Dreamweaver Thursday Dream Scheme

Welcome to Thursday Dream Scheme sponsored by Dreamweaver Stencils. This week the Dream Team has been given a sketch challenge created by fellow team member Kim Parkinson. Here's the sketch

And here's what I came up with for the sketch:

I just love the new backgrounds, they add such texture and dimension to your creations.  They emboss great through a personal die cut machine, which I did with the Opto Checkerboard (LJ915) and Triangle Weave (LJ912) stencils. After embossing, use a 1/2" stencil brush to add color to the embossed designs. The Hot Air Balloon (LL3003) was paste embossed with Dreamweaver Embossing Paste (white matte paste) on a small checkered patterned cardstock. When the paste dries, put the stencil back over the paste and use small stencil brushes to color the balloon. Cut out the balloon, mount it onto black cardstock using foam tape then cut out around the balloon.  Cut the backgrounds into strips and mount on black cardstock then on checkered cardstock that matches the balloon. Add the balloon to finish it off. Lots of patterns, lots of color, but they create a fun, upbeat card.
Enjoy more creations at the other designers' blogs and at the DREAM it UP! blog too!
Happy Creating,
Louise

Thursday Dream Scheme

Welcome to our Dreamweaver Stencils Thursday Dream Scheme challenge. This week is designer's choice, allowing us to any stencils and products. Halloween is right around the corner and I haven't even started my cards yet, so I thought I better come up with something appropriate that would be easy too! Isn't that what we are always looking for every time we need to make cards! Here's what I came up with this week:

I had to get a little creative with my stencil choices. The background was easy, the Spider web (LJ816) on black paper using White Glossy Embossing Paste (DGWP) and sprinkled with Crystal glitter on the wet paste after the stencil was removed. Let the paste dry, trim to the edge of the web, and mount on an orange card base. The jack-o-lantern would have been easy too, if only I had the jack o lantern stencil (LL531)! But, I don't have that YET, so I looked at what I did have and chose the Fall borders (LJ874) stencil instead. The pumpkin was a nice shape and size, so I taped off the leaves that I didn't want to use at the top of the pumpkin and the small ones on the lower right to create the  perfect image. I used Matte Yellow Embossing Paste(DMYP) and a small amount of Glossy Red Embossing Paste (DGRP) mixed together to create a great orange color just right for my pumpkin (about 1 Tbsp yellow plus about 1/2 tsp red). I paste embossed one pumpkin on acetate and one on white because I wasn't quite sure what look I was going for yet. I had plenty of paste so I kept pasting more images until I ran out of orange paste. The paste goes a long way, so don't mix up too much at a time.  The paste on acetate takes much longer to dry than the one on paper.
While those were drying, I looked through my stencils to see what I had that would help me create my jack-o-lantern look. The Small fern frond (LM2006) stencil was just the thing! I simply chose the size of the frond I needed and taped off the others, here's what it looked like:

Once the orange paste on the white cardstock was dry, I put the pumpkin stencil back over the dry paste and put the "mouth" stencil over that. Black ink and a stencil brush made it easy to add the mouth to the pumpkin. I used a super fine point Sharpie to add the eyes and nose, plus put some detail on the stem and leaves. It was still a little stark, so I used a piece of foam to rouge a little black around and on the image. Edge the white cardstock with a black marker, mounted it onto a piece of orange cardstock (also edged with black) and used foam tape to mount it onto the web background. A simple Happy Halloween sentiment stamped inside will complete the card.
The acetate image was almost dry when I added some Metallic F/X Kiwi (FX10) to the leaves and a little Cocoa (FX18) to the stem. When it was completely dry, I added the face the same way as the other one. I trimmed around the image and used foam tape hidden behind the pasted areas to mount the jack-o-lantern to the web background.  Then I really wished that I had Lynell's great Spider (LS28) stencil, but I don't so I use a black spider button that I had instead.
I had a lot of fun creating these Halloween cards for you, I hope you've enjoyed them. Just remember, try to look at your stencils different ways, you might be surprised by what you see!
This is a busy weekend for me, I'm leaving tomorrow for St. Louis where I'll be teaching 4 classes at  Checkered Cottage. It should be a lot of fun (exhausting, but fun) and I can hardly wait to get there!  If you're in the area, stop by to say hello and to visit the Dreamweaver Stencil Trunk Show they are hosting in conjunction with my classes.
You definately want to stop over at the DREAM it UP! blog for information on how to join our great design team. Lynell has all the details for you. She has been posting Pink and Black images every day this past week so be sure to take the time to look back at them, they are fabulous!
Happy Creating,
Louise

