Black, White and (a little more than) a Pop of Color!

Okay, so maybe there is a little more than just a pop of color here, but I think this is a fun card.  I am planning on using it for my guitar-playing nephew's birthday.

The guitar was created using the LL 3028 Electric Guitar Stencil.  I simply ran it through my Cuttlebug with red coated aluminum from Mercart Metals.  The sandwich for the Cuttlebug is Plate A, stencil face down, metal red side down, Details Embossing Mat, and then the two B Plates.  After using the Cuttlebug, I placed the metal face up on top of  LJ 915 Opto Checkerboard.  I used an artists blending stump to rub over the background metal, revealing the pattern.  Finally, I carefully sanded the entire thing.  I made sure that the raised parts of the guitar were particularly clean.  After that, it was simply a matter of layering.
Easy, huh?  You could do one, too.  Simply create either a graduation or black, white and pop (or more than a pop) of color.  Then, email it to Lynell or link it to the Dream It Up blog.  That's it.  You could win some fabulous stencils.

This week's card was so simple, that I have decided to offer a bonus project.  It answers the "Does it have to be a card?" question with a resounding NO.  I have created a scrapbook page for the Twisted Sketches site, where the "twist" is white.  I made this one black and white and two pops of color.

You can see the sprayed black on the background, the Mad Hatter inspired Silhouette Machine cut hat and the two pops of color--green and pink.  You may wonder where the stencil is.  It is the LM 2008 Bunny. You can see it on the pink crepe paper hat band.  It was created with the Double Glitter technique.  I soaped the back of the stencil, brushed off the extra soap and placed it soap side down on the adhesive paper.  Then, I carefully added Microfine Opaque #507 Black Wing to the eyes and nose.  I pushed it down and brushed off the excess.  Then, I used pink Fun Flock in the ears, and tan and white Fun Flock in the body.  I used a lot and pressed it down hard with my thumb.  I thoroughly brushed the excess off.  I then removed the adhesive paper from the stencil and covered it in Art Glitter Ultrafine Transparent #85 Crystal.  I cut around the outside of the bunny, peeled off the backing, and attached it directly to the crepe paper.

Once again, I would like to remind you that this can be an easy project.  Check out the rest of the Dreamweaver Team blogs today, get inspired, and come play with us for your chance to win!

Connie Crystal Votive Candle Holder

I found this lovely votive holder at the dollar spot in Target and thought about how beautiful it could be for outdoor celebrations.  It just needed dressing up.  What better way to dress something up than a little crystal?
When making this project, I decided that I would make sure that it remained a functional votive holder.  I might even want to hang it.  Therefore, I chose not to put anything on the handle. 
I tried out using metal links, but wanted to see if I could dress it up and still keep it somewhat casual--like attire on vacation.  The metal just seemed a little too formal.  Instead, I used a combination of green colored hemp and a light green Scrapper's Floss.  The hemp was thicker, so I used it when I wanted to cover more area.  The Scrapper's Floss was useful to go through smaller holes and to add a little bright color. 
To create the project, I first removed the entire wire "collar" and handle from the glass.  It was easily accomplished, because there was a clip on the side.  I then made my hanging pieces using the floss.  I passed it through the Connie Crystal small drop (from the angels) and tied it about halfway down the thread.  Using the remaining floss, I strung the rest of the hanging bits.  I threaded and then knotted all the way up.  I included the disc on the two center pieces, and a crackly bead on the other four.  I also used the yellow beads that came in the Connie Crystal Yellow Theme Suncatcher.  On the top, I included cute little dragonfly charms, to give a nod to the outdoors. 
When the pieces were done, I tied them around the circle.  I then tied a light green fiber to the darker green and tied them both to the end of the circle.  I tied knots around the metal, occasionally adding beads or the flat discs.  When I reached a hanging piece, I tied that in.  When I finished, I just clipped the metal piece back in place. I honestly do not know the names of these knots or even the "proper" way to tie them.  I just went for it and had a blast!  Give it a try.

Black, White and a Pop of Blue Butterfly

This month's Dreamweaver challenge theme is black and white and a pop of color OR graduation.  Here is my interpretation.  It is a modified version of the Double Glitter Technique.  I used the LJ 916 Butterfly stencil.  This stencil is in the shape of a butterfly, instead of the typical square shape.  Here are the step out instructions:

1)  Soap the back of the stencil, just like you would for double glitter.  I used the Handmade Hawaiian Coconut Soap.  (If you would like to see a picture of this, look at last week's post.)

2)  Brush off the "crumblies" that have formed against the stencil.

