Decorating Tools

I just finished my pattern for the Village Pub, based on the Gus O’Connor’s Pub in Doolin, Ireland. Since the pub had a stacked stone wall front, I decided I wanted one too. There were several ways I could make the stones, using either my texture folders like I showed you when I made Villa Torre, or using a debossing tip, as I did with Hiorne Tower. I really love the look of stenciled stones made with grit paste, however, so I decided it was time that I make and share a new stencil pattern.

I just started my model for my next free building pattern, the last of the castles I am designing for Lucy Foxworth’s Make A Castle Challenge. It has some stonework, and there are several ways I could make the stonesk, using either my texture folders like I showed you when I made Villa Torre, or using a debossing tip, like I did with Hiorne Tower. I also have the new stencil I cut when I made my version of Lucy’s Chateau. However, I decided it was time that I make and share a new stencil pattern.

As promised, a chimney stone stencil. Also known as the blog post where my husband informs me I used the wrong type of stone stencil on my Ivy Cottage stone chimney.

I love to use brick and stone textures on my aluminum can buildings. Recently, Meg Danforth posted a picture of her version of the January Putz House Monthly Post Office in our new Facebook group, and I immediately wanted to remake the building with a brick texture out of aluminum cans. Meg used a stencil and Tim Holtz Distress grit paste to make her bricks as she made her building out of cardboard. To achieve a similar look with aluminum cans, I need to use an embossing folder. However, I have been unhappy with the commercial brick embossing folders I have found as the bricks are very large and the size is quite unrealistic looking on Tim Holtz Village sized buildings. So I went looking for information on how to make my own embossing folder. I am very pleased with the result. Once I had made a brick pattern for an embossing folder, I decided I might as well make a stencil too. The building I am designing for the April Putz House Monthly pattern is one where I will want to make my cardboard model with a brick façade so I will need to use the stencil soon.