Dreamweaver and Imagine Crafts: Endless Possibilities-Day Two

 Welcome to our first ever collaboration week with Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko! We've shared all of our toys on both sides, so be prepared for Endless Possibilities! Three prize packages are available, each containing one set of each of these inks and stencils/dies. Just leave comments on each post of each day this week (June 9th - June 13th) for a chance to win! Winners will be announced on Tuesday, June 17th!

Imagine Crafts New StazOn Pads from Tsukineko

Stencils and Dies Prize Package

Here's my creation for today:

Today's creation was done using the positive pieces from yesterday's design ( another name for this is called paper piecing) and glued onto Matte Yellow Embossing Paste.

 Remember yesterday I used the elephant stencil, traced it onto the back of the splattered piece of paper and cut out the pieces, set them aside and blogged about the negative that you see here below.

Yesterday's elephant creation was cut out of sprayed paper and placed over the top of  black paper that was stenciled with the mosaic background stencil LJ901...or the negative image.

LG756 elephant stencil

Well, today I designed a card using these cut out pieces or the positive set. This is a technique called paper piecing. People that have dies do it all the time, but since the elephant isn't a die I had to cut out the pieces by hand. Here are the two stencils I used today, well actually I also used the Celebrate stencil LS89, so that would be three stencils:

To prepare the paisley design a stenciled the surface of the gray background cardstock using the Paisley stencil LX7009 with a black Memento ink by Imagine Crafts and then added some color to that stenciled area with the soufflé pens in a florescent yellow. Next I paste-embossed this paisley background with the Dreamweaver Matte Yellow Embossing Paste (DMYP) using the elephant stencil (LG756) and set it aside to dry well.

LX7009 paisley stencil

The pieces which were cut out from the elephant stencil yesterday (or the positive set) were glued to the now dry Matte Yellow Embossing Paste using white glue. The irRESISTible spray in a metallic by Imagine Crafts, added not only a sparkle but also a texture to this guy. LOVE these fun products from Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko. The celebrate stencil LS89 was also paste-embossed with the same Matte Yellow Embossing Paste (DMYP) and made into a tag as an embellishment and tied with the May Arts Ribbon bow.

Remember to take time to see what everyone else has created today and leave some love in the way of an encouraging comment or two. In fact an extra gift will be randomly chosen from those who comment on my blog about whether or not you would use the elephant if we made him into a die for paper piecing.

Dream It Up!
Louise Healy
Kristi Parker Van Doren

Penny Ward 
Pam Hornschu

Maureen Cronin

Dreamweaver and Imagine Crafts: Endless Possibilities-Day One

 Welcome to our first ever collaboration week with Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko! We've shared all of our toys on both sides, so be prepared for Endless Possibilities! Three prize packages are available, each containing one set of each of these inks and stencils/dies. Just leave comments on each post of each day this week (June 9th - June 13th) for a chance to win! Winners will be announced on Tuesday, June 17th!

Imagine Crafts New StazOn Pads from Tsukineko

Stencils and Dies Prize Package

With Father's Day around the corner I couldn't resist doing my first creation for this collaboration with "DAD" in mind. This is what the inside of my card looks like. I paste-embossed the Dreawmeaver Gold Embossing Paste (DGP) using the Happy Father's Day stencil (LM244) on the inside of my black card and heated it with a heat gun to give it the molten magic look. Then I went crazy playing with the wonderful products below.

Here are the two Imagine Crafts products that inspired me:

This yummy gold pigment ink was easy to use and had such good coverage that I actually had to use a very light touch to get some of the black paper to show through with the stenciling. I stenciled the mosaic stencil (LJ901) with this Delicata metallic ink onto a panel of black cardstock and then set it aside to dry while I played with more new products in the next step.

This irRESISTible spray by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko squirts out in splatters onto the card stock. If you are expecting only a fine mist ....get that idea out of your head, it sprays both fine and large splots. I sprayed it onto a gray cardstock and the metallic splots took a few minutes to dry. Once it is dry, if you run your hand over the paper they are actually raised or embossed. It's a very interested idea...I LIKE IT! And once I got going I became distracted and was trying every color they had, believe me you will want to do the same.  I don't know about you but I find working with sprays very addictive. But I digress....enough about my addictions, back to...well...my addictions.

