My new relationship with Stencils

I was indifferent to using Stencils in paper craft. It’s a trend that comes through this hobby every couple of years and it’s resurgence in the last year makes it hard to avoid.

I am participating in Stenciled, an online card class hosted by several talented designers including Jennifer McGuire, Kristina Werner, Laura Bassen, and Julie Ebersole. After working through some of the content from Day 1, I’ve made a decision. I enjoy working with stencils.

I don’t know if it’s the design of the stencil or the use of many more techniques with complementary products, but with little effort and time, you can result in something simply amazing.

Here are my cards from the first half of Day 1. I used products I had on hand, including of course, WOW embossing powders.

 The above card technique was blending distress inks onto the stencil. I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Broken China, Peeled Paint and Spiced Marmalade. The sentiment is from Ali Edwards and the target heart stamp from Craft Smart.

For this card, I stamped through the stencil with Versamark ink. You need to be careful not to move the stencil while you're doing this. The ink is sticky and will pick up the stencil if you are not taping it down. Then I used three shades of WOW embossing powders in Azure, Blue and Lagoon to heat set the color onto the card. The stamped phone image is from Kelly Purkey and the sentiment from Clear Art Stamps.

This technique as the easiest. Tape down the stencil and mist. It's hard to see in the photo but the gradient was created from Tattered Angels' Viva Pink and Bronze and Maya Roads' Red Mist. The sentiment is from Ali Edwards. 

Color Challenge - Pastels

OWH posted a midweek color challenge today. Is Gray a Pastel version of Black? 

I think it should be. It would have helped me in this challenge to use pastels.

I had to dig deep into the stash to find something in the range of pastels. The result is a Victorian-era feeling card in cream and lavender with a touch of bronze. 

I included a flower embellishment I made using Vintage Romance Embossing powder from WOW! 

By filling only a portion of the mold, inwas able to keep the flower flat and small for a mail-able greeting card.

The Greeting Farm Card Challenge - Love is in the Air

I made a version of this card for OWH's CHA booth using their card sketch #93. It was so fun to see all the different card kits that designers provided for attendees to stop by and make for our soldiers. I was lucky to be just around the corner in the WOW! Embossing Powders booth. I could stop in easily to make a few myself.

Since I had some of these beautiful Graphic 45 papers remaining, I made another card. The stamp is "Cheeky Cherry Pie" and the sentiment is from Hero Arts' OWH set. They go so well together. 

I am submitting it The Greeting Farm's weekly card challenge, "Love is in the air."  After all, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

OWH Sketch Challenge #208 -MLK Holiday Card Break

Have you noticed how I participate in a caed challenge every holiday? It is part of what makes my holiday rituals relaxing if just for a short while.

I spent a fair amount of time today sorting, recycling, donating and clearing out for the new year.

I used scraps of paper and bits for this sketch challenge at Operation Write Home along with a sentiment from their Hero Arts fundraising stamp set.

Last Day of the Mega Show - Winter CHA 2014

It's the last day of Winter CHA 2014 in Anaheim, CA.  I need a little pick-me-up and sparkle this morning.

I embossed my coffee sleeve with WOW's Rainbow Black embossing glitter and a new color designed by Marion Emberson called Vintage Jade.