3)  Remove one side of the double sided adhesive paper and place the stencil on the exposed adhesive, soap side down.

4)  Use the covering that you just removed from the adhesive to hold over the butterfly and mask out the areas that you want to be blue as you pour clear glitter around the edges.  (I used Art Glitter Transparent Ultrafine #85 Crystal.)  Be sure to rub it in a little with your finger.

5)  Set aside the covering.  Put pinches of the colors that you would like on the butterfly.  Be sure to locate these colors where you want them to remain the purest version of themselves.  I used Art Glitter Ultrafine Opaque in #113 Sky in the center area and Ultrafine Opaque #32 True Blue towards the outside.

6)  Use your finger to rub the glitter onto the adhesive and in towards the other color to blend.

7)  Brush off with a large stencil brush.

8)  Put the project stencil side down and carefully remove the adhesive from the stencil.

9)  Cover the now exposed adhesive with Details Black Embossing Powder and push it off the glittered sections with your finger.

10) Heat emboss.

You can see from the detail here that it is a slightly different look from regular double glitter.  It creates a little more of a "vinatge-y" look. 

Now it is your turn.  Check out the other blogs (listed on the side) to gather inspiration.  Then, create something that follows the theme "Black and white with a pop of color" or "graduation".  Put it online (anywhere, even Snapfish) and link it to the Dream it Up Blog.  It is as simple as that.  You can win some stencils from Dreamweaver.  Give it a try!

Ummm--Black and White and a Pop of Color?

Well, I ALMOST follow the challenge this week.  Silver is a neutral, after all.  This week, I have a tutorial featured on the Paper Craft Planet site.  My subject is foil with the Double Glitter Technique.  Pam was generous enough to let me count this as my blog post this week.

Two unusual things have come together this week:  I took WAY TOO MANY step out pictures and I am featured on Paper Craft Planet this week.  So, since I REALLY want you to visit my blog there, I am going to try something new.  I am going to give you a photo posting this week.



1) Gather materials




2) Soap the back of the stencil




3) See the soap crumblies?




4) Remove them with a stencil brush




5) Put Double Sided Adhesive Paper on Soaped side of stencil



6) Foil has dull and shiny side

7) Place dull side down on adhesive

8) Rub on with finger

9) Run around edges with stylus

10) Peel off foil

11) Foil backing is clear

12) Pour on coordinating glitter

13) Rub in glitter--I like Art Glitter Microfine

14) Brush off excess glitter



15) Carefully remove paper from stencil



16) Pour on Crystal Art Glitter

17) Finished Background

18) Using first few steps, put butterfly on adhesive

19) This time, use lots of colors

20) It only takes color where there is none



21) So you can layer colors



22) Lots of colors



23) Add Black Fun Flock instead of glitter





24) Brush off excess--WELL!




25)  Remove from backing.  Here is where you add Crystal Glitter

Well, there it is--my never to be repeated photo tutorial.  For the real deal, you will have to go here.

Meanwhile, I hope you have been inspired.  Check out the rest of the team blogs and you will be.  Then make something Black and White with a Pop of Color (or something close to it...), post and link it to the Dream It Up Blog or email it to Lynell for your chance to win!

Art Glitter Disney Memories

As you may already know, I am a huge Disney fan.   I love all the creative and artistic possibilities that Disney scrapbooking presents. Sometimes, though, I have a desire to break free of the scrapbook page and do something really different, with three dimensional possibilities.  That is when something like this Globecraft Memories Classic Grand Rectangle Bubble Frame is perfect! I created it with a picture from the "Wishes" fireworks show, and lots of Art Institute Glitter.

While you can't really see it in this picture, the castle has parts that are popped up. I started with two identical pictures.  I then cut the parts that I wanted popped up out of one of the pictures and placed them in the appropriate spots with black 3D Dots underneath them.  I used a little Designer Dries Clear Art Institute Glitter Glue where I wanted foil highlights (which you definitely can't see in these pictures).  I waited until it was clear and still tacky, then I applied Stampee Foil in blue, light blue, silver and gold.  I selected the color I wanted for an area, and placed the foil dull side down on top of the glue.  I pressed the foil lightly and removed it.  Then, I enhanced the fireworks.  I put Designer Dries Clear right on the photograph and applied the glitter.  The golden firework was enhanced with #338 King's Cup Ultrafine Opaque Hologram. The red was enhanced with #906 Carnelian Shard Vintage Glass.