I then traced the elephant stencil (LG756) onto the backside of the gray splattered cardstock and had Wayne assist me in the process by cutting out the pieces of the elephant with a craft knife. I later did another one and found that my handy cuticle scissors work well too, so if you don't have a hubby who's crafty or artistic it isn't hard to fussy cut this guy out. I am going to use the cut out pieces on a card for Tuesday, but here is what the card looks like once I placed the gray cut out piece (the negative...it looks like a stencil doesn't it?) over the black and gold mosaic stenciled piece which was done earlier...very elegant and manly, don't you think? I HAD to put the metallic bow on his tail, just to add that touch of well, ...this is from your daughter or this is from the mother of your children or,....just need to tone down the testosterone a bit by adding a bow.

Just Imagine the possibilities of what everyone has created! Be sure to leave some nice comments for a chance to win the goodies listed above.

Dream It Up!

Debbie Gaetz 

Louise Healy

Allie Gower 

Lyn Bernatovich 

Alison Heikkila 

Tina McDonald 

Pam Hornschu  

Old, New, Borrowed, Blue: A New Challenge for the Month of June (Plus) Winners from May's Challenge

New nest stencil (LL3041)

At Dreamweaver Stencils, we love to make our monthly challenges something for everyone, and not so strict that no one wants to play along. This month our challenge is, "Old, New, Borrowed, Blue", with the obvious thought being a wedding theme...but not necessarily. Add an old embellishment or picture. Use a new stencil design or technique. Borrow, or CASE (copy and say everything) another designers project, and obviously, blue...is blue. Where will YOUR creative process take you for this month? We'd love to see! And remember, linking your creations with the Inklinkz tool at the end of the team posts, provides you with the opportunity to win the stencil of your choice!

I found this scrumptious paper by 7Gypsies this week and was totally inspired to use the new nest stencil (LL3041) with this 6 x 6 inch stack of paper titled: "Conservatory" which  I purchased at a local stamp store ( I love to give the local stores my business). This wonderful tablet had several other bird and nature related designs that were just too wonderful to resist. My only regret was that the store didn't have more than one tablet, so if you want to purchase this oldie but goodie and can't find it from your favorite retailer follow the link for the name of the paper tablet: "Conservatory".

The nest's "definition" was from a dictionary (another oldie from my paper source library...but I guess this could fall under the category of old and borrowed) and I scanned it and added the "Enjoy your new home" sentiment toward the bottom. Then after printing it out I aged it by roughing up the edges with a craft knife and used a large stencil brush to add some of Tim's Distress Inks (vintage photo and peeled paint). This vintage look is the "old" part of my post challenge today.

The nest stencil (LL3041) was first paste-embossed with the regular Dreamweaver Embossing Paste (DEP). Once it was dry the stencil was repositioned over the paste-embossed image and the Versamark pad was applied onto the image using a jumbo dauber (KD02) from Imagine Crafts (also known as Tsukineko). Remove the stencil and the surface is now ready to sprinkle with the Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE). Notice how the egg (and all of the nest) has white speckles all over it....this is the UTEE. Heat emboss this lightly sprinkled surface to melt the UTEE and then reposition the nest stencil and added the blue onto the eggs by stenciling with the Splendor inkpad called CIRCUS. I love this particular inkpad because it has so many colors in one spot...a great palette for stenciling. Then I stenciled the rest of the nest with warm colors from "MAGIC" Splendor inkpad. After stenciling I removed the stencil and sprinkled the entire surface of the nest with UTEE. This time it totally covered the nest ...I tapped off the excess and heated it with a heat gun. This technique is known as faux cloisonné and can be done a couple of different ways. 

So this is my "Old" (a vintage look), "New" (a new stencil design plus the theme of the card...for a friend with a NEW home), "Borrowed" (the definition of "nest" from the dictionary) and Blue (the speckled eggs and outer cardstock colored blue). Now, remember you don't have to do all of these in one card...for some reason my creation today worked out that way, but do join us this month for our challenge and link up below with inlinkz. Next week (BTW) we will be doing a blog hop with Tsukineko's design team...don't forget to stop by for the chance to win some really nice prizes. And today, be sure to visit the team listed below for their version of this month's challenge....until then here are our winners...yes I threw in another prize.

WINNER'S FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE'S CHALLENGE

YES, two random winners today...just for the fun of it. One happens to be from the UK and not sure where our other winner is from...!
The #7 creation by: JENNY WILLIAMS
The #25 creation by: Clubdag Project CM
Now, be sure to email me your snail mail addy and your favorite stencil choice to: lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com

Leadonna Kimmel

Louise Healy

Laura Drahozal

Lynn Mercurio

Pam Hornschu

Jamie Martin

An InLinkz Link-up

May Challenge/ Fauna and Flora Abound! Comment winners too!

