Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Cutting Edge Stencil Review and Giveaway!

I was recently contacted by Cutting Edge Stencils and asked to do a review of their card stencils and a giveaway for my readers, and after taking a look at their website, I was thrilled to say yes! I love to make cards with plastic stencils and happy to find another stencil company with more stencil choices for us card makers and scrappers.

**Would you like to win a $20 Cutting Edge Stencil gift certificate and free shipping on the stencils you choose if you win? Of course you would! All you need to do is visit the Cutting Edge website, pick our your favorite stencil and leave a comment on this blog post with the name of your favorite stencil and your email address so you can be contacted if you win. (You can write it out like khasheck at gmail dot com to avoid spammers.) For a second chance to win, Follow Cutting Edge Stencils on Facebook, and for a third chance to win, subscribe to their blog here.  Please leave an extra comment if you have chosen to follow them on Facebook or subscribe to their blog and you will receive extra chances to be the big winner. You have until Sunday, July 13th at noon CST to enter this giveaway. The winner will be announced on my blog Monday, July 14th when I post some more cards I made with Cutting Edge Stencils.**

EDITED TO ADD: You have all been so kind with your lovely comments, I have decided to add a second prize! A second randomly drawn winner from the comments will be drawn and he or she will win a set of 4 rubber grip Crafter's Choice Stencil Brushes and a beautiful butterfly stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils of course. All I ask is that you leave any comment and be a follower of my blog.


I used Cutting Edge Stencil's Birch Forest Card Stencil for the first card I am sharing today. The first thing I noticed when I opened the stencil package was how sturdy and flexible the stencil was, and that is was larger than most of the other card stencils I own. The card size design is 6 x 8 inches and the stencil itself is 9 x 11 inches. The bigger size can be an advantage if you are making a larger card (see below) and it makes it easy to tape it down outside of the cardstock piece you are stenciling. However, it was too large to emboss in my Big Shot machine and I even had to cut it down somewhat to run it through my Grand Calibur. If you visit the Cutting Edge Stencil website, you will see they have a long history of making high quality stencils for walls and decorating homes, and that quality is obvious in their card stencils too. The ones I received are sturdier and more flexible than others sold by companies just now getting into the stencil market.

I also received a package of Crafter's Choice stencil brushes with rubber grips. I usually don't use stencil brushes on my cards, but when a fuller softer brush and a sponge did not give me the dark look I wanted in between the kraft colored birch trees, I tried the largest stencil brush in the package and it worked beautifully. It was so easy to hold on the rubber grip. I used Ranger Archival black ink and that was a mistake, as the brush and the stencil did not come clean when I washed them after use. I am sure with a regular dye ink, it would have been fine. But the brush and the stencil can be used for any color next time, they just has a black edge now. Ranger's Archival black ink is my favorite as it is a true dark black and it is on my desk all the time, but it is much more permanent than other dye inks, so another black dye ink would be better to use for the stencil and brush.

I cut Memory Box's Serene Bird in grey, wet embossed Repeat Impression's bamboo in clear embossing powder, and attached with mounting tape to raise. I stamped Avery Elle's Hello and added a pearl to complete the card.


I have been wanting to get one (or more) of the lovely Prima doll stamps by Julie Nutting and recently I purchased "Kate" on line. When I opened the package, I realized just how big these Prima doll stamps are - Kate is 7 1/2 inches tall. Way to big for any standard size card, and if I used a standard size 6 x 6 stencil for a background, it would not be big enough. So the larger size of the Aladdin stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils was a real advantage for this card. You can also choose a page size stencil if you want it even bigger, like for scrapbooking. I prefer mine a little smaller usually for card making, and so am hoping Cutting Edge Stencils might add a third size like 6 x 6 with smaller image details too. But the ones I received worked great for the backgrounds I created.

I started with a business size cream colored card 8 1/4" tall by 8" wide and folded it in half. I attached a paint strip down the long way on the card and sponged Tea Dye Distress Ink on with the Tim Holtz distress sponging tool using the Aladdin stencil. I was going for an ombre look on the paint chip part. I stamped "Kate" on cream paper, paper pieced her hair, dress and shoes and attached her to the card. I stamped the Heidi Swapp "shine" to complete the card.
I have one more card to share today. I mentioned the stencils I received were too big to do one of my favorite techniques with stencils- emboss with my No More Shims thick embossing pad and then sponge while the stencil is still attached. However, Cutting Edge Stencils sent me a bonus smaller hummingbird stencil with my order, and so I was able to easily make this CAS fun card. I picked a subtle floral cardstock, attached the stencil and ran it through the Big Shot with my No More Shims thick embossing pad. The image is raised with nice dimension. Then I sponged the bird with Starry Skies Distress Ink (Ranger) and Tim Holtz's distress sponging tool. I cut the piece and attached at an angle on an A2 sized card base. I stamped the Soar (from CTMH) on vellum and attached at an angle too.

