Friday, January 27, 2012

Last Day to Sneak a Peek

Simple styling on this one. Once again I used the double glitter technique on the new Quatrefoil background stencil (LX7010). And then paste-embossed the new open cross stencil (LJ918) with Glossy White Embossing Paste (DGWP) and sprinkled it with an ultrafine glitter while it was still wet.


This open cross was designed to use with the Zentangle technique that I blogged about yesterday. Hopefully I will be able to show you some more cards with that technique in the near future. 


This post will be short and sweet today, because I am burning the candle at both ends in order to get ready for our trade show. 


Will be back next Thursday and Pam Hornschu, our team leader will be announcing the winners then from our Valentine Challenge. Be sure to join up with Mr. Linky below...remember your creation could even be rubber stamped...it doesn't even need to be done with Dreamweaver Stencils to qualify for one portion of the Challenge to win. We really want to give you a prize!!! PLAY PLAY PLAY!!!!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Thursday's Dream Schemes/or Sneak Peak #4

Several years ago we had a mushroom stencil. We discontinued it, but violá mushrooms happen to be "in" again!!! So we revised it just a bit and once again you can stencil mushrooms. Or as in this case you can use the technique of Zentangle in the mushrooms.


Not long ago Suzanne McNeill from Design Originals introduced us to this fun art form. And she has been showing us the beauty of combining this unique way of drawing with our metal stencils. You can read all about it in her latest book "Zentangle 6 Terrific Stencils and Cards."


My husband, Wayne Harlow, started this creation by first tracing the mushroom stencil (LL3025). Next he removed the stencil and then one line at a time he drew the different patterns within the open spaces of the mushroom stencil. He uses an 01 micron Pigma Pen by Sakura. He also shaded certain areas with a 4B artist pencil. Wayne is one of those people who enjoys detail work. This past September we had time on our vacation to do some drawing together and he showed me how easy this art form can be...I have to admit it can be quite addictive. LOL!


If you haven't been by this past week, be sure to read my posts Monday through today to get a sneak preview of our newest designs. Our Valentine Challenge is still going on, so don't be shy, just hop right in and create a card and link it to mr. linky below! We have had at least three players this month and would love to have more. Also I have listed the team below so you can hop around and see some of the marvelous creations they are sharing this past week.


One last bit of information...for the next several days we will be at CHA in Anaheim. So I may not be posting until next Thursday's Dream Schemes, but we will be in touch soon!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Sneaky Peeky Week/Day #3

I am very excited about our new background stencils.  But before I get too far ahead of myself (I am so excited)...this box came to me originally as just raw wood and then I spray painted it with satin black aerosol latex paint. It took me three coats to be satisfied with the coverage. Remember that Monday I used this same dot stencil (LX7011) with the kitty stencil? Well today I paste-embossed it with Glossy White Embossing Paste (DGWP) onto the lid of this wooden "card box". And also used the same paste on the sides as well, but used the new paisley background stencil (LX7009) for this step. This wooden card box will be a major project at CHA for a company called Walnut Hollow. They will be teaching a class for 100 students (retailers mostly) and will be finishing their box entirely different than this one, but then they will send these students to our booth to do a make 'n take of an A-2 sized card to put into their box. Once the embossing paste was dry I colored my paisleys and dots with our new Color Solution Artist Grade Alcohol Inks. These scrumptious colors are a lot of fun to work with and I actually used precision tipped cotton swabs to do my coloring. I understand that there are also brush marker nibs that work even better, can't wait to get some and try that method as well. 


Next week we will be busy with CHA, but we won't forget our Valentine Challenge players. You still have time to add something to Mr. Linky. Read HERE to find out what is involved and what you could win. Also take a few minutes to see what sneak previews the design team has been working on, here is the list of blogs to hop to:

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Sneak Peek Week/Newest Designs #2

OK, so it may be a little hard to see the contrast in this photo of the retro background stencil (LX7012) with retro kitty(LL3020), but I really loved doing the double glitter technique and then pasting on top of the glittered paper. As mentioned in yesterday's post the team is showcasing some of the new designs that we are showing retailers this week at CHA in Anaheim. But I also have to say that I really enjoy this double glitter technique and if you would like how to instructions email me at lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com and I will send you the step-by-step instructions. You can also view how to do it in my "Tips & Tools" DVD.


These new retro kitty designs have a little history. Fellow stenciler and card artist Pam Hornschu (the leader of our design team actually), happens to be a cat lover. So she asked if we would be interested in these retro kitties that her son, Bryan helped her design. And of course they are just purrrr-fect for a couple of our retro backgrounds! The standing kitty that I paste-embossed for yesterday's post had glitter on him, but this kitty stencil (LL3020) was very simply paste-embossed with Matte Black Embossing Paste (DMBP) and dried. The small thank you (LS1009) was done the same way. So thank you Bryan for the lovely designs!


