Layering Stencils or Layering Stamps?

[decemberroses]

I love the look of some of the Pinkfresh layering floral stencils, but what is the advantage to that over layered stamp sets like a lot of the ones Altenew sells?

[PJBstamper2]

For me, the layering stencils are easier to line up. Especially if one uses Simon Hurley’s trick of putting them in the corner of a Misti (or other platform). As far layering stamps, it all depends on how the lining up is done. I have a set from AlteNew that the guide shows to line up the stamps based on a small section in the middle of the flower. My eyesight doesn’t allow for seeing the small area clearly enough to line it up correctly.

the stencils are often a lower price then a stamp set with the equivalent number of layers.

[dini]

Exactly what I was going to say, Pam.

[TexasGrammy]

Yes! to both Pam and Dina's reasoning!
This is the 3rd day of my trying to create some Altenew flowers to eventually group together on a card .... all inspired by a featured stamper gallery I saw on Sunday. Still no finished flowers & leaves here due to trying to line up the 2-3-4-steps for flowers .... then start all over for coordinating leaves & other pieces. They're beautiful stamp sets for sure. But this is why it's usually many months before I bring those sets out for another playdate. .

Layering stencils is so so much easier! My DD received a card recently that features an amazing stencil .... which of course has me on the lookout! ;)

[Kendel]

I was never overly tempted by most layering stamps. They look hard to use, and require a zillion colors of ink. I haven’t tried the stencils, but they look like they would lend themselves better to color blending and provide a lot more flexibility with media. And the tools (stencils here) just look easier to handle, rather than teeny tiny stamps in wonky shapes.

[jeanne3579]

Guess it depends on your thinking. If you are after easier to make a beautiful card, go for the stencils instead of stamps. If you are a stamper wanting to work on stamping skills go for the stamps. It would be like a wood carver using a laser instead of the hand held gouges. Actually two different skills, both resulting in a beautiful product.

[uncbballfan]

I love layering stamps, but just received my first layering stencils from Pinkfresh a couple of weeks ago. Wow, if you need a card quickly, the stencils are the way to go. But in my case, I need as many colors of ink as in regular stamping.

The easiest layering stamps I have found are from The Ton. For example, if you need five flowers, the bottom layers are on 1 stamp, so you stamp everything at one time. But the genius part is that she includes little blocks on the stamps, which you use to line up the next layer. It's foolproof, but you must keep those little blocks as clear as you can. There's another genius idea she incorporated: there's one die that cuts out all your images at the same time - flowers and leaves.

Slight hijack: I just noticed the Macy's ad in the sidebar. They're offering a killer deal on a full set of Tombow Dual Brush Markers. NOT! List price $462.00; sale price $276.99. Unbelievable until I just now checked the Tombow site; their price? $325.00. I paid $115 for my set last year, but if I could double my money, I'd sell them in a heartbeat! I haven't even used them yet.

[wavejumper]

Really interesting topic! I am thinking about a lot of things....so I would ask some questions...

I suppose another thought is size. The kind of layering stencils I have are for backgrounds not flowers.

Are the stamp flowers smaller than the stencil flowers?

Stamp flowers may have coordinating die cuts while the stencils may not (?) but if you are good with fussy cutting that might not matter.

Are stencils as crisp an image as stamps in the layers?

I would guess you could mask with stencils as easily as with stamps.

I can see where you would still need the same number of inks either way unless you do multiple applications of light/mid tone to get darker ones.

If you are using a mini MISTI is there room for 6 x 6 stencils and jockeying a card around to apply the stencil flower anywhere you want it-or you need the regular or big one? (thinking about the trick for using it to line them up)

The Ton sounds great although they tend to be a little pricey. I think I saw McGuire using those or at least that concept. Maybe she lined up her flowers and leaves on the MISTI door and then rotated the CS in the MISTI so she could do mass production that way?

[kazeka]

Wow, I must have been in hibernation the past couple of years because I didn't even know about layering stencils. I have several layering stamp sets, with some of them being easier to use than others. However, even with the Misti, it's sometimes hard to get exact placement. That can make a big difference on detailed images like an animal. Nothing like layering everything and then being slightly off with the facial features so you have to toss the whole image, argh.
Karen

[hultenlk]

I enjoy both the layered stamps and stencils, and it’s been fun to use some products from The Greetery that combine both. I find stencils tend to have a slightly softer, as it can be trickier to get in the small detail a stamp would have.

[decemberroses]

So many good points! I do have quite a few layering stamps, but just ordered 3 of the PinkFresh layering stencils with coordinating outline stamp to try. Sigh. I don't even know why I asked--I should have just bought.:lolo:

[ajmurdock]

Unity stamps just released a stamp and stencil combo but you could also just use the stamp or stencil separately. I HAD to order it after seeing how they used it. The stencil is 8.5x11 to keep the cost down instead of multiple stencils. It's on sale right now as a combo. I watched a few videos using it and it seems so easy so that is what had me sold

https://www.unitystampco.com/peony-s...tencil-bundle/