Cleaning Stencils

Having a free Monday is a treat for me. Most of the time Mondays are a big clean up or finish up of the weekend. Not that we throw thrash and things around but you know those last dribs and drabs that didn't get done?
With not too much to do around the house I gave myself the gift of creating today.  I got my stencils* out, some silk tissue and fluid acrylics. Dabbing away I created some background papers for collage. That's a whole other blog post.

 
                                                                     
After stenciling and making lots of papers I found a great way to clean up stencils. It's safe and very effective.

Murphy Oil Soap** and some hot water is all that it takes to clean up many things. The soap is pure vegetable oil.  I also use it to clean my paint brushes and brayers. It will bring back that nightmare brush you forgot to clean last week. Just soak the brush in half Murphy Oil Soap and water. Don't allow water level above the metal ferrules or you can loosen where the brush attaches to the handle.  In a day or so that brush you thought you would have to throw away is soft enough to use after a good rinsing. Rinse until the soapy feel is gone.

For stencils use a shallow plastic tote***.  Place hot water and the soap in the tote and submerge your stencils.

                                                            Tote size 14x11x3 1/2 inches

If you are in a hurry you can scrub gently with your fingers, rubbing at the paint to remove it. You will be amazed at how quickly the paint will dissolve. I work for a long time with my stencils, and they will have many coats of colors on them, so I will let them soak overnight. I have forgotten them soaking in their little bath for days. But nothing happens to the stencil, but it just makes it easier to remove the paint.

                                           
                                           After a short soak and the blue paint is almost gone

                                          After rubbing the stencil in the soak for a minute. 

When the stencils are clean rinse until all the soapy feel is off. Dry on clean cloth.

Go make more art with your clean stencils!


Resources: * StencilGirl Stencils   http://stencilgirlproducts.com/
                ** Murphy Pure Vegetable Oil Soap    www.murphyoilsoap.com
              *** RE Large Clip Box  by Sterilite    www.target.com

Absents Make For Messes

Absents does not always make the heart grow fonder. I have not been back here for a very long time....again. I think it was August 2012. Little did I know that someone sent me a message and I did not see it. They wanted to feature my blog posting about my trip to Taos, NM. I was thrilled. But as I was doing up dates and trying to get a new look to the blog I noticed that all my photos from the first ones to the last were missing. After much searching and "googeling" I found some forums that deal with these issues. There are many changes to Blogger, Google, Google + that I was not aware of. And all the code writers and whoever told them what to do did not see fit to tell a n y o n e that they were doing "things" and adding "things" that would cause people to loose their blogs and or photos.

  Now, I love the computer, internet, e mails, blogs, music, photos, and all that goes with that. It seems we almost can't live without it. For some it can be an addiction. But that's another story. If you just "leave things" alone too long, you can loose not only your photos but you are now on a learning curve that is moving every nano second. And it can be very hard to catch up.
  I suggest that you do not leave your blog unattended for very long. And make sure you are seeing what is changing. Sometimes things improve and somethings you might want to opt out of them. But stay aware.
  My blog now is up dated and has a new look to it. I think that this lesson has taught me to write here more.

Life can be an adventure. Hold on and keep creating.