Stencil It!

Happy Snarky New Year! For the first snarky challenge of 2017, we are challenging you with S is for Stencils.  Lots of options with this one to start out the year! Here's mine:

Of course I couldn't just use my stencils in an ordinary way, as I almost always do, with inks or embossing paste. Out came my DIY gelli plate! (Made by a friend, not me, so I can't even share how it was done.) I used this tutorial to make my leafy print, using two shades of green and a yellow. (What the tutorial doesn't tell you is how to line up your cardstock when you lay it down the second time on the stencil/gelli plate. So my shadows weren't exactly perfect, but I like how it turned out anyway.) I also used the same stencil to dry emboss the main white panel. 
So that takes care of the stencil part. What to do with it? For a little extra inspiration, I turned to Tuesday Morning Sketches and this week's sketch. What better than a crazy bird for the focal panel? I left off the embellishments that are in the sketch. The placement just wouldn't have been a great idea the way the bird is situated... 
My stencil came out of its package for the first time for this card, so I'm going to enter this card in Simon Says Stamp's Monday challenge to "start afresh". And with both watercolouring and stencilling, I'm entering this in Happy Little Stampers January watercolour challenge.
Our first Queen and guest designer of the year is Michele — check out what she and all the sisters have come up with using their stencils! And may you enjoy a fun and snarky 2017... although in some ways, maybe a little less snark than in 2016 might be okay, all things considered... 

Supplies: white & black cardstock, Bienfang smooth Bristol, Tim Hotlz/Sizzix Crazy Birds & Paper Issues/Snarky Stamps Ahhh Birthday stamps, MFT black licorice ink, Zig clean colour real brush markers, Anita's acrylic craft paints, Winnie & Walter Scenery: The Leaf Effect stencil, Spellbinders circle dies