Now don't forget to play along with our Valentine challenge this month. You could be the winner of some Dreamweaver product! Just don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky below. And take some time to see what the rest of the team is sharing today. Stop by everyday this week for inspiration on what to do with the new designs.


Monday, January 23, 2012

Sneak Peek Week/Newest Designs

New Retro Kitty with New Background Dots
This week the team will be sharing some of Dreamweaver's newest designs. Most of us are meeting up at CHA in Anaheim to share these with your local retail stores. So check back each day to see what the team has to show you. And look for them to be available at your local stores soon. The background above was done with the double glitter technique using the new dot stencil (LX7011). And then the kitty stencil (LL3021) was paste-embossed on top with with Glossy White Embossing Paste (DGWP). While it was still wet I poured a transparent crystal glitter on the kitty. Now follow the links to the team's blogs below to see what the are creating with the newest designs.  And don't forget that there is still time for you to sign up with Mr. Linky and join our Valentine challenge this month.






Thursday, January 19, 2012

Thursday's Dream Schemes/Join our Valentine Challenge this Month

This week I am featuring a guest designer. Julie Makela is my distributor from "down under" and has created two scrumptious cards for this month's Valentine's Day challenge. 


This first design starts out with her stenciling the lace frame background (LG727) with white pigment ink. To make them look like they were layered she stenciled the one at the top left first and then the next time she placed her stencil she was careful to only stencil the white ink right up to the edge of that first placed frame. This creates an illusion of depth. She then repeated this randomly as she moved the lace frame to other positions. Then she paste-embossed the heart whimsy stencil design (LL599) with the Glossy Red Embossing Paste (DGRP). While this paste was still wet she sprinkled bright red glitter onto the hearts.

The second card was equally effective by using the same  colorway of black, red, white, but added a finishing touch of Metallic Gold Embossing Paste (DGP) with the You and Me stencil (LS1004). This time the same heart whimsy stencil (LL599) was paste-embossed with a Matte Black Embossing Paste (DMBP) with the red glitter again sprinkled onto the hearts.


Take the time to visit Julie's blog when you get the chance. She is a wonderfully creative person and has shared many innovative tips and techniques with Dreamweaver over the years.


Be sure to visit the Dream Team blogs as well:



Also to learn more about our new way of doing our challenges click here and then feel free to post your creations via mr. linky below:

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Thursday's Dream Schemes/Join our Challenge of the Month


Hey, we want to thank those of you who joined our challenge this month. I can't wait to give away some stencils...so keep it up. If this is the first time you have been to the site this year here is a recap of the way we are playing our challenges:


We're changing things up a bit for this year, and YOU can help. The first Thursday of every month will feature our new challenge and will extend through the entire month. This means that YOU have ALL month to play along with the one challenge, as many times as you want. Sometimes it will be a color challenge, sometimes a theme, and sometimes a technique. We are hoping that an entire month will give you plenty of time to be inspired, create, and link to the Dream It Up! blog . Each month we are offering TWO prizes...one for the most creative version of the challenge (does not have to be Dreamweaver Stencils ' product, but we sure are happy when it is!), and the second for the best use of Dreamweaver Stencils ' product in the challenge. This could be stencils  (of course), Embossing Pastes , Metallic F/X , the new Color Solutions , etc., anything you find on the Dreamweaver Stencils' web site , or in your local store. Don't know where your local store is? The list can be found on the web site . Not near any of the stores listed? There is also an online site to purchase from, Stencil with Style !
     For the month of January, we challenge you to create something for Valentine's Day! You have until January 31st, 11:59 PM EST, to post and link your creation(s) to the Dream It Up! Blog  Mr. Linky. The winners will be announced February 2nd, along with the February challenge.

Here is the Valentine I am doing this week, in fact this is actually a creation that I posted  a few months ago, but it is one of my favorite heart designs and I just couldn't resist sharing it again:

Last week's creation was fairly involved, but today it couldn't be simpler. In fact this is a card I taught in the Atlanta area store, Rubber Stamp Fantasy last month when I was there. The class was called "Power Pasting". 

