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Julia's December Stencil Release, and Some Important Announcements!

 

Hi, everyone! Did you notice that I didn't use Prettier PlaquesTM in this blog post title?! Well, that's because I'm introducing a NEW Julia-branded stencil series this month called Dynamic DuosTM, which will replace Prettier PlaquesTM for the foreseeable future. For those of you who loved my Prettier PlaquesTM (which I sincerely hope is everyone), have no fear! My Dynamic DuosTM still allow you to create prettier plaques, but they also provide much more design versatility. And, you'll still find all of my previously released Prettier PlaquesTM sets on my partner Confection Couture's site. Before I elaborate on Dynamic DuosTM, here's a quick snapshot of what I'm releasing this month:

New December Stencils Large

Starting in the upper left and moving clockwise, the first "collage" cookie set was made with both my NEW Julia-branded Valentine's Day-themed Chrysanthemum Dynamic DuosTM Background Set and coordinating Love Letter Dynamic DuosTM Message and Frame Set. The next photo is the Confection Couture-branded Vintage Valentines Basic Accent Stencil. The third photo is, as usual, a reminder of a previously released Prettier PlaquesTM set called "I'm Yours". And, in case you were asking, "What's that quirky thing in the lower left?", well, it's my new Quadrant Masking Tool, which I use to isolate messages and frames in my Duos, and elements on Confection Couture accent stencils.

Now, back to my new Dynamic DuosTM - and why I called them this and how they work!

Basically, you'll be getting double the fun with each of my Dynamic DuosTM designs! That’s because each monthly design consists of two sets (sold separately) - one with backgrounds and another with messages and frames. Each set also contains two primary stencils along with related masking and shading pieces. And you’ll always find a minimum of two frames and messages in every message and frame set. (Hopefully, the "duos" part of Dynamic DuosTM is now clear! ) But the best thing is: having twice as many tools affords you an incredible amount of design flexibility! And "flexibility" means a super "dynamic" design process, get it?! 

For example, here are the contents of this month's two Dynamic DuosTM sets . . .

Chrysanthemum Background SetSJU0224_package_contents

Love Letter Message and Frame Set
SJU0225_package_contents

While the elements across both sets work seamlessly together, the background set can be used without the message and frame set, and vice versa. And, most every element in either set can be mixed and matched with other stencils in my Dynamic DuosTM and Prettier PlaquesTM series. As always, these stencils work well with both royal icing and airbrushing.

IMPORTANT: This product change will also change our Stencil of the Month Club shipment. Last year each month, Stencil of the Month Club members received a $18.99-value Prettier PlaquesTM set for $14.99 plus shipping and handling. For the time being, Stencil of the Month Club members will automatically receive the Dynamic DuosTM Background Set ($16.99 value) and a Confection Couture stencil ($5.99 value) that's been handpicked by me, all for the usual monthly Club price of $14.99. (Again, this time, the Confection Couture stencil is the Vintage Valentines Basic Accent Stencil.) The offerings for the Stencil of the Month Club may very well change from time to time, but we will always strive to deliver the same or more value for a similar price. And members will always get a 15% discount on anything else on the Confection Couture site! Now, what better way to use that discount this month than to pick up the coordinating Love Letters Dynamic DuosTM set?! Just apply your members-only coupon code at checkout.

If you're not a Club member, but want to get this same great deal, just sign up for the Club here. And, if you're not sure about Club membership, you can still get a couple dollars off both the Chrysanthemum and Love Letters Dynamic DuosTM sets by snatching up the bundled deal on this page, which is valid forever!

Detailed Dynamic DuosTM instructions can be found in every background and message and frame set, and here online, so I'll let you review them at your leisure. I'll also be posting an in-depth how-to video using this month's sets in a few weeks. In the meantime, I'd like to close out this post by showing you the wide range of cookies achievable with just these two Dynamic DuosTM sets!

First, if you just use the background duo, you can create a plethora of message-less cookies just by rotating the floral foreground piece on the background and framing it within different cookie shapes in different ways. For example, here I've got a simple round with the floral foreground piece applied twice very close to the cookie sides, and a fun plaque with a single more exposed floral element:

IMG_1602plain background hor use

Second, if you add the message and frame duo set to the mix, your options expand nearly exponentially. Notice all the different messages and frames, and positions they have, on these cookies . . .

IMG_1291nice vert many styles

Grrrr, I hate how this site handles vertical images! It compresses them into a complete blur. So, here's a squarer, clearer view of the above shot!

NICEHEARTSWITHCONTEXTSQUARE-ONEOFBEST

(Note: The postage stamps and tiny lettering were made with rubber stamps, not included in these sets. Though, for a similarly wonderful effect, elements on the Vintage Valentines Basic Accent Stencil could be stenciled as a last layer on top.)

The messages and frames also look lovely on smaller round cookies!

