Mists, Drizzles and Showers!

This is our last Thursday posting for the Dreamweaver Stencils April challenge of Mists, Drizzles and Showers. I can't say that I'm sorry to be leaving this theme behind! I am really looking forward to the May flowers all those April showers are supposed to bring. My daffodils are finally in full bloom, and add a bright cheerful touch to the dreary landscape. We are supposed to have some nicer weather this weekend so maybe Spring is truly here to stay.
This week I am featuring the Umbrella stencil (LG737) again. It is so amazing how many different techniques there are to play with on these beautiful stencils.

This is what I call my "Monet Impression" (pun intended). Here are the steps:

• Tape the Umbrella stencil to light tan cardstock with removable tape
• Use a palette knife and paste spreader to spread a coat of Pearlescent Embossing Paste over the design
• Remove stencil and place in water
• Use a soft paint brush to sprinkle various colors of Metallic F/X powders randomly over the umbrella portion, use Cocoa (FX18) on the handle
• Set aside to dry
• Use the paste spreader to spread a very thin coat of the Pearlescent Embossing Paste over another square piece of matching cardstock
• Work quickly to sprinkle the entire piece with various colors of the Metallic F/X powders
• Let dry
• Clean and dry your stencil
• When both pieces are dry, use a piece of Swiffer cloth to buff away any excess powder
• Layer into a beautiful "Monet" inspired card

Next Tuesday, April 30th, I will be teaching a Dreamweaver class at Memories and Beyond in Downers Grove, IL. Give them a call to sign up, there are still a couple of spots left. Here's what we'll be creating:

LL543 - Sm Fuschia

Be sure to hop over to the other team blogs for more inspiration this week.

 Dream It Up!
Alison Heikkila (guest designer)
Lea Kimmel
Stacey Rumsby
Terrece Siddoway
Caroline Duncan
Pam Hornschu
Cherylynn Moser

Happy creating,
Louise

Rain, Rain Go Away!

I know that's not really our challenge theme this month, but that's how I feel right now. I need sunshine soon! I am grateful that it's not snow, but enough already! It seems that our Dreamweaver Stencils April challenge of Mists, Drizzles and Showers has been an accurate forecast of our weather.
To go along with the rainy weather, I am showing yet another idea for the the Umbrella stencil (LG737), this time using Zentangle. Enjoy!

If you haven't tried using your stencils with this fun technique, you don't know what you're missing! Stencils are the perfect starting point because they provide natural divisions for your various Zentangle patterns. Check for classes in your area, you'll have fun, I promise! I use Sakura Micron pens to do mine.

Be sure to stop by the rest of the teams' blogs for more inspiration.

Dream It Up!
Alison Heikkila (guest designer)
Laura Drahozal
Lyn Bernatovich
Pam Hornschu
Heidi Erickson
Louise Healy (you're here)
Jessica Griffin
Cyndi Bundy

Happy Creating,
Louise

Mists, Drizzles and Showers!

The April Dreamweaver Stencils challenge of "Mists, Drizzles & Showers!" perfectly describes the weather outside as I prepare this posting. It is a gray, gloomy day here, though I'm not complaining because our relatives in MN are getting more snow! I'll take a rainy spring day instead, the daffodils seem to be liking it. 
This week I am sharing a card that I made for Lynell a couple of years ago. I have always loved how it turned out, so I hope you don't mind seeing it again, it is perfect for this challenge.

LJ905, LJ908, LG738

This uses three great stencils and is a bright and cheery card, perfect for lifting someones spirits when you include a personal note inside! Here are the steps I used:

• Use a light box or die cut machine to emboss the Umbrella bkg (LJ908) stencil on white cardstock
• Leave the stencil in place over the embossed image and use 1/4" stencil brushes to add various colors to the umbrellas (tape the stencil in place with removable tape)
• Clean off the Umbrella stencil and place back over the colored umbrellas, taping it down
• Tape the Rain stencil (LJ905) over the umbrellas
• Use a Palette Knife and Paste Spreader to apply a coat of Translucent Embossing Paste over the Rain stencil
• Remove and clean stencil, let paste dry
• Tape off the word you want from the Rain words stencil (LG738) and use a 1/4" stencil brush to stencil the words on white cardstock
• Remove the stencil and add a little of the same color around the edge of the words
• Mount onto coordinating cardstocks
• Finish the whole thing off with some fun ribbon flowers.

We are happy to welcome back our guest designer Alison Heikkila. This weeks designers are:

Dream It Up!
Alison Heikkila (guest designer)
Lea Kimmel
Stacey Rumsby
Terrece Siddoway
Caroline Duncan
Pam Hornschu
Cherylynn Moser

Happy Creating,
Louise

Mists, Drizzles and Showers!

Happy April everyone. You knew our Dreamweaver Challenge during April had to have something to do with showers, right! Hopefully April will offer a lot of sunshine and warm weather too, but we definitely need some April showers for the May flowers.

We hope you will create something for our April challenge and link it on the DREAM it UP! blog using the Mr. Linky tool, or email a picture of it to lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com and she will post it for you. You might win a great prize!

My first post for April, shoos the showers away! I really need some sunshine and warmth for a few days at least.

Umbrella, Rain, and Rain Words
LG737, LJ905, LG738

This card is really very simple:

• Tape the Umbrella stencil (LG737) to white cardstock with removable tape
• Use a palette knife and paste spreader to apply Glossy Red Embossing Paste (DGRP)
• Remove the stencil and place in water for cleaning
• Let the paste dry
• Place the clean dry stencil face down on back of decorative paper and trace the umbrella openings with a pen or pencil
• Cut out the umbrella pieces just outside the outline (so the line still shows)
• When the paste is dry, use liquid glue to attach the paper pieces to the appropriate opening of the pasted umbrella
• Lay the Rain stencil (LJ905) over the umbrella image and use a 1/4" stencil brush and light blue ink to stencil some raindrops in the background
• Use a clear glitter pen to add a little sparkle to the raindrops
• Stencil the "Rain, Rain, Go Away" words from the Rain Words stencil (LG738) on white cardstock using a 1/4" stencil brush and red ink
• Mount in layers using coordinating cardstock

This week our new team members join our weekly postings AND we have a guest designer too! Here are their links so you can check out their great creations.

Dream It Up!
Alison Heikkila (guest designer)
Laura Drahozal
Lyn Bernatovich
Pam Hornschu
Heidi Erickson
Louise Healy (you're here)
Jessica Griffin
Cyndi Bundy

Happy Creating,
Louise