Stencils - Removing WC paint with Baby Wipes

Hey all!

I've got another stencil technique I have been playing with.  I had these Elmer's Art Crayon Sticks since I think Nolan was in Pre-school ( not doing math today - but that was forever ago ).

They work like gelatos; they are waxy,  a lipstick consistency, very blend-able, and they are water soluble.   I have no idea where you can find them to buy.  But if you have gelatos, gel sticks, or watercolor crayons, even cheap watercolors, you will get near the same effect.  See my notes below after the VIDEO :)

For the video,  I used smooth white cardstock and a stencil I digitally cut onto transparency film.  

CUTFILE:  Doily Mandala 2

For the card above, I used Ornate Butterfly Digi that I watercoloured, glittered and added gems.  Background is a Darice embossing folder.

Here are the 2 panels I made using above technique.

Things I noticed while I was playing:

- I also tried the technique with  watercolor crayons and Koi watercolors.... all work.
- Cardstock works OK.  A clay coated cardstock works better.  Watercolor paper also gives a nice effect.  Another option that I didn't try but would work is a gessoed surface.
-make sure your paint surface is dry to the touch before securing your stencil.
-use a clean part of the baby wipe each time you start on a different color of paint or you get a "halo" of the previous color on the next area.

Left - watercolor paper/crayon sticks, Middle- Koi watercolors on clay coated "stamping paper", Right-Neocolor II's on super cheapo cardstock.

In my opinion the clay coated paper and gelato-like crayon sticks "rocked":

Stencils:  Four Point Star Pattern,  Blossoms,  Whirlpool Splash

 

Have a great weekend!

:)* Fred

Stencil Rubbings

Hey all!

That fun thing you did as a youngster with a yummy smelling pack of Crayolas and paper, where you would put coins or leaves or that weathered picnic table top in the back yard under you paper and then rub over top with  crayons?  You can be all grown up and arty farty and do it with stencils!  I have been having fun making backgrounds :)

Used crayons, white prisma pencil, Four Point Star Stencil, Doodled Floral 1, Darice embossing Folders, gold cardstock, deckle scissors, and spellbinders die.

I love the dreamy smeary look.

VIDEO TIME....

Used, Whirlpool Splash Stencil cut on transparency film, and Happy Flowers Rainbow Collection flower sheets.  Eventually, I will add a sentiment in the empty space.

Here is a close up of a stencil rubbing blended with a light coloured prisma pencil.

Have a great day!
:)*  Fred

New Doodled Floral, Stencils & a TUT

Hey all! This summer is cruising by... eek!  How have you all been? :)

 I added some new files... they are at the bottom of the post.

OK I am going to say it, I am LOVING stencils, I love drawing them, and I love tweaking and experimenting with them. Modeling paste?... oh my goodness!  I love that I can use the Cutting File Stencils in different ways and even as a printable digi image ( I have more ideas and inspiration later this week :)  ).  I noticed that there must be others that like them too as I did some math... I have had 2358 downloads of the Free Stencils  as of today .... sales on the 5 latest cutting file stencils?  .... not so much... really bad $29 ( bad enough to seriously rethink this stencil making love of mine. I have to put food on the table, you know?)  Now I admit, I am mostly to blame as I have all these ideas, and I haven't shown you any of  them!  Maybe you just don't "get" what fun they are ;) So let's try to change that now LOL!

So here is something you can do with Cutting File Stencils that you CAN'T DO with bought pre-made stencils :) ( This one needs a Digital Cutting Machine)

I made 2 card fronts with one cut of the Circles Stencil.

I did a gradient wash onto an A2 card stock panel with watercolour crayons and a waterbrush. ( a red, orange and a yellow Neocolor II )

Make sure the panel is SUPER DRY before proceeding.  I used Make the Cut! software with my digital cutting machine and visual lined up/eyeballed my A2 panel on my cutting mat in the middle of the square Circles Stencil that I saw on the mat "on screen"  and added some junk card stock on each side my panel so my blade wouldn't hit bare mat.  Then I cut.  I peeled away the panel.  Leaving the negative bits on the mat... that is important.

I secured another white A2 card stock together with the cut panel with painters tape top and bottom so the panel wouldn't slip.  Now all you do is glue down each leftover piece off the mat into the holes in the panel.  I used a UHU stick for my glue.  NOTE: Take each negative circle off the mat ONE AT A TIME ...much easier to figure out where they go that way ;)

I made these 2 cards...

I embossed the cardstock underneath the watercolored stencil cut panel... looks so cool!

The image used for both cards is the new Doodled Floral 1.  The product includes the outline DIGI and 2 pre-coloured images :) 

I also added a new digital cutting file stencil set:  Four Point Star Pattern Stencils

MTC/Silhouette Studio/SVG/GSD/DXF/V-PDF/PNG

The 3 above stencils are included in the set.

