Stencils stencils stencils!

I LOVE stencilling!! I needed a birthday card, and over at the current Dream Team challenge, they're using purple and yellow (like this photo) as inspiration...an idea from our Laura!

For this card, I stencilled the design with Versafine Black Ink, then used "Stuck on You" thermal embossing powder, heated it, applied Stampee Foil over top, and ran it through my laminator. Although you can't see it very well in photos, these foils add shine and pizazz to any project!

You can see all the supplies I used right here.

Please take a few minutes to visit the other designers' blogs, where you're certain to see INSPIRATION PLUS!! (You'll see their links on my sidebar)

Aaaand...stay tuned...the amazingly creative Dream Team has some FABULOUS new things coming over the summer!

Have you ever thought of using stencils for home decor projects? Have a look at a couple here and here. They're SO versatile, and with my new upcycling furniture obsession, I'm LOVIN 'em all over again!

The current Charisma Cardz challenge is...ice cream colours! I used Grape and French Vanilla! YUM!

Thank you so VERY MUCH for visiting! Wishing you a creative day, doing whatever you LOVE to do!

More challenges!

Today's Dreamweaver team challenge is to use this sketch as a basis for a Father's Day card:

As many of us do, I find masculine cards a particular challenge to create, so for this one, I chose colours far away from those I usually use (lol). I used a beautiful Dreamweaver stencil with Glossy Black Embossing Paste, then sprinkled Metallic FX powders over the paste while it was still wet. I computer generated "Dad" because I don't have a "Dad" stamp, then I outlined each circle with Krylon 18 Kt Gold Leafing Ink.


Here's a closer look at the mottled effect of the powders:


CHA is coming up again, here are some of Dreamweaver's FUN new designs!

I've taught three Dreamweaver classes over at Carousel Rubber Stamps here in Nova Scotia recently. It's been SUCH FUN, introducing crafters to all we can do with Dreamweaver! We now have a dozen new addicts (lol).

Please do take a few minutes to stop by the other Dreamweaver designers' blogs...I always learn SO MUCH from their work!

The challenge for the Impression Obsession designers this week is "Hot fun in the sun." Well, must say, here in Nova Scotia, we sure haven't seen much of THAT recently. It's been rain, rain, and more rain, leaving our gardens looking beautifully lush, but I sure am looking forward to that sunshine! Three of my little grandsons are travelling from Ottawa next week to spend the whole summer with me here, so I decided I'd use a beachy theme on a card to send to the boys. I used this fun Ocean Fish stamp, stamped twice, cut out the base image, coloured and glittered it, then cut out the fish from the second stamp, glittered it and popped it up over the first one. I did the "bubbles"with a Viva Decor Pearl Pen. Have a look at all the wonderful sea-themed stamps Mitra has over at Impression Obsession!

Here's a close-up of some of the detail, with some tiny shells the boys and I picked up at the beach last summer:

For your chance to win $25.00 in stamps from Impression Obsession, check out the challenge guidelines right here. I hope you'll have a little time to see what the other designers have done for the "Hot Sun"challenge. Links to their blogs are on my sidebar on the right.

Playing in these card parties:

Created by Hand (circles and dots)

Sisterhood of Crafters (celebrating the man in your life)

Cute Card Thursday (birthstone colours)

Theme Thursday (summer)

Alphabet Challenge (F is for Father's Day)

Incurable Stampers (spots)

One Stop (Father's Day)

Stamping 411 (colour challenge)

THANKS for visiting with me today!

Challenges again!

Thus week's Impression Obsession challenge is to create things for men and/or boys. I used this Labrador Retriever stamp, stamped simply with Memento Black Ink, and paired with a birthday sentiment from this set. I LOVE the wonderful detail on this Lab stamp. Mitra has some supremely talented stamp designers on her team, that's for sure!

For your chance to win $25.00 in stamps from Impression Obsession, check out the challenge guidelines right here. I hope you'll have a little time to see what the other designers have done for the "guy"challenge. Links to their blogs are on my sidebar on the right.

This week's Dreamweaver challenge, set by our Ms Pam, is to use lavender and grey together. I sprayed this Butterfly Duo stencil with Memories Mist Pansy Ink, then positioned it ink side down on glossy cardstock. I actually did several of these at one time. Once you have all the materials out, why not, right? I LOVE these "Memories Mist"inks, and once I used ONE, I was compelled to shop for many MANY more...lol...can you relate?

I wanted a little more definition to the butterflies, so I repositioned the stencil and paste embossed with glossy white paste. After sprinkling a little clear glitter over the wet paste, I was just tickled pink with the final result!

I hope you'll have a little time to see what the other Dreamweaver designers have done for the grey and lavender challenge. Links to their blogs are on my sidebar.

Linking to these challenges today:

Fab and Funky (free theme)

Simon Says (things for a male)

Gingersnap Creations (shopping)

Charisma Cardz (something that flies)

Alphabet Challenge (D is for Dogs)

Thank you so much for visiting today. I wish you a day of peace and pleasure, doing whatever you love.

How do you relax?

Relaxing is not one of the things I do easily (lol). My idea of "relaxation" usually includes some frenetic activity related to all things artsy (lol). However, when i READ, I can lose myself for hours and hours! The current Art Journey challenge from Hillie is to create a bookmark. For this one, I stamped the Art Journey tree with Top Boss Embossing Ink, then thermal embossed with Top Boss Clear EP. I filled my mini misters with Ecoline watercolour inks and sprayed two colours as you see. Then I sandwiched the bookmark between pieces of plain white paper and ironed off the embossing ink. Then I stamped and thermal embossed the word relax (from this Art Journey set) with Ranger Seafoam White EP.

If you like bookmarks, think about joining the Art Journey challenge! The challenges last a whole month, so there's lots of time. You could win a 10 euro’s gift certificate to shop at Art Journey.To win, you need to use MAINLY Art Journey stamps. Put your new creation on your blog or Flickr (with a link to the challenge post on this blog) and leave a direct link to your blogpost in the 'Add your Link'. Please don’t include links to work that posted prior to the first day of the challenge. Take a few minutes to enjoy the wonderful samples created by the other designers, right here.

Wishing you a day doing whatever brings you pleasure!