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Julia's January Stencil Release - Up, Up, and Away!

 

You've probably noticed that I always release my stencil sets about two months before the holidays or seasons when they're most likely to be used. That's so everyone gets plenty of time to play with them before they need to be pressed into serious action! So, for instance, in November, I released New Year's sets, and, in December, I released designs for Valentine's Day. When I first started designing this month's release, I was still very much on this same timetable - I let what I'm typically doing or thinking about in March guide the designs. Around that time of year here in St. Louis, we're heading into our early spring tornado season (yikes!), so it's often still cold, dreary, and QUITE windy. It's rare that I don't find myself longing to be whisked away on one of those big gusts of wind to a place that's more warm and inviting. And so was born this month's "up, up, and away" theme with its cheery hot air balloon motifs!

But . . . as I embarked on making the cookies to display this release, I noticed how perfectly some of the messages fit the heart cookies I had leftover from December's Valentine's release. And by perfectly fitting, I don't mean literally; I mean figuratively. After all, what new romance, or even longstanding love, doesn't transport you to some distant, better place, or leave you floating "on cloud nine"?!

Anyway, this is my long way of saying that I think you'll get a lot of mileage out of this month's stencils. They can make wonderful Valentine's gifts in February, and then be used to lift friends and family out of post-winter/pre-spring doldrums come March! They even work for other celebratory occasions, like promotions, graduations, and anniversaries!

Ready now to "fly away with me" as I share this month's stencils? If so, up, up, and away! 

New January 2019 Stencils Large

More specifically, here's what they are and where they can be found:

Now . . . if you're in my Stencil of the Month Club, this month you'll get both my Up, Up, and Away Dynamic DuosTM Background Set and Confection Couture's Vintage Biplanes Accent Stencil. This specially curated bundle is worth $22.99, but Club members get it for only $14.99! Plus, as long as you stay a member, you also get 15% off anything else on the Confection Couture site! If you prefer a picture, here's what this month's Club offering looks like at a glance:

SOM OFFERING

Let's move on now to talk about how the background set can be used on its own, without the complementary message and frame set. But first, a closer look at the elements in that set . . .

Up, Up, and Away Dynamic DuosTM Background Set (7 pieces)
SJU0253_package_contentsBORDER

This set is super luxe this month, as it usually contains five or six pieces, but it's got seven, including four fun foreground elements! I've show just a couple of its many design possibilities below.

NO MESS 2 COOKIES GOODEVENBRIGHTER

You can stencil everything directly on the cookie for a flat, sleek look, as I did on the heart in the foreground, or . . . you can go more dimensional by stenciling the elements on rolled fondant or modeling chocolate and then cutting them out, as on the top cookie. The latter approach makes it a touch easier to overlap elements, though overlapping can also be done through direct stenciling on the cookie. I was going for a vintage-travel sort of look, so I opted for muted "antique" colors, including Chefmaster Harvest Brown (my all-time favorite brown) and AmeriMist Wedgewood and Dusty Rose. The yellow was applied later by dusting on compressed Petal Crafts dust.

But, I'm a verbal (euphemism for verbose ) person, so I love layering in the complementary messages and frames - always! Here's what comes in that set:

Up, Up, and Away Dynamic DuosTM Message and Frame Set (7 pieces)
SJU0254_package_contentsBORDER

Again, seven pieces! Woo hoo! And, here are some of the many ways you can incorporate those pieces with the other set . . . first, a more Valentines-y look on hearts . . .

IMG_2194JUST HEARTS NICESMALLER

Above, you'll see a combo of balloons and messages stenciled directly on the cookie and stenciled fondant appliqués applied after stenciling on the cookie. I've also tossed in a modeling chocolate bow (right) for good measure (and flavor)!

Here's a closer look at some of these hearts . . .

MULTMESS ALL HEARTS CLOSE

Alternatively, you can do a more spring-y look by swapping from hearts to clouds and other shapes.

IMG_2237MORE BALLOONS AND OTHER SHAPES NICE SMALLER

And, once again, a closer look at the various details . . . 

MultipleMess GoodBRIGHTER

On the upper cookie, I made the curvy bird by stenciling the bird onto wafer paper, cutting it out, and giving it a little lift with a squirt of Fabriliquid on the back. Running the back of it over a damp cloth will work just fine too! (BTW, all the non-stencil product links in this post direct to the home page of my new Amazon store, where you'll find all of these products under their logical - hopefully! - categories. Proceeds from that store help to defray the costs of this site and my video-making, so please check it out. It's a one-stop shop for all of the tools I most often use in my video projects.)

And that's a wrap! I hope this month's sets are uplifting! (Pun intended!

Recap of key links:
  • To purchase my Dynamic DuosTM sets, click here.
  • To join my Stencil of the Month Club, click here.
  • To see my entire stencil line, including my Prettier PlaquesTM sets, click here.
  • To view my videos that show how to create layered looks with my stencil sets, click here.

If you have any technical questions about these stencils, please don't hesitate to email me at sweetlife@juliausher.com or to leave a comment below. Please, however, direct all ordering and Club questions to my stencil partner, Confection Couture Stencils, at service@confectioncouturestencils.com. Thank you!