I do recommend you check out the stencils on the Cutting Edge Stencil website for card making, scrapbooking and also for any decorating you might want to do in your home. I am hoping they expand their card size choices and will be shopping there myself. Please stop back next Monday to see if you won the giveaway and to see some more cards I made with these great stencils.

I am entering these cards in the Anything Goes challenges at 613 Avenue Create and Scribble and Scrap.

23 comments:

Juliana Michaels 17turtles said...

What beautiful cards and a wonderful review of their stencils! TFS!!!

Alyx said...

Fabulous cards...love the bird. Thank you for joining us over at the Scribble and Scrap Challenge. Good luck.
xx

Bernardine Cuttino said...

Simply beautiful beauties, and loving the stencils. Thanks for the opportunity.
Hugs
Berni

Bernardine Cuttino said...

I am back with my favorite stencil. There were a few calling my name, but I especially am fond of Houndstooth Card Stencil Template.

I am following Cutting Edge on Facebook and subscribe to their blog.
bmcuttino@hotmail.com
Hugs
Berni

Bernardine Cuttino said...

Just a note, I am following Cutting Edge on Facebook and subscribe to their blog.
bmcuttino@hotmail.com
Hugs
Berni

Kathy S said...

I have a solution for your larger stamps Karen. All you do is stamp the image in black and then scan it in to your computer. Now that you have a jpg image, you can make it smaller and use it like a digital image. Waaaalaaaa A smaller image for your A2 cards.

So, my favorite stencil would have to be a simple circle shape. Use those all the time.

Thanks for the opportunity!

KT Fit Kitty said...

Your cards are gorgeous! I am new to stencilling so I love seeing what you made! Thanks for the awesome giveaway - I like the Paisley Card stencil! fitkitty (at) gmail (dot) com

Karen Schroeder said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Karen Schroeder said...

Cool cards! I like the Paisley Card Stencil Template. Thanks for the chance to win. fossilsrock(at)hotmail(dot)com

Brenda said...

Wow what beautiful cards Karen! I too love the Prima dolls and have a few, but they are BIG! She has come out with smaller ones now and they even have matching dies. You will have to check them out. I don't have any...yet. lol Hugs, Brenda

happyglitzygirl said...

MMmm hard to choose, but I think they are all gorgeous, leaning more towards the Julie Nutting one...love how you used different backgrounds and colours, the stencils really make them all pop. I am wanting to a Nutting stamp as well, but am intimidated by their size....you are card artist number one in my books, blessings Hilde

Jane Luxem said...

Great cards, Karen, and lovin' the stencils - our new favorite toy!

Jane Luxem said...

I really like the Fishscale stencil but they are all very cool.

Robin said...

These are lovely cards! Thanks so much for a chance to win some stencils too. The one I liked the best is Lily Scroll Card Stencil Template. I really like the wall stuff too. My email is rcraddock910(at)yahoo(dot)com. Thanks again. Hugs, Robin

Rebecca/Sydney's Sentiments said...

Love your cards! Stencils are so fun to work with. Thanks for offering a chance to win some. My favorite is Sakura and Birds Wall Stencil. I love birds and have 5 parrots. My email is rsandy1017(at)aol(dot)com. Thanks again.

Melanie Smith said...

Paisley card stencil - thank you for visiting my blog. I really appreciate it my new friend. Melanie fairystampland.blogspot.com precious78 at bellsouth dot net

Lori Gauerke said...

I like the chevron stencil. Thanks for the chance to win. lori2813 at yahoo dot com

Verna Angerhofer said...

Love the creations you made using the stencils. I like the Houndstooth pattern. arlinverna at tnics dot com

Verna Angerhofer said...

I am also a subscriber to the blog by email.

Little C's Creations said...

Beautiful creations!! Thank you for visiting me. I have never tried cutting edge stencils. I better go check them out!! I am now a follower!!! Blessings from Hawaii!!

Aloha,
Jen

PoppyK said...

Great card thank you for joining in at scribble & scrap. Have fun and Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep Crafting DT Katie xx

PoppyK said...

Great card thank you for joining in at scribble & scrap. Have fun and Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep Crafting DT Katie xx

Kim Heggins said...

Wow...what a wonderful post of fabulous creations! You really have a wonderful talent.