Just Another Brick In The Wall....

I think Pink Floyd sang it best....

It happens.  We've all been there. 

The elusive crafty dead end, slump, rut, brick wall.  

But if you've been following the journey of Onion, Mitza Pitza and myself (Quirks), you'll know that we're like the Blue's Brothers on a mission from God. No, we're not putting the band back together, HOWEVER, we are challenging and inspiring each other by using a specific theme each week and then impatiently waiting to see what we've all done with it.  This week's challenge is our third and it's...

Create Project Using a Homemade Stencil!!!!

Here's mine.

Ohhhh boy, this needs a face lift STAT!

I'm no surgeon, but this is my patient.  Here's how I've transformed it.

Recycling a plastic lid from a previous purchase. 

This is the material for my homemade stencil;  very sturdy and easy to clean after.

Cutting off the sides to make a flat surface area

Selecting a specific mask overlay design from the Silhouette Studio, I chose a wavy brick pattern.

Clipping homemade stencil onto white cardstock. 

You can see here I'm in the middle of spreading Lightweight Spackling to surface area.

Here I've removed the stencil and allowing it to dry. 

You'll notice the lines from the putty knife; easily sanded off when spackling dries.

The very first picture, above, of the brick wall, is actually the backside of the journal book.

Here begins the transformation of the front.

White cardstock was used to form the brick background with an embossing folder and several shades of paint from the TH Distress Ink set.

Now, a torn centerpiece that will hold the sentiment is applied.

I also cut out an arched rock window shape on the Silhouette. Initially it was just going to be painted, but the surface area was too flat for my liking and I really wanted a stone appearance to mix with the brick.  Using Snow-Tex and TH Antique Linen and Wild Honey Distress Paint, I was able to create the raised, textured and aged stone color I was hoping for. 

Once the stones were dry I painted in and around them with various shades of paint to highlight them and then also painted the surface area for the sentiment; which was applied with Glossy Accents.

Remember the homemade wavy brick stencil?

Here it is!! 

I really wanted that to be the focal  point of the journal, so I've attached it to protrude out from the surface and spritzed it with vibrant Lemon Zest Dylusions ink spray.

Now, I realize that these aren't exactly the words of the Great OZ, but don't you think they apply just as well??

So, of course, raised in Kansas, I had no choice but to add the Wizard of Oz characters to the yellow brick road. ;)

And there you have it, a newly transformed old journal with an inspirational sentiment and quirky style.

So save that plastic and design your own stencils and get inky, sticky and creative!!

I'm so grateful for your visit and I hope you're just as excited as I am to see what the other ladies have created with this theme!!!

To visit Sue's (Onion) blog, click here.

To visit Mitra's (Mitza Pitza) blog, click here.

Hugs n' Happy Crafting,

Lisa xx