The globe is created with several layers of a very durable chipboard-type material.  There are three separate pieces that make the whole project.  I will explain what I did on each from the top to the bottom.  For the "star level", I debossed (made the image imprint down, not raise up) the board with an older Lifestyle Crafts (Quickutz) embossing folder.  Then, I covered the whole thing with Distress Ink in Black Soot.  I filled the divots created by the embossing folder with Designer Dries Clear Glue and covered them with #124 Jet Eye Opaque Chunky Hologram. 

The blue layer was embossed with a Tim Holtz Embossing folder.  It was too large to do it in one pass, so I embossed it twice.  I painted it with Tim Holtz Sailboat Blue.  Then, I hit the raised parts with my Versamarker and covered it with Globecraft Sterling Silver Embossing Powder and heat embossed it. 

Assembly without the globe

 The bottom layer was created with Dreamweaver Stencils and the Double Glitter Technique.  I soaped the back of the LJ 886 Fireworks Stencil.  Then, I used a large Stencil brush to brush off the "crumblies" that it created.  I placed the soaped side of the stencil down on an exposed adhesive side of the Double Sided Adhesive Paper.  I then placed #333 Red Zone Opaque Hologram and #338 King's Cup Opaque Hologram Art Glitter on the fireworks and rubbed it in.  I brushed off the excess thoroughly.  I then put the whole thing stencil side down on my table and slowly peeled the adhesive paper off of it.  I covered the paper with #188 Black Vinyl Pearlescent Ultrafine Glitter.

I did this twice.  I also used the same technique to create the words from the LG 704 Birthday Words Stencil.  This time, I wanted the words to come out very crisp, so I used the Microfine Art Glitter in #508 Silver Moon Opaque.  The Microfine gets into all the fine details to make a beautiful edge.  I pushed the glitter down hard so that it stuck well and then brushed it twice before I removed the paper and added the Black Vinyl glitter.  I cut the fireworks glittered paper up and trimmed around the fireworks bursts.  I then strategically placed them around the outside of the chipboard.

The final touches came with the Tinkerbell.  I stamped her with dye ink and an old stamp.  Then, I cut around the fairy.  I colored her skin with Copic Markers.  I used the Ultrafine Metal Tip with Designer Dries Clear and Microfine Glitter to color the details.  Her clothing is #519 Reed Opaque Microfine and her hair is #702 Sunshine Microfine Transparent.  I used #100 Sea Shell Ultrafine Transparent for her wings.  I wasn't as worried about using the Microfine for this, because it is so sheer that I could put it completely over the area and not lose any of the stamp detail. When the glue was dry, I placed Designer Dries Clear on top of Tinkerbell and attached her to the globe itself.  Because it dries completely clear, there was no worry about it altering the colors that I had placed on the figure.  I used the Designer Dries Clear to create the "magic" at the end of her hand.  I used the Ultrafine Metal Tip and put glue directly onto the globe.  I poured #124 Jet Eye Opaque Chunky Hologram Glitter onto the glue.  I waited until it was completely dry before I brushed the excess off of the globe. 

While the Tinkerbell image is a little blurry, I hope she inspires you to add a little glittering magic into your life.  Be inspired.  Be creative.  I will catch you all next time!

A Connie Crystal Basket

It is time for my second Connie Crystal Design Team post.  I found this basket at the Salvation Army near my home.  It was very simple to modify.  In fact, you could dress up just about any home decor project this way, as long as it meets this simple criteria:  it has to have holes large enough for the crystals.  You could even make your own holes in your project, but you have to make sure that they won't take away from the structure of the item.  (Kind of like not removing the "load bearing" walls when doing extensive home remodelling.) 
This one was easy, because, as you can see, it started with a wire frame.  Once you have the frame, it is a cinch!

For the bottom row, I created two  very large"S" shapes with 20 guage wire for each square Connie Crystal.  I placed one in the top hole and one in the bottom.  I made sure that the openings were in opposite directions.  Then, I hooked each crystal into a square, with the top wire facing me and looping over the support before it closes.  The bottom "S" looped in front of the wire and closed behind it.  For this project, I used twelve square crystals. You can see them the best in this picture.

For the beautiful red crystals, I created a loop on one side of the wire.  I then cut off a pice of wire about 1 1/2" long.  I strung the bead on the wire, and then made a loop on the other end.  I made a very large open loop on one end of an about 1" wire.  I put it through the loop on the bead and around the support on the top.  Then, I closed it and wrapped the rest of the wire around it and the support.  I did this on the top and the bottom.

Finally, I wove a 1 1/2" sheer ribbon through the bottom section of the basket.  I used both the support and the crystals as posts to weave through.  I made sure that the ribbon was always in front of the support beams and behind the crystal pieces.  I left the loose ends in the front of the basket.  I made a bow, and was finished!