.... I'll show you what I did with this stencil set tomorrow :)

And for the digital stamp lovers out there.  I am putting my stencil happy love on hold and have some new images in the works.  ... gotta put the nose to the computer screen and get 'er done!

Have a great day!

:)*  Fred

A "Spring Card" & Free Cutting Files :)

Hi All!

Taxes all done! Woohoo!  I have added some free cutting files to the STORE at THIS LINK.  One of them is a freebie down below :)

I've been stencil happy lately!  There is so much you can do with them.... including NOT using them as a stencil LOL...

For this card I used the stencil cutting file Doily Mandala 1 as a "cardfront".

Doily Mandala 1 Stencil & Mask

I created a Spring Card Template cutting file to make this card. Just click the image below to get the download :)

Spring Card Template Cutting File

 

FREE!

The cutting file has dashed score lines that help to crease in the appropriate parts of the card.  There are also mats for the base that cut out.  I embossed the mats and inked with Bundled Sage distress inks.  The mats for the spring card base are also inked and embossed.  The flowers  are from the Happy Flowers Digi Set and were coloured with  NeoColor II watercolor crayons and a water brush.   The butterfly is Ornate Butterfly Digi that was also coloured with NeoColor II's and glittered.

NOTE: To use the card template you don't need a cutting machine! The free Spring Card template also contains a PDF file that will print to your printer.  Print on the wrong side of your card stock or use as a guide. 

To fold the card, crease on the dashed fold lines.  Fold like below :)

 TIP:  You can size the card template to any size.  It is set currently for 5" wide and it would fit any round cardfront or diamond front between 5 and 5 1/2" in diameter.


Have a great day!
:)*  Fred

Zehra's Mini-Tutorial - Happy Flowers

Hi all!  Happy Sunday!  The sun is finally shining after 3 days of heavy rain and then snow... WOW what an April we are having! 

DT Zehra has made a flower making mini-tutoral using the Happy Flowers Digi Set and also used Ornate Butterflies  and just in time for a "FLOWER PICK ME UP" :)  This brightened my day... Awesome job, Zehra!  Please GO HERE to see the tutorial.

Card by DT Zehra

I'll be back earlier this week with some new cards and some new stencils and stencil freebies!

:)* Fred

Happy Flowers & Sentiments

Hey all!

..new stuff :)

I had a request for Fred's Flowers without black outlines.. I hope this will work :)  I made some Happy Flowers... in happy, bright rainbow colours! .. and some flower pots you can add your flowers to.

... and some digi flowers and pots too :)

... and some Uplifting Sentiments ( 22 in all!)

I am also working on some  digital cutting file stencils & masks.  The chevron pattern on the above card is a stencil I made that was sponged over with distress inks onto CS.  I'll be sharing the stencil soon once I get it converted to the various formats ;)  I kind of went stencil creation happy in anticipation of a Gelli Plate I ordered ( that is backordered at Curry's ack!).  I was excited for it's arrival and when it didn't come, I was sad... so I made my own out of Knox gelatin.  Just google "gelatin plate recipe" and you will find tons of resources :)  Emma and I had a blast playing with our homemade plate and acrylic paints.  They say the gelatin plate might last for a few weeks in the fridge... hopefully my Gelli Plate will arrive before it goes bad.  I'll have to fire up the camera and share some of the crazy prints we made. 

:)*  Fred

LAST CHANCE DT CALL!... and a CARD

Hi all!  Just a post to remind you that Fred She Said is having a DT CALL.  I will accept submissions until Monday Feb 11  Midnight EST.  

And to help take up some space on this sparse post LOL   here is a card I put together today.

I laser printed an Ornate Butterfly onto transparency film, coloured with Bic Mark It markers and added stickles and a heart brad.  The embossed background has a skiff of light green paint applied with a brayer.  I was testing out some sentiments for a set that will be coming out very soon :)

We were cleaning out my son's room to clear the way for new laminate flooring when I happened upon a tray of 20 or so bottles of acrylic paint!.. I totally forgot about them!  Oh my, add that to my bulging drawer of 60? bottles of acrylic paint... you might be seeing more paint on my cards :O LOL

:)*  Fred

GROUND HOG DAY BLOG HOP ~ STARTS HERE!

