Designer's Choice on Dream Scheme Thursday

WOW!   If you followed along with us last week for the Dreamweaver/Woodware UK blog hop, you saw some amazing projects and techniques from the very talented design teams.  So many ideas, so little time!

And in time, the holidays will be here before we know it.   Every year I make elaborate plans, endless lists and time-lines so that, in theory, by early December, the tree will be trimmed, gifts wrapped, cards mailed (my design team sisters know how well that went last year) and I will be able to enjoy the holidays and not do all-nighters trying to get things done.   Hope springs eternal, right?  Well this year is no different, though I do have a head start on the cards.  Here's what I'm talking about.

This newly released stencil (LX7003) is one of my favorites.  For this card, I used the copper metallic embossing paste on ivory Stardream paper.  Layer it with background papers of your choice and you're done.  You could use any of the metallic embossing pastes and change background papers to complement the paste or you could cover the image with gold leaf.

Bonus:  use Lynell's power pasting technique, demonstrated on the Embossing Paste Techniques for Artful Cardmaking DVD,  for even faster pasting.

Happy crafting,
Liz

And the winner is . . . .

#12 Daria who said "What fun! You did a fabulous job."  

Congratulations, Daria.  To collect your piece of Dreamweaver goodness, please send your mailing address to Lynell Harlow at lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com and she will send your prize.

Thanks to all who left comments.  This has been an amazing week of hopping back and forth across the pond and I hope you've enjoyed it as much as we have.  I've added the Woodware team's blogs to my Google reader, so you can be sure I'll be checking in frequently to see what other great ideas they're sharing.  And please come back on Thursday for more Dreamweaver Dream Team projects.

Happy crafting,
Liz

Blog Hopping with the Dreamweaver and Woodware Design Teams

The Dreamweaver design team is partying with the UK Woodware design team to bring you innovative ways to use our wonderful Dreamweaver Stencils and supplies all week long!  By the end of the week, you'll have seen stencils used in inspiration ways you just couldn't have imagined, and you'll see that, although our stencils are wonderful for paper crafting, they have SO MANY other uses too.  We'll have several posts a day for you, beginning today, Monday, August 29th, through Saturday, September 3rd.  At the end of our celebration, each designer will randomly select a winner from all blog comments to receive a free Dreamweaver stencil.  We look forward to you partying along with us.

Here's my entry for today.  Garden party, anyone?   For me, it's more like "gardening party," but who said you can't be stylish while pulling weeds?

 Stenciling on straw couldn't be easier.  I used the Black Eyed Susan stencil (LJ902) and blocked out the placement on the brim, using one or two flowers to fill in the blank spaces.  Then, following my template, I applied white embossing paste to every other section.   When that paste had dried, I paste embossed the remaining sections.   The ribbon band was a piece of cake.   Cut ribbon to fit and, starting at one end, paste emboss a single flower as many times as needed.  Since you are only pasting one flower at a time, it's not necessary to wait for the first one to dry before starting on the next flower.

When dry, replace the stencil and apply Splendor Inks by Tsukineko in your desired colors.  I attached the ribbon using fabric glue and added a bow to cover the two ends.  

You can find all the supplies I used and more here and right here.

If you've just joined the hop, here are the designers who have posted today:
Debbie at http://debfs.blogspot.com
Deborah at http://upcyclingmylife.blogspot.com
Kristi at http://www.kristiscreativecafe.blogspot.com
Liz at http://blackcatsstudios.blogspot.com    (you're here)

That's it for today.  Come back tomorrow and start at Lynell's blog DREAM it UP!  Lynell has also listed all of the hoppers on her blog, so it's a good place to go to if you get lost or miss a day (we know that won't happen, but just in case) and need to catch up.

I hope you've enjoyed the hopping with us and don't forget hop tomorrow through Saturday!

Happy Crafting,
Liz

Designer's Choice on Dream Scheme Thursday

They've predicted a warming trend through the weekend, so of course my thoughts turn to cool drinks with lots and lots of ice.  In the paper crafting world, that would be snowflakes and ice skates, using  Dreamweaver's  new ice skates stencil in shiny, icy silver metal.   Take a look . . .

