Saturday, March 5, 2011

OWH Bunny Hop

Welcome to the Operation Write Home Bunny Hop!
If you're here for the Hop and came from Holley's Hobbies, you're in the right place.  If you want to go back to the beginning, hop back to the Stars & Stamps blog.
This group makes blank greeting cards to send to our deployed heroes to send to their families and friends.  Most cards are welcome as long as we follow a few simple rules, which can be found HERE.
We have to make our cards much earlier than most folks normally do, so we have deadlines for getting cards to our shippers so they can make it to our heroes and back home again.  The deadline for Easter cards is March 18th and the deadline for Mother's Day cards is March 31st.
Now, lets get on with what I have to share with you today.
 One of my recent goals is to use the supplies I have on hand.  Many years ago, I bought a lot of metal stencils to use with a light box and stylus.  When the embossing folders were invented, I stopped using them and they have been sitting in a 3-ring binder for years.  I discovered a way to use them with my Big Shot and I'll share that with you.  I don't have the sandwich information for other machines, since this is the only one I own.

Creating a card with metal stencil & Big Shot
Click on photo to make it larger.

  1. Choose a metal stencil from storage folder.
  2. Select sandwich for Big Shot from Multipurpose Platform.
  3. Arrange sandwich onto platform.
  4. Run sandwich through Big Shot.
  5. Check embossed image on cardstock.
  6. Trim edges to remove embossed stencil edges from
      cardstock.
  7. Round the corners from embossed cardstock image.
  8. Place metal stencil on top of embossed cardstock and
      color image with chalk.  I used Pebbles Chalks with the
      applicator (clip & cotton balls) that come with each color
      set.  There are several brands and many colors of chalk
      available.
  9. Remove stencil and check chalked image.
      Add chalk to edges to soften the image.
10. Erase any chalk that you don't like.
      I love my electric eraser for this.
11. Spray chalked image with fixative.
      Do this outside to avoid the fumes.
12. Cut frame and round corners from chosen cardstock.
13. Stamp a sentiment onto base card.
14. Adhere layers onto base card with strong adhesive.
15. Admire finished card.

Since this blog hop is to show both Easter and Spring cards, I made several others with my collection of metal stencils.
 




This scanned card looks different, but is the same card in the tutorial.  The scanner shows a truer color, but photos are good for showing texture and gloss.

Now, a challenge for you.  Look in your crafting space for something that you used to use to make cards and learn to make something beautiful with it.  You'll be amazed how rewarding it can be.  Have fun!

Now, hop on over to She Stamps by Cheryl.

52 comments:

  1. Those are beautiful! And what a fantastic idea,thanks for sharing. Shelley

    ReplyDelete
  2. All of these are gorgeous!! I love the colors! Thank you for the tutorial!
    Tammy :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Awesome ideas for those stencils...maybe I need to get mine back out and work on a sandwich for my 'bug! Happy hopping, Velda!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great ideas, and beautiful cards!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful stencil work! With all the...stuff I have in my craft room, stencils are not among them. May need to change that! Beautiful Cards!!! You are very talented!!!-Amanda (#61)

    ReplyDelete
  6. love your idea for brass stencils, haven't used mine in a loooong time. nice cards

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for showing us a great idea :)
    I never got into the brass stencils... oh no... I see a trip to AC Moore coming !

    Mindy

    ReplyDelete
  8. SO pretty! Great job making the stencils work with your Big Shot! I LOVE the violets especially!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ohhh Velda your cards are gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks so much for this wonderful info! I'm looking to buy a die cut machine, and I was wondering what to do with all of my brass stencils. I love your cards! The colors really say spring! I'm with you on using up old supplies, but I also can't stop from buying all kinds of new stuff, too! lol

    ReplyDelete
  11. Awesome idea for us craft hoarders! Thanks for sharing and participating in the blog hop!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh Wow... beautiful! Good to learn that I can run the stencil through the Big Shot. Thanks very much.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great cards! Good thing I don't have a Big Shot...I would have to go get stencils! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for sharing that tutorial. I have seen a lot of those metal stencils that I would love to use and now I know how I can do it. I just love your cards.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wonderful! I have a bunch of stencils, so I needed this boot in the fanny to try them out. Love your cards! ♥ky

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great, thanks for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Lovely cards Velda and such great advice about digging out some long abandoned supplies/tools and using them again. Sometimes it's been so long it's like discovering something totally new once more. Thanks for hopping with OWH today!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful! I have 1 stencil, a hummingbird given to me years ago. Now that I know what to do with the dang thing, I can't find it!!

