Thursday's Dream Schemes/Free Challenge this Week!

Here on the Dreamweaver Blog we do a free challenge every other week for Thursday's Dream Schemes. And it is one of those opportunities to again design something without guldelines. So this week I am doing a technique that was shown in my first DVD a few years ago and has remained one of my favorites through the years. We just received our new DVDs in today, but the older DVD is still available if you want to see the Faux Ceramic Tile technique done step-by-step. Here is a written description on how to do it:

MATERIALS:

Clear ink Stamp Pad

Jumbo Dauber to apply the clear ink
LJ883 Ceramic Tile stencil
LG709 Serendipity Floral design stencil
UTEE Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel

Heat gun

Dye Inks

Clean t-shirt rag to wipe stencils clean

Small stencil brushes to apply dye ink

Stylus or Embossing Machine

White 65# cardstock
Removable Tape

1. Position the LJ883 tile stencil onto a piece of 4 1/14" x 5 1/2" card stock using removable tape and then dry emboss it using a stylus and light table or run it through your embossing machine to emboss the tile.


2. Next use a large stencil brush and stencil a rosy dye ink all over the dry embossed cardstock.

3. Leave the tile stencil in place on the cardstock, and next position the floral stencil LG709 on top of this embossed tile using small pieces of removable tape. Now stencil color onto the Serendipity flower with a variety of the dye inks (I choose these so they will dry well before the next step). Now remove both stencils and wipe them clean with a soft t-shirt rag.

4. Reposition the LJ883 tile stencil onto the embossed tile design and using the jumbo dauber you will load it with the clear ink and then daub this all over the dry embossed and stenciled design. I like to systematically begin at the top and move to the bottom over each row of tile ...one at a time. (This way I know I have covered the whole embossed area completely.) Don't press too hard or the clear ink will squish under the tile stencil and make your tile lines wet, this could cause problems in the next step.

5. Now you can remove the tile stencil and sprinkle the UTEE embossing powder all over the wet clear inked design. Heat this thick embossing powder with a heat gun. Now you have a double embossed design for a wonderful tile look.

If you get a chance play along with us this week!

Zentangling on Thursday's Dream Schemes/Hoppy Easter

Sketch Challenge by Lee Kellogg

A week ago I was an exhibitor at the National Art Materials Trade Show in Phoenix. This show was open to retailers that were members of their trade organization, mostly art materials stores. I was joined by design team member Lee Kellogg, who did today's sketch challenge and by Pam Hornschu another DT member. When time would permit and we had the opportunity, we walked the show floor to see what was being created. During my excursions I met Suzanne McNeill-Sparks, the owner of Design Originals, and watched as she and Cindy Shepard showed people some of their wonderful publications for the arts and crafts industry. Some of their latest  books are about the art of Zentangle. Suzanne explained to me that this unique craft is all about using fine tipped ink pens to create small patterns...it was originally called "Zen" tangle because of how relaxing it was to the originator of the technique, Maria Thomas. Although this is not a new technique it was new to me and while watching them create I was inspired to see what they could do with our stencils. I am grateful they had time to show me. The first card uses the bunny stencil (LM 2008). Suzanne outlined the stencil with a very fine tipped black ink Micron pen from Sakura, then she started filling it in with her various patterns. She handed it to me and gave me permission to share it with you in the form of this card for our weekly challenge. A special thanks to my husband, Wayne, for Zentangling the rolling hills under the bunny, he also added the "hoppy Easter" sentiment using our stencil (LM291), in honor of this week's holiday...hop yours is peacefully zen.

By Cindy Shepard from Design Originals

    Then later at the same show Cindy Shepard "tangled" the rooster stencil (LG732) in the same manner. She traced the design onto paper to create the rooster's image by using her finest tipped Micron pen from Sakura, after removing the stencil she drew her detailed patterns into each section of his feathers etc. I love how she positioned him just off the paper too. 

Be sure to see what the team has created this week, you may even see some more Zentangles! Follow the team's names on the sidebar at the right and be sure to comment if you're inspired...they love your encouragement. Hopefully you will get the chance to use Lee Kellogg's sketch this week and play along with us. You don't have to Zentangle, but if you get the opportunity learn more about this fun craft by taking a side trip to www.d-originals.com and find out what books Suzanne has to tempt you with, like this book from her site:

One of the many books from www.d-originals.com

Thursday's Dream Schemes/Christmas in April from Ontario, Canada

I swear we have had the coldest winter ever here in Southern California! I know, I know, yes, it has had it's warm spells as well. But I got up one day this week and it was 37 degrees, so you have to admit that is pretty chilly. So Cindy, who is from Ontario Canada,... along with this almost freezing weather have inspired me to share a Christmas themed card this week.


This week is a free challenge week for our Dream Schemes, so I decided to share this beautiful Christmas card that "Cin" made from a stencil that she won from Dreamweaver at one of our blog events before Christmas. The little "swooshy" holiday tree stencil (LM279) was paste-embossed and then while it was still wet glitter was sprinkled on top. I think this would be one of the most simple, yet gorgeous Christmas cards to make if you had a long card list.


Thank you for the inspiration Cindy and thanks for playing along with us when you get inspired to create with stencils.

Thursday's Dream Schemes/ Colorway Challenge Teal & Yellow

This Easter card is a creation of Kathy Lythgoe. Kathy taught stenciling in Southern California for Dreamweaver Stencils for several years and often demonstrated at CHA for me as well. She now travels the world with her husband Jack, is a dedicated grandma of one precious little guy named Landon and she works at Disneyland as both Cinderella's Fairy Godmother and in the winter as Mrs. Claus in the Christmas parade. So as you can tell she has many irons in the fire. She still does card making and scrapbooking, but more for her own pleasure these days.

Kathy first dry embossed the hats stencil (LG671) on a cardstock using and stylus and a light table. Next she stenciled them with yellow and teal pigment inks. Now she used a layering technique to add the extra pattern you see on the hats. To do this, she kept the hat stencil on top of the dry embossing she had just done and she placed a background stencil called "flower lace" (LJ820) over the top of this hat stencil and added more color by stenciling more teal color onto the hat. The hat at the bottom was also stenciled with the same flower lace stencil in teal, but when it overlapped the yellow the teal "warmed" up to a yellow-green. She dry embossed Happy Easter (LM234) and stenciled it yellow and also put the flower lace (LJ820) stencil on top of these words while the stencil was still in position and stenciled the teal again. The bands on the hats were made with teal ribbons, but slitting a hole into the hat and threading the ribbon through. This was a really fun inspiration Kathy. Thank you!

Now if you would like to play along just sign up with Mr. Linky below. Thanks for joining us this week.