Go Stencil!

Hi everyone. Thought I'd make a more prompt entry to this month's Tim Holtz 2014 tag challenge after the last gasp effort in May. This month he's focussing on using stencils and I had a ball putting a spin on his technique. Isn't it wonderful to be given a free tutorial that you can choose to follow step by step or take in your own direction depending on how confident you feel? Thank you Mr Holtz x

Using a mix of Aged Mahogany, Victorian Velvet and Tattered Rose inks through the Cargo stencil I added it to the first half of the watercolour paper background. To make the lettering stand out further I also embossed it. That gave me the idea to flip the technique, embossing the second side before dipping it into the same misted inks on my craft mat. You'll notice the conjoined background was ink blended along the edges using Frayed Burlap.

To blend the boundary between the two sides I added some texture paste through the Dot Fade stencil and after it dried inked over it. Then it got back on 'Tim's track' as I stamped the leaves and the wreath in Archival ink onto the background, then stamped the same leaves on more paper, fussy cutting, painting and inking them as described in the June tag instructions. To give them more dimension they were shaped with embossing tools.

Time to embellish; I love the washer border and leaf stems cut and distressed from kraft core, and clear embossing some extra leaves (coloured with Distress Stains) added some textural contrast. It's great to have a supply of unaltered book page flowers cut for when you want to create a fluffy bloom. Mixed Distress Glitters in the centre provided that touch of sparkle.

To finish I added a simple saying and also included a small homage to Tim's original tag; with a little piece of Wildflower paper mounted on card left over from my Field Notes mini book, I stamped a butterfly from the Papillon set.

A quick unsolicited plug here for Claudine Helmuth's latest online class; Composition for Collage is a must in my humble opinion as this amazing designer passes on her wealth of knowledge. She tells you more about it in a short video and the month long class starts on June 19th. Not sure? We spend a small fortune on craft products yet have our doubts about what we've produced and it's usually down to the composition. Get that bit right and you can create something amazing with the most basic supplies. Hopefully see you there!

Tomorrow I'll be back with some cards for the current Frilly and Funkie challenge 'For All Our Fathers'. Hope to see you back then. For now take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx

Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Cargo	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Honeycomb	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Tattered Rose	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Victorian Velvet	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Aged Mahogany	Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste - White	$6.39 Core′dinations Kraft Core By Tim Holtz - 2.5x12" Strips	Sizzix Alterations Decorative Strip Tim Holtz Washer Border	Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black	Sizzix Alterations Decorative Strip Tim Holtz Spring Greenery
$6.39 Core′dinations Kraft Core By Tim Holtz - 4.25x5.5" Paper Pad	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Frayed Burlap	Ranger Embossing Powder - Clear	$17.95 Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Daydream	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Antique Linen	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Tattered Rose	Tim Holtz Distress Glitter Pumice Stone	Tim Holtz Distress Glitter Victorian Velvet	Tim Holtz Distress Glitter Antique Linen	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Simple Sayings
Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink - Watering Can	Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink - Red Geranium	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Papillon	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper Stash Wildflower