The Craziness Continues/Last Verse of this Sketch Though....

I have had so much fun with this sketch this past week. Remember I told you I was going crazy with this new Tree line die (DG745). Today I had a super busy day, but this evening I had time to play. I was actually inspired by our Banner Day Facebook creation by Gill Wilson. I know mine doesn't look anything like hers...she used soft tones and a finger dauber, but it reminded me that I hadn't played with the Color Solution Alcohol Inks in ages, so I pulled them out and started playing. The leaves on the trees were done with Lemoncello and Pumpkin on glossy cardstock. The tree trunks were done on flat cardstock using Citron and Creme Bruleé. The thank you stencil (LG691) was stenciled onto the mid size of our new nested ovals, with dark brown and dark blue inks. For the sky background I used my largest stencil brush and used varying shades of aqua and turquoise from a Tsukineko Kaleidacolor ink pad called Calypso...I started light and then kept adding another color and each layer of brushing made the variegated look, this just takes a bit of patience. Glued it all together and there you have it another evening of Creative Craziness.

Thursday I will be back using another one of our new dies. If you have any questions leave it in the comments and I will try to answer it here. Leave a comment for a chance to win this new die...I will be choosing a winner and posting it on Thursday. Thanks for all your time and lovely comments this week.

For My Mom/Make a Wish

This card is dedicated to my Mom and Dad for more than one reason. First of all Mom loves the color purple in all of it's shades and secondly as I write this... it is just one year since my Dad passed. She has a strong faith, so I know the desires of her heart will come to pass. 

I mentioned a couple of days ago when I did a video for my blog post that the easiest way to do the double glitter was to do the glitter in just two colors, one for the detail work and one color for the background. However, I didn't have time to show everything I wanted to show you or the video would have been too long. If you want to see the video scroll back a couple of days to July 5 and watch the YouTube video on my blog. In it I showed the more detailed process of how to use more than one color on the detail work of the double glitter technique. 

Today I thought I would show you an example of a creation that is quite simple. The double glitter technique here is a bit different and has one step that I mentioned, but didn't take time to describe. I used a piece of dark blue card as a supportive base card and instead of the usual white core mounting sticky paper that we sell, I used a clear sticky paper. This is because my background glitter was a transparent blue glitter and anything behind it...the supporting paper or the white core sticky paper would have shown through the transparent blue glitter and the end result would have been a pale purple, and of course you wouldn't have had enough contrast. By using a clear sticky paper and a supporting blue colored cardstock the periwinkle blue glitter color in the background really made the white gold fireworks show up. Remember that most of the sticky papers on the market are extra sticky...so don't forget to use your soap (DHHS) as a release agent. This will keep your stencil from getting bent or ruined.

Strié is a technique that in French means striping

The Tree line die (DG745) was cut from a pearlescent white card stock. Then I used a large 1/2" Natural Handle Stencil Brush (NHB1/2") and loaded it with Brilliance Periwinkle colored ink. This was then brushed across the Tree Line die cut. I did the Strié technique all the way around the die cut for the streaked effect you see here. The result was glowing periwinkle blue trees in a night of beautiful fireworks. The make a wish sentiment came from the LG704 Birthday words stencil. I cut the oval from the smallest nested oval (DD004), then I positioned the sentiment over it and paste-embossed it with Dreamweaver Gold Embossing Paste (DGP). After removing the stencil I sprinkled the wet paste with white gold ultrafine glitter which was also used on the fireworks stencil (LJ886). 

If you have questions leave a comment...and leave a comment if you would like to win this beautiful die. Commenting each day will qualify you to be one of the random winners chosen on Thursday. Until Thursday I will be creating with this die in a variety of ways. I am new to die cutting and if you are too, leave your questions in the comment section and if I don't know the answer I will find someone who does.

We would also love to have you join our challenge...this month it's using our dies and stencils...but if you aren't fortunate to have any of ours we would love to see what you are creating with any die and stencil.

An InLinkz Link-up

HELLO...tree line die (DG745)!

Tree line die (DG745) Hello stencil (LS96)

This of course, is a card of pretty papers. I saw this paper with little houses and couldn't resist. This would be a great "welcome to the hood" card or very simply a card to say howdy to a dear friend.

I used the new tree line die (DG745) and cut the leaves out of a metallic green paper...cut off the tree trunks and then used a 1/2" stencil brush (NHB1/2") to add a darker green at the edges. The light brown paper got the same treatment after I cut out the tree trunks, but for this I used dark brown and charcoal gray inks to edge the trunks. This is very similar to how I added color on my July 2 post. Don't be afraid to add some color to printed or plain papers using a stencil brush.