New Owl Buddy stencil (LL3039)

This "fauna" was a creative collaboration of three different people. A couple of weeks ago Wayne and I traveled by car from So. Cal. to Pittsburgh PA to do the National Art Materials Trade Show there. Elaine Benedict traveled from her new home in NC and joined us to help demonstrate. She was the beginning of the creative process and started this little guy (the owl buddy stencil LL3039) by paste-embossing him with the Dreamweaver Embossing Paste (DEP). Once it was dry she stenciled him a bit with yellow ochre pigment inks...then she asked Wayne (who was there demonstrating Zentangle work) if it was possible to tangle on top of the regular paste, which has a bit of a texture.

I want to let you know that the reason we call him "owl buddy" is that he is a smaller version of our LG751 larger owl. Next month we will have a nesting die that fits the outer area of the LG751 and then another piece that fits this guy for paper piecing.

So this was the result of that curiosity adventure. When we got home (6700 miles later...we had a bit of a detour into the Boston area where we met up with Pam Hornschu and together taught a Dreamweaver Stencils Teacher Certification Class) ....and I had time to create, I concocted this graduation themed card with ribbon, some burlap type of thread and dictionary paper. So this little owl buddy was truly a work in progress and did a bit of a national tour with the Dreamweaver Stencils team. Thanks, Elaine, for joining us and inspiring us to try some new things. Hope you NC students are enjoying your time with them.

WE HAVE COMMENT WINNERS THIS WEEK!!!

Our comment winners this week are:

JD/Jill has won the owl stencil (LL3039) for leaving a comment on Alison Heikkila's blog

Judy Sandor has won the sheep stencil (LL3040) for leaving a comment on Lynn Mercurio's blog

Burning Rubber has won the heron stencil (LG757) for leaving a comment on Louise Healy's blog

Please send me your snail mail addy's to lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com and we will ship those out ASAP.

You have one last week to join our challenge this month. Anything flora or fauna goes! Next month we will be doing "old, new, borrowed, blue"... and that could be interpreted a lot of different ways...think about it! Now be sure to visit the team to see what they have to show you and leave them some love in the form of your encouraging comments. Thank you!

Lyn Bernatovich

Lynn Mercurio

Jamie Martin 

Louise Healy

Alison Heikkila

Lea Kimmel 

Kristine Reynolds

Pam Hornschu

Kristi Parker Van Doren 

Gill Wilson

Laura Drahozal

An InLinkz Link-up

New Fauna Designs: Commenters Could Win a Stencil

The Dream Team is ready to inspire you with some extra fun this week! Not only are we posting with the Flora and Fauna challenge, we are introducing you to our THREE NEWLY RELEASED DESIGNS...our Owl Buddy, the Open Sheep, and the art nouveau-inspired Heron, which you had a sneak peek at two weeks ago on the Dream It Up! blog. Three lucky commenters on the Dream Team's posts will receive one of these designs to be announced on the Dream It Up! blog next week. Tell us in your comment which technique YOU would use with your favorite of these new designs.

See the new fauna designs on the Stencil with Style site

So here is our creation. I say "our" because once again it was a collaborative effort with Wayne. I stenciled the open sheep (LL3040) with a 1/2 inch stencil brush (NHB1/2) using a soft blue ink. Then he "Sten-tangled" the open design and drew in the face. It was fun to try drawing different faces on these sheep....if you aren't sure what to do with the face just use one of Wayne's sketches below as an example. I then wrote the "Thank Ewe" on a piece of black card stock using a Sakura white gel pen. You can never go wrong by finishing off your creation with ribbon by May Arts. (AW-03)

Both sheep are tangled with a pattern called "keeko"

Here is the face of another new creation by Wayne using the open sheep stencil (LL3040). This little guy looks a bit startled doesn't he...or maybe just "sheepish". Someone recently said "puns are the lowest form of humor"...too Baaaa-ad they have that attitude, they are missing out on a lot of fun. LOL!

This creature was paste embossed first with the glossy white embossing paste (DGWP) and after it was dry Wayne tangled him with an 01 Micron Pen by Sakura (30181). Working on the paste is a little tricky...but just take your time.


And here are the face sketches to give you some ideas how to add some humor to your open sheep creation:

Face sketches by Wayne Harlow

Don't forget to visit the team and leave some love for a better chance of winning a stencil this week. And also join our fauna and flora challenge this month in honor of our new designs....by adding your creation to the inlinkz tool below.

Dream It Up!

