Uploaded May 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I'm all tied up in knots, but not just any kind of knot, a Gordian Knot. There's something different about that kind of knot - it's one with no beginning, no ending, and it is symbolic of an unsolvable problem that is solved with a little creative thinking. The mythology and meaning of Gordian Knots inspired this collection of stencils at StencilGirl. Here I'm sharing how I quickly stencil with a gel plate, then add color to the open spaces with the very forgiving watercolor! You can find these, and all of my stencils, at stencilgirlproducts.com/stencils-carolyn-dube-s/1861.htm
One of the many many great things about stencils is how many different ways you can play with them! What I've shared in this video is just the tip of the iceberg of what they can do! Want more ideas for how to get even more out of your stencils? Then check out my online workshop, Joy of Stenciling Workshop acolorfuljourney.com/?page_id=35214
——— S U P P L I E S ———
Some of these links may be affiliate links which means I get a small percentage and it doesn’t cost you anything extra! And you get a really good feeling knowing that you are helping keep the free tutorials coming!
• Intertwined Gordian Knot
——— ldli.co/e/kqd49xm [ stencilgirlproducts.com ]
• Twisted Gordian Knot
——— ldli.co/e/764pdmq [ stencilgirlproducts.com ]
• Entangled Gordian Knot
——— ldli.co/e/nqk0ndm [ stencilgirlproducts.com ]
• Tied Up in Knots Quotes
——— ldli.co/e/6ljp1xl [ stencilgirlproducts.com ]
• Blue Paint
——— ldli.co/e/gqkjx5j [ Blick Art Materials ]
——— amzn.to/3WfPVzj [ Amazon US ]
• Gel Plate 8"X10"
——— amzn.to/3cVdxmF [ Amazon US ]
——— ldli.co/e/07jn3e4 [ Blick Art Materials ]
• 2" brayer
——— amzn.to/2gLnJXg [ Amazon US ]
——— ldli.co/e/43jplmr [ Blick Art Materials ]
• Filbert paint brush size 6
——— ldli.co/e/xlym5j4 [ Blick Art Materials ]
• Watercolor - Cadmium Orange
——— ldli.co/e/26jp5mz [ Blick Art Materials ]
• Watercolor Paint 14 Vibrant Neon Colors (this set has the purple that I used and it is a fantastic set of neons!)
——— amzn.to/3tTV44E [ Amazon US ]
• Watercolor - Vivid Pink
——— ldli.co/e/5yjmxlp [ Blick Art Materials ]
• Watercolor - Cobalt Teal
——— ldli.co/e/3ojr5mj [ Blick Art Materials ]
• Watercolor - Phthalo Blue (Green Shade)..
——— ldli.co/e/m59471d [ Blick Art Materials ]
I’m Carolyn Dube, a self taught mixed media art adventurer who found freedom through play exploring the colors of the rainbow, avoiding rules whenever possible, and letting the little kid inside free.
Get signed up for my weekly newsletter for weekly inspiration, creative encouragement and a new free download every week! bit.ly/1bVsMYI
Want to play? Want to know specific ways to let go and have fun? Join the fun in my free mixed media workshop Permission to Play acolorfuljourney.com/permission-play-free-workshop
You can find me designing stencils for StencilGirl Products, teaching in person and online workshops and sharing the message of O.O.P.S. here on YouTube and on the blog, aColorfulJourney.com
What does O.O.P.S. stand for? It stands for Outstanding Opportunities Presenting Suddenly.
Those “failures” and “mistakes” that we so harshly criticized ourselves about actually became true gifts as soon as you start saying O.O.P.S. Try saying Oops in an angry tone. It makes it even more silly!
I just can’t take myself seriously when I say Oops which is just what I needed to play. I began to play, to have fun, and to embrace all of my “mistakes”.
Where you can find me playing:
acolorfuljourney.com
On Instagram instagram.com/carolyn_dube
Pinterest pinterest.com/cdube
I'm all tied up in knots, but not just any kind of knot, a Gordian Knot. There's something different about that kind of knot - it's one with no beginning, no ending, and it is symbolic of an unsolvable problem that is solved with a little creative thinking. The mythology and meaning of Gordian Knots inspired this collection of stencils at StencilGirl. Here I'm sharing how I quickly stencil with a gel plate, then add color to the open spaces with the very forgiving watercolor! You can find these, and all of my stencils, at stencilgirlproducts.com/stencils-carolyn-dube-s/1861.htm
One of the many many great things about stencils is how many different ways you can play with them! What I've shared in this video is just the tip of the iceberg of what they can do! Want more ideas for how to get even more out of your stencils? Then check out my online workshop, Joy of Stenciling Workshop acolorfuljourney.com/?page_id=35214
——— S U P P L I E S ———
Some of these links may be affiliate links which means I get a small percentage and it doesn’t cost you anything extra! And you get a really good feeling knowing that you are helping keep the free tutorials coming!