IMG_1172LIGHTER USE FOR ROUND

And, of course, if you start mixing and matching with other Julia-branded stencils, the design options sky-rocket! For the cookies in the foreground and background below, I swapped in my Save the Date Prettier PlaquesTM background for the one in this month's duo set.

1336TRIOSTDMORECONTEXTONEOFBEST

Here's the bottom cookie again, this time all by itself so you can appreciate the added wafer paper flower (also made with this month's background duo set) and chocolate bow!

IMG_1344single STD brighter USE

Oh, and before I forget, here are closer views of the Confection Couture accent stencil, that's part of this month's Stencil of the Month Club release, and my oldie-but-goodie "I'm Yours" set, also perfect for Valentine's Day:

Confection Couture Accent Cropped

Square

That's all for this release! Phew, I know, I know, it was A LOT to digest! Here's a quick recap of the key links:

If you have any questions about anything here, please don't hesitate to email me at sweetlife@juliausher.com or to leave a comment below. Please, however, direct all ordering questions to service@confectioncouturestencils.com. Thank you and, 'til next time, happy dynamic-duoing! 

Attachments

Images (12)
  • Julia's December Stencil Releases: Cookies and Photo by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Julia's Chrysanthemum Dynamic Duos Background Set - Contents: Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Julia's Love Letters Dynamic Duos Message & Frame Set - Contents: Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Dynamic Duos Background Set By Itself: Cookies and Photo by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Both Sets in Use, Showing Many Cookie Styles: Cookies and Photo by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Close-up of Cookies Using Both Dynamic Duos Sets: Cookies and Photo by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Another Close-up of Cookies Using Both Dynamic Duos Sets: Cookies and Photo by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Round Cookie Using Both Dynamic Duos Sets: Cookies and Photo by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Save-the-Date Background as a Substitute: Cookies and Photo by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Close-up of Cookie Using Save-the-Date Background: Cookies and Photo by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Confection Couture Vintage Valentines Basic Accent Stencil: Stencil Designed by Confection Couture Stencils
  • Julia's "I'm Yours" Prettier Plaques Stenciled Cookie: Cookies and Photo by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils

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Comments (17)

Newest · Oldest · Popular
Econlady posted:

I’m looking forward to trying it.  The other day I counted the stencil sets and I have 20!  

Wow! You might be the person with the second-most number of Julia stencils (me being the first)!

Evelindecora posted:

This color combo is amazing and your stencil designs even more! Your whole stencil collection is the best ever, congratulations 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

 

So kind of you to say. I get a lot of great support from the team at Confection Couture. I wouldn't be able to do this so easily otherwise. (Though it's not all that easy sometimes! )

Last edited by Julia M. Usher
Julia M. Usher posted:
Econlady posted:

I’m looking forward to trying it.  The other day I counted the stencil sets and I have 20!  

Wow! You might be the person with the second-most number of Julia stencils (me being the first)!

Or that I have a shopping problem.  I have tried all the ones I bought.

Tammy Trahan New Orleans Cookie Company posted:

These are so, so pretty Julia. I love the additional stamping on them also!! Congrats on beautiful designs!! 😍🎉

Thanks!

Econlady posted:

I was looking at the letter that came with the stencil of the month.  Is the price going upon the near future?  

I'm not sure what letter you got, but the one I read said nothing about a price increase. I know their cost of plastic went way up, so they were considering one, but I have no idea when/if it would roll out. You would have to ask them. I'd be interested in seeing the letter you got though; could you email it to me?

Julia M. Usher posted:
Econlady posted:

I was looking at the letter that came with the stencil of the month.  Is the price going upon the near future?  

I'm not sure what letter you got, but the one I read said nothing about a price increase. I know their cost of plastic went way up, so they were considering one, but I have no idea when/if it would roll out. You would have to ask them. I'd be interested in seeing the letter you got though; could you email it to me?

I’m about to go to bed, so I’ll scan the letter tomorrow.  It talks about the cost of the individual products, but it never says the price to the stencil the month club members.

Econlady posted:
Julia M. Usher posted:
Econlady posted:

I was looking at the letter that came with the stencil of the month.  Is the price going upon the near future?  

I'm not sure what letter you got, but the one I read said nothing about a price increase. I know their cost of plastic went way up, so they were considering one, but I have no idea when/if it would roll out. You would have to ask them. I'd be interested in seeing the letter you got though; could you email it to me?

I’m about to go to bed, so I’ll scan the letter tomorrow.  It talks about the cost of the individual products, but it never says the price to the stencil the month club members.

If it's the same letter I proofread, then all it's saying is you are getting more value (products valued at a higher amount than in the past) at the same price for now. Prices are always subject to change in any business, but you would be notified clearly (I would hope) of any price increase. But please send when you can. I want to be sure you're looking at the letter I read.

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