Shadow Stencil Mini Tutorial!

Hey, Peeps!

Wowsers, I'm excited to be blogging again. I've been designing lots and lots of new stencils, and I'm looking forward to sharing lots of videos and posts with examples of how to use them. Lately, I've been designing a lot of Bible art journal stencils which work perfectly in Bible journal margins, but they can be used in just about any mixed media application. So, enjoy the video and I'll be back with more ideas.

Remember, if you're interested in any of my stencils, they're available at www.howsewears.etsy.com

Fondly, Tami

The final image with a little bit of embelly-ing (I think I just made that up).

The top image is the block lettering stencil. The bottom is the shadow stencil.

Way too fun! I can't wait to show you all of my other ideas of techniques to use with these stencils. Stay tuned!

Cardmaking with Embossing Paste

Hey, Peeps. Here's a Declare and Dash, just to show you quickly what I'm working on. I'm a stencil designer and seller on Etsy, and I have found that I don't really make time to create with my stencils as much as I'd like, so I'm going to change that pronto. I'll be posting some process tutes, including on my YouTube channel, but here's a teaser for now.

These cards were made using my tag stencil, which can be found in my shop here.

In this Hugs card, I used some Dreamweaver's crackle paste, let it dry, and then rubbed some Inka Gold paste in the cracks to give it some dimension and visual interest.

And in this Thinking of You card, I just used smooth white Dreamweaver's embossing paste for a different look.

And as always, please feel free to visit my Etsy shop- Howsewears

Fondly, Tami

Stencil Sale!!!

Hey, Peeps. I have a new sale in my shop. Use coupon code Stencilsale20 at checkout with a minimum purchase of $15 and you will receive 20% off of all stencils. 

I have a wide variety of stencils (over 150 designs), including tag stencils (perfect for A10 tags), masks (great for Gelli printing), and ATC stencils. 

Check it out at www.howsewears.etsy.com

Here are some new stencils just listed within the last few weeks:

So, have fun shopping! 

Fondly, Tami

Declare and Dash

Hey, Froggers. I'm putting myself on an actual schedule today! I really am! So, here's a Declare and Dash post. I have LOTS of new stencils in the shop, so feel free to check them out in my Etsy shop here.

This tag stencil is super for Bible journaling, midori journals, personal planners, and a variety of other mixed media projects.

This one is particularly fun with the Gelli® plate. I hope to have some samples to show you in the next few days.

This "Fanned" stencil comes in 6x6, 8x8, or 10x10 inches.

Sorry to say it, Froggers, but this is another one of my faves. You can all of it or just parts of this "Filigree Arrow" stencil in your journals, doodling, midori notebooks, Bible journals, etc. 

And I'll say it again, these tag stencils are PERFECT for traveling, like waiting in the Drs.' office, riding in the car, flying in a plane, or just pretending you're on an island in the tropics. Yeah, I like that last one.

And, here is my "Surround" tag stencil.

I'm having way too much fun.

That's it for today. 

And again, thanks for visiting! 

Now, on to keeping my schedule. Yups. I'm gonna do it! I swear!

Fondly, Tami

It's time to use my stencils, Peeps!

Hey, Peeps. this is a quickie post tonight. I realized that while I design and sell lots of stencils, I'm so busy doing that that I often don't get a chance to play with my own toys! So, I decided to use my Mish Mash stencil from my Etsy shop here.

This is actually one of my favorite larger stencils since it has tons of texture. It's almost like several stencils in one because it has so much going on.

So, here are a few things I did with it. I played with some mixed media paper and paint, using the Creative Jumpstart class prompts.

For starters, I took my stencil and just dabbed a few colors of paint through the designs.

After that, I placed the stencil on a brand new piece of mixed media paper and rubbed over and through it with a baby wipe. This accomplished two things. It cleaned my stencil and made another very cool page.

Here's the "rub-through". 

After that, I just added some transparent, high flow yellow paint to the first print. It's all about layers, Peeps, and this one will probably get several more before the week is over. And, sorry for the lighting. It is a dark and stormy night here in PA.

I'll be posting more on these pages in the near future. 

And, thanks again for checking out my blog. I do feel another stencil giveaway coming up.

Fondly, Tami

Join Me in the December Daily Journal Challenge!

Hey, Peeps! It's been a while. 

I've discovered since my Dr. has helped me with my chronic pain, I've been on the GO! I've loved it, but I've also discovered that I'm on my computer less and less. I think that's a good thing!

