Thursday, May 31, 2012

Dreamweaver Stencils

Every week I tell myself I'm going to be more organized and stay on top of all my projects and deadlines, and every week I can't believe it's Wednesday already and I need to get my posting done for our current Dreamweaver Stencils Thursday challenge! This week I'm stepping away from the monthly challenge to share the three cards we'll be making next Tuesday, June 5th at Creative Cuts and Crafts in Elmhurst IL.  This will be my first time teaching at their store, so I am very excited to meet everyone and share these wonderful products with them. There are still 2 spots left, so give them a call to save yours!  We'll be using Dreamweaver Stencils beautiful Long stem Iris (LL374) to create three beautiful cards in three fun techniques:

LL374 - Glossy Blue Paste w/ Crackle Paste

LL374 - Glossy White Paste on acetate w/ Color Solutions

LL374 - Dry embossed and stenciled with inks

So even though these are not even close to being Black and White with a POP of color, or Graduation cards, I hope you've been inspired to create something beautiful with your stencils this week!
Next month we'll start a new challenge with the team from Art Glitter.  It should be SPARKLY fun!

Be sure to stop over at the other team member blogs to see what the are sharing this week.

Happy Creating,
Louise

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Black and White Theme Continues

It's hard to believe that we're already coming up to Memorial Day weekend! Where do the days go??? This month the Dreamweaver Stencils Design Team was given a choice of Graduation themed cards or Black & White with a POP of color. It's been fun to see everyone's ideas and we love that some of you are playing along with us! Don't be shy, just send a picture of your creation to Lynell at lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com and she will post it for you on her blog. You might even win a prize!

This week I've created another card incorporating both themes, a black & white card with a POP of color that would (and will) make a great graduation card. We have several graduation parties coming up and this will be the perfect card (our local colors are red and gold). Here's my card:


This is an easy technique that really catches people's attention.
  • Tape the Globe stencil (LM289) to black cardstock with removable tape
  • Use the paste spreader to apply Glossy White Embossing Paste across the design
  • Remove and clean the stencil, let the paste dry
  • Tape the Globe stencil to white cardstock with removable tape
  • Use the paste spreader to apply Glossy Black Embossing Paste across the design
  • Remove and clean the stencil, let the paste dry
  • Cut each dry image in half, being careful to cut them as close as possible to the same spot
  • Attach half of a black image and half of a white image together on a small piece of cardstock aligning the design
  • Trim to even the edges
  • Attach a small white mat behind the black side and a small white mat behind the black side
  • Add colored mats (to go with your school colors) behind the image
  • The black panel on the front of the card was embossed with a Big Shot machine and the Angles stencil (LJ807). It's hard to see in the picture, but it rally adds a lot when you see it up close and personal
  • Adhere the black embossed panel on the left side of an A2 size card
  • Attach the globe layer so the cut in the image lines up with the split in the background color
This is a "twofer" card because you have enough pieces to make 2 cards each time you do this!

Be sure to stop over at the rest of the team blogs for more inspiration.

I'm sure some of you heard that The Cottage Stamper in St. Charles closed its doors at the end of April. It is so sad, and they will be dearly missed. Good luck to Nancy, Barb and Liz!
In addition, it was announced that Elaine Benedict (our fabulous Dreamweaver sales rep for WI and IL) is retiring and moving to NC. Good luck Elaine, keep sending us those beautiful design ideas!
I'm happy to tell you that I have been asked to replace Elaine as the Dreamweaver rep in those two states! I'm a little nervous, but excited too because you know I love promoting Dreamweaver Stencils! On that note, here are my upcoming Dreamweaver classes for June:

June 5th - Creative Cuts and Crafts, Elmhurst IL (LL374)
June 19th - Memories and Beyond, Downers Grove IL  (LG743)
June 28th - Creative Cuts and Crafts, Elmhurst IL (Dreamweaver Mirror project)
June 30th - Stampology Chicago, Chicago  IL (Zentangle with LG707)
Call the stores directly to reserve a spot. Hope to see you soon!

Happy Creating,
Louise
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Thursday, May 17, 2012

Dreamweaver Challenge for May

The Dreamweaver Stencils monthly challenge continues this week  with more great ideas from the Dream Team members. All of this month, we're presenting ideas for graduations and/or using black and white with a pop of color. May and June are typically the time for grads in the US, but to keep things even more interesting, you can choose to play with our colorway challenge instead.
Obviously, to play along with us, you do not have to have a complicated creation, so pull out your supplies and have some fun! Link your creation to the Dream It Up! blog, or email pics of your creation to Lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com. We love to post your submissions on the blog as well as the Facebook page. Even more, we love to provide you the opportunity to win one of two sets of two stencils by playing along. You have all of May to link as many creations as you'd like! Sorry...winners must be from the US or Canada.
This week I went back to the black and white with a POP of color theme. This darling cat stencil was released in January of this year and is just "purr"-fect for this challenge.


