Thursday 23 April 2015

Spring into Stencils

Hello and welcome! I'm so pleased to have a special post today as I am the lucky Guest Designer over at the wonderful Frilly and Funkie challenge blog (on foot of my win for my creation here).

When I was invited to be Guest Designer I was delighted to learn that the theme to work to was 'Stencil Mania'. I find it difficult to make anything now without using stencils so this is right up my alley. Using several stencils I've made a card showing a little Springtime scene...


All the papers are by Maja Design. The window, window box and iron fence are all diecut using Sizzix / Tim Holtz dies. The diecut bird is from a Memory Box die. Foliage is done using Tim Holtz and Marianne dies.

There seems to be quite a blitz in blogland at the mo for DecoArt products so I'm joining in by painting the diecut chipboard window with DecoArt paint in 'Light Buttermilk'. Once dry, I applied DecoArt 'One Step Crackle' (best crackle medium there is imho) to the window and the window box. In no time at all the lovely crackles appeared and I then rubbed some distress inks into the cracks using a babywipe.

For the window 'pane' I applied texture paste through a Wendy Vecchi 'vintage quilt' stencil onto heat resistant acetate. Using the technique outlined by Tim Holtz in his March tag I magically turned the paste silver for a faux 'leaded window' effect. (The trick is to sprinkle embossing powder onto the texture paste before it dries. Then once the paste is fully dry heat it with your heat gun and the embossing powder will transform into your colour of choice). Simples! If you havn't heat embossed acetate before take care with static and handling. Use a narrow brush to disperse any stray flecks of embossing powder before you start to heat.

As further window decoration I made a faux window blind that I've stencilled with Tim Holt's 'gothic' stencil by just blending distress ink through the stencil.

On the background I've again applied texture paste through Tim's 'latticework' stencil and a Memory box 'tessatina' stencil to add extra interest. Lightly dabbed a variety of distress inks over the raised paste to add colour and then went and covered most of it up with window and fence diecuts!

The window box was also given some crackle treatment and attached using double layers of tape. I've placed some dried moss and little resin roses into the window box to make it pretty. Crackle medium was also coated onto both birds.

The iron fence was painted and then aged using 'Brushed Pewter' stain and lightly dabbed with silver gilding wax. I also painted some honeycomb chipboard shapes in a pink shade and placed in corners. These helped to further raise the fence in the bottom corners. Finally, I fussy cut florals and butterflies from Maja Design papers and dotted around the little scene.

Thank-you so much to all the talented ladies at Frilly & Funkie for allowing me feature today as Guest Designer. It’s always a privilege to be associated with their challenge and one of my very favourite design teams. To have a chance to be 'Guest Designer' or to win a generous voucher for Linda's beautifully stocked Funkie Junkie Boutique why don't you grab some stencils and enter your creation here!

Enjoy the rest of your week and thank-you so very much for your visit,
Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
A Vintage Journey - Through the Looking Glass
Simon Says Stamp Monday - Due Date (my Guest Design slot had due date 21.4.15)
Inspiration Journal - Everything Goes
Craft for the Craic - Die-ing for Spring
Crafts for Eternity - Spring
Stamps and Stencils - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Anything Goes - twist of Spring
Simply Create Too - No digis or stamped images
Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - Springtime Flowers

33 comments:

  1. Wow wow holy cow!! Nicola, you blow me away with your amazing talent!! LOVE THIS TO BITS!! You have created an entire garden scene and there are so many wonderful details to ooh and aah at! Your window has such an amazing texture and the pattern on the glass is genius! Love the stencils you used in the background and all your fabulous flowers and butterflies!! WOW!! I am so happy you are our guest designer at Frilly and Funkie, what an amazing project you put together for our Stencil Mania challenge! big hugs my friend :)

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  2. Excellent Nicola. A lot of crafty workmanship and great vision. Bravo.

    Hugs and Blessings
    Jim

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  3. Gorgeous vintage project Nicola! Love every little detail on it!

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  4. I've got some stencils, but it still feels like out of my comfort zone. But slowly getting there... Your card looks amazing, so many wonderful details and love the dimension!

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  5. Wow! Absolutely fabulous! I really love your amazing creation! The papers you used, the stenciled background, the windows, the little birdies, the butterflies.... Everything is perfect!!! This is a very eye-catching card! I'm so glad you linked up with us at Crafts 4 Eternity for our Spring challenge!
    Hope to see you again and good luck!
    Hugs :)
    Francesca DT

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  6. First time visiting your lovely blog - the background is really beautiful! Your card is quite exquisite with such beautiful stencil work, layout, colors and adorable birds and butterflies - wonderful!

