Susan - Celebrations: Stencil Techniques

I love using stencils! They are so interesting and versatile. In watching Laura Beard's videos, the one technique that she demonstrated, which (for unknown reasons) I hadn't tried was the overlay technique. So I decided to give that a go!

My favorite way to work with watercolors is using the Brusho and Color Burst powdered watercolor products. Because they contain crystals in various shades, and some have a mica ingredient as well, they are unpredictable but beautiful. So the bottom layer that served for the overlay here is light yellows and oranges. As you can see, there are a few reds, browns and greenish hues that emerged as well. I used the Layered Kaleidoscope Stencils (A and B) here, with the first layer in light orange (Spiced Marmalade Distress Oxide), and the second layer in a reddish orange (Crackling Campfire Distress Oxide). I kept the darker color more central.

I thought it would be more interesting to have the focal point of the card be slightly offset, so I cut the watercolor paper base to be a little less than 4 by 5 1/4 inches, and mounted it onto a red card base. I then die cut the Mid-Century Frame Die from a gold holographic cardstock and cut a circle of vellum for the center part of the die cut, and heat embossed the phrase "focus on the positive" (which is from the Delicate Tiles layering stamp set) in a cerulean color. I've learned that, when using vellum, if you put your adhesive covering the entire back of the piece, it doesn't show through, so I put the circle through my Xyron sticker maker. (Another sentiment that I considered using here was "You are my Sunshine" but I didn't have an Altenew stamp that said that, so I think the one I did use is also good for this card with a sunny, warm look.)

The vellum also serves to subdue the brighter red/orange color underneath. But you can still see the pattern of the kaleidoscope stencils. Additional embellishments are the lemon colored jewels on the sentiment area and the yellow/gold pearls that are at the points of the kaleidoscope pattern.

I enjoyed this technique and will definitely use it again! Thanks Laura, for the inspiration.