• Intertwined Gordian Knot
——— ldli.co/e/kqd49xm [ stencilgirlproducts.com ]
• Twisted Gordian Knot
——— ldli.co/e/764pdmq [ stencilgirlproducts.com ]
• Entangled Gordian Knot
——— ldli.co/e/nqk0ndm [ stencilgirlproducts.com ]
• Tied Up in Knots Quotes
——— ldli.co/e/6ljp1xl [ stencilgirlproducts.com ]
• Blue Paint
——— ldli.co/e/gqkjx5j [ Blick Art Materials ]
——— amzn.to/3WfPVzj [ Amazon US ]
• Gel Plate 8"X10"
——— amzn.to/3cVdxmF [ Amazon US ]
——— ldli.co/e/07jn3e4 [ Blick Art Materials ]
• 2" brayer
——— amzn.to/2gLnJXg [ Amazon US ]
——— ldli.co/e/43jplmr [ Blick Art Materials ]
• Filbert paint brush size 6
——— ldli.co/e/xlym5j4 [ Blick Art Materials ]
• Watercolor - Cadmium Orange
——— ldli.co/e/26jp5mz [ Blick Art Materials ]
• Watercolor Paint 14 Vibrant Neon Colors (this set has the purple that I used and it is a fantastic set of neons!)
——— amzn.to/3tTV44E [ Amazon US ]
• Watercolor - Vivid Pink
——— ldli.co/e/5yjmxlp [ Blick Art Materials ]
• Watercolor - Cobalt Teal
——— ldli.co/e/3ojr5mj [ Blick Art Materials ]
• Watercolor - Phthalo Blue (Green Shade)..
——— ldli.co/e/m59471d [ Blick Art Materials ]
I’m Carolyn Dube, a self taught mixed media art adventurer who found freedom through play exploring the colors of the rainbow, avoiding rules whenever possible, and letting the little kid inside free.
Get signed up for my weekly newsletter for weekly inspiration, creative encouragement and a new free download every week! bit.ly/1bVsMYI
Want to play? Want to know specific ways to let go and have fun? Join the fun in my free mixed media workshop Permission to Play acolorfuljourney.com/permission-play-free-workshop
You can find me designing stencils for StencilGirl Products, teaching in person and online workshops and sharing the message of O.O.P.S. here on YouTube and on the blog, aColorfulJourney.com
What does O.O.P.S. stand for? It stands for Outstanding Opportunities Presenting Suddenly.
Those “failures” and “mistakes” that we so harshly criticized ourselves about actually became true gifts as soon as you start saying O.O.P.S. Try saying Oops in an angry tone. It makes it even more silly!
I just can’t take myself seriously when I say Oops which is just what I needed to play. I began to play, to have fun, and to embrace all of my “mistakes”.
Where you can find me playing:
acolorfuljourney.com
On Instagram instagram.com/carolyn_dube
Pinterest pinterest.com/cdube



![Mini Interactive Chalkboard Style Mural
Have you seen the big interactive murals where people can finish the sentences or fill in the blanks with chalk? Those are what inspired this mini indoor version! No chalk board paint or chalk was used to create these so no chalk dust! There was a bit of an adventure where things didnt go as smoothly as I expected in my mind- and I left it in there for you so you could have a laugh with me! Im using my Journal Starters stencil from StencilGirl and a ruler to get we words nice and straight. But Im not measuring with the ruler- check it all out in the video! Visit the blog post at https://bit.ly/3l5g2YQ
Permission to Play workshop: https://acolorfuljourney.com/?page_id=32036
Here are the supplies used. Some of these links may be affiliate links which means I get a small percentage and it doesn’t cost you anything extra! It doesn’t cost you anything extra and you get a really good feeling knowing that you are helping keep the free tutorials coming!
——— S U P P L I E S ———
• Journal Starters Stencil
——— https://ldli.co/e/n2d25o [ stencilgirlproducts.com ]
• Heavy Body Paint - Titanium White, 2 oz Tube
——— https://ldli.co/e/6mxm4d [ Blick Art Materials ]
——— https://amzn.to/2Yu9sna [ Amazon US ]
• Water Soluble White Pencil
——— https://ldli.co/e/gr5r7y [ Blick Art Materials ]
I’m Carolyn Dube - a mixed media art adventurer who takes the intimidation out of supplies so that you can find freedom through creativity. Play with every color of the rainbow, avoid rules whenever possible, and let the little kid inside of you free through art.
Want to play? Want to know specific ways to let go and have fun? Join the fun in my free mixed media workshop Permission to Play http://bit.ly/2sdGx2j
You can find me designing stencils for StencilGirl Products, teaching in person and online workshops and sharing the message of O.O.P.S. here on YouTube and on the blog, aColorfulJourney.com
What does O.O.P.S. stand for? It stands for Outstanding Opportunities Presenting Suddenly.
Those “failures” and “mistakes” that we so harshly criticized ourselves about actually became true gifts as soon as you start saying O.O.P.S. Try saying Oops in an angry tone. It makes it even more silly!
I just can’t take myself seriously when I say Oops which is just what I needed to play. I began to play, to have fun, and to embrace all of my “mistakes”.
Want to play? Want to know specific ways to let go and have fun? Join the fun in my free mixed media workshop Permission to Play http://bit.ly/2sdGx2j
Blog: http://acolorfuljourney.com/
Free Workshop https://acolorfuljourney.com/permission-to-play/
Newsletter http://bit.ly/1bVsMYI
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdXS_Br77vmmJTlHQFL0rNQ
Instagram https://instagram.com/carolyn_dube/
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/aColorfulJourney/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/cdube/ Mini Interactive Chalkboard Style Mural](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wmlZfWAKch4/mqdefault.jpg)






![Colorful Conversations in my Art Journal
Creating the layered look of stacked speech bubbles is easy peasy! The trick is the first layer, and after that, its just filling in the space! This is just one way to use a stencil, there are a gaboodle of other ways you can use them. If youre looking to go in depth on stencils, check out The Joy of Stenciling https://acolorfuljourney.com/?page_id=35214
SUPPLIES
Some of these links may be affiliate links which means I get a small percentage and it doesn’t cost you anything extra! And you get a really good feeling knowing that you are helping keep the free tutorials coming!
• Speech Bubbles Stencil
——— https://ldli.co/e/p305em0 [ stencilgirlproducts.com ]
• Permanent Markers (What I use instead of Sharpies)
——— https://amzn.to/3ikD5BN [ Amazon US ]
• Vibrant Neon Colors Watercolor set, this is the set where I found the bright purple
——— https://amzn.to/3tTV44E [ Amazon US ]
•Watercolor - Opus (Vivid Pink)
——— https://ldli.co/e/rn4mplz [ Blick Art Materials ]
• Watercolor- Cadmium Orange
——— https://ldli.co/e/om723ol [ Blick Art Materials ]
•Watercolor - Cobalt Teal
——— https://ldli.co/e/lmrg641 [ Blick Art Materials ]
• Watercolor - Bright Yellow Green
——— https://ldli.co/e/xlo1gkj [ Blick Art Materials ]
• Carbon Pen
——— https://amzn.to/2hlAQyP [ Amazon US ]
The yellow watercolor that I used has been discontinued- it was QoR hansa yellow medium.
I’m Carolyn Dube, a self taught mixed media art adventurer who found freedom through play exploring the colors of the rainbow, avoiding rules whenever possible, and letting the little kid inside free.
Get signed up for my weekly newsletter for weekly inspiration, creative encouragement and a new free download every week! http://bit.ly/1bVsMYI
Want to play? Want to know specific ways to let go and have fun? Join the fun in my free mixed media workshop Permission to Play https://acolorfuljourney.com/permission-play-free-workshop/
You can find me designing stencils for StencilGirl Products, teaching in person and online workshops and sharing the message of O.O.P.S. here on YouTube and on the blog, aColorfulJourney.com
What does O.O.P.S. stand for? It stands for Outstanding Opportunities Presenting Suddenly.
Those “failures” and “mistakes” that we so harshly criticized ourselves about actually became true gifts as soon as you start saying O.O.P.S. Try saying Oops in an angry tone. It makes it even more silly!
I just can’t take myself seriously when I say Oops which is just what I needed to play. I began to play, to have fun, and to embrace all of my “mistakes”.
Where you can find me playing:
http://acolorfuljourney.com/
On Instagram https://instagram.com/carolyn_dube/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/cdube/ Colorful Conversations in my Art Journal](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zL8inH5iDRc/mqdefault.jpg)