A Winter Ritual
who doesn't throw at least one snowball every winter?
TUTORIALSTENCILTECHNIQUESTRETCH YOUR PENNIES
2/12/20242 min read
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=812,h=773,fit=crop/mp8ey185n6irb3Jk/20240122_094443-1-A85r3p7oK5hB3y9G.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=328,h=312,fit=crop/mp8ey185n6irb3Jk/20240122_094443-1-A85r3p7oK5hB3y9G.jpg)
Would you like to experiment with a design like this? You'll find a supply list below, including a link to the stencil 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
Blue Border: 5.5 x 4.25 *
Card Face: 5.25 x 4
* See Cheating on Layers and Borders under Stretch Your Pennies in the Header
Card Face:
I stamped the snowman image onto the card face with Memento Ink and coloured him with alcohol markers. I put him aside at this point until inspiration struck on how to finish the card face. Several weeks later ….
I put the card face onto my Grip Mat and laid the stencil over the top. I used light blue ink around the snowman, but not over the top of him. I limited the inking to the section around the image - I didn’t want the stenciled pattern to cover the entire card face.
I stamped “WINTER” with a blue ink that is just a bit darker than the first.
I had the perfect mouse to complete the scene, but he was facing in the wrong direction; so I added him to the card face using the Mirror Image technique..**
** See Mirror Image under Techniques in the header for an explanation of this process.
Other:
I stamped “hello” onto a scrap of cardstock and used an oblong die to cut it out. I cut a tiny semi-circle out of the right-hand end, shaped to fit up against the snowman’s hand.
The little mouse was already holding a snowball in his left hand: I drew in a second one that he had just thrown. I added a few black dashes behind this to draw attention to it and to make it look like it was moving.
Assembly:
I glued the blue border layer to the card base, and then added the card face on top, centering all.
I glued the oblong sentiment snugly against the snowman’s hand.
Final Thoughts
I really like this fun winter scene. This snowman is a favourite of mine - he can take on so many moods. Here, he looks like he’s had fun, but is ready to call it quits and grab a hot chocolate.
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.
Stencil: Rocky Path, A Colorful Life Designs
Stamps:
Cozy Greetings, Unity Stamps
Get Together, Colorado Craft Co., Scrap n’ Stamp
Die: Ornate Labels, Sizzix, Amazon
Waffle Flower Grip Mat, 8.5 x 6.5, Scrapbook.com
Ink: Stampin’ Up!
Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!
Memento Ink: Stampin’ Up!
Alcohol Markers:
Stampin’ Blends: Stampin’ Up!
Copics: Wallacks
Mint Tape:Scrapbook.com
Stamp Positioner: Misti, Spellbinders
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 Contact section in the header - I’d love to hear from you!
Before you go - use the Notifications box (below) to be notified when I release new work!