Double Dipping with Dreamweaver

For today's post, I'm sharing a modified version of the Joseph's Coat technique with Dreamweaver Stencils. For my card base, I brayered a Kaleidacolor inkpad over the Waves and Dots stencil, and ink-transferred the design to the front of my white card.

A portion of the Leafless Tree Die was cut from orange cardstock to create the "coral". Finally, the same Kaleidacolor ink was brayered over a panel of white glossy cardstock. Ordinarily with this technique, you would take a black dye-based inkpad, and cover the surface with black ink. Then you'd place the stencil on the surface, and using a damp towel, or damp cotton swabs, carefully remove the black ink from the inside area of the stencil design, revealing the color beneath. However, in the case of this card, I tried to use Onyx Versafine by Tsukineko® instead. This is a "hybrid" ink which acts like a dye-based and a pigment, and really does not dry on a more non-porous surface. So, once I had cleaned away the black ink, the remaining black ink wanted to smear. I solved this issue, and in the process made the design more interesting, by covering the entire panel with Clear Embossing Powder and heating it. The end result was shiny black, and the portions of the design where the clear powder stuck, created a small bead-like texture with appearance of water drops.

I always love when I can find a new result with an old technique just by playing around, or those "oops" moments that create a happy accident.

Leave a comment for me below, and share your "happy accidents"! Then head on over to the Stampendous blog for our "Dreamweaver Double Day" post.

Woodware UK: Breaking Out the Brayers!

When was the last time your reached for your brayer? Personally, it's been a while for me. The Woodware team were challenged this week to create with a brayer, so I decided to go with the Dreamweaver Joseph's Coat technique for my project. Here's the process:

1. Use brayer to roll on ink from Kaleidacolor ink pad over white cardstock panel.
2. Place selected stencil (Dreamweaver Open Fish) over panel, tape sides, apply Dreamweaver Translucent Embossing Paste over the design, and let dry.
3. Once dry, sponge/daub/brayer black dye ink over surface to cover thoroughly.
4. Place clean stencil over top of design again, and use slightly damp cotton or paper toweling to remove the black ink from the surface of the design, revealing the bright color underneath.

Note: In the case of this card, I used Onyx Versafine as my black ink on top. Because it is a "hybrid" ink, it didn't dry as thoroughly as I would have liked, so I covered the panel with Stampendous Clear Embossing Powder and heated it. The end result was a black and shiny surface, and a bit of a mottled appearance on the fish...which is actually pretty cool.

The background of the card was the Dreamweaver Waves and Dots stencil. I daubed Versamark ink through the design, embossed with clear embossing powder, and brayered my Kaleidacolor over the embossed surface. This acted as a resist, leaving the design white against the fun color. I had also brayered onto plain white cardstock, so I used this as a backdrop for the Stampendous Cling Breathe sentiment, stamped in black.

The "coral" on the side? A portion of the Dreamweaver Leafless Tree die! I love multi-taskers!

A Day of Respect and Remembrance...and Some Family Fun!

In the USA, we honor the service men and women who have given their lives for our country in protection of our freedom and democracy, this time every year with Memorial Day. It's a time where families and friends get together for a relaxing celebration, and between bites of barbeque, fruit salad, and a couple of beers, we try to remember what this day is all about. Because others gave of themselves in the ultimate acts of bravery, we have the opportunity to enjoy the pleasures of picnics and parties. To some this may seem frivolous, but as the Bible tells us, "There's a time for laughter and a time for tears...", and Memorial Day is a mix of both.

I created a card in memory of these Americans, as a giant Thank You to them all. Featuring Dreamweaver's Bold Thank You and Star Swirl stencils, I did a marbled pasting of both, with a Joseph's Coat technique on the background panel. Something new which I only learned recently in conjunction with the Dreamweaver Teacher Certification* workshops that were taught last week in the Chicago, Illinois area.

I laid down inked stripes of Ladybug Red and Danube Blue Memento on glossy cardstock. Then I pasted the Star Swirls over the top in Translucent paste. When dry, I applied Galaxy Gold Brilliance ink over the entire surface, before using a damp paper towel to remove the ink from the pasted portions. These previously pasted portions resisted the ink, making it simple to wipe away. I used my heat tool to "set" the ink afterwards. The Thank You was marble pasted, allowed to dry, and cut out to pop up off of the card.

Happy Memorial Day to everyone! May all of us remember those who came before us, and work still to provide us with the opportunity for every celebration we have. This is a day of respect and remembrance.

*If you are interested in becoming a Certified Teacher for Dreamweaver Stencils, please contact Louise Healy at louisehealy@sbcglobal.net, or Lynell Harlow at lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com for more an application, and more info.