Stencils - day two! Stencil Fun Challenge

There might have been was a little bit of shopping before the holidays - you know how that goes, right?  I picked up another of the Altenew Build-a-Garden sets: Pristine Peonies which I can never say no to, btw.  As always, I was 'encouraged' by my friend Therese - thank you, T!

There are two images in the set - you'll be seeing the second one soon enough.  For their 'premier' I try to use all the coordinating things as they are intended: stamps, dies, stencils - you get the picture.  Using stencils again today allows me to share a card with those lovely gals at the Stencil Fun Challenge.  For January 2024 there is an optional 'add a bird' - guess who forgot her bird...

This is quite a large image but I found a way to make it fit while leaving

plenty of open space for another bit of stenciling on my background panel.

You aren't surprised it's grey - tone on tone grey!  I found the same general 

shape of the Peony in another stencil set from The Ton.

Just one of their Gentle Peonies layers was used and I used a very light touch with my favorite CP Twilight ink.

Here are the other inks used for the Peonies.

Okay, off I go to deliver this to Darlene and Diane!  There are already such wonderful cards that include that optional bird!  Are you playing?

=] Michele

A TON of thanks for Tom!

Yes.  You did read that correctly - this is my 'thank you' post for Tom who may not shop, doesn't have grandiose ideas about gift giving, but sure does know when to say ...'here's my card - buy what you'd like for your birthday.'   

What did I buy?  The Ton has the most wonderful stencils and one in particular caught my eye recently when Vera Yates shared THIS gorgeous number on The Ton blog using the Gentle Peonies Layering Stencils.  Vera's colors were just gorgeous - she shares how she seldom cleans her blending brushes so the colors were often a mixture of different inks.  I used that as my 'challenge' as I DO clean my brushes quite well on a microfibre cloth.  No worries, I found I could mimic her look by just nudging the colors over into another when advantageous.

Here's what that looks like:

I then cut into two panels for two thank you cards:

This THANKS die is one of those two-part dies from SSS - ABOVE, I've simply

cut the top layer from the shadow layer and stacked them 3 times.

Below I've used just the top layer of the thanks die...

Here are the inks used for this panel:

Then a few more inks came out to play:

With equally beautiful results...

Since I'm reminded of the slipcovers I made for an old couch, I gave this one the look of fabric using that favored [retired] SU Subtle Texture EF.  A very simple yet perfect sentiment from Honey Bee and my appreciation was well shown and shared with Just us Girls #705

He's definitely a 'keeper.'  Thank you, babe!

=] Michele