Dreamweaver Stencils and Ranger are Hopping with Stickles Dry Glitter

The Dream Team has a big day today! Not only are we into week three of our Pinterest Inspired challenge, we are also playing with Ranger's Stickles Dry Glitter in the mix! We've had so much fun playing with jars of sparkly goodness, that we want to share the fun with two lucky crafters! 

  

Just visit everyone on the list below, and leave comments for everyone. Two winners* will be randomly selected and announced Thursday, July 4th...what a great day for a celebration! Each prize package includes a mix of five Ranger Stickles Dry Glitter, a mix of six Dreamweaver Stencils, and jar of Dreamweaver Translucent Paste, and a Palette Knife for spreading. If you want to add to the fun, play along with our Pinterest challenge and link your own creation to the linkytool on theDream It Up! blog before July 1st for a chance to win this month's stencil prize. Here's the list of sparkly-Pinteresting players:

Cherylynn Moser

Leadonna Kimmel

Laura Drahozal

Louise Healy

Jessica Griffin

Caroline Duncan 

Stacey Rumsby

Pam Hornschu

Heidi Erickson

Cyndi Bundy

Terrece Siddoway

Lyn Bernatovich 

Jennifer Dove

The Ranger Blog  (this will go live later in the day)

Here is my creation for today's hop and the June Pinterest challenge. You will find my Pinspiration piece at the end of my post. Meanwhile, a few steps in the process...

The May Arts canvas ribbon was perfect to use the matte black paste (DMBP) on!

I mixed the Dreamweaver Translucent Embossing Paste (DEPT) with the dry Stickles Glitter from Ranger.

Southwest background stencil (LJ807)

Here is a picture of what it looks like when it is pasted on the Southwest background stencil (LJ807). I loved how it looked holographic on the dark purple cardstock. I was surprised that the tangerine color that you see above looked turquoise on the purple paper. I actually mixed a Lime Green mixture as well and pasted them at the same time. To see more how this is done you can learn about paste-embossing two pastes at the same time in my book on Embossing Paste techniques. It is called New Dimensions in Cardmaking (Book-4) and the project technique is called "sludge paste"...catchy name, huh?

The lizard stencil (LL2004) was paste embossed with Glossy Black Embossing Paste (DGKP) and then the Green and Lime Green dry Stickles were sprinkled on top of the paste. I like using glossy pastes with this technique, as the glossies are stickier and tend to hold glitter and embossing powders better than the matte pastes. When the lizard was dry I used a craft knife and scraped the edges so he had a black outline.

And here is my Pinterest inspiration. Isn't he a colorful one? Click HERE for more info.

I know many of you are here to see the monthly challenge creations, so if you are thinking of playing along, you can link your creations up with the linky tool below to join our challenge this month. I know it is a Pinterest inspired challenge, but we just love to have people link their creations of any kind! So feel free to join us with any kind of creation you have done. 

Our random winner for the monthly challenges is posted the first Thursday of the next month and our next challenge is then presented. So July 3 we will be announcing the hop winner as well as the challenge winner! You could be the random winner of a stencil of your choice...but please leave us some love on this hop to be eligible for the random winning of one of two of the generous combined gifts from Ranger and Dreamweaver Stencils!

Pinterest Inspired/Thursday's Challenge

My Pinterest Inspiration Click HERE

This month we are challenging you to join our Pinterest inspired challenge. Just find a link on Pinterest and create from this inspiration. Also this month we have a guest designer, Jennifer Dove. Jennifer hails from the state of Arizona and also travels to do Copic workshops...be sure to view her weekly creations this month.

Today I am sharing a card from Elaine Benedict. The month of May many of the retailers in Illinois and design team members came together for the first Dreamweaver Stencils Teacher's Certification workshop. And Elaine Benedict, my former Illinois/Wisconsin rep traveled all the way from North Carolina to assist me at the workshop. And she shared with me this wonderful card that she had created for her daughter's upcoming wedding shower. Her wedding color will be shades of purples. 

We spent some time comparing pictures etc., because my daughter is getting married soon as well. Making invitations and wedding cards can really be rewarding. Over the past few years I have had the joy of doing this for several friends and clients. 

These cards are a lacy edged paper with four flaps. It was originally die cut to match up with a lace doily stencil (LJ836). Elaine made this using the simplest of stencil techniques. Placing the bride stencil (LJ924) with removable tape (RMT) and then using a large stencil brush (NHB3/4") stenciled with pigment inks. The flowers were achieved with just a bit of purple STickles glue and then May Arts ribbon was used as a closure.


I mentioned our first Dreamweaver Stencils Certification was in the Chicago area. If anyone is interested... our next certification will be in Las Vegas on July 20 and 21 at the Suncoast Casino. Two days of intense stenciling with like-minded stenciling fanatics. I will be doing the teaching and we still have room for more. The Suncoast is not near the strip, but it is a beautiful resort casino. Not far from California and there is shuttle service to and from the airport. If you are interested I will happily email you an application. Let me know: lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com

Hope you'll take time to see the other Pinterest inspired creations. Just follow the list below and leave the team some love. Also would love to have you join us, so get inspired and leave your creation on the linky tool below.

Jennifer Dove 
Laura Drahozal
Lyn Bernatovich
Pam Hornschu
Heidi Erickson
Louise Healy
Jessica Griffin
Cyndi Bundy

Father's Day Pinterest Inspiration/ Thursday's Dream Scheme

Artwork: Two Fine Foxes by Oliver Lake

This month we are challenging you to go onto Pinterest to find your inspiration. Create something and then come back to the linky tools below and join our challenge. To find out more about the artwork inspiration in the picture  at the right, click HERE.

This month we also have a guest artist, Jennifer Dove, who is playing along with us. So be sure to take time and visit her blog as well as the Dream it UP team's creations. Their links are listed at the bottom of this posting. Usually half the team posts one week and half the next, but this week we have several playing along with us. Be sure to leave them some comments...it really inspires them to have your love sent their way.

Of course the real inspiration for a Father's Day card is Father and mine will be 83 this year. He is an amazing man and for the past few years has struggled with his health, but keeps on keeping on. 

The two fox stencils (LM2016) and (LL3030) were very simply stenciled onto white cardstock with small 1/4" stencil brushes (GHB) and Splendor pigment ink pads (Circus) and (Magic).
The Happy Father's Day stencil (LM244) was paste-embossed with the matte black embossing paste (DMBP).

I started by base coating with yellow and then stippled the brown into the areas that I wanted to shade more. The stenciling was finished with just a touch of black on both foxes.

Now is your opportunity to visit the rest of the team and our fabulous guest designer, but don't forget to link your own Pinterest-inspired creation to the linkytool below!

Jennifer Dove

Lea Kimmel

Louise Healy

Stacey Rumsby

Terrece Siddoway

Caroline Duncan

Pam Hornschu

Cherylynn Moser

Jessica Griffin

Cyndi Bundy

As an added note, feel free to follow us on Pinterest by clicking HERE! You can find more Dreamweaver creations on Pinterest as well as post your own by clicking HERE!

Inspired by Pinterest:Plus Random Winner for the May Challenge

My Pinterest inspiration for this week's creation.

For the entire month of June we are challenging our readers and creative followers to find something on Pinterest to be inspired by...then link up your inspired creation to the linky tool below along with the link or photo of the inspiration.

I was inspired by this photo I found on Pinterest. And my creation below is done with the Poppy stencil (LL521). We have had a very dry winter, so the poppies did not bloom in full regalia like they usually do. And I've really been enjoying all the beautiful photos of poppies that I've found on the Pinterest site.

