Make a Striking Impression with Card Crafting

Would you like to experiment with a design like this? You’ll find a supply list below, including a link to the stencils I used from A Colorful Life Designs.  Follow the link and use discount code ChrisFan10 to save 10% on your entire order! (Master Creator Bundles are excluded as they already have a 20% discount built in.)

Let’s get Started:

Card Base: 5.5 x 8.5, scored and folded at 4.25

Border Layer: 5.5 x 4.25

Card Face:  5.25 x 4

I wanted to have a play with ink smooshing – I hadn’t even remembered that technique in a long time.   I loved the result I got from the blue and brown mix, then I had to figure out how to use it.

Card Face:

  • I pressed an acrylic block firmly into a brown ink pad and spritzed it with water.  I pressed the watery result onto the card face in several areas.
  • I repeated this process with blue ink.
  • I put the card face aside to dry.
  • Once dry, the paper was warped (caused by the watery ink smooshing).  I lightly spritzed the back of the card face with water and placed it under a weight overnight, which flattened it again.
  • I placed the card face in my stamp positioner and added the image with Versafine Onyx.
  • Moving the card face to the Grip Mat, I positioned the Chaos Squares stencil and applied brown ink randomly across the image.
  • I switched the stencils, positioned the Falling Dots over the card face, and filled in some areas with the same brown ink.
  • I returned the card face back to the stamp positioner and stamped the sentiment with Versafine Onyx.
  • I sprinkled clear embossing powder over the sentiment and used my heat gun to set it. 

 This treatment makes the sentiment more intense, and it stands out more against a busy background.

Assembly

  • I glued the black border layer to the card base,  and then added the card face on top.

Final Thoughts:

I love Andy Skinner stamps,  and I’m so happy with this card.  The combination of ink smooshing and randomized stencilling works very well with this image.

Supplies: (and links where possible)

   I have listed which products I have used, and where they may be purchased. It’s a huge marketplace and in most instances, there are multiple sources and many alternatives to choose from.

Stencils:

Chaos Squares:  A Colorful Life Designs

Falling Dots: A Colorful Life Designs

Waffle Flower Grip Mat, 8.5 x 6.5, Scrapbook.com

Versamark Embossing Ink: Simon Says Stamp

Clear Embossing Powder,  Wow,  Simon Says Stamp

Stamps:  Best Friends,  Andy Skinner, Scrapbook.com

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up! 

Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Card Base & Card Face: Accent 100 lb., Amazon 

Do you have comments or thoughts to share on this design?  Drop me a line in the Comments Section below –  I’d love to hear from you!

You can also use the Comments Section  to be notified when I release new work.

Falling Dots By A Colorful Life Designs

Chaos Squares by A Colorful Life Designs