Celebration Stencil Techniques for AECP

 Hello! I am so excited to share my next batch of cards with you for the AECP program.  Today's focus was on stenciling with Laura Beard.  She had some great ideas for different kinds of stenciling that were a lot of fun to try.

For the first 2 cards I made a stencil from a background die that I had.  I cut out the die, then used it as the stencil for my card.  I ink blended over the "stencil" onto white card stock using rouge, coral bliss, heartbeat, and vineyard berry to make an ombre effect.  These colors are so beautiful together! I loved the way the background turned out, but I also love the way the colors appear brighter on the stencil, so I used that also.

For the one with the stencil background I stamped the Altenew Build A Flower: Columbine with the same colors as the background, plus honey drizzle, caribbean sky, persian blue, and sapphire.  The leaves were stamped using limeade, lime, and fresh leaf.  I used coordinating dies to cut out the 2 flowers.  (I positioned the stamp into my stampwheel so that I could rotate the top plate 180 degrees and print a second flower at the same time). I didn't take long to position them onto my card and apply the sentiment towards the top.  I think the softness of the background is lovely with the more vibrant colors of the flowers.

For the next card I used the stencil from the first card.  The colors on here were so vibrant and rich!  I stamped the Altenew Build A Flower: Primrose using just a stamping block (it was so easy to position them, so didn't use the stampwheel this time).  Again, I used the same colors as I had for the stenciling, and added limeade, lime, fresh lemon, citrus burst, rose quartz, and puffy heart.  I used coordinating dies to cut the flowers. I then positioned them onto the stencil.  I used Press and Seal over the top to pick up the design.  I then glued just the bottom layer (which appeared as the top layer when I was looking at the images) to the card stock.  The next ayer I applied with foam tape, as well as the final layer.  It was so easy to do it this way so that I didn't have to worry about the design changing while I was working.  I added a hot foil sentiment popped up on foam tape as the greeting, and finished the card with small gems in the middle of the flowers.

My third card I used an old cardboard stencil I have had for so many years I have no idea where I got it. I positioned that over white card stock, then smooshed the ink onto my glass mat, sprayed with water, and "watercolored" over my stencil.  It gives a very artsy look to the background.I used 2 different colors of ink (amethyst and grape agate) for the watercoloring.  While that was drying I went ahead and stamped the Balloon Flower using the same 2 inks and adding plum, butternut, frayed leaf, forest glade, and moss.  I thought I needed some separation between the flower and the background, so I cut 4 diamond shaped frames, stacked them on top of each other, and inked the top with a bit of the butternut to coordinate with the stamen of the flower.  I positioned the flower and leaves over the frame and attached to a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card base.  A sentiment and some gold beads were added as embellishments.

The final card is more of a bonus card.  I had been making a card a few weeks ago using the Spellbinders Hydrangea die set.  I cut 4 of the petals out of card stock, and when I finished I realized this would be a great stencil.  I decided to use some Lunar Paste over it, and applied it with a plastic pallet knife until there was even coverage.  I very lightly ink blended over the stenciled area after it was dry. I used a diamond shape (the middle of the frames I used in the previous card) and added a hot foil sentiment to the center.  I then used the adorable cute roses and lightly ink blended them with the same colors I had used on the background. The diamond was attached with foam tape, and the flowers were glued in place on top. I love the shine of that stenciled background!

I hope you give some of the stenciling techniques a try.  They are fun and easy and add such a beautiful background for your cards!

Have a great day!