Week Three of the Dream Team Valentine Challenge

So, two weeks ago the new Dream Team introduced our followers to our change in challenges. Each month we'll run a different challenge for YOU to play along with. You'll have ALL month long to create and link to the Dream It Up! blog, as many times as you want, with one of two opportunities to win a fabulous stencil design from Dreamweaver Stencils! For the month of January, the challenge is to wow us with a Valentine-themed project. My card for this third week features the Heart Lock stencil (yes, once again), only this time with a different technique from the first week's post. The ink transfer (or letterpress) technique is soooo simple, and sooooo effective! All that is necessary is to apply ink in some form (ink pads, Memories Mists, Color Solutions alcohol inks, etc.) to the surface of the stencil. Place this face up on the bottom platen of whichever embossing/die-cutting machine you may own (my personal fave? The Sizzix Big Shot Pro!). Then spritz the top of the stencil with a little alcohol to rewet the ink, place cardstock panel face down on top of stencil, rubber embossing mat over this, with two clear platens over the top of all. Confused? Yeah, I know that your manual will tell you to sandwich all of this between two clear platens, but we recommend having the two platens on top to protect your stencils. For my card, I spritzed with a small amount of Strawberry Daiquiri Memories Mists on my stencil. The cardstock was a a watercolor paper with a canvas texture. The process highlights the texture while embossing the beautiful Heart Lock stencil image. The sentiment (You & Me) was also machine embossed, but dry this time. With a lacy punched border and a couple flowers, you have yet another fab Valentine card completed for the sweetie in your life. If you haven't visited the rest of our amazing new team, you will definitely want to do so now:

Pam Hornschu   

Laura Drahozal  

Louise Healy  

Wendy Jordan  

Terrece Siddoway 

Kristi Van Doren 

Georgia Sommers 

Lee Kellogg 

Liz Martin

 Cyndi Bundy 

Cherylynn Moser 

Jessie Hurley

If you've made the rounds already, then get your Valentine mojo on and create something "love-ly" of your own and link it on the Dreamweaver Stencils Dream It Up! blog. You have until February 1st by midnight to be eligible to win.

The Dream Team 2012 Challenges Begin!

Welcome to the first posting of the Dreamweaver Stencils' Dream Team 2012 ! We're changing things up a bit for this year, and YOU can help. The first Thursday of every month will feature our new challenge and will extend through the entire month. This means that YOU have ALL month to play along with the one challenge, as many times as you want. Sometimes it will be a color challenge, sometimes a theme, and sometimes a technique. We are hoping that an entire month will give you plenty of time to be inspired, create, and link to the Dream It Up! blog . Each month we are offering TWO prizes...one for the most creative version of the challenge (does not have to be Dreamweaver Stencils ' product, but we sure are happy when it is!), and the second for the best use of Dreamweaver Stencils ' product in the challenge. This could be stencils  (of course), Embossing Pastes , Metallic F/X , the new Color Solutions , etc., anything you find on the Dreamweaver Stencils' web site , or in your local store. Don't know where your local store is? The list can be found on the web site . Not near any of the stores listed? There is also an online site to purchase from, Stencil with Style !
 

For the month of January, we challenge you to create something for Valentine's Day! You have until January 31st, 11:59 PM EST, to post and link your creation(s) to the Dream It Up! Blog   Mr. Linky. The winners will be announced February 2nd, along with the February challenge. Here is my version of this month's challenge:

Dreamweaver Stencils has a gorgeous selection of stencils with hearts in various styles...simple, ornate, Celtic, gothic, and romantic. The Heart Lock is one of my faves, and I used a very simple technique to create this card. The background white panel was stenciled with Memories Mists Strawberry Daiquiri (sounds yum, doesn't it?) through the Damask stencil. The focal piece is a panel of Double-sided Adhesive adhered to a white cardstock panel and covered with Stampendous Multi Crystal Glitter. Then this panel was also stenciled with the same Memories Mists. I chose the MM method mainly because I already had these products out on my workspace as I went on a Valentine binge for this month's challenge. You'll see more from this binge over the next few weeks. When using the Memories Mists, I highly recommend that you tape your stencil down on all four sides with removable tape as usual. Then place the piece in a cardboard box and spray from about 8-10 inches away. The box will help to contain the overspray. To finish off my card, I created the gold foiled key by stenciling on red cardstock with Versamark ink, embossing with Stampee Stuck on You bonding powder, placing a piece of gold Stampee foil face up over the surface, placing between a folded sheet of printer paper, and running through my hot laminator. I also added a little Two Way Glue Marker to one of the Dreamweaver Stencils' 3" Embellishment Pins, and rubbed the leftover foil bits over the surface. This with the ribbon and rhinestone bling, added to the very romantic feel of this Valentine.

Need more inspiration? Please visit the rest of our fabulous team listed here:

Pam Hornschu   

Laura Drahozal  

Louise Healy  

Wendy Jordan  

Terrece Siddoway 

Kristi Van Doren 

Georgia Sommers 

Lee Kellogg 

Liz Martin

 Cyndi Bundy 

Cherylynn Moser 

Jessie Hurley