My husband and I planted nearly 400 tulip and daffodil bulbs last fall, and, with temperatures in the fifties for the last few days, the first of them are beginning to emerge! (Proof below.)
I'm so excited for spring to arrive, I could almost sing about it! On second thought . . . I'm embarrassed to even hum in my own shower (I'm pretty much tone-deaf), so how about we let this month's stencils do the singing instead?! 
As it just so happens, this month's Dynamic Duos™ release is aptly called "Song of Spring". It features just a few simple elements - birds, flowering branches, and birdcages - making it ideally suited to those who are relatively new to layered stencil sets. (Oftentimes, the fewer stencil elements, the easier it is to come up with cookie designs.) Anywho, here's what these sets and the other stencils in this month's release look like . . .
And here's where you can locate all of these lovelies online, on my partner Confection Couture Stencils' site:
- Song of Spring Dynamic Duos™ Background Set (upper left),
- Song of Spring Dynamic Duos™ Message and Frame Set (combined with the Duos™ background set; upper right),
- My partner Confection Couture Stencils' Birds on Branches Stencil (lower right), and, for my usual reminder of a past release . . .
- In Bloom Dynamic Duos™ Set (which has a spring-y bird motif as well).
Of course, you could wait for my stencils to release every month and buy as you go, or you could sign up for my Stencil of the Month Club, and automatically get specially curated stencils at great discounts each month. For instance, in February, club members will receive the following in the mail:
This bird-filled bundle is worth $22.99, but Club members get it for only $14.99! And that's not all there is to twitter about! Members also get 15% off anything else on the Confection Couture site, every day of every week, as long as they stay in the club! If you're interested in learning more about the club or signing up, just click here.
Now, let's explore the Song of Spring background set, and how to use its various elements . . .
Song of Spring Dynamic DuosTM Background Set (10 pieces!)
Yes, you read that right - it's got a whopping 10 pieces, not the usual 5 to 7. But that's primarily because it's got 5 mini bird masks and stencils that can be layered on the flowering branch background!
As always, elements can be airbrushed directly on the cookie or on separate fondant pieces (aka appliqués) for added dimension. For example, the birdcages on the right blue cookie are both appliqués, whereas the one on the white cookie to its immediate left is on the icing . . .
Here's a closer view of that white cookie, where all elements - background, bird, and birdcage - are airbrushed directly on the cookie, creating a smooth, streamlined look . . .
And, now, a closer view of the cookie with the two raised fondant birdcages. Can you see how they hover over the cookie a bit? The use of fondant appliqués also makes it extraordinarily easy to overlap design elements, as you can see here.
In addition to mixing-and-matching and rearranging stencil elements, you can also lend variation and interest to a set by doing something as simple as changing the icing background color. The pale blue cookie to the right (see photo below) has the exact same design elements, in the exact same positions, as the white cookie two photos up. But it takes on a noticeably softer, subtler effect because there is less contrast between the background icing and the airbrushed elements on top.
You'll also notice a cookie with a message just barely peeking out from beneath the blue cookie, which makes a great segue into the next section about the message and frame set. Before we go there, however, just a quick note about the colorings used throughout this post. (After all, you may want to replicate these cookies, and that could be tough without any coloring roadmap!) I used Spectrum Flow Sky Blue (which is softer/lighter than either AmeriMist or Chefmaster Sky Blue right out of the container) for the flowers and birds; a combo of AmerMist Electric Green and Avocado for the branches; Chefmaster Harvest Brown for the birdcages, messages, and frames; and a custom mix of AmeriMist Violet and Deep Pink for the purple ribbon and other accents.
With the colorings now clear, let's jump on that complementary message and frame set. Here's what it includes:
Song of Spring Dynamic DuosTM Message and Frame Set (6 pieces)
Four sweet spring-themed messages, many of which fit multiple frames! Woo hoo! In the image below, you'll see "Then Sings My Soul" airbrushed right onto the icing, whereas "Home Tweet Home" and "Song of Spring" are fondant appliqués. Both approaches look equally great, in my opinion, just different.
Here's a closer view of the cookie with the directly applied message . . .
And just one last design for this post (of course, there are countless more that I could have made, but there are only so many hours in the day) . . . this cookie underscores how great these stencils can also look when dressed up with other decorative elements. Here, I've topped off the "Then Sings My Soul" plaque with a modeling chocolate bow "bound" with a royal icing bead. (The latter is a royal icing transfer that was sprayed with PME pearl luster before applying it to the cookie.)
A closer look at that bow . . .
And, on that note, I leave you with one last photo of my favorite cookie and a recap of key stencil links. I hope these stencils made you sing! 
Here's to a (hopefully) early spring!
- To purchase my Dynamic Duos™ sets, click here.
- To join my Stencil of the Month Club, click here.
- To see my entire stencil line, including my Prettier Plaques™ 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, just email me at sweetlife@juliausher.com or 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!
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