The background is the snowflake stencil (LJ819) paste embossed with translucent embossing paste.  After removing and washing the stencil, I sprinkled clear glitter over the paste while it was still wet.  After it was completely dry, I brushed off the excess glitter with a soft brush.

For the skates (LL3016), I dry embossed the metal first by running it through a personal die cutting machine and then, with the stencil still in place, went over the fine details with the small end of a stylus to give more definition.  Then, I turned the embossed metal over and applied regular embossing paste to the back to keep the details crisp and dent-free.  When dry, I cut it out and attached it to the snowflake panel. 

Please be sure to visit the other team blogs listed on the sidebar on the right for more ideas and inspiration, and don't forget to stop by the Dreamweaver blog, DREAM it UP!

AND, SAVING THE BEST 'TIL LAST . . . a special blog hop begins next Monday where you will be seeing some very different kinds of projects.  I won't say any more right now, just be sure to mark your calendar and check back next week to see what we've been working on.

Happy crafting,
Liz

Thursday Dream Schemes Color Challenge

While working on this week's project, I realized I found the perfect Christmas stocking stuffer – bookmarks!    No more grocery receipts, old envelopes or Post-it Notes to mark the page.  My books will have style!    Before I begin, let me also add that this week is a colorway challenge, so a big thank you goes to team member Wendy for the great colors of red, cream and kraft.

After dry embossing the tea cup (vertical) stencil (LL493), and with the stencil still in place, I added color using Tsukineko's Splendor inks.  I distressed the edges with a file and added a bit more color to soften them.  I assembled the layers, added a ribbon and there you have it.   I couldn't believe how quickly this came together, and if you do the steps assembly-line fashion, you'll be done well before the holidays.

Now off you go to the other blogs to see more of the red, ivory, kraft colorway challenge.  Leave us a note, letting us know what you think.  We always like hearing from you.

Happy crafting,
Liz

It's Thursday . . .

and that means it's a Dreamweaver Dream Scheme day – and designer's choice – and a new stencil just released.  Whew! 

 
This design is quickly becoming a favorite as it lends itself so well to masculine cards.    I began by dry embossing the Gears stencil (LJ911) on to silver craft metal by running it through a die cutting machine.  I experimented with other embossing methods (paper stump, stylus) and found that the die cutting machine provided the sharpest image. I then pasted the back of the stencil so the embossed areas would keep their shape.  When the paste was dry, I sanded the front to give it a distressed look and then applied alcohol inks (Ranger and Copic) using a mix of  brown and olive green colors and blended them with an applicator tool and felt pad.   I know Father's Day has come and gone, but I had this sentiment (LM244) left over from another project and thought it was better to use it than lose it. 

Thanks for stopping by.  We love showing off our stencil projects!  Don't forget to visit the other Dream Team blogs as well as the Dreamweaver Stencil blog, DREAM it UP! and leave us a note.  We love hearing from you.

Happy Crafting,
Liz

It's Sketch Challenge Thursday!

I love sketch challenges and I hope you'll play along with us.  Here's the sketch:

And here's my card:

I used two of the new stencils just released at last week's CHA summer show, Herringbone (LJ914) and Cameo (LL3017).  For the herringbone pattern, I spritzed the back of the stencil with Strawberry Daiquiri Memories Mist and placed it face up on the clear plastic cutting plate, then layered paper, and the remaining pads and plates to complete the "sandwich" and ran in through my BIGKick.  (You will have to use the appropriate "sandwich" for your die cutting machine.)  This produces a letterpress effect, which is quite popular now.  When dry, I cut the sheet into four rectangles and rounded the corners.   The cameo was paste embossed on Stardream Ivory paper with glossy black embossing paste.  When dry, I cut a scalloped edge around the cameo.  Ribbon and an embellishment pin were added before the cameo was attached.   I'll add the sentiment when I know how I want to use the card.   I love the letterpress look, and it's super easy with Memories Mist.  I can wait to experiment with some of the other background stamps.



Have fun with this challenge and be sure to link your project to the Dreamweaver blog, DREAM it UP! via Mr. Linky.  And don't forget to visit the other Dream Team blogs to see what special projects they've been working on.  You'll get lots of ideas and inspiration.

Happy Crafting,
Liz