Lyn Bernatovich

Lynn Mercurio

Jamie Martin 

Louise Healy

Alison Heikkila

Lea Kimmel 

Kristine Reynolds

Pam Hornschu

Kristi Parker Van Doren 

Gill Wilson

Laura Drahozal 

An InLinkz Link-up

More Fauna/Flora in the month of MAY....

Wayne "sten-tangled" this elephant stencil design (LG756)

It's another week in our month of May Challenge of ...all things Fauna and/or Flora. Please join us by linking your creation below.

If you are an elephant collector or a fan of these larger creatures you will want to have this stencil design.

Wayne Harlow is the designer of the stencil and the Sten-tangle creation that you see here.

He began by wetting 140 pound hot press watercolor paper. Hot press usually has a smoother finish than cold press, so the micron pens glide more smoothly on the surface while tangling. Then he laid down a wash of blue and purple watercolors using a large natural bristle watercolor brush. (I know that isn't very descriptive...not sure of the size, just LARGE). While this was still wet he sprinkled it with kosher salt, which has larger chunks than your usual table salt. Then he set it aside to dry well. When it was dry he brushed off the remaining salt crystals, centered the elephant stencil (LG756), and traced it with an 01 Sakura Micron pen. Because of the stronger colors behind his work he chose stronger tangle patterns to adorn the surface. When asked which size of pens he uses for the tangle work, he says he does most Sten-tangle work with an 01 Micron by Sakura. Every person has their individual favorites, filling in larger black areas can be done with the 05 Micron and my preference for tracing the stencil when the details are really tiny is to use an 005 Micron to reach into those tight angles of the metal stencil. But a word of caution.... the metal stencils can wreak havoc on your pen nibs, so be sure to hold the pen straight up and down rather than angled as you do your tracing. I tend to be heavy handed so I concentrate to use a lighter touch when I trace.

I know this technique can look a bit intimidating but don't be afraid to give it a try. There are many many patterns that can be drawn in the step-by-step process of Zentangle. The patterns that Wayne used can be stepped out and made very very simple. When I asked the names of some of the patterns he did on our elephant he answered with a lengthy description of how each was done. I discovered that the bottom line was that he had basics and then he created to make the work his own for his meditative creative process....my suggestion is that you enjoy that process and do the same.

Be sure to create your own Fauna and/or Flora creation and link up below. This month is the debut of our new design team so please take the time to visit the list below and see what they have created for our enjoyment...and leave a comment or two for the love of their art. At the end of the month stores will be carrying three new Dreamweaver stencil designs ...all Fauna...so be sure to stay tuned for more information on these creatures...the team will be designing with them soon. Meanwhile, let's see what flora and fauna the "A" team have been playing with this week...

Dream It Up!

Leadonna Kimmel

Louise Healy

Laura Drahozal

Lynn Mercurio

Pam Hornschu

Jamie Martin

An InLinkz Link-up

Dreamweaver Designs are to DIE For...

Welcome to the merry month of May! The Dream Team are challenging you this month to a "Flora and Fauna" theme! Considering most of the Dreamweaver designs incorporate both of these in the huge variety of stencils, you should have no problem playing along with our challenge this month! 

Die for bare tree DX7020 Paper artist: Elaine Benedict

 

Elaine Benedict sent me this beautiful Spring creation to post. Thanks Elaine for all the lovelies you send my direction...it is especially appreciated when I travel and don't have time to create. The bare tree is enhanced and made into a live creation for our "Fauna and/or Flora" May Challenge! It always amazes me to see bare branches adorned with blossoms even before the leaves arrive. I have never been to a Cherry Blossom Festival, but hoping to get there one day.

This creation couldn't be simpler. First the word stencil Spring (LM293) was paste-embossed with regular Dreamweaver Embossing Paste (DEP) onto metallic cardstock and while still wet was sprinkled with a pale pink glitter.While the paste was drying the tree die (DX 7020) is die cut onto dark brown cardstock. Next she positioned the bare tree with glue dots onto the metallic cardstock. Then blossoms are punched out of a variety of printed transparent vellum papers and adhered to the tree branches with small glue dots. 


As usual, link your creations at the end of the Dream It Up! blog post, or at the end of our posts where it says, "Add Your Link". As the challenge gets underway, you'll see thumbnails of others who are playing along as inspirations for your own creations!

Please welcome our new "B" team, officially posting for the first time!

Dream It Up!

Lyn Bernatovich

Louise Healy

Alison Heikkila

Kristine Reynolds

Pam Hornschu

Kristi Parker Van Doren 

Gill Wilson

An InLinkz Link-up