Thursday Dream Scheme

Wow is it Thursday already!! Each week is flying by so fast. We have been having absolutely glorious weather here in northern Illinois. Every day is sunny and warm with just a little cool breeze to keep you comfortable. Aaaahhh, we are going to miss this very soon!
Halloween is my second favorite holiday (Christmas being the first) so I found a little time this week to get out my fall and Halloween decorations. The colors of fall are so beautiful and warm and fit into my decor just beautifully. So it may seem a little out of season to learn that our colorway challenge for this week's Dreamweaver Stencils Thursday Dream Scheme was to use Pink and Black! They are a stunning combination, but for me bring more romantic thoughts to mind than ghosts and goblins! Here's what I created for this week's challenge:

The new Cameo stencil (LL3017) and Damask background (LJ907) immediately came to mind when I got this challenge. I knew exactly what I would create (I love week's like this!). To create my card I followed these simple steps:

• Emboss LJ907 Damask on a rose colored cardstock (I used my BigShot)
• Use a 3/4" stencil brush and Memento Rose Bud ink to sweep color over the embossed damask design
• Trim to 3 7/8" x  5 1/8"
• Use a piece of foam to darken around the edge of the damask
• Cut a matching piece of rose colored cardstock to 2 3/4" x 3"
• Tape the cameo stencil to the cardstock and apply Glossy Black Embossing Paste (DJKP)
• Remove and clean the stencil, set the cameo image aside to dry or use a warming tray on the lowest setting to speed the drying process
• Cut a piece of light pink cardstock to create a card base for a 4 3/4" x 6" card
• Ink the edges with the foam and Rose Bud ink
• Cut a piece of black cardstock 4" x 5 1/4" and adhere the Damask layer to it with double sided tape
• Wrap a black ribbon around the Damask layer the tie a bow
• Adhere the Damask layer to the front of the card
• Cut a piece of black cardstock 2 7/8" x 3 1/8"
• When the cameo image is dry, use the foam and Rose Bud ink to rouge some color around the paste, but try not to get any inside the image
• Adhere the Cameo to the small black layer
• Use foam tape to mount the Cameo onto the Damask background
• Color a Dreamweaver 3" white Embellishment Pin with a COPIC marker to match your design
• Insert the pin through the ribbon and catch the tip in the layers of cardstock

Ta da! a beautiful card to send to a dear friend for any or no occassion, just because.
What can you come up with for our pink and black challenge?  If you would like to share your  creation with us, you can use the Mister Linky tool over at the DREAM it UP! blog or email it to Lynell at lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com  and she will post it for you.  We love to see what everyone is creating out there!
Happy Creating,
Louise

Dreamweaver Thursday Dream Scheme

October has come in like a lamb here in northern Illinois. We have had several beautiful, sunny, warm fall days in a row. I've even opened the windows again it's been so nice outside! But we know it won't last long at this time of year. The mums are planted and blooming in a wonderful array of fall colors, the trees are spectacular, and I've been collecting acorns whenever I'm out walking for my fall table.
But with fall comes the reality that Christmas is not far behind and I better start thinking about Christmas cards.  This week's Dreamweaver Stencils Thursday Dream Scheme is designer's choice so I'm sharing two cards using the new Nativity (LL3019) stencil released this summer. It is perfect for holiday card making when you are looking for a design that is beautiful but easy to make in large quantities!  Here they are:

The first card uses the Matte Black Embossing Paste with Metallic F/X powders applied after the paste dried. To do this, put the clean, dry stencil back over the dry paste and use a finger dauber to apply Stamp 'n Stick glue over the dry black paste. Remove the stencil and use a soft brush to apply the F/X powders on the glue.
The second card is the Metallic Gold Embossing Paste with Metallic F/X powders applied after the paste had dried for about 15-20 minutes.  The paste is not completely dry yet so you have to be careful when applying the powders. The effect is very subtle, but eye-catching up close.  I purposely took the middle picture with a flash to get the reflection of the powders. It's hard to capture properly, but looks very pretty in person.
Beautiful background papers always add the finishing touch. Good quality papers will make all the difference when putting together your final design.
Stop over to the DREAM it UP! blog for more inspiration, then on to the rest of the team blogs.
Happy Creating,
Louise