This couldn't be easier! Here are the steps:
  • Tape the Retro sitting cat stencil (LL3020) to white paper with removable tape
  • Use the paste spreader (LM2010) to apply Glossy Black Embossing Paste (DGKP)
  • Remove and clean the stencil, let the paste dry
  • Tape the Waves and dots stencil (LX7012) to white paper with removable tape
  • Use the paste spreader to apply Glossy Black Embossing Paste
  • Remove and clean the stencil, let the paste dry
  • Layer the cat on a small black mat
  • Layer the waves and dots on a small black mat
  • Use foam mounting tape to adhere the cat to the background
  • Add a pretty red ribbon
  • Attach to the front of a red card!
  • Clean and simple, black and white with a POP of red
The rest of the team has some great ideas too. Just click on their names to hop over to their creations.


Happy Creating,
Louise
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Thursday, May 10, 2012

Dreamweaver May Challenge

Our Dreamweaver Stencils May challenge is to create either black and white cards with a POP of color, or graduation themed cards. We always love it when you play along with us, so please join our challenge for the chance to win some great stencils! Post your creation on the DREAM it UP! blog through the Mr. Linky tool or email a picture of it to Lynell at lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com.
It's just like the lottery, you have to play to win!
This week I want to share a sneak peek of one our new designs that will be released this month to our stores. Some people may not think this is a graduation card, but it COULD be, for that special, music-loving graduate you know!

Electric Guitar - LL3028

This card features the new Electric Guitar (LL3028) stencil with Crackle Paste. Here's how you do it:
  • Tape the stencil to white cardstock with removable tape
  • Apply a layer of Matte Yellow Embossing Paste (DMYP) over the stencil using the Paste Spreader (LM2010)
  • Remove and clean the stencil, let the paste dry
  • Reposition the clean and dry stencil over the dry yellow paste and tape in place with removable tape
  • Apply a layer of Crackle Embossing Paste (CEP) over the stencil with the paste spreader
  • Remove and clean the stencil, let the paste dry
  • Reposition the stencil over the dry paste layers and use small stencil brushes to apply color to the design
  • Remove the stencil and use the left over ink in the brushes to add some color to the background
  • Mount into a great card by adding some "strings" to one side of the card before attaching the guitar to the other side (notice there are 6 strings because most electric guitars have 6 strings!)
  • This one won't get lost in the pile of "regular old graduation cards!"
No graduations coming up? This would also make a great birthday card or even a Father's Day card for that hip dad who still loves his music (or is that a dad that needs a hip....hmmmm!).
There are 12 new designs that will be released this month, so be sure to check with your local stamp store for the other great designs.
I'll be featuring another one of the new designs in my upcoming class at Stampology Chicago on May 19th. We'll be using the beautiful new Stylized Dahlia (LG743) in three different techniques. Here's a peak at one of the cards we'll be doing that day.


Check out the creations from the rest of the team too, just click on their names below.

Happy Creating,
Louise
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Thursday, May 3, 2012

May Challenge

 It's the very merry month of May now, and the Dreamweaver Stencils' Dream Team are playing with a new challenge, and we're hoping that YOU will play along! All of this month, we'll be creating for graduations and/or using black and white with a pop of color. May and June are typically the time for grads in the US, but to keep things even more interesting, you can choose to play with our colorway challenge instead.
Obviously, to play along with us, you do not have to have a complicated creation, so pull out your supplies and have some fun! Link your creation to the Dream It Up! blog, or email pics of your creation to Lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com.  We love to post your submissions on the blog as well as the Facebook page. Even more, we love to provide you the opportunity to win one of two sets of two stencils by playing along. You have all of May to link as many creations as you'd like! Sorry...winners must be from the US or Canada.

This week I decided to combine all the parts of the challenge and create a black and white graduation card with a POP of color. Hope you enjoy it!


The steps for creating this are:
  • Tape the tassel stencil (LJ814 - I know, I know, it's retired, but you might still be able to find it somewhere!) to white linen cardstock, masking off the border and the two larger tassels
  • Apply Glossy Black Embossing Paste with the paste spreader (LM2010)
  • Remove and clean the stencil, let paste dry
  • Tape the Celebrate script stencil (LS90) to white linen cardstock
  • Apply Glossy Black Embossing Paste with the paste spreader (LM2010)
  • Remove and clean the stencil, let paste dry
  • Emboss Mosaic swirls stencil (LJ901) on white cardstock
  • Layer the white pieces on black
  • Add a couple of red brads (or whatever the colors of the school are)
  • Ta Da! a simple, fun Graduation card!
Be sure to stop over at the other team member blogs to see their new May creations!


Happy Creating,
Louise
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