Welcome to the Plastic Patterns Technique Hop

These past few weeks, I have been learning a variety of new ways to use stencils, which is why I am so excited for this month’s technique hop.  I can’t wait to learn a few new methods to try on my projects.  If you have come here from Alyson Mayo’s Blog, you are on the right path! When you are finished taking a look at my Vintage Rose Lace card, you can click on the link at the end to move to the next blog. This blog hop is simple, fun, and full of ideas.  If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melissa’s Blog.

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As with most of my experiments, this one didn’t quite start out well as I had hoped, but it lead to a very wonderful outcome.  Before I tell you the story behind the process and share my video tutorial, let’s take a look at my project. 

This simple thank you card was created using Diamond Stickles and Transparent Gloss Texture paste with one of our new 12-inch stencils. Don’t you just love that Tattered Rose background? It reminds me of old world tiles. 

Like I said, the project didn’t start out well. I knew that I wanted a thick sparkle background, so I experimented with Stickles Gel, but soon realized that the stencil I chose had too many details for that medium, so, I decided to try a bottle of Diamond Stickles instead. 

After adding the stenciled stickles (say that fast five times),  I built up the background using Transparent Gloss texture paste to create the look of etched tiles. When I first applied the paste, it appeared as if all the glitter from the Stickles was going to disappear, but once it dried, I had a beautiful sparkling background. 

To bring out the lace image, I grabbed some Tattered Rose Distress Oxide Ink and used a blending tool to add ink to the card front. I then used a paper towel to remove the ink from the texture paste and the result was a stunning etched lace background.

After spending so much time on this little experiment, I decided that the sentiment needed to be very simple and sweet.  I had debated on stamping on some vellum or even adding a little flower, but, in the end, chose to use some Blue Belle to create a little thank you card. 

The sentiment was cut out of both Blue Belle glitter paper and Blue Belle cardstock using the Thanks Thin Cuts. These two dies are designed to layer atop each other to create the sentiment and a shadow layer. 

I just loved how that glitter paper sparkled along with the Stickles on this card, so I decided that I needed to add a few more sparkles and placed  Blue Belle Glitter gems around the sentiment. How precious is that?

For those of you who have been enjoying my cardmaking video tutorials, I decided to squeak one more in this week.  This one is very short, simple, and to the point, but I hope it still helps you to learn some new techniques. 

I hope that this project inspired you to try something new and that you are encouraged to experiment with some stencils in your collection.  If you don’t own any, you can purchase a few on my website, or make a few of your own using our Stencil Sheets. 

Now ‘Hop” on over to Michelle Loncar’s Blog to see her work!  Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting tips and other fun ideas for using stencils on your projects.  

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