The hello stencil (LS96) was paste-embossed with a mixture of the regular embossing paste (DEP) with an tube acrylic red paint. I mixed them one part to one part. It didn't take much of either color. And remember, although the DEP appears white it doesn't have any white pigment in it, so whatever color you add will come through quite strong once the paste is dry.

The triple headed pin started out as a white pin and I added our Color Solution alcohol inks Citron and Mojito Green. These triple headed pins will be back in stock soon. I have always loved how they add just the right embellishment touch.

Be sure to leave a comment for the opportunity to be a random winner of this beautiful new die. Come back tomorrow to increase your chances and of course see more ideas on how to use this design. If you are interested in the double glitter technique check out my July 5th post for my new youtube video on double glitter.

An InLinkz Link-up

Same Sketch...Third Verse....!!! Tree Line Die

This new Tree Line die (DG745) is an all in one die. So I had to run it through the machine once to do the upper portion of the die for the teal leaves and then once through the die cutting machine for the lower portion with the tree trunks. So it did take a minimal amount of cutting  to cut the tree trunks off of the leaves...but it was a simple feat. For me the fun of die cutting this card is choosing the papers. What to put with what to make the colors pop....etc. I have always enjoyed complementary color schemes. Colors that are opposite on the color wheel....blue and orange, red and green, purple and yellow....and the list goes on. In this case I used blue/green and yellow/orange which of course is another variation of complementary. The trunks were neutral and then I paste-embossed "Birthday Greetings" (LG704) in Matte Black Embossing Paste (DMBP) onto a metallic copper cardstock.

Here's a close up of the metallic paper. I used the new long ovals nestling die (DD004) to paste-emboss onto...this is the smallest of the three.

This creation would be perfect for a masculine greeting card...although I know several of my girlfriends who would enjoy receiving it too.

Be sure to leave a comment for the opportunity to be a random winner of this beautiful new die. Come back tomorrow to increase your chances and of course see more ideas on how to use this design. If you are interested in the double glitter technique check out my July 5th post for my new youtube video on double glitter.

An InLinkz Link-up

Double Glitter Technique/Video

Yesterday,  I posted a card using a technique called "Double Glitter" and told you to stop back for the tutorial. Well, here it is in the form of a YouTube video. Hope it helps, but leave a comment for the opportunity to win a special prize this week...I will be back tomorrow with another creation using the Tree line die (DG745). AND...if you would please leave any questions you may have about the technique in your comments or email (lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com) I will try to answer them here:

Fireworks stencil LJ886 and Tree line die DG745

If you have a hard time viewing this (because it is somewhat small on the screen)...click on the youtube emblem and it will take you to the youtube site for a larger viewing.

Q. Why is this technique called Double Glitter?

A. Two reasons....

1. The sticky paper is a double sided mounting paper (MPDS) 

2. The technique is two-fold...You put the glitter on through the stencil and remove the stencil and then put another layer of glitter on for the background.

Q. Why do you use natural soap (DHHS) as a resist?

A. It is a softer soap and doesn't leave as many "crumbs".

Q. Why does glitter sometimes flare under the stencil and leave a blurred image?

A. The stencil was not pressed down onto the sticky paper tightly and an air pocket was created.

Q. Crafting Newbie...said that she had problems getting the stencil off of the sticky paper.
A. The stabilizing paper should help...BUT a second issue could be how tacky your sticky paper is ....the MPDS paper that I am using is NOT really high tack. It does have a white core though and sometimes I use a clear transparent sticky paper if I want my stabilizer colored cardstock to show through (Red Line or Elizabeth Crafts are two examples of a really high tack paper)...these can be hard on your stencils, so be sure that you use a stabilizing cardstock on one side as shown in the video and that you support the stencil as you remove it from the stickiness.... AND be sure you use the soap more generously. Sometimes I dampen my finger or the brush to be sure there aren't any really big clumps of soap...BUT the key word there is dampen, not too wet or the soap will all come off. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Celebrate the Fourth of July with Lots of Glitter! Today is Jennifer's Birthday!