Hi all, it's that time yup!  Time for a Blog Hop.... please come have some fun with us!  Please,  also check below for a 25% SALE COUPON :)  :)

Fred She Said is having a Ground Hog Day Blog Hop.  Tracey, from Fred She Said hails from Wiarton, Ontario, Canada, home of Wiarton Willie, the albino ground hog.  Every February 2nd, Willie emerges from his den to predict whether or not we will have an early Spring.  If he sees his shadow, he will become frightened and scurry back into his den, hailing 6 more weeks of winter.  If he does not see his shadow, he will declare an EARLY SPRING woohoo!  Tracey has asked the Fred She Said DT to make a card - either a "wintery" card ( if they think Willie will predict  a LATE SPRING ) or a "Flowery or Spring" card ( if they think he will predict an EARLY SPRING ).

Your job, dear blog hopper, is to hop along and TALLY up how many DT thought it will be an EARLY SPRING and how many predict a LATE SPRING.   Instructions on how to enter will be posted on the last stop at the FSS CHALLENGE BLOG.  Please leave some love on the DT's posts; they love to hear from you ;)  Please enter by Friday February 8th,  Midnight EST.

ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL RECEIVE:
$30 GC for the Fred She Said Store
$25 GC for Crop Stop

( provided by Tracey )

COUPON TIME!!! :)
FRED SHE SAID also has a Ground Hog Day WEEKEND SALE COUPON! 
( 25% off any purchase  on or over $10 from Friday FEB 1 UNTIL Sunday FEB 3 midnight EST )
 USE COUPON CODE GROUNDHOGDAY
Yey!  I get to play....
HERE IS MY PREDICTION:

 

OK I am so hopeful.  I predict that Willie will predict an EARLY SPRING!  Today it has been snowing and blowing like crazy!   I so want this over! LOL  Today's card uses the Tulip Bouquet ( from Pre-Coloured Set)  and some distress inks for sponging.  The background is a free printable dictionary page from The Vintage Moth, that I white washed with white paint and added black distress to the edges.

So that was EARLY SPRING for me!  Tally it up :)  Now please go to Michelle's blog to continue your journey!

Here is the blog hop list in case you lose your way!

Blog Hop List:
Update: links now go to actual hop posts :) ( updated ONLY on START AND ENDING POSTS)
Tracey  ( You are HERE )
Michelle
Nancy
Carolyn
Crystal
Janet Kay
Karen
Patty
Zehra

FSS CHALLENGE BLOG ( entry instructions )

Good luck and Have Fun!

CARD - Fancy Doily Snowflake Blue

Happy Monday!  Here's a card made with Fancy Doily Snowflake and SnowFlake Paper Pricking Pattern.  Snowflake was laser printed on transparency film, coloured with permanent Bic  Mark It markers and glittered with Glamour Dust.  Gems are iridescent.. I love how they change colours in the light :)

I bought a new Magnifier Lamp a couple of weeks ago as my eyes are just not focusing anymore or for very long due to my Fuch's - can't see through either pair of my glasses and will be a few months before I get in to see my optometrist.  I don't want to be a whiny baby BUT, if any of you have trouble seeing to craft, a magnifying lamp can make a BIG DIFFERENCE when you are poking holes! LOL  ... a big help when colouring too.  I think it's my new favourite crafting tool :)

Have a great week!

:)* Fred

A Little Fat Santa & a pretty FRAME!

Hi all!

I just added a couple of things to the STORE. 

I wanted a simple little gnomish Santa to add to some cards I was making.  I just want to squeeze his cheeks and pull his beard LOL!

Little Fat Santa ( DIGI OR COL SET)

... and I wanted a CUT FILE frame for my Pointy Poinsettia Flower!  So I made 2 versions.

CUT FILE-Wrought Iron Square Frame SET:

The frame used Wrought Iron Square Frame version 2 and  was cut from white card stock.   The main part of the frame was glue-sprayed and sprinkled with Rock Candy dry glitter before it was adhered to the base frame.  The flower is from the Pointy Poinsettia Flowers.    I am thinking I will be using the Wrought Iron Frame A LOT with my butterflies and flowers in the future  ;) ... yes I am giddy with anticipation!   ..... just have to get through "Christmas card making season"  first! LOL

Have a great day!

:)*

Fred

Crystal Snowflake Card & Facebook

I am playing with snowflakes!  This card uses the Crystal Snowflake DIGI & CUT FILE set.  I coloured the "digi" image with coloured pencils and brushed on a light coating of matte decoupage glue and added Ranger Distress Rocky Candy DRY glitter.  That glitter is so pretty!  The background was made with masks I created with the Crystal Snowflake cutting file in 2 sizes cut out of transparency film.  I sponged distress inks over the masks/stencils in Salty Ocean, Iced Spruce and Broken China.  I added tiny dots of star dust glitter pen to the masked snowflakes.  The embossing folder is from Sizzix's Dot Swirl & Medallion Set.  I love it!     ( FYI  re the product links, I am not affiliated with CropStop but I do ALOT of damage there LOL  and they have been awesome to me as a customer  :) and, hey, that's where I got my toys! )

UPDATES:  ( groups, boards,  and fan pages OH MY )

I set up a FACEBOOK page for Fred She Said!  Please feel free to "like" our page!  Once you do, the Fred She Said Designs page will let you know about updates to the store, blog, DT cards, discount codes & more :)  Feel free to add your Fred She Said creations to our timeline or just ask questions.   I am still learning my way around Facebook so bear with us for a bit!  The facebook page button is at the top right of the Fred She Said blog.  Or try this LINK ( crossing fingers it works).

