Aleks Melnyk No.409 Metal Stencil, Elder Futhark and Anglo-Saxon Runes 0.5in, Ancient Alphabet, Sigil Magic Alphabet Stencil 1 PC, Template Wood B...

I teach a book workshop all the time and these metal stencils are great! IF you use a fine tip marker dont move the stencil it will smear. I use a soft lead pencil first then go over it with pen and then erase Love them!

I have ordered these in the past and all of them have been delivered damaged but this particular one was packaged beautifully and arrived perfect. The Aleks Melnyk No.409 Metal Stencil, Elder Futhark was perfect. I am very pleased to finally receive one in tact.

I selected this particular stencil as I thought it would be fun to use these runes for ink stenciling on junk journal pages. The stencils, being made from metal sheets, provide more rigidity than a typical mylar or plastic stencil, which can flex and bow while stenciling. I use my Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks and inking brush which work great with these stencils. They say they can also be used for pyrostenciling on wood, which is a plus too, since a plastic stencil would surely melt. Of course, these Aleks Melnyk stencils are more pricey per individual stencil, but something like an alphabet provides multiple uses warranting the investment. I would like to see more designs that could be reused, such as repeat patterns, or layered stencils that coordinate different colors. While I was perusing the Aleks Melnyk ZeeBooth store, I noticed that there are dozens of designs that were not there before, so it seems that they are providing a wider offering and are adding more designs to their collection regularly. I even noticed that they carry designs for jewelry shapes, which is a bonus for polymer clay makers. This is a great offering if you want a sturdy stencil for your crafting objectives, a metal stencil is kind of a no-brainer, and it's a wonder no one had thought of offering these a lot sooner! I give it a 5-star recommendation without reservation. Hats off to Aleks Melnyk !

COMMENTS: The picture has my first full, and very quick, use of the stencil with a Pilot G2 .38. The letters and labels over/under each were my own addition and arent from the plate. PROS: - This is a fun little piece for runes; love that theyre clearly labeled on the plate with the associated modern letters/pronunciations. - The stencil is wide enough to accommodate a large amount of writing utensil sizes. - The metal seems to clean easily. NEUTRALS - Youll have to have a basic understanding of the runes to connect some properly (if youre so inclined). - There are some repeats on the stencil, but I think this is actually nice to have both sets and is a better look on the plate itself. - The plate has some flex, but isnt truly bendy. I like this, but I know some people prefer extra-flexible or rigid plates. Personally I feel like its a good combination and it feels solid. - Finger prints errrryyyywherrreee. I like the silver though, so, totally moot point for me. CONS: - The runes arent laid out in modern alphabetical order, which I think most people would appreciate. This is only a minor con to me. - The Futhark (Anglo-Saxon) g and k (cant get my keyboard alternatives) are tricky to get them to come out clean looking. I feel like it would be difficult to get a quality/long lasting stencil that wouldnt have this issue though. CONCLUSION: - Its a neat little piece! Definitely would be a great gift for someone that has an interest in runes, Nordic heritage, the occult, or scrapbooking in general. I personally will keep it on hand as a desk accessory and to work on my grimoire.

The Aleks Melnyk Stencil cards are very well made in general. They are made of a thin sheet of metal, so they are easy to use for embossing. The edges are all smooth and there is no worry of getting cut by sharp metal. The runes in this card are of a good size. Not so huge that they take over a project, but big enough to still be usable and legible. The only thing that would make this rune card more usable is if they put the runes in order. The way they are arranged you will have to look around for the letter or sound that you are looking for.