Can you call this a homemade stencil?

I got this hair-brained idea that I could make a stencil I could use when monoprinting.  I've seen so many people and their awesome stencils, many of them costing more than I spend on meals for a month.  So I decided to put my idea to the test and see if it would actually work.  I guess you can't really call this a recycled project unless you count the plastic legs left over from shelving in my basement.  

I admit I purchased these foam shapes at Dollar Tree (their motto: Everything's a dollar) over two years ago and have never opened them.  I originally got them to go in, or for, my Hands Altered Book.  But they have languished for over two years, taking up space, collecting dust, and alluding the altered book page or pages I might someday create.

I decided they could serve more importance as a stencil for my monoprints, so I starting placing them on the plastic bookshelf leg.  If you choose to recreate this project, you could substitute a piece of PVC pipe that's around 2 inches in diameter.

I never realized how many of these hands I would need for this project, but I think I used all but two from the package.

This plastic bookcase leg is a bit long, so I stopped when I thought it was wide enough for my plexiglass plate I use when monoprinting.

Supplies from back to front:
Pyrrole Red Golden brand Fluid Acrylic
Gold Glaze I got at my Household Hazardous Waste Swap and Shop
Stencil
Brayer
Bed sheet (used) torn to a manageable size
Plexiglass

I first laid down a layer of gold glaze, then laid the bed sheet on top and pressed it in place.  I was hoping the glaze would stay "open" longer (thus extending the drying time) because I've noticed craft paint tends to dry quickly on the plexiglass.

 While the glaze was still on the plexiglass, I added the fluid acrylic.

Next, I rolled the new stencil through the paint.  The glass and paint were quite slippery and the stencil had a tendency to slip and slide.  But I managed to get a few good images.

Although the gold doesn't show through in my lousy photo, it is definitely visible on the fabric.

Next I created a ghost print, where I rolled the stencil over a piece of unpainted fabric.  This is definitely my favorite.

And finally, I combined the last of the gold glaze and red fluid acrylic, then rolled the stencil through it before creating my final monoprint.

I am thinking these would make great backgrounds for the cover of my Hands AB, but at this point, I'm just happy they turned out as well as they did.

Today I recycled an unused plastic shelving leg and part of an old bed sheet, along with repurposed sticky backed foam shapes and turned them into what I am calling a stencil for fabric monoprinting.  Thank you for joining me. 

By the way, don't forget to leave a comment on my Artful Readers Club post if you want to be entered for a chance to win Ruth Rae's "Layered, Tattered, and Stitched."  No hoops, just a comment, I promise.