From time to time, it's healthy to suspend all disbelief and lose yourself in your own private fantasyland. Everyone needs occasional respite from the work-a-day world, to replenish energy and to feed the soul. Not so sure? Well, I'm giving you permission to escape (even if just for the duration of this post) with my new Magic Wishes Dynamic Duos™ stencil release!
Inspired by the fanciful and elaborately detailed illustrations in Cicely Mary Barker's A Flower Fairy Alphabet, which I've long admired, this month's background set features fairies frolicking amidst oversized flowers. How magical is that? The inspirational messages in the complementary message and frame set lend extra sparkle, allowing the design to work for anything from a little girl’s birthday to an older woman’s promotion or retirement, or even as a hostess or pick-me-up gift.
So, let's sprinkle a little fairy dust over my keyboard, and reveal that magic I have for you this month! Ta da!
And here's where you can find all of these stencils on my partner Confection Couture Stencils' site:
- Magic Wishes Dynamic Duos™ Background Set (upper left),
- Magic Wishes Dynamic Duos™ Message and Frame Set (combined with the Duos™ background set; upper right),
- My partner Confection Couture Stencils' Fairy Dust Stencil (lower right), and, for my usual reminder of a past release . . .
- Thank You Prettier Plaques™ Set (a fan fave over many years, perhaps because it too capitalizes on big, bold flowers!).
Now, you could wait for my stencils to release every month and buy as you go, or you could, like clockwork, get huge savings off normal site prices! How, you ask?! Simple - by signing up for my Stencil of the Month Club, where, each month, you automatically get specially curated stencils at great discounts. For instance, this month, Stencil of the Month Clubbers will receive the following in the mail:
This fantastical fairy-themed bundle is worth $22.99, but Club members get it for only $14.99! And that's not all! They 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.
So, with that intro aside, let's talk as I always do about the first half of this month's release - the Magic Wishes Dynamic Duos™ Background Set! To start, it includes the following five pieces:
Magic Wishes Dynamic DuosTM Background Set (5 pieces)
And here are some of the many designs you can create just by arranging these pieces in different ways. Probably the simplest of all designs is a straight-up floral cookie using solely the background stencil . . .
In the foreground cookie, I isolated the flowers on just one side of the background stencil, whereas, in the background cookie (which is a bit tough to see), I stenciled all of the flowers spanning the entire background stencil. So, there are even options when using just the background stencil!
Notes:
(1) The colorings used throughout this post are AmeriMist Avocado, Electric Green, Lemon Yellow, Orange, Violet, Deep Pink, and Sky Blue.
(2) I will soon be releasing a video about how to use this set, and, in particular, how to make all the dimensional elements you are about to see on them. So stay tuned!
Of course, you can also lay either of the two fairy masks on the background stencil, and then stencil the fairy directly onto the cookie in the space left by the mask. Or stencil the fairies or flowers onto other materials, cut them out, and then use those pieces as dimensional details. I did precisely the latter to create the fondant fairies, wafer paper wings, and wafer paper flowers (with royal icing centers) seen on the cookies that follow. First, the big fairy as a fondant appliqué with a wafer paper wing on top . . .
Here she is on a softer, curvier cookie shape, which I think is more fitting with the fairy theme . . .
Now, for the small fairy with a spray of pixie dust, both stenciled directly onto the cookie, with the only dimensional element being the top wing . . .
Wondering how far these dimensional elements sit (or fly, in this case! 
) above the cookie?! Well, I'll show you . . .
Though I didn't measure, I'd say the fondant fairy sits about 1/8 inch above the cookie (she's resting on tiny fondant blobs), and the top of the wing ends another 1/2 inch above that. Here's a slightly closer look . . .
While it might not be super apparent from the photos, I was also quite liberal with my use of edible glitter on the wings! I mean, who doesn't love more sparkle?!
Now, let's add the complementary message and frame set! It also includes five pieces, which are depicted directly below.
Magic Wishes Dynamic DuosTM Message and Frame Set (5 pieces)
Combining the background set with these two frames and four messages leads to so many possibilities, just a few of which are shown here . . .
Above, the "Magic & Fairy Dust" message is in the form of a fondant appliqué that sits on top of the cookie, whereas, in the photo below, the "Make a Wish" message is stenciled directly onto the cookie. Can you spot the dimensional daisy in that pic? It's airbrushed and trimmed wafer paper with an airbrushed royal icing transfer for its center.
Here's a closer view, which will hopefully allow you to make out that dimensional daisy at the very top.
More dimensional daisies, this time with a different message . . .
Zooming in (a bit) to catch those details!
And, last but not least, our little fairy returns, with a version of the message above, now in purple on fondant.
Before I leave you with my wrap-up photo and key links, as is my routine, here are some photo reminders of how much impact a photo backdrop can have. Same cookies + different backdrop = an entirely new look.
I think I prefer the lighter look of the white sparkly background, so I'll leave you with one last view for my photo recap . . .
I hope you found a little magic in this month's post. Stay tuned for next month when I'm hoping to set your imaginations soaring (that's a hint, BTW )!
- 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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