Also in the future...starting today, we are posting the previous month's challenge winner on the first Thursday of the month along with the notice of our new challenge. Our random challenge winner from last month... was Jill D. Click HERE to view her creation... it was wonderful to have her play along with May's Challenge of "Tiny Treats"(...thank you Jill). So, Jill, please be sure to email me with the stencil you would like to have. Yep...any Dreamweaver stencil you so desire. Just write to me at lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com and we will send that to you post haste.

This month's guest artist is Jennifer Dove. She is listed below on the Design Team list, so be sure to take time to visit their blogs and hers to see how they have been inspired by Pinterest. Jennifer is from Arizona and teaches extensively with Copic markers. I feel fortunate that she is also a fan of Dreamweaver Stencils and has created some wonderful cards using our stencils and materials. Thanks Jennifer for joining us this month.

Now just a few details about my poppy creation. We have a new instructional flyer called: Embossed Strié. I know I have shown you in the past this technique...but as they say "expression makes impression" and the more I teach this and write about it...the more ideas and creations are evolving. To begin, you need to emboss the stencil image. That can either be by hand using a light table and a stylus or it can be using the "Big Shot" or "Cuttlebug" etc. The main thing to remember while embossing by machine is the stacking method. If you follow these steps you will not ruin your stencil OR your machine.

1. Place the thickest white plate in the machine first if you own a Cuttlebug this is referred to as the A plate. If you own a Big Shot this is referred to as the thick white platform...do not use the TAB 1 or 2. Instead let those tabs follow through opened up. 

2. Place the poppy stencil (LL521) face down on this thick white plate or platform. This means the copyright and stencil code is hidden from view. 

3. Next place the cardstock to be embossed on top of the stencil then spray this paper with rubbing alcohol. This spritz of alcohol helps the paper fibers break and move into the stencil for a sharper embossed image without making the paper soggy like water would. And has the added advantage of not leaving water spots on the cardstock.

4. Now place the thick Stamping Details rubber mat on the paper. This mat is thicker than most but definitely worth having. Otherwise you need to use two or three plastic shims with your thinner rubber mat. But the rubber mat should be closest to the paper.

5. This is followed by two acrylic plates. For the Cuttlebug...these are identified as "B" plates.

Crank this stack of plates through the machine. DO NOT FORCE the machine. If it is too tight you could hurt the machine. Find the right formula for your machine by reading step #4 over again if necessary.

To achieve the striped look called Strié that you see at the edges of the poppy card begin by placing the embossed card onto a piece of scrap paper. Then load a 3/4 inch stencil brush (NHB3/4") with pigment ink and begin in the upper left hand corner and make sure the flat bristles of the loaded stencil brush are resting  on the piece of scrap paper. The majority of the color will be off loaded at the edge of the card stock. As you pull the brush in a straight line toward you, lessen the pressure you are applying and sweep the bristles of the brush upward coming off the card right in the center of the paper. If you don't make this sweeping upward motion, the pigment will stop abruptly and make a smudging coloration right in the middle of the paper. As much as possible, keep the bristles straight and then repeat this same action moving approximately a brush width at a time, all the way across to the right side of the card. The streaks of pigment hitting the edges of the dry embossed design will accent the upper half of the image. Now you have half of the card done. Turn the card a full 180 degrees and repeat this same action again, moving right to left. The card is now finished, however, if you want a more "linen' look  to your card, you can turn the card 90 degrees and repeat the same "strié" technique again. To finish this linen look, turn the card 180 degrees again and finish the last side. Now, all four sides are done and you will have twice as much color on the card.

On the poppy card the strié background was subtle and so I added more color by placing the stencil on top of the embossed image and stenciled the poppies with orange, red and black pigment inks using small 1/4 and 1/8 inch stencil brushes (BHB and GHB). I do love to stencil and hope you'll take time to try this technique. And we're hoping you'll join us for this month's challenge.

Jennifer Dove 
Laura Drahozal
Lyn Bernatovich
Pam Hornschu
Heidi Erickson
Louise Healy
Jessica Griffin
Cyndi Bundy