Thursday, September 6, 2012

New Challenge this Month: Getting Inky with Stencils

I know everyone has their preferences, but I love strong colors. Just know that your creation can use soft colors or black or white but the stipulation in our challenge this month is to use ink of some sort.

The month of September we will be "getting inky with stencils"...hmmm, imagine that, another thing that I love, using ink in conjunction with stencils. This month we will have just a bit different twist on our monthly challenge ... we are letting you choose any stencil you would like as your prize if you win. Yep, any Dreamweaver stencil you "so desire". We will still have two winners, one for best interpretation of the challenge and one for best usage of Dreamweaver products.

Here is how this faux cloisonné butterfly card was done:

1. Paste-emboss the multi-butterfly stencil (LJ873) with the original "Embossing Paste" (DEP), this particular paste is the one that comes in a maroon label jar, and then remove the stencil and let the image dry well, approximately a half an hour. I often place my pasted project in an old electric skillet  and set the heat on the lowest setting, usually warm.

2. Reposition the clean stencil back onto the embossed butterflies with removable tape.


3. One thing that I find helps me to stencil more specifically is a tool which is a stencil shield. We refer to our stencil shield as "Picasso" (LL332). As you see, it has lots of curves and holes in it. So you can manipulate it on top of the stencil to shield one color from smearing into another color. In the butterfly creation I was able to keep the dark brown ink  you see on the moth's spots in the center of this stencil from getting onto the aqua color of his wings by positioning a small hole from Picasso over the spots. 




4. Now stencil the rest of the butterflies using pigment ink. You can also stencil with dye ink, permanent inks and the list goes on and on. I used pigment ink because in the next step I wanted to sprinkle the image with Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (EB08) and it is nice if the ink remains wet because you want the UTEE to cover the entire image. Pigment ink has the reputation of remaining wet for some time. However in the stenciling technique (which of course means applying color through the stencil's holes), you need to use a dry brush technique as you see here. This works the wet paint into the bristles so that it will not be too wet and slip under the stencil to create a smudge. This off loading of ink into a paper towel takes a bit of practice, but is worth the time you put into mastering it.



5.Next you will heat the powder with a heat gun and violá you have these beautiful bright images. 

So we are hoping you will join our challenge this month and get down and get inky with stencils! Don't forget to take time and follow the list below to see what the Dream Team has accomplished this week. When you are ready to share with us your creation just add the link to your blog to mr. linky below. This month I will be traveling to the UK and won't be back until the 21st. But if you don't have a blog and would like to share a creation just email it to me and when I return I will post your creations for you. Here is my email address: lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com




11 comments:

sommrstamping said...

I love these butterflies, and I so love the bright beautiful colors.

Liz Martin said...

Wish I had these butterflies in my yard – their colors are gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

I love this technique! Your card is wonderful.

Daria said...

Beautiful! I love those vibrant colors against the black background.

Louise said...

So beautiful, love your colors against the black!

Pam Hornschu said...

I am just buggy about this card, Lynell!

rkramadh said...

Beautiful! I love dreamweaver stencils. PS: Why do so many people use "there" for "their"? Please edit posts prior to publishing, no offense.

Leonie Castro said...

I love butterfies!!! Love the card. I have been to paper craft planet and I would love to win the steampunk clock stencil. I have a few of your stencis and the modeling paste. I love using this on my cards. thanks for the chance to win
Leonie Castro

Lynell Harlow / Dreamweaver Stencils said...

Dear rkramadh...thank you for catching that. Probably so many people do it because there and their have the same sound. I definitely know the difference and yet it is automatic. The same with two, too and to...same sound. And of course we get so spoiled by spell check too....and it doesn't check usage just spelling. Again thanks!

Caroline D. said...

The butterfly card is gorgeous!! I just had to use a couple of butterflies on my project I created and just linked up for the challenge. :o) It's a great theme this month... always fun to get inky fingers!

Caroline D. said...

whew! Just getting in under the wire for my 2nd entry! I am always amazed how fast the month flies by.

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