Graphic 45, Burlap and Grapes Card

This week, Stampendous is featuring gorgeous Graphic 45 papers.  I just love their patterns.  My card also features the added textures of cork, burlap, and twine.

Here's how it was done:

MATERIALS:

DWLL568 Dreamweaver Grapes Stencil

Glossy White Embossing Paste

Dreamweaver Palette Knife

Paste Spreader

Removable Tape

Graphic 45 Rare Oddities Collection Brews and Potions Paper

Spectrum Markers EB8, DG3, CG2, FL5, LV1, PL4, LV2, LV3 and JG6

Creative Impressions Brads

My Colors Card Stock in Evergreen and Deep Purple

Green Burlap

Cork Paper

Twine

Zip Dry

Fabri-Tac

Big Bite Tool

INSTRUCTIONS:

The card base is 5 1/2" by 8 1/2" folded in half for a 5 1/2" by 4 1/4" card.

1)  Tape the stencil, right side up, over the cork paper.  Be sure to use a single large piece all the way across the top to use as a hinge when removing the stencil.  

2)  Remove some paste from the container with the palette knife and place on the bottom front of the paste spreader.

3)  Place the bottom of the spreader on the top of the stencil, with the paste facing you.

4)  Pull the paste covered spreader down over the stencil, maintaining contact with the stencil and filling in the wells with the paste as you go.

5)  Place the excess paste back in the container.

6)  Carefully remove the tape from the sides and bottom of the stencil.

7)  Using the top tape as a hinge, carefully remove the stencil and let the paste dry.

8)  When the paste is completely dry, use the Spectrum Markers to color directly on the white paste.

9)  Use the Fabri-Tac to adhere the burlap to the patterned paper and the purple card stock to the burlap and let dry.

10)  Use the Zip Dry to adhere the cork paper to the card stock.

11)  Use the Big Bite to punch holes for the brads through all the layers.

12)  Place brads into the holes.

13)  Wrap and tie twine around the bottom.

14)  Use Zip Dry to adhere the card to the background and the card base. 

Thanks for checking out my blog today.  Be sure to check out today's other posts for more wonderful Graphic 45 and Stampendous inspiration:

Stampendous Blog

Pam Bray

Louise Healy

Alison Heikkila

Laura Drahozal

Dreamweaver and Graphic 45 Voyage Beneath the Sea

Welcome to the Stampendous and Graphic 45 Beneath the Sea Blog Hop!  I just love Graphic 45 paper, don't you?  Well, in addition to seeing how the design team used some of the Voyage Beneath the Sea Collection, you have a chance to win prizes on this hop.

Prizes

Put on your underwater gear and swim through our posts and featured designer’s blog posts this week to comment because we have an ocean of goodies in three (3) prize packages. Each comment is your entry for a chance at one of the prize packages.  See Official Contest Rules for details. Deadline to comment is Sunday night, April 17th .

Three winners will receive a prize package with one of our new matching sea theme stamp and die sets (Seashells, Sailboat and Mermaid Friends), Ocean Wisdom Perfectly Clear Stamp Set PLUS a sample of papers from the Graphic 45 Papers Voyage Beneath the Sea Collection.

My project was inspired by this beautiful collection.  Here it is:

MATERIALS:

DWLL477 Wave Crest Stencil

DWLS06 Small Scallop Shell Stencil

Dreamweaver Regular Embossing  Paste

Embossing Powders:  Sky Blue, Baby Blue, Chunky White, Kaleidoscope Transparent, OpaqueWhite, Carnelian

Stampendous White Pearl Ultrafine Glitter

Versamark  Ink Pad

Versamarker

Double Sided Mounting Paper

Removable Tape

Dreamweaver Palette Knife

Heat Embossing Tool

Graphic 45 Voyage Beneath the Sea Collection--Deep Blue Dreams Paper

Paper Mache Box

Deco Art Media Fluid Acrylics:  Prussian Blue Hue, Titanium White

Zip Dry

Paint Brush

Scissors

DIRECTIONS:

        1)  Paint the box with varying mixtures of the blue and white acrylics.  The different colors of blue will make the box more interesting.  Let it dry.

