Happy Birthday Lynell!!!

Did you know that we're celebrating the Queen's birthday this week? Well...the Queen of Stencils, Lynell Harlow, that is. Actually, her birthday is on Saturday, but we're surprising her by posting birthday cards in her honor today. Nothing like making you feel OLD sooner than necessary, right Lynell? You'll even see a few familiar names in our lineup, as some of the teaching team are whooping it up for her as well.

In addition to our birthday party, we are also beginning a new year and a new monthly challenge. In honor of all those resolutions we hope to achieve, our challenge is "Losing the Weight...AKA Clean and Simple (CAS)". If we all try really hard to simplify our design-work without losing our creativity, we can all say at the end of the month that we've lost some weight! Maybe not off of our waistlines, but at least off of our cards! Gotta start somewhere!

For this week's CAS card, and to honor Lynell, I thought I'd so a simple card using the Strie technique. I don't do this technique very often, I find myself naturally using the "rouging" technique for applying color so this was fun to make.

Stencils used:
LX 7014 Daisy Background and LG 704 Birthday Words

If you haven't already done so, please head on over the to the other Dream Team and Dream Teaching Team blogs, especially the Dream It Up! blog and leave Lynell some birthday wishes. She's a very sweet lady and I am sure she will be touched by all the kinds words.

Dream It Up!
Laura Drahozal
Lyn Bernatovich 

Pam Hornschu
Heidi Erickson
Louise Healy
Cyndi Bundy

Lee Kellogg
Liz Martin
Terrece Siddoway
Lea Kimmel

Kristi Parker Van Doren

I'll be back next week with CAS part 2! Until then, I hope your new year is starting our fabulously!

"Pinspiration"

For the month of June, the Dreamweaver Design Team has been challenged to create a project that is inspired by something seen on Pinterest, a challenge I am calling PINSPIRATION!

So here is my inspiration piece:

and its link: http://pinterest.com/pin/202028733254404526/

I love the bright and vivid colors of these Gerber Daisies and instantly thought of combining them Dreamweaver's brand new LL3031 Shasta Flower Trio stencil:

and Dreamweaver's LX7014 Daisy background stencil:

I love the end result. It is so vibrant and cheery. What do you think?

Both stencil images were machine-embossed. The background was then colored using Distress inks and Ranger's ink blending tool in Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed.

The Shasta Flower Trio was colored with my absolute favorite coloring medium, PAINSTIKS! I love their creaminess and blendability. I also love the fact that they can be used on fabric and other porous mediums and once dry are permanent. How cool is that?!

Okay, now that you've seen my inspiration, please leave me some love and then head over to the other participating Design Team members blogs and check out their PINSPIRATIONS!

Dream It Up!
Jennifer Dove 
Jessica Griffin 
Lea Kimmel 

Louise Healy 

Stacey Rumsby

Terrece Siddoway 
Caroline Duncan 

Pam Hornschu 

Cherylynn Moser 

Cyndi Bundy

Remember, this monthly challenge is not for Dreamweaver Design Team members only. Everyone is invited (and encouraged) to participate. All you need to do to be eligible to win a prize is to link a picture of your creation using the linky tool on Dreamweaver's blog. More details and the link can be found here. 

Thanks for stopping by. I hope my little PINSPIRATION brought some cheer to your day.

Hugs and Happy Pinning!

A Month of Glitter (UPDATED)

So, if April Showers Bring May Flowers, what does June bring?

It brings an incredible collaboration between Dreamweaver Stencils and Art Glitter!

AND

ARE TEAMING UP THE ENTIRE MONTH OF JUNE TO BRING YOU AN AMAZING CREATIVE COLLABORATION MIXING DREAMWEAVER STENCILS AND ART GLITTER. COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE...WE PROMISE IT WILL BE A SPARKLING ONE!

Visit the Art Glitter blog and the Dream It Up! blog for fabulous inspiration from both talented design teams. We are encouraging all of you to play along with the challenge of creating with Dreamweaver Stencils and Art Glitter*, preferably using the Double-Glitter Technique with a wedding theme. Just link your creation to the Mr. Linky on the Dream It Up! blog, or email pics to lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com, for an opportunity to win one of four fabulous glitter and stencil prize packages. One winner will be chosen each week. (US and Canada only, please).

My creation started with Dreamweaver's LG740 Open Butterfly  stencil and double-sided mounting paper. Using the waterfall technique I applied Sedona Sun, Mai Mango and Red Oak glitter to the openings in the butterfly (hereinafter called a "glitterfly"!) Then after carefully peeling the Glitterfly off of the stencil I finished with a layer of the blue Nirvana (remember blue and orange are opposite colors so they play well off each other.)

Then I ran my orange A2 card through my BigShot with the NEW Daisy background.

For the little butterflies (note: not glitterflies!) I ironed 3 layers of Fantasy Film together and then punched them out with my Martha Stewart butterfly punch. I apologize, I have had the Fantasy Film for years and no longer have the packaging so I don't know what color it is.

Bright and cheery, exactly what I needed today!


Dreamweaver Stencils: LG740 Open Butterfly and LX7014 Daisy Background
Art Glitter: Sedona Sun, Mai Mango, Red Oak and Nirvana along with
Art Glitter Fantasy Film

Please visit the Art Glitter design team blog for a complete list of players throughout the month.
For more inspiration from the Dream Team, here's the blog list for this week:

Dream It Up! blog
Pam Hornschu

Laura Drahozal

Louise Healy
Wendy Jordan

Terrece Siddoway

Kristi Van Doren

Georgia Sommers

Lee Kellogg
Jessie Hurley

Liz Martin

Cyndi Bundy

Cherylynn Moser

*For the month of June Art Glitter is selling 1 oz jars of glitter for $5.98 (regular price $7.32)! Get the deets HERE!