Monday, June 2, 2014

Gallery Idol Round 3 - Stencils




Hey everyone!  I was pretty excited about the challenge for this round of Gallery Idol, if you've followed me for a while, you know that I am a huge stencil fan.

I decided to use Ronda Palazzari's Citygrid stencil for The Crafter's Workshop to create my background.  This is a very simple, but time consuming process.  I laid the stencil over a panel of watercolor paper and then lightly traced around each opening with pencil.  Then I removed the stencil and watercolored each of the spaces.  I actually only used three colors:  Evergreen Bough and Iced Spruce distress ink, and Black ink from CTMH.  Black is tricky as the colors tend to separate in water, so that ended up looking more brown than black, but I actually love the shade that came out.  I ended up with a few dusty blue type spaces and that's when I knew I needed to change/clean out my water.

Here's what the watercolored stencil panel looked like when I was done, you can see that I didn't watercolor evenly, I wanted there to be a graduation in color in each of the spaces.




I thought long and hard about the sentiment, originally leaning towards using a travel theme, but in the end decided that my On the Corner set was too perfect a pairing to pass up.  Sometimes stamped lines seem very stark/hard in comparison, and I wanted to echo the watercoloring/painting in the background, so I ended up compromising.  I stamped the street sign/sentiments in a very light ink, and then traced over the lines with a VERY fine brush and some more of that 'black' ink.




I managed to not take a picture when I was doing it, but here's what it looks like.



To anchor the card, I cut another strip of the watercolor paper and clear embossed the sentiment.  Then I painted that 'black' ink over top until I got the darkness that I wanted.  Finally, the embossing was removed by placing a piece of copy paper over top and ironing it.



Lots of dimension on this one. I popped up the stenciled panel as well as the street sign and sentiment strip.  I love this one and I hope you do too!  And if you do, please head over to the Gallery and vote for me (entry #5), I'd love to get to the next round!

Supplies Used
Paper/Cardstock:  Canson - Watercolor Paper; Avery Elle - Truffle
Stamps:  Neat & Tangled - On the Corner and On the Corner Additions
Ink:  Ranger - Evergreen Bough and Iced Spruce Distress Ink; CTMH - Black and Parchment ink; Versamark
Other:  The Crafter's Workshop - Mini Citygrid Stencil; CTMH - Clear Embossing Powder and Dimensional Foam Tape; American Crafts - This and That Foam Adhesive

39 comments:

  1. This is fantastic! I love the use of the city grid with this stamp set, and the colors are perfect!

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  2. This is so AWESOME!!! WOW! LOVE it, Miriam! Best of luck to you! :)

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  3. Fabulous Miriam!!!!

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  4. I hadn't a clue that you used watercolor, that makes it even more amazing! Perfectly clean and striking.

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  5. I love this card so much! It has such great detail and i love the colours you chose. Such a stunning back ground. Nice work! Good luck!

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  6. Great watercolour on the stencil. So pretty!

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  7. Oh, wow, this is so fabulous, Miriam!

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  8. You rock this stencil challenge, Miriam! Good luck!!

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  9. Absolutely amazing!! Loved that watercolour effect using stencil!!

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  10. The amount of technique in your card is astounding! This card is incredible!!

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  11. What a fabulous card! LOOOOOOVE your colors and how you traced the sentiment with the fine black marker (that's something I cannnnnnnnnnot do!)! Good luck! YOU ROCK!

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  12. Totally awesome! That stenciled background reminds me of a Chagall painting. It's wonderful. Off on my way to vote...

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  13. Gorgeous and moody and I love, love, LOVE it!!

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  14. wow you did it again.. totally fabulous.. very creative

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  15. So fantastic Miriam! I love the stenciled background!

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  16. The work in this is stunning. The gradients of colour is beautiful- an allround gorgeous card! x

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  17. Miriam, this is awesome! I love the the unique color combo. Fab card!

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  18. Another brilliant design, Miriam.

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  19. I just voted!! You're on a major roll, Miriam - this is one amazing card!

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  20. Fantastic!! There are so much details!! I love your colour combination!! Love it. Good Luck!

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  21. This.is.awesome! You are brilliant and I am inspired! Well done, Miriam!

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  22. Oh, honey, I don't see a compromise in the least. This is BEAUTIUFL! LOVE your technique, and the sentiment pairing is so deliciously perfect! I'd say good luck, but I don't think you need it at all ;). Hugs!

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  23. Oh my...this is gorgeous and brilliant and amazing...should I go on? Good luck and I hope you win!

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  24. Such a great card Miriam!!
    I would like to have a go at your background which is simply a work of art, that is if you 're okay with the idea ;)

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  25. Wow Miriam! This totally caught my eye and I love how you used the stencils with water colors! There's so much detail and depth to your card.. SO amazing!! Good Luck!

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  26. AMAZING Miriam!!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!

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  27. Miriam, this is over the top wow. I love your choice of colors and way to rock the challenge!

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  28. This is brilliant, the stenciling gives a 3D effect, great water coloring too :) U are just so brilliant, good luck to you !

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  29. This is an amazing card, Miriam! I love that you used watercoloring and stencils together, and the gradient colors are awesome!

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  30. This looks incredible Miriam! The water coloring is perfect!

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  31. This is amazing! The work you put into it so paid off-what a technique! So well done. Another winner! Good luck to you! :)

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  32. Incredible watercoloring with a stencil!!!

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  33. This card is absolutely fantastic!! My favorite!

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  34. Amazing!!! I so voted for you! My fingers are crossed you make it to the next round!

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  35. You are so wicked talented!!! That ironing the embossing? Who would have thought!

    I haven't kept up well enough but congrats on making to another round!! So well deserved!

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  36. I just saw this card yesterday and thought to my self "its a winner" and then today saw it won!
    Congrats...amazing work.

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