This may not be the type of project for the perfectionist.  The loops are large and imperfect and crystals sometimes shift around a little, but the feel is consistent with the original basket.  It is casual and airy, yet with the addition of beautiful and inexpensive Connie Crystals, it is dressed up.  A project like this is satisfying and easy without breaking the bank.  Give it a try--and I will see you next time!

Black, White, and a Pop of Color

The Dreamweaver Stencils' Dream Team are playing with a new challenge, and we're hoping that YOU will play along! All of this month, we'll be creating for graduations and/or using black and white with a pop of color. May and June are typically the time for grads in the US, but to keep things even more interesting, you can choose to play with our colorway challenge instead.

So, here is mine. I am so excited to post it because I am absolutely in LOVE with this brand new stencil from Dreamweaver.  It isn't in stores just yet, but it is coming soon. It is the perfect Arts and Crafts style stencil.  It is LX 7015, and is all of the swirly black and silver part of this project.  The notebook is sort of black, white and a pop of color, isn't it, Pam?  Well, we should ignore the brown anyway, because it is part of the notebook.  I purchased the notebook from a craft store for two dollars and added the metal.  Here is how I did it:
1)  I used my Cuttlebug to deboss the metal.  That means that the sandwich went like this:  A Plate, Stencil LX 7015 face up, black coated Mercart aluminum face up, the Dreamweaver Details Embossing Mat, and two B Plates.  Then, I ran it through the machine and kept the metal attached to the stencil.
2)  I placed the metal and stencil on a smooth, flat surface (an acrylic block would do).  Using the Mercart Teflon tool, I refined the edges of the design by pushing the metal against the stencil.
3)  With metal still attached to the stencil, I sanded the surface.
4)  I remved the metal.
5)  Repeat step 1, but put the metal face down on the surfaces.  Use LJ 909 Cathedral Windows Small and the Fleur Di Lis LS 66. 
6)  Refine again.
7)  Add a little Color Solutions Alcohol Ink in Sugar Plum and Blue Vevet.  Make sure to use a blending tool with this one and try to get near the object.
8)  Sand with the stencils still attached.
9)  Attach using Double Sided Adhesive Paper.  I also used brads to hang the center one. 

You are done.  Pretty easy, huh?
Obviously, to play along with us, you do not have to have a complicated creation, so pull out your supplies and have some fun! Link your creation to the Dream It Up! blog, or email pics of your creation to Lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com. We love to post your submissions on the blog as well as the Facebook page. Even more, we love to provide you the opportunity to win one of two sets of two stencils by playing along. You have all of May to link as many creations as you'd like! Sorry...winners must be from the US or Canada.

A New Challenge!

It's May now, and the Dreamweaver Stencils' Dream Team are playing with a new challenge, and we're hoping that YOU will play along! All of this month, we'll be creating for graduations and/or using black and white with a pop of color. May and June are typically the time for grads in the US, but to keep things even more interesting, you can choose to play with our colorway challenge instead.

 

This is my creation, and, as you can see, it almost fits both categories (no real pop of color here).  I actually taught this in one of my recent classes.  It was fairly easy, and the assembly includes an older Little Yellow Bicycle paper, some gray cardstock, white cardstock, and a silver and black ribbon. The other supplies are a Basic Tool Kit from Mercart Metals, Embossed Metal Backing Paste and glue.

One of the reasons that I had no "pop of color" here is that I wanted to keep it generic for everyone in class.  If it were up to me, there would have been a red ribbon and tassel in honor of the high school my nieces go to.

Anyway, the real reason that I taught it in class was to learn the technique.  The hat was "debossed" and the tassel and diploma were "embossed".  Here are the steps:

1)  Place a piece of Mercart black coated aluminum on top of Dreamweaver Stencil LL449 Graduation and an acrylic block.  The placement goes like this:  acrylic block (or any other hard and smooth surface), stencil face up and aluminum, black side up.

2)  Use a blending stump (a drawing tool) to lightly run over the top of the hat area until you can see where the edges are.

3)  Using a Mercart Teflon Tool, push the metal up against the edge of the stencil.  This defines the edges.  Use the larger end of the tool to flatten the area on the inside.

4)  Remove the metal from the stencil and trim off the excess.  You should have a defined cap with a slight edge around it.

5)  Replace hat into the stencil.  You can lay it on top and gently move it around until it "locks" into place.

6)  While metal is in stencil, sand lightly until you can see a silver lining around the cap.  Remove and trim closer.

7)  For the tassel and diploma, you will set up the acrylic block with both the stencil and the metal face down on the block.

