OCC Play Day

I really liked the stencil technique taught by Tim Holtz at Online Card Classes, but I don't have a whole lot of stencils. I thought maybe I could improvise and use one side of an embossing folder. It worked like a charm! Okay, maybe there was a learning curve involved.
I discovered that Bristol was way better than watercolour paper. The ink moved better on it. Also, it takes quite a few sprays to get it wet enough, and finally, I wish I had those little Distress ink pads, they would be better for this. Instead of placing the inked folder on top of the paper, you want the inked side down and you put the paper on top. The depressed areas of the EF act like the negative space in a stencil. I used a roller to press the paper into the ink, but not into the depressions.
I used an old Cuttlebug folder to make this piece. I don't think I've ever used it as an embossing folder, but I think it made a pretty stencil!

I think I got a bit too much water on this one, but I still like the effect. (NOTE: This card is NOT embossed)
I was curious to see how it would look as a watercoloured embossed piece, so here is one I ran through the cuttlebug using the same embossing folder. I then added water colour to all the depressed areas and then to the background.

I like the(first) flat one best! But, maybe a different folder might look better.