Dream BIG! ...... it's the Craft Stamper challenge

Happy Friday folks ......

It's almost the weekend again ..... are you doing anything nice?

Let's finish the week with another Blog Challenge shall we.
Today see's the start of this month's Craft Stamper Take It Make It Challenge and it's the turn of Take a Technique for August ........

STENCILS and  MASKS

Easy .... just use a stencil or a mask (or both) somewhere on your project .... and don't forget to include some stamping on there too ...... very important!

Our sponsor this month is GioGio Craft

And the winner (randomly chosen) will receive a bundle of 4 fabulous stencils (designs are in the picture below)

Don't forget there's also the Design Winner, chosen by the DT.
They get their winning project published in the Craft Stamper Magazine, they're invited to be a Guest Designer on a future challenge and they get a Winners Profile on the Craft Stamper Blog ..... fancy any of that .... then get creating!!

So .... stencils and masks .... we all have them but do you use them?
I've used two stencil designs on my project today, to help add detail to the background

Stencils are great for adding extra detail, creating layers and giving depth on your designs.  Use them with inks, or paints, texture pastes or gels ... the choice is all yours.

I coloured the canvas background using Brusho Pigment powders and LOTS of water to blend the colours together.  Once I was happy with it and it was totally dry, I stamped the butterflies randomly over the canvas using a black Archival ink and different sizes of butterfly stamps (Flutters 2 by Inkylicious)

I then stamped the butterflies again onto white cardstock, coloured them using Distress Inks and fussy cut them.

Next I added in some more detail to the background using two Tim Holtz Layering Stencils along with texture paste ....... Stripes (one of my favourites!) 

and the very pretty Blossom, to which I added some colour using my Distress Inks once the paste was dry.
I haven't use the full stencils, just parts of them here and there to fill in the background

I attached some of the fussy cut butterflies over the stamped ones on the canvas, and using a Molotow Liquid Chrome marker I highlighted parts of the stencil design .....

The focal point on the canvas is the super cute little WordGirl 3 designed by the very talented Trish Latimer (aka the Editor of Craft Stamper magazine and also 'The Boss' of the Challenge DT)

How cute is she ..... and she's available, along with a whole load of little friends from Trish's Etsy shop
She was stamped using black Versafine ink and embossed with a clear powder, coloured with Distress Inks and then fussy cut before attaching her onto the canvas.

As she says ..... Dream BIG.   And why not ...... she's certainly doing just that .......

This beautiful large butterfly (Inkylicious again) .... has been stamped onto white card, coloured using Distress Inks and fussy cut before being added as the finishing touch on the canvas .... that's one big butterfly!

I mounted the canvas, which is approximately 6x8 inches, onto a larger canvas board that had been given a couple of coats of black gesso ..... doesn't it make the whole thing just pop!  I love the bright colours.

Now it's your turn .... what will you create using your stencils and/or masks ..... can't wait to see them all in the gallery.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely weekend.
Mine starts this evening .... the usual Friday night drinks after work with hubby ..... or rather not the usual it's going to have to be soft drinks.  We've decided that August is going to be an alcohol free month at Walmsley Towers!!!  It's going OK so far .... but it is only the 5th! We haven't had a weekend yet.
Oh well .... at least I get dinner out ..... but hang on ....... does a red wine sauce with my steak count!?

Cheerio until next time ....