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I'm participating in a December Daily challenge, making a book to journal during December. Sue Hiles is heading it up, and she's a hoot. Her YouTube channel can be found here, and the challenge is open to anyone that wants to join. You can join the Facebook group here. Sue is a great leader, and the challenge is reasonable and fun. It has already caused me to spend more time creating in my craft room, so that's a good thing!

I thought I'd share the beginnings of my journal with you. I started with an old book that I slaughtered. I took the covers off, covered them with gesso, and then decorated the front (the back will be done later). 

Here's the gesso covered cover. Wooooo.

I stamped a dried tea bag with one of my hand-carved stamps, some of which are available in my Etsy shop here.

I decoupaged a hymnal carol, an old post card, and the stamped tea bag. Then, I spattered it with metallic silver alcohol ink and added some rubons.

Add a stamp of bubble wrap covered with gesso...

...and using my hand-carved snowflake stamp (stay tuned for a blog post about how to turn your stencils into stamps)...

 I embossed some snowflakes. I didn't want that much "chatter" (the lines that you see on a hand-carved stamp), so I rubbed some of the powder away before I heat embossed it.

Before the cover got too "junked up", I punched two holes to put my binder rings through. I just eyeballed it.

Then I layered lots of "stuff". I had some fabric remnants, so I ran them through my Big Shot using a steel rule poinsettia dye.

A close-up of the "stuff". 

Embossed snowflake and some burlap.

Of course, I need the date.

Doodles.

And, today, Sue issued a "flash challenge". We had 24 hours to make a tag. I decided to make a tag from a Coldwater Creek (may it rest in peace) tag from an article of clothing. I covered it with gesso.

I decided to emboss "to the world" from my Joy to the World Tag Stencil. 

I masked off the area I didn't want to include with paper tape.

I inked the area up using the embossing resist reinker and then I embossed it with aged ochre embossing enamel.

A little stamping, some embellies, and a bow later, it's a cute little tag that I will use later in the book. The words turned out a little gloppy (because I was a little "generous" with the embossing reinker), but I liked the look.

Stay tuned for the next December Daily challenge.

Thanks again for checking this out! 

Fondly, Tami

Watercoloring with Stencils

Hey, Peeps. Now that I've sent the cards and they've been seen by their recipients, I can post pics of them. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season, and if not, I pray that you were given strength to endure whatever you had to go through. 

I am just learning to play with watercolors, and I thought I'd try my hand at it for some Christmas cards. 

I used my Tree Tag Stencil, which you can purchase in my Etsy shop here. If you'd like, check out my other original stencils. My customers are loving my original designs and their durability. 

This particular stencil is great because it's so versatile. You can use it for any season.

I used the stencil as an outline and just watercolored in the opening, using a few shades of green. You really need more than one shade, or it will look too flat and one-dimensional.

I added a little tag with a pop dot underneath, and it was a little plain for my liking, so I made a little heart with Stickles.

Because it was Christmas, I thought the trees needed a little sparkle, so I added some Glossy Accents Crackle. 

Then I applied a little bit of Antique Linen Distress Stain to fill in the cracks and make them a little more noticeable. 

I roped the watercolor paper with a little bit of twine, and slightly outlined the trees and stars with a black pen. 

I hope you enjoyed this little tour. 

Fondly, Tami

Christmas Stencil Project

Hey, Peeps. I've been reflecting on Christmas, which got me in the mood to play today, even though I have an incredibly messy house and I'm hosting the neighborhood cookie party tomorrow night. EEK!!! I don't know about you, but that sounds like a perfect time to play in the Craft Room, huh?

So, I designed another stencil. I started with my tree stencil. I used some Iced Spruce Distress Paint. 

After the paint was dry, I shifted the stencil to the right, and then inked that free edge with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.

 

Then I applied a few pieces of Washi Tape.

I was planning on inking over the tape, so I applied a little GlueNSeal on the tape to give the ink something to grab onto. Then I hit it with my heating gun.

This is my new Joy to the World stencil,, available here. I inked with a permanent ink (I think Adirondak Slate). 

I wanted to give it a little more definition, so I traced the letters with a black pen.

I then took my Scruffy Crosses stencil and applied some Distress Crackle Paint. 

While the crackle paint was wet, I sprinkled some Distress Glitter on it and shook off the excess.

Of course, very few projects are complete without a bow or flower.

A few brads for a pop of color.

And of course, some bling.

And here's the finished tag. 

It's pretty simple for me, but I like it. 

And, here's another variety for the holidays, available here.

But, I couldn't leave you without a picture of my labor-intensive-but-oh-so-delicious cookies.

If you drool, it's not my fault. 

Today, I'm praying that you all receive peace today as you go about your daily routines, adding the preparations for the holidays.

Fondly, Tami