These instructions are based on specific stencils, but you can definitely use others of your choice.
Faux Cross-Stitch
Supplies: LG625 Flower, screen, inks.
1) You can emboss the design first, or not, depending on your preference. Try one of each technique to see what suits you best.
2) If you choose not to emboss, start by placing the screen on the cardstock to be stenciled. You can place it so the screen print is straight across, or for a "cross-stitch" look, turn the screen at an angle.
3) Now place the stencil over the screen and tape securely.
4) Stencil with inks or medium of preference.
5) Be sure to clean the screen when you clean the stencil and you can use it time after time. Just wipe it with a clean soft cloth and occasionally put a little rubbing alcohol on the cloth to clean off all residue that may have accumulated.
STRIÉ TECHNIQUE
Supplies: LG656 Plantain Leaves, inks.
1) Tape the stencil to the front of light colored cardstock and turn the stencil face down onto the light table and dry emboss this paper, using an embossing tool.
2) Remove the stencil.
3) Load a 3/4" stencil brush with a complementary color of pigment ink.
4) Starting at one side, pull the loaded stencil brush halfway across the dry embossed desing in a straight line. Repeat this motion all the way across the side of the card in as uniform a manner as possible. The effect of the color hitting the dry embossed image creates the streaks of pigment, thus the name strie'.
5) if you repeat this "striping" technique on all four sides of the card, it creates a linen look to the color. For variation use more than one color, using a different brush for each color you use.
BLEACHING
Supplies: LJ849 Bare Trees, LL430 Buck, bleach, mist bottle, Dreamweaver Gold Embossing Paste, glue pad, "red" gold leaf.
1) Use a small, fine misting bottle. Fill it with undiluted bleach. Test different colors of cardstock by spraying lightly with the bleach spray bottle. Each card stock bleaches and colors differently. Some don't have a significant amount of change, so you want to experiment to discover which ones bleach the best and give the effect you desire. Place the stencil on cardstock and lightly spray it two or three spritzes. Remove stencil and clean with water. The bleach continues to work for a few minutes on the cardstock and the results are spectacular. Your piece is now ready to paste emboss your added design and complete with gold leaf, if so desired.
SHADOW TECHNIQUE
Supplies: LL453 Seasons Greetings, Dreamweaver Gold Embossing Paste, black ink.
1) Stencil "Seasons Greetings" using black craft ink and a 1/2" stencil brush. Use a dry brush technique so the color doesn't slip under the stencil and cause smudges.
2) Shift the stencil less than 1/16" toward the upper left corner. Tape out all of the edges with removable tape.
3) Paste with Dreamweaver Gold Embossing Paste. Remove immediately and clean stencil. Mount on black cardstock.
RESIST TECHNIQUE
Supplies: LJ820 Flower Lace, Dreamweaver Regular Embossing Paste, heat gun, ultra-thick embossing powder, versamark ink, pigment inks.
1) Tape out edges of stencil and apply regular embossing paste. Remove stencil and clean immediately.
2) When paste is dry, reposition stencil over pasted area and stencil the large flowers and leaves with yellow ink and the small flowers with bright pink ink. Remove stencil.
3) Immediately sprinkle design with ultra thick embossing powder and tap off excess. Using a small soft brush or the tip of an embossing tool, gently rub off most of the embossing powder, until only single particles are left here and there.
4) Heat with a heat gun, being careful to keep the heat moving, as the paste could bubble if it becomes too hot.
5) Place the clean stencil back on the card and stencil the large flowers with coral and the leaves with greens, shade with blue. Be sure to use a clean brush for each color to avoid a muddy look. Stencil the small flowers with purple. Leaving the stencil in place, use a soft rag and rub off excess ink. The yellow and pink that were stenciled first will show through the thermal powder.
FAUX CLOISONNÉ
Supplies: LL372 Kihi Kihi Fish, Dreamweaver Regular Embossing Paste, Ultra-thick Embossing Powder, clear embossing powder, pigment ink, heat gun.
This is a variation of the Resist Technique outlined above, using more of the embossing powder, giving it the "cloisonné" look.
1) Tape out all edges of the stencil and apply the regular embossing paste. Clean stencil immediately and let paste dry before proceeding with instructions.
2) Reposition stencil on top of the dry paste embossed design and stencil with pigment ink. On this step choose colors that are lighter in hue for the most dramatic results.
3) After removing the stencil, immediately pour on the ultra thick embossing powder. Tap off the excess powder with a few very hard taps on the back of the car. Heat the powder with a heat gun. The hard tap will remove a lot of excess powder and create a mottled "bumpy" surface.
4) Reposition the stencil onto the design and stencil the "bumpy" ultra thick layer with darker and brighter colors of pigment ink than you used on the original coat.
5) Add a second coat of embossing powder and heat. This coat can either be the ultra thick or just a regular clear embossing powder. The reason we recommend the regular clear embossing powder is that it does not get quite as "runny" and is more likely to stay in place.
6) You will notice that the second color you've added is more subtle because it slides down into the cracks of the first layer of thick embossing powder, but you could repeat the process again with more color layers.