The very first thing you will notice about this card is that the embossing paste is pink...and of course Dreamweaver does not carry pink embossing paste. I created it very simply by taking a Tablespoon of the Glossy White Embossing Paste (DGWP) and then mixed it with one teaspoon of the Glossy Red Embossing Paste (DGRP). To mix it completely I put it out onto a piece of wax paper and smeared it together using my palette knife (DPK). I then used this mixture and paste-embossed the dangling heart stencil (LM272) onto matte black cardstock. After it was dry I triple matted it with glossy black card stock, matte black again and then the pink. Then I put this creation onto a glossy black card. Sometimes the embellishment on your creation steals the show. These ribbons from Creative Impressions do just that...I LOVE LOVE LOVE their products! (Especially the crepe ribbons like I used last week too). And of course the ladies that run that business. 

So here is the list of our Dream team don't forget to see what they have been up to and leave a comment or two as you go. Join us this week and link your creation onto mr. linky below:





Thursday, January 5, 2012

Thursday's Dream Schemes/ Valentine's Day Creations this Month

     Welcome to the first posting of the Dreamweaver Stencils' Dream Team 2012 ! We're changing things up a bit for this year, and YOU can help. The first Thursday of every month will feature our new challenge and will extend through the entire month. This means that YOU have ALL month to play along with the one challenge, as many times as you want. Sometimes it will be a color challenge, sometimes a theme, and sometimes a technique. We are hoping that an entire month will give you plenty of time to be inspired, create, and link to the Dream It Up! blog . Each month we are offering TWO prizes...one for the most creative version of the challenge (does not have to be Dreamweaver Stencils ' product, but we sure are happy when it is!), and the second for the best use of Dreamweaver Stencils ' product in the challenge. This could be stencils  (of course), Embossing Pastes , Metallic F/X , the new Color Solutions , etc., anything you find on the Dreamweaver Stencils' web site , or in your local store. Don't know where your local store is? The list can be found on the web site . Not near any of the stores listed? There is also an online site to purchase from, Stencil with Style !

     For the month of January, we challenge you to create something for Valentine's Day! You have until January 31st, 11:59 PM EST, to post and link your creation(s) to the Dream It Up! Blog  Mr. Linky. The winners will be announced February 2nd, along with the February challenge. Here is my version of this month's challenge:

     I have to admit that Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays. And I enjoy sending them to friends, family and even my sweetheart either before, on or after the actual date. One year I missed getting my Christmas cards done, so I did Valentine's Day cards instead. Yes, I am a bit of a heart fanatic...as you can tell by our design line-up.
     This card was not difficult to do. First I dry embossed the large open heart stencil (LJ834), then I left the stencil in place and placed the flower lace stencil (LJ820) on top of it. This way the embossed heart is pushed up as close as possible to the flower lace stencil so that when you paste-emboss the design onto the heart there will be very little gap. I used the Glossy Black Embossing Paste (DGKP) to paste-emboss and used the new paste spreader (LM2010). I especially like this paste spreader for wide open designs like the heart or large background stencils like the flower lace stencil. I immediately removed the stencils and cleaned them. Then I sprinkled the dark purple flocking onto the wet embossing paste. These days I dry things quickly by setting them in my large electric skillet on the warm setting. Pasted items will dry in half the time they usually do when I use this skillet. In this case I just left the flocking piled onto the paste while it was drying. While this was drying I mixed 1/4 tsp. of Plum Royale Metallic F/X (FX07) into 1 Tbsp of the Pearlescent Embossing Paste using the smaller palette knife (DPK). Then I used this mixture and paste-embossed the word "Love" from stencil (LL498) onto acetate or transparency film. Also while I was waiting for these pasted pieces to dry I stenciled the flower lace background design onto the lavender paper using pigment ink and a very large 3/4" stencil brush. This particular stencil has a repeat to it so I could move it around on the larger piece of paper to cover the entire area.
     By now the flocked and pasted heart was dry, but to ensure that the flocking was deeply embedded into the Glossy Black Paste  (DGKP) I warmed up my laminator, placed the heart inside a sleeve of glossy card stock (so the flocking wouldn't get sprinkled inside my laminator) and put the entire heart -flocking and all, through the machine. This way the flocking was impressed into the warmed up embossing paste. I cut out the pasted "Love" from the piece of acetate. I placed a piece of double stick mounting tape onto the back of the acetate and adhered it onto the flocked heart. A piece of Creative Impressions' Eggplant colored crepe ribbon, was tied onto the lavender background card then the mauve striped paper was cut 1/8" larger than the flocked heart and mounted behind it. These two hearts were then mounted using foam mounting tape onto the ribboned cardstock. For a finishing touch an ivory embellishment pin was colored using the Sugarplum Color Solution Ink  (CS208) and placed down through the bow of the ribbon adornment. To finish the card I mounted it onto another piece of metallic pin-striped mauve cardstock.
Need more inspiration? Please visit the rest of our fabulous team listed here: