A Dream Team Finale, and a New Beginning

 Sigh...

It's been five years since my first year as a Dream Team member, and a wonderful five years they've been. Every member we've had on our team has either stayed or moved on to other creative endeavors, but have remained an integral part of Dreamweaver, and good friends. Lynell became the sister I never had, and I see no reason for that to change as we move forward. I wish her and Wayne the best of everything in the future as they continue to be creative on a less stressful level, and as they welcome the birth of their first grandchild in the upcoming weeks. The Dream Team will also move on in other creative directions, and many of them have been selected to be a part of the Stampendous/Dreamweaver team along with me. We will continue to post on Thursdays, along with many of the regular Stampendous team members, so you'll have quite the variety of inspiration and tips at your disposal.

For my post today, I thought I'd start by sharing my very first card that I posted as part of this wonderful team. Simply featuring a machine-embossed Sand Dollar, and an ink-stenciled Petals Background border, it still works as a card for any occasion...

For this month's "Showers of Showers" theme, I'm once again posting this card from 2011. Kind of perfect...closing one door, and opening another. This card featured the Birds on Branches Paste Embossed in Matte Black on white cardstock, and adhered inside. A piece of acetate was paste-embossed in Translucent with the Rain stencil, and sprinkled with Stampendous Ultra Fine Crystal Glitter, and adhered behind a die cut opening. A die-cut black frame for the window, along with an inset of black framed and machine-embossed Tole Heart, a bit of ruffle and a fancy brad fastener, were the finishing touches.

I hope that you'll continue to follow all of us as we open our respective doors to all the creativity that lays in store.

Dream It Up!

Louise Healy

Alison Heikkila
Lyn Bernatovich

Kristine Reynolds

Pam Hornschu

Gill Wilson

Cindy Groh 

Leadonna Kimmel

Laura Drahozal

Jamie Martin

If you haven't already, be sure to join us on the Dreamweaver Stencils' Face Book page, the Dreamweaver Stencils' Enthusiasts page, Pinterest, as well as the Stampendous Facebook page, website, and Pinterest. We've only just begun...

Dreamweaver: Showers of Showers-Week Four

Ever use the expression, "When it rains, it pours"? This does not have to be a bad thing, does it? For the month of April, the Dream Team are featuring "Showers of Showers" as our theme. As usual, we'd love for you to play along. Just link your creation on the Dream It Up! blog for a chance to win the stencil of your choice...bonus chances for incorporating Dreamweaver and/or Stampendous in your design. Here's what I'm showering you with this week...

So...maybe not precisely a shower card. More like a wedding card. However, I should get points for finally finding my creative mojo again...

This  card uses a base of Bazzill aqua cardstock, a second panel of it with a die cut opening, and machine-embossed with the Dreamweaver Large Damask stencil design. The Stampendous Wedding Couple was stamped and lightly colored with my Copic Sketch Markers. I brushed a bit of DecoArt DecoPage Matte medium, and sprinkled with Stampendous Crystal Micro Glitter. The Stampendous Cling Married Monograms image was stamped in black VersaFine from Tsukineko® and die cut with the Dreamweaver Oval Die. Punched holes at the ends were added for inserting white organza ribbon. All in all, a very simple card to reproduce, and could easily be used as the cover for an invite, or...surprise, surprise...a bridal shower!

For more showers of inspiration, visit the "B" team's posts listed here:

Dream It Up!

Louise Healy

Lyn Bernatovich

Kristine Reynolds

Pam Hornschu

Gill Wilson

Cindy Groh 

An InLinkz Link-up

Refreshing Showers for an Oldie-but-Goodie

I apologize, but I'm posting another oldie-but-goodie for this month's "Showers of Showers" challenge. I'm still a bit mentally and physically challenged from the auto accident I was in three weeks ago. This one was always a favorite of mine. It was one of the first times that I used a stencil as if it was a stamp. Yes, that's correct. The panel of decorative paper on the side was "stamped" by inking the Dreamweaver Umbrella background stencil itself with black pigment ink, and pressing it onto the paper. The inked surface was embossed with Stampendous Midnight Black Embossing Powder just as if you'd stamped the image.

The focal panel was first machine embossed with the Umbrella stencil, and then paste-embossed over the top with Translucent Embossing Paste through the Rain background stencil. While this was drying, I traced the Umbrella stencil onto more decorative paper, cut out the sections, and paper pieced them over the umbrella on the focal panel. I added some "stitch" lines with a fine point Micron pen. A polka dot ribbon and bright pink pompoms were the final additions, along with the Glossy White paste-embossed sentiment from the Rain Combo stencil.

Here's the "A" list of players for this week. Don't forget to play along with the challenge, and link your creations to the inlinkz at the bottom of this post, or on the Dream It Up! blog!

Dream It Up!

Leadonna Kimmel

Louise Healy

Laura Drahozal

Pam Hornschu

Jamie Martin

An InLinkz Link-up

Dreamweaver Showers of Showers: Week Two

Ever use the expression, "When it rains, it pours"? This does not have to be a bad thing, does it? For the month of April, the Dream Team are featuring "Showers of Showers" as our theme. As usual, we'd love for you to play along. Just link your creation on the Dream It Up! blog for a chance to win the stencil of your choice...bonus chances for incorporating Dreamweaver and/or Stampendous in your design. Here's what I'm showering you with this week...

Some of you may recognize this card, as I've posted it before. I was recently in a bad car accident, so my level of strength for creating in my studio is a bit low. Though I was scared half to death, I do feel that I have "showers of blessings". I'm still alive. My son is still alive and doing better than I. My arms and legs work just fine. And I'm fortunate enough to be blessed by so many friends, family, and followers who love me, and have been concerned with my well-being through all of this.

This card was created with a Sludge Paste technique by pasting the Dreamweaver Umbrella with a mix of both yellow and red embossing pastes, achieve an almost marbled look in the paste. The umbrella was cut out and adhered over a panel of the Damask stencil with an ink-press technique. Two or three shades of spray mists (Strawberry Daiquiri, Mango Lemonade, and Pink Lemonade) were spritzed over the stencil. The cardstock was placed on the inked surface, and then run through the embossing machine to transfer the inked design and press it into the surface. Another panel of coral cardstock was run through the machine with the Stripes stencil to just add an embossed design. The finishing touches were a pasted sentiment from the Dreamweaver Rain Words, some sparkly flowers, and pretty ribbon.

For a shower of inspiration, please visit the blogs of the "B" team:

Dream It Up!

Louise Healy

Alison Heikkila
Lyn Bernatovich

Kristine Reynolds

Pam Hornschu

Gill Wilson

Cindy Groh