stencil+watercolour prints to turn into something and it appears that this ‘leafy vines’ stencil from The Crafters Workshop was a favourite during my preparations and workshops. I’ve turned one panel into a card and have six more panels to work with. I used a variety of techniques to create the panels including painting through the stencil as shown on this card.
Painting through the stencil didn’t give me a sharp complete representation of the stencil but it did give me a loose and impressionistic design with lovely soft blends from bluegreen to green to mustard. I matted with dark green cardstock and stamped an AALL & Create sentiment in green to complete the card.
Below are some more panels completed using the same stencil but different techniques. A few of them will become cards I imagine but I’m not sure with the blotchy one bottom right; not my favourite!
Heather Telford 
I really like the look of all of them and the color variations. You’ve definitely inspired an idea for some new wall hangings in my home. The blotchy one could be cut up and used as background for smaller images. Heather, you are so very talented and sharing your work has definitely sparked my enthusiasm to try new ideas and techniques. Thank you.
Beautiful! I really love the darker green with the swirls of purple/ blue flowers.
Hi, good to see your talent on display again. Your teaching of techniques in your blog posts make my day. I reread them several times to glean as much as I can. I have an idea to share for the “blotchy” one. It is missing some definition or contrast. I have made “blotchy” looking panels with watercolors. I often take a fine marker and draw on the dry panel. Sometimes it is flowers with stems and leaves, or just leaves and flowers. I know you have a gelli pad. You could brayer black craft paint or ink on it, then lay on the stencil and cover with another sheet of CS or typing paper. Carefully rub all over picking up. the black paint. Remove (but save) the top paper, lift up your stencil carefully and lay on the blotchy green piece. Carefully rub the back of the stencil to transfer the black design. The blotchy part becomes a subtle background with the black design being prominant. Let me know if you try either of these. I have questions how you created some of the other panels. I hope you will post them too. Be blessed, martha
This has quite a crisp image for watercolor and just enough ‘run off’ to give it a dreamy quality! I like your other backgrounds too! You had some awesome results with all the techniques!