Thursday's Dream Schemes/The Challenge is "Your Choice"

It's a Free Challenge this Thursday and I am here to tease you with two new designs, the stencil of the "birds on bare branches" (LG733) and "fine feathered friends" stencil (LM2009). These will be available in stores soon. Give us a few days to get them packaged and shipped, then you can visit your local retailer or on-line store and shop.

I loved doing this one with the double glitter technique. It was a bit of a challenge, because each bird was done with a different color of transparent glitter and the tree branches were done with an opaque brown glitter. As I worked I went back and forth between these different colors of glitters. This way you are working right up to one color and then changing to the next color to avoid contamination. I laid out several pieces of copy paper on a table and set out a jar with a different color of glitter on each piece of paper. Then I held my "sticky paper"(to which the stencil was attached to) at a slant above the paper and let the glitter waterfall a bit at a time off the stencil. I started at the bottom of the tree branches and each time I moved to another color I would rub it into the stencil holes and make sure it did not get into the adjoining holes where I wanted to use the next color of glitter. (This is why you angle or "waterfall" the glitter off the stencil.) Then once all the glitter was applied, I pulled out my pigment inks and stenciled bright colors onto the feathered guys using very small 1/8" stencil brushes. For this portion of the technique the "Picasso" stencil shield was used. This tool helped isolate the pigment color to the areas where I specifically wanted the shading to be and helped create the fine detail you see on the birds. A black gel pen was used to add the eyes on each bird. "Fine feathered friends" was paste embossed vertically on the blue cardstock with glossy white embossing paste (DGWP) and while it was still wet, dark blue opaque glitter was sprinkled on the word "feathered". This way the words "fine friends" stood out and makes a statement. It was a bit of a challenge doing this one, but on the other hand it was so satisfying when I was finished.

Again if you are interested in the instructions for the double glitter technique email me at www.lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com My third DVD, which is being edited as I write this, will cover not only this fun technique, but several others. I will be sure to let you know when it's ready to ship.

Also if you get the chance, do play along with us this week. Also I want to challenge you to send one of your creations in the mail this week to someone that you know needs a boost. There are a lot of "shut ins" out there. The weather has been extremely bitter this year, so warm up someone's life with a pretty greeting card!

Don't forget to follow the design team's blogs by clicking on Deborah March's name on the sidebar at the right. Our fearless leader is at the top of the list and will get you going. Enjoy!