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  7. Nicola, this is stunning! The leaded windows are just superb, I keep going back and having a look - I love them. Your design in the background is gorgeous and I love, love all the wonderful butterflies - Maja Design papers really are the best! I must try again with the DecoArt one step crackle, it doesn't seem to work for me but it looks a dream on your window.

    Thanks so much for joining in our Through The Looking Glass Challenge at A Vintage Journey.

    Thank you too for playing along at Inspiration Journal this month. Big hugs, Anne xx

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  8. absolutely stunning nicola.i love the pretty flowers and brids and the scene you have created is beautiful :D

    xx coops xx

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  9. Lots of lovely elements in this, beautifully put together
    Thank you for joing us at Craft for the Craic
    Pixie (DT member)

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  10. That's not a card, that's a canvas...lol!!! WOW oh WOW!!! Gorgeous scene! I LOVE this!

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  11. Wow.. this is such a gorgeous creation, Nicola. All the embellishments and details you created are simply amazing! :)

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  12. See...you'll never ever EVER find something this amazing and fabulous in a store, EVER. I think this is beyond the realm of beautiful. You've created your own little world on a CARD of all things and what intricate details. Your stenciling is such a delight to look at and this paper world has me wishing I lived in it! Nicely done and congrats on the GDT post. :)
    hugs,
    Lisa x

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  13. What a sweet window scene! love the picket fence the lovely birds, butterflies and roses! Congrats on being the Guest designer! and thanks for joining us in the A Vintage Journey "through the looking glass' challenge! hugs, Julia xx

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  14. Wow...a stunning project, so full of beautiful and fabulous details!! Thank you for joining us at "Fussy and Fancy" for our "Springtime Flowers" challenge!
    Diane FAF DT

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  15. Woooow, that's just gorgeous project! Absolutely love it! :)
    Thanks for joining us at Creative Moments.
    Sabina

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  16. Hi Nicola , this is absolutely stunning. A beautiful little scene and so many details. Keep going back as I've read the post. Love the window and the faux lead, just brilliant.
    Avril xx

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  17. What a stunning piece Nicola! Those lead windows are my absolute favourite amongst the butterflies, such a lovely scene. Karen.x

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  18. This is enchanting, the more I look at it the more I want to keep looking at it.
    Thank you for joining us for this months challenge, Sylvie, Craft for the Craic DT

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  19. That is so lovely Nicola, the leaded window is so incredible! Thanks so much for sharing.

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  20. What an absolute little beauty you have created here. So many gorgeous elements which all work together to create a stunning scene. This is so clever Nicola!! Love it! Thanks so much for joining us at Stamps and Stencils. Julia x

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  21. Oh Nicola this is so stunning and so wonderfully alive and super Springlike, - just what I needed right now! Love the way you crackled the frame, the birds are so sweet, just love this whole little scene! Thanks so much for adding it to our challenge at AVJ!

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  22. How utterly lovely! I'm a sucker for anything with windows to peek through, and I just love the delicate blossom and all the birds perched around... So, so lovely. Thanks so much for joining us on A Vintage Journey.
    Alison xx

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  23. This is so adorable, dear Nicola, how lovely in both colour choices, and used dies.
    I love the window, and fence, and the sweet birds , flowers and butterflies. The scenery is making me think of old houses in the countryside ,in Denmark, beautiful!!
    Dorthe, xo

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  24. Hi Nicola,
    Such a Beautiful creation... I adore all the fabulous texture & colours....the birds are so beautiful... Hugs May x x

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  25. Congratulations Nicola! Your project is gorgeous! Love the beautiful papers and all the butterflies fluttering about!

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  26. OMG hun this is stunning! You have created such a beautiful scene, the texture, the colours, the embellies, it's all gorgeous.
    Clever girlie this needs to go on my Pinterest board :)
    hugs
    Mandy xx

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  27. What a stunning window scene you have created.

    Hugs diane

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  28. Beautiful scene Nicola, hugs Rita xx

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  29. Wow Nicola this is absolutely stunning, I like everything about it!!
    Kevin xx

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  30. Fabulous scene Nicola! Love all the texture!

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  31. Nicola...this is gorgeous! I adore the sweet little bird perched on the floral window sash. So pretty! Your die cut fence is so lovely and the sweet little butterflies fluttering about are a great accent. Love the background paper, too. All of your dimension on this piece looks wonderful! As always, perfection!!

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  32. Gorgeous piece - love, love, LOVE!

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  33. stunning. I will link to you . you are such an inspiration

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Thank-you! Your visit and comment is very much appreciated. Nicola x