Stencils?

[whowe82]

How many of you use stencils for face painting and how many of you would suggest using them? I'm not really going to advertise the face painting but a couple of upcoming gigs has requested, and I need to prepare. Thanks in advance all!

[stitches]

No stencils but I've used those chunky stamps. They're made from fun foam. You paint the stamp, apply to face, then embellish, is you wish. I usually use them for that little one who just won't sit still, but whose parents insist that you paint them anyway! My friend brings a whole bucket of them but I stick to 4 basics (heart, dinosaur, puppy, kitty) plus 2 for the nearest holiday.

[Sassafras]

Face stamping is a good idea for little ones who can't be still! I'll tell you, though, the little ones tend to sit still better for me than 11-12 year olds!

My personal preference is not to use stamps. People like them OK, but they really seem to dig the hand-painted ones, so I do my best to create an abundant list of choices for them.

It's so easy to make the designs because it's just making shapes and embellishing them. Say, for instance, an ice cream cone. Draw an upside-down triangle in brown for the cone...fill it in. Then draw a pink circle on top for the ice cream. Add a couple criss-cross lines for the cone...maybe a few swirls on the ice cream and voila!!

Once I figured out that most designs I wanted could be started from putting shapes together, I've never looked back. But do whatever floats your boat! Most of all have fun...both with experimenting and working with the kids!

Edit: One more thing to remember, *it doesn't have to be perfect*! Don't put pressure on yourself to make it just so. Kids are easy to please. If it looks pretty close to your design, and takes 3-4 minutes or less, they'll be pleased with it.

[saphireSue]

I tried a few stencils, thinking they might be easier for the kids in my group to learn with, I didn't like the ones I had, paint got under them to much and I could paint it faster than I could fill one of those in. Now Stamping sounds like a good idea, not tried that myself, but if you need to hurry or need an alternative. the little rub on tatoos are great to embelish with paint. In class we all has spiderman, but it was up to us how to paint around the tat. Some were really cool, another item was jewels, one stone with a sticky back, then painted around it , could be made into a ring, bracelet, etc. You can also use the sponges to make some designs quicker, check www.sillyfarm.com look on the home page, every month she does 2-3 videos demonstrating techniqus or a design.

[bugaboo the clown]

When my daughter clowns with me she uses stamps with washable ink and then colors them in and adds glitter. For one hour parties they work out great.

[vslg1]

I've recently purchased stamps from snazzaroo...And for someone with no real drawing ability...they are awesome...very neat designs...I've got 25 from them and planning on buying a few more...
And I've also purchased some characters ones via ebay...yes...you're painting in the lines...but I would argue...they're neat and if you're not skilled in drawing...a great alternative...

stencils it seems would be tough because the paint would get underneath the stencil...and I've got some of the dotters as well that you just put the paint on and put that on the child that won't sit still...I don't like them as much...so for the really young who's parents insist...I can offer them just the stamp without color...and a 2 year old loves the fact that the dog is on their hand with or without color...