Hi Everyone!
Welcome to the first posting of the Dreamweaver Stencils' Dream Team 2012! We're changing things up a bit for this year, and YOU can help. The first Thursday of every month will feature our new challenge and will extend through the entire month. This means that YOU have ALL month to play along with the one challenge, as many times as you want. Sometimes it will be a color challenge, sometimes a theme, and sometimes a technique. We are hoping that an entire month will give you plenty of time to be inspired, create, and link to the Dream It Up! blog . Each month we are offering TWO prizes...one for the most creative version of the challenge (does not have to be Dreamweaver Stencils ' product, but we sure are happy when it is!), and the second for the best use of Dreamweaver Stencils ' product in the challenge. This could be stencils (of course), Embossing Pastes , Metallic F/X , the new Color Solutions , etc., anything you find on the Dreamweaver Stencils' web site , or in your local store. Don't know where your local store is? The list can be found on the web site . Not near any of the stores listed? Contact me and I can send you anything Dreamweaver and beyond!
For the month of January, we challenge you to create something for Valentine's Day! You have until January 31st, 11:59 PM EST, to post and link your creation(s) to the Dream It Up! Blog Mr. Linky. The winners will be announced February 2nd, along with the February challenge.
While I am still thinking Christmas, I do like Valentine's Day. Here is my first of several Valentine's for this month's challenge:

Ingredients
Dreamweaver Stencils: LL427 Die Heart, LG672 Heart Lock, LG708 Chickadees and LM241 Happy Valentine's Day
Postcard Tag by American Tag
Ribbon by May Arts
Distress Ink by Ranger Ink: Aged Mahogany, Vintage Photo and Worn Lipstick
Embossing Powders by StampaMania: Black and Red Satin Pearl
Ranger Emboss It embossing ink - clear
Method
Using a Ranger foam ink applicator and Aged Mahogany Distress Ink, buff the sides of the tag to your heart's content to create that aged look. Remember to keep the center lighter than the edges. It makes the eyes and brain happy when you do that!
Using a fresh foam ink applicator and the Heart Lock stencil, pounce embossing ink on the stencil. I have found that using a foam ink applicator and the pouncing method to be very effective especially with embossing ink. This method keeps the ink where it should be where as a stencil brush will get under the stencil. Sprinkle on the Red Satin Pearl embossing powder and heat until dimensional and glossy.
Next use the Chickadee stencil and line up the top bird to be at the top of the red embossed heart. Again using the pouncing method, apply embossing ink to the tag. Sprinkle with black embossing powder, heat until dimensional and glossy. Try not to heat the heart, it will soften if you apply more heat to the melted embossing powder.
Using the Valentine sentiment, Vintage Photo Distress ink and a foam ink applicator, pounce on the brown ink.
The heart background is last, apply Worn Lipstick with a foam applicator. Mask off the heart that you are not using on the stencil with blue painter's tape. Rotate the stencil as you move it around the tag to created the background.
Add the ribbon to the top and you are done!
Thanks for stopping today. Leave me a note that you stopped by and then visit the other wonderful ladies on the Dreamweaver Design Team as listed below or to the right.
Pam Hornschu
Laura Drahozal
Louise Healy
Wendy Jordan
Terrece Siddoway
Kristi Van Doren
Georgia Sommers
Liz Martin
Cyndi Bundy
Cherylynn Moser
Jessie Hurley
Have fun and make art today!
Lee