So Long, Farewell, Ciao . . .

 . . . my time on the fabulous Dreamweaver Design Team is up.  Where most teams offer a year-long adventure at best, I've been very fortunate to have worked with this amazingly talented group for two and a half years.  I'll still be posting projects on a regular basis, though just not on Thursdays – that's still reserved for the Dream Team.  And I'll still be teaching with the fabulous products from Dreamweaver Stencils and will post information about classes on this blog's sidebar. 

For my last post, I've tried to capture on paper the very beautiful wisteria blossoms that adorn the exterior of the Filoli Estate not far from where I live.  It's an amazing display and I've even taken wisteria pruning classes there in the hope that my one plant will aspire to grandeur.

Here's what you'll need:
Wisteria LG725
Translucent Embossing Paste DEPT
Palette Knife DPK
Paste Spreader LM2010
Ink (your choice)
Stencil Brushes
Removable Tape
Ribbon or other embellishment of your choice

Here's what to do:
Position stencil on card stock and apply color in light shades to wisteria blossoms only.   This will create the background and give depth to the image.  Clean stencil and reposition it a little higher and to the right of the wisteria blossoms you just colored.  Apply ink in darker shades to blossoms and leaves.  Remove stencil and clean it.  Reposition stencil over blossoms and leaves and tape on all sides.  Using palette knife, put some translucent paste on paste spreader and spread evenly over stencil.  Remove stencil and set card aside to dry (paste will dry clear).  Return unused paste to jar; wash and dry stencil, palette knife and paste spreader.  Adhere card to mats.  Add ribbon or other embellishment and adhere to card front.

There's still a few days left to enter this month's "Bloomin' Spring" challenge and you can find all the details and mr. linky on the Dream it Up! blog here.   Be sure to visit the rest of the Dream Team blogs for more ideas and inspiration.  Here are the links:

Dream it Up!

Pam Hornschu 

Laura Drahozal

Louise Healy  

Terrece Siddoway

Kristi Van Doren 

Georgia Sommers 

Lee Kellogg  

Liz Martin (you're here)

Cherylynn Moser

 

The new team begins posting next week so be sure to stop by to see what crafty goodness they have in store for you.   You can find their blog links on the Dream it Up! blog.

 

Happy crafting,

Liz

Welcome, New Team Members

A warm welcome to the newest members of the Dream Team

Heidi Erickson
Lyn Bernatovich
Caroline Duncan
Stacey Rumsby
Lea Kimmel
Jessica Griffin

You'll be working with the very talented and creative returning members Cyndi Bundy, Laura Drahozal, Cherylynn Moser, Louise Healy, Terrece Siddoway and Pam Hornschu.  The year ahead will be a fun-filled, roller coaster ride as you create amazing projects with the best stencils on the market.   

There are so many great floral stencils to work with that this month's challenge gives me a chance to use some of my old favorites.  

  This is a card I made for a friend's birthday last year, though the tulips (LL377) could easily be replaced by any of the other flower stencils:  iris (LL374), rose (LL375), daffodil (LL428), lilly (LL376), and sunflower (LL429). 

Instructions:
Dry-emboss (I used a BigKick) the Long Tulip stencil (LL377) three times.  With the stencil in place, color each image to coordinate with your patterned paper.  After the ink has dried (you could use a heat tool to speed this up), fussy-cut each flower and then cut away the larger leaves from the flowers.  Position the flowers as you would a bouquet and tuck the leaves in the background for depth and balance.  Attach ribbon to hide the stem ends and three pearls or other embellishment of your choice.  And you're done.

Be sure to hop around to the other Dream Team blogs to see what everyone's been up to.  You'll find lots of ideas and inspiration to create your own project to enter into this month's challenge.  You can find out all the details here, along with the mr. linky widget.  Better get started!

Dream it Up!

Pam Hornschu 

Laura Drahozal

Louise Healy  

Terrece Siddoway

Kristi Van Doren 

Georgia Sommers 

Lee Kellogg  

Liz Martin (you're here)

Cherylynn Moser

 

Happy crafting,

Liz 

 

Spring is in the air

It's been very warm the last few days and flowers and trees are bursting with colorful blossoms and buds.  While it's still early for big and colorful dahlias in the garden, this Stylized Dahlia stencil is perfect any time.  And it couldn't be easier to have your own flower garden full of them.

Materials
Stylized Dahlia LG743
Picasso tool (stencil shield) LL332
Matte Black Embossing Paste DMBP
Crackle Paste  CEP
Palette Knife DPK
Paste Spreader LM2010
Tsukineko Splendor Ink Pads

Instructions
Tape stencil to card stock using removable tape.  Apply matte black paste with palette knife.  Remove stencil and place it, along with the palette knife in a pan of water.  Set the card aside to dry. Wash and dry stencil.

Reposition the clean stencil over the black paste and tape all sides with removable tape.   Apply crackle paste.  Remove stencil; wash and dry it and the palette knife.  Set the card aside to dry.
Crackles will appear as the paste dries.  If you have a warming tray, electric skillet or griddle with a temperature control, this is the perfect time to use it to speed up the drying process for the crackle paste. 

When the past is dry, reposition the clean stencil over the image and color with pigment ink  and a stencil brush.  Use the Picasso tool, or stencil shield, for color separation on the petals and for shading on the leaves.

Mat on coordinating card stock and you have a cheery spring card to send to a special someone.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the Dream Team blogs for more fun, ideas and inspiration.  And there's still time to submit your project for a chance to win a stencil of your own choosing.  Get the details here, along with the mr. linky widget.  Better get started!

Dream it Up!

Pam Hornschu 

Laura Drahozal

Louise Healy  

Terrece Siddoway

Kristi Van Doren 

Georgia Sommers 

Lee Kellogg  

Liz Martin (you're here)

 Cyndi Bundy

Cherylynn Moser

 

Happy crafting,
Liz

Is it spring yet?

Welcome to a new month and a new challenge.  And what better way to celebrate the end of winter than with a challenge to "A Bloomin' Spring"?  You've got until the end of the month to submit a project using Mr. Linky on the Dream it Up! blog and who knows . . . you just might be the lucky winner!

Materials
Romantic Rose LL585
Picasso tool (stencil shield) LL332
Matte Black Embossing Paste DMBP
Crackle Paste  CEP
Palette Knife
Paste Spreader

What to do
Tape stencil to card stock using removable tape.  Apply matte black paste with palette knife.  Remove stencil and place it, along with the palette knife in a pan of water.  Set the card aside to dry. Wash and dry stencil.

Reposition the clean stencil over the black paste and tape all sides with removable tape.   Apply crackle paste.  Remove stencil; wash and dry it and the palette knife.  Set the card aside to dry.
Crackles will appear as the paste dries.

When the past is dry, reposition the clean stencil over the image and color with ink (I used Tsukineko Splendor ink pads) and a stencil brush.  This is where the Picasso tool, or stencil shield, really comes in handy.  By positioning it over the rosebud, it will help you keep the green of the stem from blending into the pink.

Adhere to coordinating mat, to patterned paper and, finally, to card base.  Add embellishments and you have a lovely card for a birthday, anniversary or thinking of you. 

For more ideas and inspiration, be sure to check out the rest of the Dream Team blogs to see what they've been working on.  Start your journey at Dream it Up! (that's where you'll find Mr. Linky) and then continue down the list. 

Dream it Up!

Pam Hornschu 

Laura Drahozal

Louise Healy  

Terrece Siddoway

Kristi Van Doren 

Georgia Sommers 

Lee Kellogg  

Liz Martin (you're here)

 Cyndi Bundy

Cherylynn Moser

Happy crafting,
Liz