        2)   Cut four pieces of Double Sided Mounting Paper a little larger than the Small Scallop Stencil.

        3)  Use the Versamark Ink pad on the back of the Small Scallop Stencil.  Place the stencil, ink side down, centered on a piece of the mounting paper and gently press it on.

        4)  Pour some Carnelian Embossing Powder over the project and press in with your fingers, being sure to cover the paper on the outside of the stencil as well. 

        5) Turn the project upside down on a flat surface and carefully remove the paper from the stencil.    

        6) Heat set the embossing powder using the heat gun. 

        7)  Cover the remaining Mounting Paper with the Pearl Glitter. 

        8)  Repeat steps 3-7 with the remaining three pieces of mounting paper. 

        9)  Center the Wave Crest Stencil over the top of the box and tape down.  You will likely need to tape from underneath the box lid onto the back side of the stencil to keep it adhered.

        10)  Remove the Embossing Paste from the jar with the Palette Knife, scooping it out so it sits under the knife.

        11)  Place the palette knife on the top of the stencil, and pull it down towards yourself, being sure to keep contact between the knife and the stencil at all times. 

        12) Carefully remove the Wave Crest Stencil, treating the last piece of tape as a hinge as you take it off.  Let the paste dry. 

        13) Once the past is completely dry, “paint” the embossing powder on the image in phases.  You will use the Versamarker in the areas that you want colored, cover them with the embossing powder, and emboss with your heat gun.  You will repeat this process until you have colored the entire wave crest image.

        14) Cut the border off of the Graphic 45 paper.  

        15) Glue the border around the bottom of the box and the side of the lid. 

        16) Remove the backing from the shell covered double sided mounting paper and place, like a sticker, around the box.

Here are the rest of the posts for today.  Don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win!

Stampendous Blog

Louise Healy

Alison Heikkila

Tenia Nelson

Pam Hornschu

Lea Fritts

Laura Drahozal

A Blooming Spring

Here is my Blooming Spring card for this week.  I hadn't used Crackle Paste in a long time, and I was due!  Because I was going for an antique look, I thought it would work well with the Graphic 45 French Country Collection and Distress Inks.  It was simple.  The hardest part was waiting for the paste to dry.  Here is how it goes:
MATERIALS:
Dreamweaver Stencil LL 3023 Tall Poppy
Dreamweaver Stencil Picasso LL332
Dreamweaver Matte Black Embossing Paste
Dreamweaver Crackle Embossing Paste
Dreamweaver Palette Knife
Removable Tape
3 Stencil Brushes (either Blue Handled, Gold Handled, or both)
Distress Inks in Mustard Seed, Forest Moss, Pine Needles, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany and Frayed
                       Burlap
Blending Tool
Non Stick Craft Sheet
Graphic 45 French Country Paper
Ivory Card Stock
Brown Card Stock
Ribbon

DIRECTIONS:
1)  Distress ivory card stock, if desired with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.
2)  Use Removable Tape to tape the Poppy Stencil down over the top of the ivory card stock.  You can tape it directly to the craft sheet.
3)  Use the Palette Knife to spread the Matte Black Embossing Paste over the stencil.  You can use it as if it were a squeegee.  Touch the palette knife directly on the stencil and pull it all the way down.
4)  Remove the stencil to wash it, and set the project aside to dry.

5)  When the embossing paste is dry, put completely dry stencil over the top of it.
6)  Repeat steps 2-4 with Crackle Paste instead of Matte Black Paste.

7)  Let dry.  As it dries, it will crackle and turn opaque white.

8)  Replace stencil.  Use the stencil brushes and Distress Inks to apply color.  You can use the Picasso to help define and refine edges.
9)  Assemble the card.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Enter our monthly competition by making something that means "Blooming Spring" to you.  Send a picture to Lynell@Dreamweaverstencils.com for your chance to win!  Meanwhile, leave us, the "old" design team, a little bit of love.  It is our last week as a team, so check us out!

A Magical, Crystal Wreath

This is my Connie Crystal post for today.  It is a real mixed media project, and I am pleased with my results.  This is just a sneak peek, though.  For more information on this project and tons more photos, check the Connie Crystal Blog!  Hope to see you there!

Art Glitter, Graphic 45 and Want 2 Scrap oh my!

Graphic 45, Art Glitter and Want2Scrap are teaming up this week to bring you tons of inspiration using our products!

After you check out the projects of our design team, be sure to head on over to the Want2Scrap blog and Graphic 45 blogs to find out what the talented members of their Design Team have in store for you today! Art glitter will be giving away 4 prizes! Just leave a comment on Art Glitter Blog by Sunday July 29th!

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Here are the Design Team members that will be posting for Art Glitter this week and days! Check them out and then leave a comment for them and on Art Glitter's Blog for your Chance to win BLOG CANDY!

Friday Laura & Kristi

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Here is my project.

Product List:

Graphic 45 Le Cirque Wizards of Wonder Paper (2 Sheets)

Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante Fantasy Floral Paper

Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante Nouveau Artistry

Graphic 45 Kraftboard Altered 5 x 5 Box

Want2Scrap Nestabling Pearl Frames

Want2Scrap Wonderful Wings Bling

Art Glitter Ultrafine Transparent Flax

Art Glitter Ultrafine Transparent Melon

Art Glitter Ultrafine Transparent Mystery

Art Glitter Microfine Transparent Sea Foam

Art Glitter Microfine Transparent Romosa

Art Glitter Microfine Transparent Tangerine

Art Glitter Microfine Transparent Poupon

Art Glitter Fantasy Film Dandelion

Art Glitter Designer Dries Clear Glue with Fine Metal Tip

Colorbox Chalk Cat's Eye Chestnut Roan Ink

Smooch Spritz Navy Sprinkle

Smooch Spritz Emerald Sprinkle

Globecraft Memories Piccolo Gears (4)

Globecraft Memories Piccolo Embossing Powders in various colors

Embossing Fluid

Heat Gun

Brushed Silver Brad (2)

Green Hemp

Big Bite

Scotch Foam Tape

Glue Stick

Brayer

Scissors with a fine tip

There are a lot of steps to this box, so I am just going to hit the highlights.  Before I began, I inked the edges of the box.  I then adhered the Graphic 45 Le Cirque papers over the whole thing.  I noticed that they were brighter and more of a yellowy green than the Steampunk Debutante colors, so I used my Smooch sprays to change them.  I sprayed the Navy Twinkle first to make the color more turquoise.  I then sprayed the Emerald, which has a little gold in it, to further deepen the green and bring in the gold of the Steampunk flowers.   I purposely sprayed close to the box to get the mottled effect.  I inked the edges again after I was done spraying.

As you can see, I fancy cut the flowers from the Fantasy Floral Paper, stacked a couple with foam tape for later and glued the rest across the box. 

Then, I noticed that the Want2Scrap Nestabling Pearls looked like beautiful frames, so I laid one around the opening in the top of the box.  I glittered the area between it and the open square with Ultrafine Transparent Flax.  I used transparent to create the illusion of a see through frame while maintaining the details.  For this reason, I used transparent for all my glittering.  I chose colors that resembled the colors on the paper so that I could enhance them while still seeing those details.  I even glittered some of the stars from the Le Cirque Paper in the background.  For the woman, I went a step further and used Transparent Microfine to really get in the details.  Of course, all of this detail work was done with the Designer Dries Clear Glue and the metal tip to get a really fine line.

The clasp was easier than it looks.  I first embossed the Globecraft gears to add color.  Then, I stacked two pieces of foam tape, sticky to sticky.  I punched a hole in that and the box with my Big Bite.  I adhered the foam and the gear lined up with the holes and put a brad through them.  I attached the green hemp and tied the two remaining gears to it.

Finally, the simple butterflies.  I carefully placed the Want2Scrap Butterflies on the Art Glitter Fantasy Film by anchoring one corner and slowly rolling away the backing material.  I intended to put glitter on the top, but loved them so much just on the Fantasy Film, that I stopped there.

Be sure to look back to every day this week for more project inspiration! We have Blog Candy to give away to 4 of our lucky commenters! Also, make sure you stop and visit us as well as our friends over at Want2Scrap and Graphic 45 each day this week, prizes and lots of wonderful inspiration coming your way! Also,visit the Want2Scrap Facebook Page and Graphic 45 Facebook page this week and tell them Art Glitter sent you!

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Dreamweaver Free Week--Two Cards, One Theme

Aren't you always in need of masculine cards? I know I am. Well, partially this is because I can't keep my hands off of the glitter (more on that later.....an announcement at the end of the post) and the flowers. Neither a particularly masculine item. I think I can also blame the manufacturers, though. Not too many of them make masculine products. Lynell has come to the rescue with the tie stencil (LG 735). I used it, the stripe stencil (LX 7002) and the Happy Birthday stencil (LM 248) to make this card for Dreamweaver.

I first pasted the tie with the original white paste. Then, I pasted the Happy Birthday in glossy black. After the paste was dry, I stencilled a little Distress ink in Antique Linen under the collar and Mustard all across the tie. Then, I placed the stipe stencil on the tie, angling it to match the bottom edge of the tie, and stencilled it with Adirondack Pigment Ink in Denim. After that dried, I replaced the tie stencil, covered the whole tie with Versamark and embossed it with clear powder. Finally, I determined the shape and angles of the suit and cut it from a beautiful piece of Graphic 45 Proper Gentleman paper. I finished up the card with inking and brads, photographed it, and sent it off.

Fast forward a couple of months, and I am thinking that I would like to use this card in a class. Of course, we have run out of the Graphic 45 paper, and never did carry the brads. Additionally, we only have one of these birthday stencils in stock. I was thinking that I could also stand to cut a little time from the overall class...........So, this is what I came up with:

Okay, so this is how I solved my problems: I switched the stencil to the Birthday Words (LG 704), I replaced the paper with one from the Pebbles Mr and Mrs line, and I changed the tie color, stencil, embossing project to just stencilling on a colored piece of paper and cutting it out. This last part will shorten my time considerably, since there is no waiting for the ink to dry between steps. I just stencilled on the yellow paper with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink and replaced the tie stencil, tracing the inside lightly with pencil and cutting it out. Then I glued it on with Art Glitter Dries Clear. Notice I removed the brads from the card, saving me time, money, and aggrevation, as Scrap Tales never did carry that particular brad. This decision, believe it or not, really troubled me. I kept trying to find a replacement for the brads until I finally just gave up.

The assembly is pretty much the same. I did take awhile to figure out the changes needed to make this card more appropriate for class, but once I worked it out, I liked it. I think I might like it better than the original. Of course, it is now time for you to make the changes that you want to on it. Also, check out my Dream Team Sisters Blogs for their projects today. (The blogs are listed on the left).

Oh, and about that glitter comment, anyone who knows me understands that I often walk around leaving a trail of glitter in my wake. My favorite brand is, of course, Art Institute Glitter. Therefore, it is quite a thrill for me to have been selected to be a guest blogger for June, July and August on the Art Glitter Blog. (Blinkie and link to follow as soon as I get it). You have heard it here first, folks, as Art Glitter hasn't announced the names yet, and I am posting here before Facebook this time. I hope to catch you over there some time this summer, too. I will still be here every week though, so keep coming back for your Dreamweaver fix.