Author: Chris

  • Love What You Do, Share What You Love

    Love What You Do, Share What You Love

    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.)

    This card was created to thank a very talented instructor after a weekend of intense musical coaching. Whether making cards, singing or something else entirely — love what you do, and find time to do it.

    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:  5.5 x 4.25

    Scraps of black cardstock for frame and bow

    Card Face:

    • I laid the card face down on my Grip Mat and positioned the stencil.
    • Using light turquoise, lime green and yellow I applied colour across all exposed surfaces.  
    • I went back over the entire surface, blending colours where they met and intensifying where necessary.
    • I put the card face aside,  allowing the ink to dry completely.
    • After removing the stencil, I put the card face into the stamp positioner and put my Love What You Do stamp in place.
    • I laid a piece of acetate over the card face and stamped on this first to be certain that I was happy with the placement. (Was it straight?  Did it need to be higher? lower?)   Once I was satisfied that it was centered and straight,  I removed the acetate and stamped the image with Versafine Onyx.

       Tip:  Versafine Onyx is a pigment ink:  these stay wet long enough to add embossing    powder and set for great results.

    • I sprinkled clear embossing powder over the Versafine,  and set this with my heat gun.
    • I lightly spritzed the card face with water, blotting it off with a paper towel.  This added a lot of depth and texture to the card face.
    • I used black reinker to add a bit of spatter to the card face.
    • I used a punch on all four corners to add visual interest.

    Other:

    • I created a matching frame:  Using two square dies that were very close in size,  I taped them onto a scrap of black cardstock and ran them through the Big Shot.  This created the small black frame around the stamped image.
    • I pressed the square into my embossing ink pad,  sprinkled it with clear embossing powder, and set it with my heat gun.   (I did this to give the black cardstock the same depth as the sentiment.)
    • I used a die to cut the tiny bow out of black cardstock.
    • I wrapped silver metallic thread 5 x around the card face vertically on the left hand side.  I secured this with adhesive tape on the back of the card. 
    • Using a small piece of the same thread,  I tied a knot around all of the threads, pulling them in towards the center.  After snipping off the ends of this thread  I added a tiny bead of glue to be certain that the knot couldn’t come undone.

    Assembly

    • I glued the black border layer to the card base,  and the card face on top of both of these.  The black peeked through the design cut into the corners and provided a nice contrast.
    • I glued the frame in place around the stamped image.
    • I glued the bow in place on top of the metallic thread, over the knot.

    Final Thoughts:

    I didn’t add any embellishments to this card:  the strong contrast and multiple textures meant that there was enough visual interest without anything else.

    Both card making and singing fall into the Love What You Do category for me, and I am fortunate to be able to include both in my life. What do you love to do? let me know in the comments below.

    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:  Boho Wheel,  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:  this a stamp that I’ve had in my stash for a long time, and sadly I cannot      

                      remember where I purchased it.

    Dies: Everlasting Squares, Spellbinders,  R&R Scrapbooking

    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 added to the list, and notified when I release new work.

  • Master Card Making with Simple Innovative Stenciling Techniques

    Master Card Making with Simple Innovative Stenciling Techniques

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

    Mixing media and techniques can create stunning results – read more below for a how-to.

    Let’s get Started:

    Card Base: 4.25 x 11, scored and folded at 5.5

    Card Face:  4 x 5.25

    Card Face:

    • I placed my card face on the Grip Mat.
    • I sprayed the back of the Graduated Lines stencil with Pixie spray and waited for about 30 seconds before positioning it on the card face.   (The longer, unattached lines of this stencil may shift if not secured.)
    • I applied intense pink ink across the bottom of the stencil and then shifted to a softer orange colour before setting this stencil aside.
    • I took the Heart of Hearts stencil and scrap copy paper. I traced around the outer edges of the heart where I could. Once I removed the stencil, I joined the gaps to create a complete heart. I then carefully cut it out with an Xacto knife, leaving the borders intact.
    • I removed the card face from the Grip Mat and placed it on scrap paper. I positioned the stencil on the card face, securing it with mint tape.  
    • I laid the scrap paper over the stencil,  lining up the cut out opening carefully:  the remainder of the scrap paper became a mask.
    • I applied Duo Gel to all open areas on the stencil.
    • After carefully removing the stencil and putting it in water,  I set the card face aside to dry.
    • Once dry I laid a piece of transfer foil (previously cut to size)  over the now-sticky gel,  and ran the card face through the Big Shot.
    • When I removed the foil,  the Duo Gel held onto the foil, causing the stencilled pattern to remain.
    • I added dashes around the outside of the heart,  about ⅛” away from the foiling.

    Other:

    • I stamped the sentiment with  Versafine Onyx ink, immediately sprinkled on clear embossing powder and set it with my heat gun.

    Versafine Onyx is a pigment ink,  which stays wet long enough to allow heat embossing.

    • I fussy cut the around sentiment and put dimensional foam on the back.

    Assembly

    • I glued the card face to the card base, centering vertically.
    • I added the sentiment to the card face.
    • I added small dashes under the sentiment, echoing those around the heart.
    • I used a black marker and a ruler to create the look of a fine black border beside the card face.

    Final Thoughts:

    I really like the combination of the two stencils –  they work so well together.  I had initially tried to heat emboss the sentiment to create a flat card,  but it was too muted on top of the foil.  I solved it by heat embossing the sentiment on white and fussy cutting around it,  then lining it up directly over the dud sentiment.

    Supplies: (and links where possible)

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

    Stencils:

    Graduated Lines,  A Colorful Life Designs

    Heart of Hearts,  A Colorful Life Designs

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

    Versamark Embossing Ink: Simon Says Stamp

    Stamps: Loads of Wishes, Avery Elle, Amazon

    Fine Liners:  Amazon

    Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up! 

    Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

    Clear Embossing Powder: Wow, Simon Says Stamp

    Duo Gel: Therm O Web, Simon Says Stamp

    Transfer Foil: Summer Rainbow, Therm O Web, Amazon

    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.

  • The Power of Handmade Cards: Why Personalized Greetings Matter

    The Power of Handmade Cards

    Why Personalized Greetings Matter

    Imagine yourself at the end of a busy day,  perhaps stopping at the post office to pick up your mail.   Flyers,  bills, offers for services that you don’t and will never need … but wait,  what’s this?   An envelope from an old friend you have been thinking of …  you quickly tear it open and there is a beautiful handmade card that says  “thinking of you”.   And instantly your fatigue and general fed-up-edness are gone and the day that you thought would never end has finished with a smile.  You will treasure this : somehow it feels like so much more than a text.

    …. And that is why a handmade card matters so much,  when you send one to someone you care about.