Fun with Stencils – Part 1

Once again I’m behind schedule with posting details of my blog tour projects … I think I should have an official motto … “better late than never”! 

I have really enjoyed playing with the stencils, love the different appearance they give to cards and paper projects.  These monogrammed note cards were very easy and so much fun to create, took only a few minutes from start to finish.  I began by using some painters tape to mask off the middle section of the Mostly Vintage decor stencils – post it notes will work just as well, tear them into little pieces and cover the areas you do not want in your design.  I used the 1 1/4” circle punch and punched from a sticky note to cover the middle image, it was the perfect size!  Now the fun begins … place your stencil over your cardstock, take a sponge and dab, dab, dab your ink until you reach the depth and color intensity you desire.  Carefully remove your stencil and admire your work!  (if you would like to see any of these photos larger, just click on the image)

Now it’s time to add your monogram – since I drive myself nuts about placement, I used my trusty Stamp-a-ma-jig for stamping the monogram letter.  I popped out the gems from a few brads and glued them on the cards using Tombow multi purpose adhesive and set them aside to dry.  After completing the number of cards I wanted, I gently removed all the tape from the stencil.  Now I masked off the outer sections and left the center circle exposed, placed my stencil over a corner of an envelope, grabbed my sponge again and dabbed some ink … voila, coordinating envelopes!

The tin container was purchased from Stampin’ Up! several months ago (or was it a year ago???), just waiting for me to finally do something with it.  It is the perfect size for 3 1/2'” x 5” note cards and envelopes.  The entire stencil image was used for this tin.  This time I used craft ink to sponge with, as the color was a deeper intensity.  I sprinkled the stenciled image with clear embossing powder, melted it and once again popped out a gem from a Rhinestone brad and glued it on.  Tucked the cards inside the tin and tied a pretty piece of ribbon around it.  A few tidbits of advice …
  1:  do not use rubbing alcohol to clean your tin of fingerprints (or whatever mess is left behind) – I found out the hard way that this will remove your embossing!   
  2:  Be very careful when sponging and cleaning the middle section of this stencil!  The design is very intricate and will rip.  I found the best way to clean it was to just run the stencil under hot water – the ink came off very easily.  Craft ink does stain the stencil, but I think it gives it that “loved” appearance.

Project Recipe:
Images:  Mostly Vintage Decor Stencil, Lovely Letters Alphabet Stamp Set
Paper:  Whisper White
Ink:  Old Olive Classic, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive Craft
Accessories:  Circle Ice Rhinestone Brads, Old Olive 1 1/4” striped ribbon, Eyelet Border punch, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive, clear embossing powder