8) Repeat steps 2 and 3.

9)  Remove metal from stencil and place black side down on a piece of suede.

10) Push the metal out with Mercart Ball tools.  Use a small one for the thinner areas (it is on the outline tool) and a larger one (on the small cup and ball tool) for the larger areas.  You can also use the tools more creatively, like making scratches with the small tool for the individual threads of the tassel.

11) Flip metal over and place back on acrylic block.  (It should now be face up.)  Use the Mercart Teflon Tool to define the edges and flatten the background.  You can do this by "outlining" with the tool.

12)  When you have the metal the way you like it, remove it from the acrylic block and fill in the wells you have created with Mercart Embossed Metal Backing Paste.  Let dry. 

13)  Sand off as much black as you like and attach to card.  I use just a little Designer Dries Clear Glue by Art Institute Glitter for this.

You do not have to have a complicated creation to play along with us, so pull out your supplies and have some fun! Link your creation to the Dream It Up! blog, or email pics of your creation to Lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com. We love to post your submissions on the blog as well as the Facebook page. Even more, we love to provide you the opportunity to win one of two sets of two stencils by playing along. You have all of May to link as many creations as you'd like! Sorry...winners must be from the US or Canada.

In the meanwhile, head out to the other blogs for some more inspiration, and I will see you here next week! 

I Made the Team!

 Here is my first post as a member of the newly formed Art Glitter Design Team!  I am so excited for a year full of glitter!  In this post, I am going to feature some easy ways to put glitter on a scrapbook page.  I used two different techniques and three different types of glitter here. 
The first technique was on the fire ring.  I used a glue stamp pad and some older See D's Rubber cling stamps.  Obviously, they were of flames.  I stamped on the yellow cardstock, and then poured glitter over the area and cut around the flames.  The glitters that I used were Ultrafine Transparent #93 Lemone, Ultrafine Pearlescent #179 Tang and Microfine Opaque #500 Ruby Red.  Here is a closer look.

 It has been raining up here in Michigan for a couple of days, so I wasn't able to get the beautiful photos that I was looking for to help explain the differences between the colors that I used.  The Lemone is transparent, so it is just a whisper of color on the yellow.  Transparent colors are light and clear and just give the color that you use as a base a subtle beauty.  Of course, using it on yellow made it even more subtle.  You can see it clearly on the shiney flame behind the red in the flash area.
Pearlescent colors are a little stronger on their own, but have a gorgeous pearl-like sheen.  You can, sadly, barely see the difference here, but in real life the Tang glitter adds a little more orange color to the yellow.  It gives more depth to the fire ring.  Look at the flame behind and beneath the red on the right of the picture.
Microfine glitter is really special. The red is an opaque, althought microfine glitter comes in transparent as well.  Opaque glitter completely covers the color of the background cardstock.   It is the bright red here.  I wanted one color to take center stage, and the red was it!  The other special thing about the Ruby Red is that it is Microfine.  If you look carefully at the pictures, it is the most crisp and detailed of the colors.  It appears so sharp is because the glitter is finely ground.   That also causes the glitter to float around a lot, so make sure that if you use it, you burnish it, or rub it in hard with your fingers.  Then, brush it off for a beautiful finish. 
Another color that you will find on the fire ring is the mixed color.  It is primarily the red mixed with the yellow.  This blending can best be accomplished by placing the ultrafine color down first.  Then, rub some of the microfine on the top.  Flecks of the microfine are actually so fine that they go in between the ultrafine glitter.  It creates a true blended look.
Well, on to the title.  I cut it with my Silhouette machine.  I used a font called Char, which I obtained online for free.  I had to ungroup it to remove some of the finer details.  Then, I made an offset shape for the "shadow".  I cut both shapes from yellow cardstock. 
So, here is the second simple tip:  run the title through your Xyron upside down.  That's right.  I set the main title upside down in my Xyron.  Then, I dipped it in my Microfine Opaque Ruby Red.  I rubbed it a little with my fingers and brushed it off.  I ran the backround upside down through the Xyron as well.  When I removed it, I first placed the red glittered title in it.  Then, I poured the Ultrafine Transparent Lemone on top of it.  Unlike the flames, which blended, you can see here that the title did NOT blend.  Why?  Well, the Microfine is so finely ground that it took ALL the available space on the title.  See how lush it looks?  When the Ultrafine is poured on top, there is nowhere for it to attach except for the shadow of the letter.
Well, hopefully you have read this all and learned a lot about glitters and adhesive tricks.  There are a lot more types of projects and materials that I am going to cover during this exciting year of glitter!