When I was in college I had a roommate who was born on the 4th of July. She said when she was growing up she always thought they were celebrating her birthday with fireworks etc. Later she learned what Independence Day was all about. Of course life, liberty and the pursuit of  happiness, are all things associated with this holiday in the USA....but our friends across the pond in the UK tease us and say that they celebrate July 4th too...their independence from US!!! Very funny! Well, actually it is pretty funny! My assistant of more than 18 years is also a July 4th baby (Jennifer) and Rebekka was born on the 3rd...so our office staff has been very celebratory this week! Here is a card for both of these ladies and our UK friends as well. CELEBRATE! (LS90)

I used the Tree line die (DG745) and put it through the die cutting machine very simply with black cardstock and set it aside. The fireworks stencil (LJ886) was done with the double glitter technique.  I used opaque microfine glitters in navy, bright blue and two colors of red. For those of you who have never done double glitter, come back tomorrow and I will have this tutorial complete. Showing you the steps of how double glitter works is my goal. It is one of my favorite techniques and is truly quite simple. You only have to remember a couple of important tips. In the meantime enjoy your 4th celebrations and Happy Birthday to my friends!

Leave a comment this week for the chance to win a special prize next Thursday...I will be doing several cards using this die and will repeat the sketch once or twice as well.

An InLinkz Link-up

July Challenge:Dreamweaver Stencils to Die For/Plus June's Winners

DG745 Tree Line Die also has a matching stencil LG745

Welcome to July...the month to DIE for! Yep. All of this month, the Dream Team are featuring our newest toys...our DIES! You'd be surprised at how many we have, and what fun things you can do with them...especially when used in conjunction with many of their stencil counterparts.

Today my creation is a step-by-step of how to use the Tree of Life metal stencil (LG690) with this new Tree Line Die (DG745).

First die cut the Tree Line Die (DG745), but just half of the die is fine, because you will be cutting off those tree trunks next. Then stencil with a couple of pretty colors of Wendy Vecchi's Archival Inks (Fern Green and Leaf Green). I used a #18 or 1/2" Dreamweaver Stencil Brush (NHB1/2").

Then cut off the tree trunks with a pair of scissors. I did a bit of rounding rather than cutting them straight, this goes with the curved tree line.

Pull the stencil brush across all of the edges and go around the entire leaf die cut for uniformity. Continue using the same two greens that you used for the leaves.

Cut out the same die (DG745) but use a light brown cardstock. Then pull Orange Blossom and Potting Soil Archival Inks across these trunks. Do this in a straight line using the #18 or 1/2" stencil brush (NHB1/2"). This will give the tree trunks a striated look.

 I didn't cut out the entire tree line because for this part I just needed the tree trunks.

Remove one of the release papers for the double sided sticky paper (MPDS). 

I then like to place this sticky side against a piece of white cardstock for stability. 

Then remove the remaining piece of release paper from the exposed side to reveal the other side of stickiness.

Sprinkle this remaining sticky side with a blue microfine glitter and set it aside for a background.

 Use a white glue and add the tree trunks, then glue the leaves onto the glittered background.

The "It's Your Day" stencil (LG704) was paste-embossed onto our new smallest oval nesting die cut (DD004) with Glossy White Embossing Paste (DGWP). Then while it was still wet it was sprinkled with a microfine blue glitter. The edges of the paper were striated with a stencil brush for a look to match the tree trunks.

I am sure our "A" team is DIE-ING to show you what they have been doing with our dies and joining us this month is Terri Sproul our guest designer...(thanks Terri for consenting to cut it up with us)! Scroll down to see who our four winners are for last month's Old New Borrowed Blue Challenge for the month of June.

Dream It Up!

Leadonna Kimmel

Louise Healy

Laura Drahozal

Lynn Mercurio

Pam Hornschu

Jamie Martin

and

Terri Sproul

For those of you who read to the very end of my blog...I went really crazy (again) with this new die, so I blogged about it again and again. Come back tomorrow to see what else you can do with the same die design. Leave a comment or two over the next week for an extra goody to be given away....I'm just sayin' ...take advantage of my craziness.


THE FOUR RANDOM WINNERS....

for the "Old New Borrowed Blue" Challenge for the month of June are:

OLD: This doesn't have anything to do with age....Janice Kempster
NEW: Nanette Graham-Garrett
BORROWED: Janine Rudnick
BLUE: Cindy Groh

Please send your favorite stencil request to lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com and don't forget to send me your snail mail address so I can get that stencil to you right away.

Now don't forget to join us this month for our  "to die for challenge" using dies in any way shape or form...but would especially like to see you use them in conjunction with stencils!

An InLinkz Link-up