    Such talent! TFS

    Hummer Hugs,
    Misty
    http://deliteful-gifts.blogspot.com/
    hummingbird204 at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  19. I've got a lot of stencils too and should get them out and use them-- thanks for the ideas
    ajmacak at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Fabulous idea!!!! I'll have to break out my stencils! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Cute! And as a military wife, let me say thank you for donating your creations to OWH!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Velda - what beautiful cards! Such pretty colors too:) Thanks for the challenge and the great tutorial!
    Doris, stop #45

    ReplyDelete
  23. oh, Velda, you are my type of crafter. I, too, love to re-use and re-invent a new way to use old and tried supplies. I don't run to the store to by the newest and latest machine. I rather be creative with what I got. :) TFS such wisdom. :)

    thank you for sharing your talents and blessing OperationWriteHome with your artwork. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Beautiful cards, as usual, Velda!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I've just been playing with a stencil lately. Your cards are very pretty. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Velda, you are so clever! What a great way to get use out of those perfectly good brass stencils! We should turn this into a Tuesday Tutorial on the OWH blog! Beautiful cards, too!

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a cool technique--love those violets especially! Thanks for all the tips. . .

    ReplyDelete
  28. Such lovely delicate-looking cards...thanks for sharing them and your detailed instructions on the process. Very creative of you!
    Stop by for a visit sometime.

    ReplyDelete
  29. What a great way to use what you already have, gorgeous cards!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thanx for the inspiration - I'll have to revisit my stencils soon!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Wow, what gorgeous cards you've created! I'm doing the same thing as you, using what I've got! It's amazing what I've found in the back of some of my stamp room drawers! No brass stencils, but I love your technique!!!

    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  32. Your cards are so lovely.....great tip about the stencils too ;)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Velda, you do beautiful work! I have a special love for the iris because my dear Dad grew them. Thanks for sharing your technique with us and keep making those lovely cards!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Very pretty! We all need to pull out our old supplies and use them! :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. Beautiful cards. I've been looking at my old stencils wondering how they would work in my Cuttlebug. I'll have to give it a try after seeing your creations. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Velda, you just taught me two things. First, to use the stencil as a mask after embossing. Second, (and more important) is to use a sealer after using chalk. I always wondered why my chalk didn't stay put! Thanks!!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Oh I love Brass stencils! Wonderful cards- great inspiration!!! Great OWH Hop

    ReplyDelete
  38. awesome cards!! I love when we find new ways to use old stuff! very clever :)
    Please go back to #29, my post got up late due to a blogger snafu. yesterday...challenge and prize(still time). Today another post...Tutorial and candy.
    Thanks, Susan

    ReplyDelete
  39. Your cards are great!! :) I have a TON of those metal stencils... Haven't wanted to throw them away because I remember spending a LOT on them -- But I haven't used them either -- Your tutorial was much appreciated -- I will definitely give this a try!! Thanks so much for sharing your talent in the OWH Bunny Hop!!

    Amy :) at www.lovetocrop.com
    scrapbookingwithamy (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Very well done! I like the soft look!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hi Velda, your cards are alway beautiful. keep up the good work. Thanks for all the help you have given me in card making.you are a very good teacher and my dear friend.
    jodi

    ReplyDelete
  42. Great cards & tips. Thanks for a great tutorial & for helping us to dust off those brass templates & put them to use again.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Your cards are really nice! Thanks for the reminder that I can still use those brass stencils I bought years ago.

    I think your writing style makes you sound young at heart! :) That's a good attitude to have.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Beautiful soft cards. The purple on in the upper right is my fave!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hey - 51 comments!!! You don't need me any more!! LOL !! Glad you are being recognised at at last!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Beautiful cards! Thanks for sharing with us and OWH!

    circlebenterprises.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete