Archive for ‘Tutorials’

Valentine Treat Box Tutorial

By Jessie, 5 January, 2012, 2 Comments

This month’s Challenge for Dreamweaver Stencils is to design something for Valentine’s day, and I thought I would do something other than a card this time! After all, you can use your stencils for more than just cards! And this Acrylic box is the perfect container for whatever your Valentine’s favorite treat is.

Supply List

Dreamweaver Rose Stencil LM 170
Dreamweaver Flourish Stencil LJ896
Microfine Glitter
Quickie Glue Pen
Tsukineko Ink Pads Bamboo Leaves (Rhubarb in picture wasn’t used)
Removeable Tape
Acrylic sheets
BigZ XL Treat Box Die
BigShot Die cutting machine
Silicone mat and Impressions Pad
Glitter Gone Mat

Step 1

Die cut the Treat Box out of the Acrylic Sheets using the BigShot machine

Step 2

Using the Silicone mat and Impressions pad, Emboss the Acrylic lid of the box with the Rose Stencil. I ran it through with an extra shim as my acrylic is quite thick and I wanted a deep impression.

The Removable Tape helped keep the Stencil from shifting on the acrylic as it ran through the machine.

Step 3

Using the Quickie Glue Pen, on the De-bossed side of the acrylic, I added the glitter, one colour at a time. I used Burgundy Microfine Glitter as a shadow on the petals. Then I added Rose Copper Microfine for the remainder of the petals, and Moss Green Microfine for the stem and leaves. don’t forget to use your Glitter Gone Mat to clean up the Glitter left on your workspace!

Step 4

Using the Flourish stencil and Bamboo Leaves Ink Pad, I stenciled the Pink Tissue paper with a Dauber to give it more character as it will be seen through the acrylic box.

Step 5

Put the Acrylic box together, fold in the tissue paper and add the chocolate! After I had it all together, it still needed a little something, so I added the Pink Ribbon with the words “From the Heart” on it. How lucky was I to have the perfect ribbon for this project!

The Finished Product!

I absolutely LOVE how the outside oval shape of the stencil embossed into the Acrylic giving the image the perfect border!

I hope this project has inspired you to use your stencils for projects other than cards, but if you need more idea’s, I’m planning 3 more projects this month using this same stencil in different ways, so stay tuned…

New Year’s Challenge – Tutorial

By Jessie, 29 December, 2011, 2 Comments

Okay, so the last Dreamweaver challenge of the year is to create a project with a New Year’s theme. Now I don’t officially start on the Design Team for another 4 days, but I thought I would take part, and show you guys how I made the Cherished Chum’s Christmas Card this year.

Christmas! I thought you said this was a New Year’s Challenge?!

I know, I know, but aren’t I always telling you that you don’t need to use Seasonal products for your projects? Well, now I’m proving it! We “Ring in the New Year” right? So I’m using the Dreamweaver Vertical Bells Stencil for this challenge.

Glitter Painting ~ Tradex Demo

By Jessie, 2 April, 2011, No Comment

We’ve just gotten back from the Sewing and Craft Show today at the Tradex, and I thought I would include the instructions here from today’s demo!

I ‘ve always called this technique “Glittered Stencils”, but was recently told that it’s true name is “Glitter Painting”, so I will refer to this technique as such, so you can wander the Internet looking for more examples!

Supplies Needed
SookWang Tape
Brass Stencil
Coconut Soap
Glitter
Glitter Gone Mat
Gummy Bears

Step 1

Apply a strong double sided tape to your cardstock. I use SookWang, sometimes referred to as Scor-Tape or Be Creative Tape. (They are all the same product, just different distributors, so don’t let the various names mix you up!)

Step 2

To keep your Brass Stencil from sticking to the SookWang (’cause you know, with this tape, once something is stuck, it is REALLY hard to get it off!) you must apply a layer of soap to the back of the stencil. The soap needs to be of a pure consistency, so not all commercial soaps will work and give you a streak free background. We suggest (and sell in our online store…oopsie, I just noticed that it’s missing so I’ll getting it added asap!) a pure Coconut soap.

Now many sites will show rubbing the dry bar of soap over the stencil, but I like to wet my finger, rub it over the soap, getting a layer on my finger, and then rubbing my finger with the “wet” soap on it over the back of the stencil.

You can now lay the stencil (soap side down) on top of the SookWang.

Step 3

If you are using a variety of colours, mask off the areas that you do not want glitter to cover, and add your glitter colours one at a time, removing your masks as you go. I like to use Removeable tape because I can easily control the size of my “masks”, but you can use Post-It notes as well.

I like to add dimension to my images by applying a darker Glitter to the Outside edges of my images. I apply the glitter by dipping my finger into the glitter, and rubbing it around the edges of the stencil. This allows for a more carefree look to the shadow and gives a more realistic result. Once the Darker Glitter is applied, the lighter can be added and it won’t stick to the area’s covered by the Dark glitter. Continue until all areas of the stencil are covered.

Step 4

Now you can carefully remove the stencil from the SookWang. I like to peel the Sookwang from the corners of the stencil and work my way around, this helps prevent the stencil from bending. If you have covered the stencil evenly with Coconut Soap, the Sookwang will peel off easily.

Step 5

The area around the Glittered Image is still sticky, so completely cover this with Glitter as well. If you have used MicroFine Glitter, be sure to Burnish the entire Image (This means to rub vigorously to bring out the sparkle) If you have used UltraFine Glitter, then no rubbing is required!

Step 6

Clean up your work area of Glitter using the Glitter Gone Mat, it’s SO easy!

Step 7

Mat the Glittered Image and add it to your card, then treat yourself to a few Gummy Bears for all your hard work, tee hee!

Neat ‘Nique ~ Colouring Stencils

By Jessie, 9 June, 2010, 1 Comment

This week’s Neat ‘Nique (Neat Technique) was learning how to easily colour your stenciled images with Ink Pads

Here’s the finished card and all the supplies you need:

Supplies needed for this card are pictured here

~Assorted cardstock
~Dreamweaver Brass stencil – Large Branch
~Memento Ink Pads – Pear Tart, Bamboo ~Leaves, Rich Cocoa
~Stipple Brushes
~Sponge daubers
~Removeable Tape
~BigShot Die Cutting Machine with Silicone Mat and Impressions Pad
~CuttleBug Houndstooth Embossing Folder

Encaustic Wax Neat ‘Nique

By Jessie, 12 May, 2009, No Comment

Supplies:Encaustic Wax Iron (travel iron will work)

Wax Painting paper (Glossy will work)

3 colours of wax cubes

If you hold the iron in your writing hand,and melt the wax with the opposite hand, it makes it easier to apply the iron to the paper without having to switch in the middle. Holding the iron upside down and horizontal to the table to ensure a flat surface, melt the first colour of wax over the tip of the iron then add a “smoosh” of the second colour of wax.

Add just a dab of the third colour (this is optional)press the tip of the iron to the paper and lift continue around the entire page. Without adding anymore wax, continue to press the tip of the iron into the wax on the page at varying heights, this will create instant dimension

Add a photo, stamped or die-cut image and attach to a card base. See how easy that was? Go ahead, try it out and send us a picture of what you’ve done and we’ll post it on our blog. This is a great new technique that is getting rave reviews and we’d love to get it going here at Cherish The Thought. Send me those pics to madigin@shaw.ca and I’ll get them up.