Attachments

Images (10)
  • All the Many Varied Design Possibilities!: Cookies and Photos by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Julia's January Stencil Release: Cookies and Photos by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • January Stencil of the Month Club Offering: Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Up, Up, and Away Dynamic Duos Background Set Contents: Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Up, Up, and Away Dynamic Duos Message and Frame Set Contents: Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Background Duos Set By Itself: Cookies and Photos by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Both Duos Sets Together on Hearts: Cookies and Photos by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • Those Same Hearts, Closer Up!: Cookies and Photos by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • A Less Valentines-y Look Using Both Duos Sets: Cookies and Photos by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils
  • A Closer View!: Cookies and Photos by Julia M Usher; Stencils Designed by Julia M Usher in Partnership with Confection Couture Stencils

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Comments (12)

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Econlady posted:

You’re so creative!

So sweet to say! Thank you! Means a lot, as I work hard to try to be creative; it doesn't always flow easily.

Julia M. Usher posted:
Econlady posted:

You’re so creative!

So sweet to say! Thank you! Means a lot, as I work hard to try to be creative; it doesn't always flow easily.

You are talented and creative!  I wish you were teaching a class at CookieCon.

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

You’re so creative!

So sweet to say! Thank you! Means a lot, as I work hard to try to be creative; it doesn't always flow easily.

You are talented and creative!  I wish you were teaching a class at CookieCon.

I am teaching at CookieCon - I'm one of the featured presenters.

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

You’re so creative!

So sweet to say! Thank you! Means a lot, as I work hard to try to be creative; it doesn't always flow easily.

You are talented and creative!  I wish you were teaching a class at CookieCon.

I am teaching at CookieCon - I'm one of the featured presenters.

I meant pre CookieCon classes.

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

You’re so creative!

So sweet to say! Thank you! Means a lot, as I work hard to try to be creative; it doesn't always flow easily.

You are talented and creative!  I wish you were teaching a class at CookieCon.

I am teaching at CookieCon - I'm one of the featured presenters.

I meant pre CookieCon classes.

I typically never teach at shows; it's too complicated to bring all the cookies and supplies required for my projects. My classes very much rely on support from my host venues to make them happen.

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

You’re so creative!

So sweet to say! Thank you! Means a lot, as I work hard to try to be creative; it doesn't always flow easily.

You are talented and creative!  I wish you were teaching a class at CookieCon.

I am teaching at CookieCon - I'm one of the featured presenters.

I meant pre CookieCon classes.

I typically never teach at shows; it's too complicated to bring all the cookies and supplies required for my projects. My classes very much rely on support from my host venues to make them happen.

These classes are before the show.  I imagine the work putting on a class is immense. Because I have been so sick the second half of the year, I haven’t used my Julia Usher airbrush very much.  If I’m still struggling can I bring my airbrush to CookieCon and get a quick tutorial from you?

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

You’re so creative!

So sweet to say! Thank you! Means a lot, as I work hard to try to be creative; it doesn't always flow easily.

You are talented and creative!  I wish you were teaching a class at CookieCon.

I am teaching at CookieCon - I'm one of the featured presenters.

I meant pre CookieCon classes.

I typically never teach at shows; it's too complicated to bring all the cookies and supplies required for my projects. My classes very much rely on support from my host venues to make them happen.

These classes are before the show.  I imagine the work putting on a class is immense. Because I have been so sick the second half of the year, I haven’t used my Julia Usher airbrush very much.  If I’m still struggling can I bring my airbrush to CookieCon and get a quick tutorial from you?

Oh, I know they're before the show - my point was I can't do classes without the support of a venue who's willing to pay for me to get there and help with cookie prep. CookieCon doesn't do this, nor does any other show. They expect those teachers to pay all their travel and hotel expenses, bring all the cookies and all the tools, and hopefully cover those costs (and still make some money) through class fees. That model just doesn't work for me. My hosts pay all my travel/hotel costs, as well as support the prep for the class in various ways. I'm very grateful places are willing to do that, as I could not afford to teach my projects otherwise.

But, yes, I can help with the airbrush during Open Decorating. I will be demoing with my system and stencils there, as well as showing some other stuff. Always happy to help out.

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

You’re so creative!

So sweet to say! Thank you! Means a lot, as I work hard to try to be creative; it doesn't always flow easily.

You are talented and creative!  I wish you were teaching a class at CookieCon.

I am teaching at CookieCon - I'm one of the featured presenters.

I meant pre CookieCon classes.

I typically never teach at shows; it's too complicated to bring all the cookies and supplies required for my projects. My classes very much rely on support from my host venues to make them happen.

These classes are before the show.  I imagine the work putting on a class is immense. Because I have been so sick the second half of the year, I haven’t used my Julia Usher airbrush very much.  If I’m still struggling can I bring my airbrush to CookieCon and get a quick tutorial from you?

Oh, I know they're before the show - my point was I can't do classes without the support of a venue who's willing to pay for me to get there and help with cookie prep. CookieCon doesn't do this, nor does any other show. They expect those teachers to pay all their travel and hotel expenses, bring all the cookies and all the tools, and hopefully cover those costs (and still make some money) through class fees. That model just doesn't work for me. My hosts pay all my travel/hotel costs, as well as support the prep for the class in various ways. I'm very grateful places are willing to do that, as I could not afford to teach my projects otherwise.

But, yes, I can help with the airbrush during Open Decorating. I will be demoing with my system and stencils there, as well as showing some other stuff. Always happy to help out.

Thanks!  I’m only two hours from Reno, so I’ll be driving and will have plenty of room 8n the car to take stuff.

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