That project I promised you....

Here it is--that big project that I promised you. It falls in the challenge cateogory for the month. It is green. It is also a little Scottish, a little jewelry, and a lot easier than it looks.

For this one, I am going to give a complete supplies and materials lists and a step by step. I'll prove that it isn't difficult, just a little time consuming.

SUPPLIES: Stencils: Cameo LL 3017, Long Thistle LL 3001, fine tipped scissors (like Cutterbee), Mercart Basic Metals Tool Set, Die Cut Machine (I used Cuttlebug) with soft embossing mat, sanding block, Big Bite, heat gun, Versamark, a stencil brush and any color of ink.

MATERIALS: One piece of chipboard and two pieces of Double Sided Adhesive Paper all about 3"x3", two pieces of black coated aluminum (Mercart) about 3"x3" each, one piece adhesive backed aluminum (Lifestyle Crafts or Ranger) about 3"x3", one pin back finding, three small siver brads, Mercart Backing Paste, UTEE, Versamark, a good white glue (I used Art Glitter Institute) and glitter. I used Art Glitter in the following colors: Microfine Opaque 514 Bavarian Forest, Ultrafine Transparent 94 Key Lime, Vintage Glass Glitter 902 Kryptonite and Dazzlers D40 Green Vibe.

DIRECTIONS:

1) To save time, I ran both stencils through the Cuttlebug with my soft embossing mat and the black coated aluminum.

2) Once I had the embossed metal, I enhanced the embossing with my Mercart metal tool kit until it looked exactly the way I wanted it. Then, I filled the back with Mercart Backing Paste and let it dry while I did the next steps.

3) Use the cameo stencil with the stencil brush and ink, inking the design on chipboard, Double Sided Adhesive Paper, and the paper side of the adhesive backed aluminum.

4) Cut around the outside of the inked design on the chipboard, one piece of the Double Sided Adhesive Paper and the adhesive backed aluminum. Cut around the oval inside on the other piece of Double Sided Adhesive Paper.

5) Attach the adhesive backed metal on the back of the chipboard.

6) Decide on where the pin back should go on the back of the chipboard, mark the spots, and use the Big Bite to make small holes for the brads. Attach the pin back with the brads. The top of the pin should look like it does in the picture above.

7) Remove one side of the paper from the smaller piece of the Double Sided Adhesive Paper to reveal the sticky backing. Coat this with one layer of Art Glitter Microfine 514 Bavarian Forest. Rub it in well with your finger to burnish. I like the look of the Microfine on the bottom layer. This layer shows through the others in the end, and the Microfine looks more like the base of a gemstone than most glitter. You can use a different color of green if you want a different look. (You can use any color you want as long as you coordinate all of the glitter.)

8) Cover the glitter with Versamark. Then, cover this with UTEE (I have also used a regular clear embossing powder, but the UTEE builds up the "stone" faster.) Heat until melted AND while still warm sprinkle with a little bit of the Art Glitter Ultrafine Transparent 94 Key Lime Glitter. (Once again, you can choose another color, but make it transparent).

9) Another layer of Versamark and then UTEE. This time, while it is still warm add the Vintage Glass Glitter in 902 Kryptonite. I use the Vintage Glass Glitter because it won't melt and change color. It is good to have a little "flash" of the main color.

10) More Versamark and UTEE. This time, add the Dazzlers and pour on more UTEE right away. While this is heating, the Dazzlers will melt, changing the shape and color and adding an extra "flash" to the stone.

11) Last layer of Versamark and UTEE. You and sprinkle just a little of the transparent glitter and whatever little leftovers you have brushed off while heating. Just make sure that this level is pretty smooth.

12) Sand the metal pieces well, revealing lots of the silver aluminum. Then, cut the center oval out of the cameo and cut closely around the thistle.

13)Place the second piece of Double Sided Adhesive Paper on the top of the pin base.

14) Remove the backing from your "stone" and place on the pin.

15) Put the metal frame on top of the "stone" and push it down on the adhesive paper on the edges. Use the scissors or a metal tool to press up against the scalloping on the edges. It should look like the picture on the left.

16) Put a small amount of glue on the back of the thistle and let it dry for a few moments until it is really tacky.

17) Position the thistle on top of the pin.

18) Trim around the excess metal. Sand any edges that are sharp.

You are done! I promise it isn't that hard to do. Do you know what else isn't hard? I mean, really not hard? Entering the Dreamweaver Challenge. I strongly suggest that everyone give it a try. All you have to do is make something St. Patrick's Day or green (the color or the movement), then put it somewhere online (everybody uploads stuff anyway). Then, just link it to the Mr. Linky on the Dreamweaver Stencil blog. If you do before the end of February, you could win two gorgeous stencils and join in on the fun! Give it a try and I promise you won't be sorry. If you are looking for more inspiration, check out the other team member blogs (listed on the side of mine). Get inspired and I will see you next week, when we will reveal the next challenge. Until then, here is one more view of the pin. I hope you can see the flashes of color in this picture. Have a good week!

