GIVEAWAY and Tutorial: Dreamweaver Stencils and Metalic FX

Want to pull together a card quickly that gives really impressive results?  This technique is the one for you.  It’s super easy, has tons of sparkle and dimension, and only takes about 2 minutes to do from start to finish (not counting drying time.)

I’ll start this post with the admission that I’m a stenciling newbie.  That being said, I’m now addicted.  Stencils are easy and fun and surprisingly versatile.  I asked Lynell at Dreamweaver if I could play with this hydrangea stencil — she surprised me by also sending along with some embossing paste and some metallic f/x.  I didn’t know what to do with them, so I used this tutorial by Cherylynn Moser for Sculpted Paste to get me started.

Here are my steps:

Step 1:  Lay your stencil on top of your cardstock and tape it down.  I used blue painters tape.  Use whatever you want, but make sure it’s something you can pull off easily later on.

Step 2:  Smear your embossing paste all over the stencil.  I used a Pampered Chef scraper to do this.  Be careful to use a light touch or you will smush the paste under the stencil.  (I speak from experience, don’t zoom in on my card or you’ll discover that I’m imperfect.)

Step 3:  Flick some metallic F/X onto your stencil where you want the color to appear.  Use an old soft paintbrush for this — you don’t need very much powder.  (I used a spoon.  My heavy handedness was not necessary and since my cardstock was taped down, I couldn’t shake the extra back into the jar.  Sigh .  We learn by doing….)

Step 4: Not pictured.  Go back with a stenciling brush (or your fingers) and tap the powder into the paste.  Use a light touch – you just want to make sure it sticks.  (I did this part with my hands and it worked fine. It’s neater to use a stenciling brush, but I enjoyed getting messy.)

Step 5:  Not pictured.  Remove three sides of tape, leaving one piece on your project to act as a hinge.  Lift the stencil and slide out your cardstock.  Set it aside trying hard not to touch it or clean up any imperfections.  Clean up the rest of the mess.  (Note:  stencils will wash right up with warm water and a soft brush.  Be gentle with your stencil and don’t bend it.  Towel dry.)

Step 6:  After an hour or so, your paste should be completely dry.  Go over it with a Swiffer dust cloth to remove any stray powder. You’re all done!  (If you want to touch up any areas that the powder missed, you can use a glue pad and some additional powder.)

Step 7:  Admire your work.  Appreciate the shine.  Marvel at the fact that YOU MADE THIS!  Think about sending it to your Mother in Law.  Decide that it should sit on your desk for awhile so that you can feel proud of yourself.

Close up of sparkle.

Dreamweaver has generously offered one lucky duck the free stencil of their choice!  It could be you!  Enter to win using the Rafflecopter link below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner from  our LAST Challenge was: Vicki Poole!  Congratulations Vicki