Glimmer Mist tutorial - stenciling

It's taken me a week or so, but as promised I have now completed the second part of the Glimmer Mist tutorial, this time focusing on using stencils to obtain some wonderful effects. Using stencils along with GM's the options are endless, you can use your finished piece as the focal point of your card or project, or continue to build on it until you are satisfied with the end product as in reality you can't really go wrong.

Selecting cardstock: Different colours work and interact with the base card used and the same colour will produce totally different finishes on different card colours and surfaces. For example, used on a coated cardstock GM's will sit on the surface and blend together more than they do on an absorbent card, so always take this into account. I prefer to use a min 220gsm carstock as I find this produces a workable piece - anything lighter can buckle with the weight of the GM's

Your stencils: They are available ready made, but if you have a Cricut or similar die machine you can cut your own from acetate, much cheaper and options endless.

Working surface: As described on my previous tutorial here.

Getting Started: Decide on your colours, I find three are good, with two from the same family in a lighter and darker tone, plus a complimentary colour - in these samples I have used Timeless Lilac, Rum Raisin and Key Lime, plus the final spray of Pearl as explained in my previous tutorial.

1) Start by giving the whole piece a spray of your lightest colour and dabbing it all over with kitchen towel - in picture 1 the colour is barely evident, but it has softened the cardstock.

2) Lay on your stencils (pic 1)

3) Spray all over with your other two colours (pic 2).

4) Lift the stencils as quickly as possible (pic 3) Note: make sure you lay them on your work mat with the ink side uppermost - I will explain why later.

5) Spray all over with Pearl - dependent on the finish you want - spray when still wet and the colours will bleed into the stenciled areas, whereas if you leave it to dry first and the use the Pearl the merging of colours will be more subtle (pic 4).

Really its as simple as that !

Finally, you can maximise your GM's by laying carstock onto the still wet stencils - why I said to lay them wet side up when you lift them off. This gives a nice mottled impression of the stencil and works well over previously GM'd pieces - I tend to keep offcuts for this purpose - you can end up with some really gorgeous pieces.