Dreamweaver St. Pat's and Green Challenge

Welcome back! I know that last week I promised you something really different this week, but I hope you will forgive me for posting another class. I had completely forgotten that I needed to post this today. My class is this Saturday morning at My Craft Room in Troy, Michigan. The top image fulfills the "green" option of the challenge. I created it with green coated aluminum. I actually simplified this double embossed project just a little by running the aluminum through my Cuttlebug with the Details Embossing Mat and the Long Thistle Stencil LL 3001. I then used my Mercart Metal Embossing Tools to enhance the embossing from the back. I refined it on the other side with the "deer foot" tool, used the Mercart Filling Paste and waited for it to dry. I then laid the whole thing face up on the Herringbone Stencil LJ 914 and rubbed it with a drawing stump. It caused the pattern to show through. I then sanded it a little. I sanded the purple thistle portion a lot. Then, I dripped a little purple alcohol ink on the flower top.
This second card was made with two different stencils, though you can only see one in this photograph. The background has been embossed with my Cuttlebug and the Houndstooth Stencil LJ 913. Then, I used the Cuttlebug again to emboss the Celtic Hexagon LL 381 with black coated aluminum. I lightly sanded it to reveal the knot.
The last card in this class was made with two stencils as well. The background was created using the Plaid Stencil LX7002. I placed it on white cardstock and used a blending tool to cover it with ink. I then removed the stencil and laid it down again at a 90 degree angle from the first layer. I used a different color of ink the second time. I then moved it a little further off and used a third color. Then, I used the brand new LG 742 Pointed Celtic Knot with green metal. This time, I debossed it, which means that I laid it on the table and placed the metal over the top, green side up. I then used the plastic Mercart tool to push the netal into the stencil. After the green metal was pressed firmly into the stencil, I sanded over it, with the stencil still attached. Then, it was a simple matter of assembly.
Don't forget that you have 2 weeks to enter this month's challenge: St. Patrick's Day or Green. Create something, post it somewhere online, and link it to the Dreamweaver Stencils Blog. You could win!!! For inspiration, visit the blogs of the other team members listed on the sidebar. Take a good look and get inspired!! See you next week

A Little Scottish Influence

Alright, so I know that the challenge this month is actually St. Patrick's Day, but I felt that it would be a great time to give a shout out to the Scots, with the beautiful Long Thistle Stencil LL 3001. Of course, I DID use green, and since that is another option in the challenge, it counts! That's right...you can use something green for your challenge post as well. Anything green. Then, you should link it over to the Dreamweaver Blog for your chance to win these stencils.

But I digress. Back to this week's post. I made this card with a wonderful group of women at Altered Art Addicts in Jackson, MI last weekend. Here is how it's done:

1) Paste the stencil LL 3001 using Green Glossy Embossing Paste on cream colored linen.

2) Let paste dry

3) Gently apply wet glue with a regular paintbrush. The glue should be about the consistency of milk. I used watered down Art Glitter Dries Clear Glue.

4) Let the glue dry until it is tacky and clear. There should not be any "pools" of glue.
5) Apply Metallic FX in Plum Royale, Purple Satin, Kiwi and Ivy Garden. Use this technique: dip a stencil brush into the pot of Metallic FX. Tap it lightly on a piece of paper towel to remove any excess. Then, tap the color into place on the paste.

Don't forget that you can always use a Picasso stencil to mask out areas if you want a precision look with exact shading of the different colors.

That's it. Just five steps! Me? Yep. I love the colors and shine of the Metallic FX. Sometimes less is, indeed, more. But don't quote me on that!

So, are you inspired yet? If not, go check out the rest of the Dreamweaver Team sites. They are listed to the left of this post. Then, get inspired, make a little something St. Patrick's Day, or just green. Post it anywhere online. (I think you can even do Flickr if you don't have a blog). Then, link it with the Mr. Linky at the bottom of the Dreamweaver Stencils blog. As simple as that, and you could win the beautiful, springy stencils above. (I don't even have those two, and I am really digging on that Long Lily one.)

Come play with us and have some fun. By the way, I am feeling a little inspired myself today. I am thinking that you might find something REALLY different here next week, if I have a little time to work on it..... See you next week!

A New Challenge--St. Patrick's Day or Green

Is it February already? Yes, it sure is--and time for a new challenge. The winners of the Valentine's challenge are posted at the Dreamweaver Stencils blog at www.dreamweaverstencils.blogspot.com . The new challenge should be posted there, as well. You have until the end of the month to link your creation there. The theme is St. Patrick's Day OR green. Here, I have presented both. I began by running a piece of white cardstock through my Cuttlebug with a Details Embossing Mat and LX7002 Plaid Stencil. I then used the new stencil LG742 Pointed Celtic Knot on Double Sided Adhesive Paper. I soaped up the back first to make it easy to remove, and then placed it on the paper, soap side down. I placed green Stampee foil over the top and rubbed it down using a fine tipped embossing stylus. Once I pushed down as much as I could, I removed the foil and rubbed black flock over the whole thing. I vigorously brushed off the excess flock. Then, I put the whole thing stencil side down on the table and very carefully removed the paper from the stencil. I made sure to "walk" my fingers along the stencil to keep it flat while I removed the paper. I poured Crystal Art Glitter over the whole thing and brushed off the excess. The shamrock was created with green coated aluminum. I used stencil LS58 Clover. I placed the stencil face down on a hard surface, put the aluminum green side down over the top and pushed it into the opening using Mercart Metal Tools. I removed the stencil and placed the aluminum face down on a piece of suede, using the Mercart Ball Tool to create the dimension. I flipped it over, put it on a hard surface and used the Teflon tool to enhance the details and flatten the metal. I put Mercart Backing Paste in the clover and waited for it to dry. Then, I cut around the outside of the shape and assembled the whole card. A lot of steps, I know, but ultimately not difficult. c

Check out the rest of the blogs and get inspired. Don't forget to make a little something Irish, or green and link it over to the Dreamweaver Blog for a chance to WIN! I will see you next week!