Creative Ways to Use a Circle Stencil in Your Art

If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I love circles. They’re timeless, versatile, and they add instant energy to any piece of art. That’s why I designed the Super Useful Circles stencil for Joggles.

It includes some of my favorite circle sizes, and today I want to share a few creative ways you can use a circle stencil in your mixed media projects. You can watch the video for some ideas:

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Why Circles Make the Perfect Stencil Shape

Circles never go out of style. Whether you’re building a layered background, making a focal point, or adding texture, a circle stencil can adapt to just about any project. I use circles on almost every project I do!

You can:

• Repeat the design for a rhythmic pattern.
• Layer circles with different colors for depth.
• Use circles as connectors between other shapes.
• Create both positive and negative prints with paint or ink.

And, the Super Useful Circles stencil gives you multiple sizes on one sheet, which makes it extra flexible. (You can see from the botanical print above that I love to use different sizes of circles on the same piece.)

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One Circle Stencil = Three Circle Stencils

Here’s a trick you might not have thought of: cut your circle stencil into smaller stencils.

Yes, really. I took my stencil and sliced it into three parts. With smaller pieces, I can:

• Hold them easily against a canvas or art journal page.
• Place circles exactly where I want them.
• Avoid covering areas I don’t want stenciled.

You can use scissors, but if you want a perfectly straight cut, a paper trimmer works too. Don’t worry—you’re not “ruining” your stencil. You’re just multiplying its usefulness!

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Adding Circles to Your Backgrounds

When I’m working on a painting or collage, I often start with background layers. A circle stencil makes this step fast and effective.

1. Place the stencil over your surface.
2. Tap acrylic paint through it with a sponge or brush.
3. Shift the stencil slightly to line up with existing circles and extend the pattern.

This creates a textured background without much effort.

For a grungier look, I press the paint-covered stencil directly onto the page to transfer leftover color. It’s a kind of “reverse stamping.”

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Circle Stencil + Gelatin Printing

Another place where a circle stencil shines is on a gelatin printing plate.

• Lay your stencil over wet paint on the plate.
• Pull a print with the paper of your choice.
• Remove the stencil and pull a second print for the negative design.

This two-for-one approach gives you both the filled-in circles and the outlines. When working with the smaller cut-apart stencils, you can compose your prints more intentionally—completely reconfiguring the stencil design.

Pro tip: Joggles even sells a gelatin plate sized to fit their stencils perfectly (9×12).

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Building Composed Prints

Random prints are fun, but sometimes I want to plan things out. That’s where smaller circle stencils are a game-changer. With them, I can place patterns precisely where I want them. This lets me create thoughtful, composed prints (as in the image below) instead of gelatin prints that are happy accidents.

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Final Thoughts

Whether you keep it whole or cut it apart, the Super Useful Circles stencil gives you endless options. From gelatin printing to mixed media backgrounds, circles are a shape you’ll come back to again and again.

Would you cut your stencil into smaller pieces, or keep it whole? If you try it, let me know—I’d love to see how you use circles in your work!

Thanks for stopping by!

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PS: If you like circles, you might also like this blog post tutorial about my circle Art Foamies foam stamps!