FYI:   Sadly, The Fred She Said group on the CDAC site will be closing. Thanks to all the members who joined and participated and to the CDAC for hosting us.  I am sorry but I just don't  have the time or the health/energy to give to the site that it deserves or participate in the main site activities in the manner that is required. 

The Fred She Said group at PAPER CRAFT PLANET is still in business.  I hope to get a little more happening over there soon :)

You can also follow me on PINTEREST :)   I have just started setting up a few FSS boards there.

Happy Halloween and stay safe trick or treaters ; )

:)*  Fred

Christmas Stuff - Yey!

Hi all!

I have just uploaded some new Christmas/Winter items to the store.  There will be more soon.  Going to draw draw draw next week as I am off.  My "day" job got cut back drastically due to cuts and teacher/union issues at the moment so it is looking like I will have more time to devote to illustrating.  .... a blessing in disguise?...  I hope so

Anyhoo.... I have had Christmas Doggies on the brain :)

Kiss Me Scottie

Winter Westie

.... and snowflakes!!

Crystal Snowflake  ( there is a DIGI version and a CUT FILE version )

Fancy Doily Snowflake:  there is a DIGI version and a CUT FILE version

  
Have a great weekend!

:)*  Fred

Early Autumn Blog Hop STARTS HERE!

Welcome to the Fred, She Said Early Autumn Blog Hop!  Summer has ended and memories remain!  The FSS team wants to share with you the newly released FSS images!  ... Any images released during September including these images that have just been release in the store:

 Fallen Maple Leaf

 "Raking"

I can't wait to see what the Fred She Said DT have come up with :)

The Fred She Said DT have some wonderful eye candy for you and some SECRET WORDS to collect. Yay! 

 We have a wonderful prize package for ONE LUCKY WINNER! 

PRIZE PACKAGE:
One winner will receive

$25 GC to CropStop  (provided by Fred She Said)
$25 GC to Fred She Said Store

Collect a secret word on each blog along the way, leave the DT some love on their posts and follow the directions at the end of the hop for your chance to win this FABULOUS PRIZE!  ( commenting is not required to win but it sure is appreciated ;) )

Blog Hop entry date closes Friday, October 5, midnight EST.

Here  we go!   ( if you get lost, you can refer back to this blog for the BLOG HOP participant LIST.  **The instructions on how to enter will be at  the FSS CHALLENGE BLOG.**

PLEASE GO to KAREN'S Blog to get your FIRST Secret Word :)  

 Blog Hop List:

Tracey - http://fred-she-said.blogspot.com/ – START ( no secret word )

Karen - http://busybusyhoneybee.wordpress.com/

Patty - http://www.patriciachalasstudio.blogspot.com/

Crystal - http://craftingwithcrystal.blogspot.com/

Janet Kay - http://janetkbailey.wordpress.com/

Nancy - http://inspiredbystamps.blogspot.com/

Robin - http://robinscreativenest.blogspot.com/

Carolyn - http://luvmycards.blogspot.com/

Maureen - http://www.maureensmagic.blogspot.com/

Zehra - http://rosebestcards.com/

Valerie - http://valscrafts.blogspot.com/

Michelle – http://inspirationblooms.blogspot.com/ 

FSS Challenge Blog - http://fss-challenge.blogspot.com/    ENDS HERE with instructions on how to enter.

Good Luck & Have Fun!

:)*

Fred & The DT

new in the STORE

Hey all!

**Reminder... we are currently accepting DT applications :) Click HERE for deets!

Some new things in the store :)...

Donna made another wonderful Paper Set ... Yummy Delights!

I made a Dragonfly Flower Doodledallion Set.  It originated from a dragonfly I had in rubber form from my first foray into rubber stamps.  Here is a card I used the dragonfly on , along with rose and frame from the Ornate Pearl Frame and the Build a Floral Spray cutting sets:

See this frame? I should have a hand cuttable coloured frame set next week :)

 I converted the dragonfly to digital and thought that he needed something to land on :)  ... hence a new doodledallion!  This set comes with sentiments, several borders.. and whole bunch of elements.  This set is uncoloured.  Pre-coloured version/s should be available soon ( next week ).

Dragonfly Flower Doodledallion DIGI SET

Have a great weekend!

:)* Fred