Author: Chris

Create a Stunning Stenciled Card & Send 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.)

Let’s get Started:

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

Card Face:5.5 x 4.25

Card Face:
- I laid the card face onto my Grip Mat, and then positioned the stencil towards the vertical center.
- I used a medium pink ink to cover all exposed areas, allowing variations in the depth of colour.
- I moved the stencil down and to the right and repeated the inking, allowing the stencilled areas to touch but not overlap.
- I repeated this once more, positioning the stencil above the first stencilled leaf and slightly to the left.
- I put the card face into my stamp positioner and stamped the “sending lots of love your way” with the same ink, but stamping a couple of times to intensify the colour.
- I left the stamp and the card face where they where, but shifted the platform door down two spots, and stamped again. I repeated this twice more.
- I cut the card face down with a stitched rectangle die (approximately 5 x 3.75), and then added texture by putting it into an embossing folder and running it through the Big Shot .
Other:
- I stamped the “sending hugs” sentiment on a scrap of cardstock, and cut it out with a matching die.
- I used another die from the same set to cut a slightly larger, complimentary shape from scrap cardstock.
- I glued these two pieces together, centering the stamped sentiment.
- I put dimensional foam on the back of the sentiment.
Assembly
- I wrapped metallic gold thread around the left hand side of the card face 5X. I used a small piece of the same thread to tie a knot around them approx ⅓ of the way down the card face. Pulling this taut (and securing it with a dot of glue) created a sort of hourglass shape.
- I glued the card face onto the card base, centering on all sides.
- I put the sentiment in place over the knot in the metallic thread.
Final Thoughts:

I’m happy with the various textures and shapes in this design: they came together to form a pretty card.

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: Filigree Leaf, A Colorful Life Designs

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

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Cream Card Base & Card Face: 110 lb Recollections, Michaels

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.

Filigree Leaf by A Colorful Life Designs
09/23/2025
DIY Card Making: Using a Stencil for Unique Designs
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

Card Face: 5.5 x 4.25 (before tearing)

Card Face:
- I laid my card face down onto the Grip Mat and positioned the stencil.
- I used lime green ink on one end and purple on the other. I allowed the green ink to cover about ⅔ of the surface, and took care when it met the purple not to blend them too much – there was a big possibility of creating “mud”.
- I put the card face into my stamp positioner and stamped the bee with Versafine Clair.
- I used an embossing folder to create texture on the card face.
- I tore off the right-hand side to create texture and visual interest.
Other:
- I stamped the sentiment onto a scrap of cardstock, and used a die to cut it out.
Assembly
- I glued the card face to the card base, aligning snugly to the left hand edge.
- I added dimensional tape on the back of the sentiment, and put it in place as shown.
- I added a metallic embellishment to the right-hand end of the sentiment.
Final Thoughts:

I’m so happy with this compilation: I love the stencil, the image, the colours – and they all played together wonderfully well.

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: Ordered Lines, A Colorful Life Designs

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

Stamps: Bee: Technique Junkies (no longer in business)

Die: Impression Obsession (no longer in business)

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Card Base & Card Face: Recollections 110 lb., Michaels

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

Ordered Lines by A Colorful Life Designs
09/21/2025
Create a stellar birthday card that is Out of this WORLD
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: 5.25 x 10.5, scored and folded at 5.25

Border: 5 ⅛ x 5 1/8

Card Face: 5 x 5

Card Face:
- I laid the card face onto my Grip Mat and positioned the stencil.
- Avoiding the center, I used light blue-gray ink on the inner circles of dots, and black on the outer circles.
- I filled in the opening in the center with very pale yellow ink to create the moon.
- I repositioned the stencil and added the landmasses on the moon with the blue ink used earlier in the process.
- I added the stars with yellow ink, and then used the same colour to create a fine spatter over the surface of the card. (to represent stars in far away galaxies.)
- I added the rocket with black ink.
- I realized that I had failed to protect my moon, and this now had yellow spatter on it. I didn’t care for that, so I went over the moon with the yellow ink, until I had equalized the colour and the spatter was no longer visible.
- BUT – I didn’t want my moon to be that bright, so I went over this area with white pigment ink (4 or 5 times) to soften the colour again.
- I put the card face into my Stamp Positioner and stamped the sentiment.
Assembly

I glued the border layer to the card base, and centered the card face on both.

Final Thoughts:

This is a super fun stencil – making this card for a girl or boy interested in space was quick and easy.

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: Circl Moon, A Colorful Life Designs

Waffle Flower Grip Mat, 8.5 x 6.5, 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

Circle Moon by A Colorful Life Designs
09/18/2025
A simple & elegant – and sincere! – thank you card
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

Card Face: 5.5 x 4.25

Card Face:
- I placed the card face on the Grip Mat and positioned the stencil.
- I applied metallic silver ink across all exposed areas.
- Although I routinely use blending brushes for dye inks, I use blending foams for pigment/metallic inks. This is mostly because I have a supply of foams (from my pre-brush era) and I want to have a dedicated foam to each colour of metallic/pigment ink.)
- After removing the stencil I placed the card face into the stamp positioner and added the sentiment with Versafine Onyx.
- I used the edge of the ink pad to apply a narrow border of silver ink to all edges of the card face.
Assembly
- I glued the card face to the card base.
Final Thoughts:

I needed a simple but elegant thank you card – this duet more than met the challenge!

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: Filigree Leaf Stencil, A Colorful Life Designs

Stamps: Simply Sentimental, Trinity Stamps

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

Ink: Metallic Ink- Lisa Horton, Glitter & Ink

Blending Tool: Studio Light, Ecstasy Crafts

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

Filigree Leaf by A Colorful Life Designs
09/15/2025
Easy Steps for Stunning Card Making
handWould 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

Black Border: 5.5 x 4.25

Card Face: 5.5 x 4 1/8

Card Face:
- I laid the card face onto my Grip Mat and positioned the stencil so that it was hanging off the left-hand side.
- I applied light green ink across all open areas, and then applied dark green ink around the edges, building up intensity gradually.
- I put the card face into the stamp positioner and added the sentiment with Versafine Onyx.
- I sprinkled the ink with clear embossing powder while it was still wet, and set it with my heat gun. This intensified the sentiment, making it stand out from the leafy background.
- I positioned a very narrow embossing folder (½” wide) on the left-hand side of the card face and ran this through the Big Shot.
- I spattered white metallic watercolour over the card face.
- I used a punch on both top and bottom corners of the right-hand edge of the card face.
Assembly
- I glued the black border layer to the card base.
- I glued the card face on top of these, aligning snugly on the right-hand edge and leaving a ⅛” border on the left.
- I added three small metallic embellishments to the left-hand edge, on top of the embossing.
Final Thoughts:

The various colours and textures work well together in this design.

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: Leafy Heart Frame, A Colorful Life Designs

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

Clear Embossing Powder, Wow, Simon Says Stamp

Stamps: The Joy of the Journey, Stampendous , Amazon

Metallic Water Colour: Amazon

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

Leafy Heart Frame by A Colorful Life Designs
09/13/2025
Simple Moments Become Treasured Memories
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

Card Face: 5 3/8 x 4 1/8

Card Face:
- I laid the card face onto the Grip Mat and applied green and blue ink with a soft hand.
- I placed the stencil over the card face and used a variety of dark and medium green inks over the exposed areas.
- I moved the card face to the stamp positioner and added the image with Versafine Onyx.
- I intensified the blue around the edges, which adds to the sense of looking into a scene.
- I spattered the card face with white metallic watercolour .
Other:
- I stamped the sentiment on a piece of scrap cardstock and cut it out with a punch.
- I cut two additional “blanks” with the punch.
Assembly
- I glued the three punched shapes together, with the sentiment on top.
- I glued the card face to the card base, and added the sentiment as shown.
Final Thoughts:

I love the soft colours with the gentle feel and sentiment used on this card.

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: Falling Leaves, A Colorful Life Designs

Stamp: Stampin’ Up! (retired)

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

Metallic Watercolour: Amazon

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 Leaves by A Colorful Life Designs

cc
09/09/2025
Gotta tackle that To-Do list… but first COFFEE
“gotta have my coffee!” – the morning anthem of much of the world

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

Border Layer 5.5 x 4 1/8

Card Face: 5.5 x 4

Card Face:
- I laid the card face onto my Grip Mat and then positioned the stencil, offsetting the design to the left.
- I used brown ink and a light hand to go over all exposed areas.
- Working one row at a time, I masked half of each circle with a piece of paper, and once again went over exposed areas with brown ink and a light hand. This made each circle two-toned, and provided additional visual interest.
- I put the card face into my stamp positioner and added the focal sentiment with the coffee cups. I used navy blue ink for this – although it looks black in the picture, it’s navy, honest!
- I placed the card face on my desktop and added coffee rings and spatter using the brown ink used earlier.
- I lightly spattered the card face with water, adding additional texture.
Assembly
- I glued the black border layer to the card base, and then centered the card face on top of both.
Final Thoughts:

The stencil provides a great backdrop for this fun stamp: just enough for visual interest without being a distraction.

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: Quarter Moon, 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

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Card Base & Card Face: Recollections 110 lb., Michaels

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

Quarter Moons by A Colorful Life Designs
09/05/2025
Be Your Beautiful Self – Celebrate the Wonderful Individuals in Your Life
Oh, the elegance that can be added with gold!

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: 5.25 x 10.5, scored and folded at 5.25

Card Face: 5 x5

Card Face:
- I laid the card face down on the Grip Mat and positioned the stencil. I used cranberry red ink over the exposed surface, avoiding the middle of the stencil.
- I used an embossing marker to randomly go over some of the dots around the circle, sprinkling the wet ink with gold embossing powder and setting it with my heat gun.
Other:
- I stamped the poppy outline with black ink, and the fill-colour for the petals in the same red used in the background.
- I used a circle punch to cut this out.
- I taped two circular dies together on red card stock and ran them through the Big Shot to cut out the red circle.
- I looked through my sentiment binder and selected the one shown in the picture.
Assembly
- I centered and glued the card face onto the card base.
- I used the embossing pen to create a line around the edges of the card face, sprinkled gold embossing powder over this and set it with my heat gun.
- I glued the poppy into the center of the card.
- I glued the red ring around the poppy.
- I put foam tape on the back of the sentiment and put it in place across the center of the blossom.
- I put a gold pearl on both ends of the sentiment strip.
Final Thoughts:

This card is so pretty in real life: the gold embossing catches the light beautifully, and adds a touch of elegance to the finished design.

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: Circle Moon, A Colorful Life Designs

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

Embossing Pen, Ranger, R&R Scrapbooking

Gold Embossing Powder, Wow, R & R Scrapbooking

Stamps: Painted Poppies, Stampin’ Up! (retired)

Dies: Nesting Circle Infinity Dies, Hero Arts

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Card Base & Card Face: Recollections 110 lb., Michaels

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

Circle Moon by A Colorful Life Designs
09/01/2025
From Busy Backgrounds to Remarkable Results in Card Design
Got a busy, chaotic print to use? Tame it, and create beauty in the process.

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

Kraft Border Layer: 5.5 x 4

Card Face: Gel Print: 5.5 x 4.25 (before trimming down)

Narrow Black Border: 5.5 x 2.5

Card Face:
- I laid the Gel Print in my stamp positioner and stamped the image with Versamark embossing ink.
- After removing it from the positioner,I added gold embossing powder and set it with my heat gun.
- I used a microliner to trace around the negative image of the tree on the inside of the embossed area, and then outlined outer edges as well.
- I trimmed the gel print down to 5.5 x 2.25.
- Other:
- I spattered the Kraft cardstock with black and gold ink.
- I looked through my sentiment binder and found one that was a great size and “feel” for this card.
- From the remaining pieces of the gel print I trimmed two 5.5 x ⅛” strips.
Assembly
- I centered and glued the kraft layer on the card base.
- I glued the narrow strips on either side of the kraft layer, filling in the remaining space on the card base.
- I centered and glued the card face to the narrow black border.
- I added dimensional foam tape to the back of this and centered it on the kraft border layer.
- I glued the sentiment towards the bottom of the card face, as shown.
- I used a micro liner to add a fine black border to each side of the kraft layer.
Final Thoughts:
- This started as a gel print that I really didn’t care for, but ended up as a card that I quite like – yay!
- I did not initially plan to outline the embossed areas, but the image needed additional definition against that busy background.
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.

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

Versamark Embossing Ink: Simon Says Stamp

Gold Embossing Powder: Wow, R&R Scrapbooking

Stamps: Amazing Silhouettes, Stampin’ Up! (retired)

Microliners: 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 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
08/30/2025
Craft Unique Kiddie Cards with *A Colorful Life* Stencils
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

Card Face: 5.5 x 4.25 before cutting down

Card Face:
- I laid my cardface on the Grip Mat and then centered the largest of the Squeezed Rectangle stencils on top.
- Over this, I laid the Grunge Dots Stencil.
- I used blue ink on the top of this stencil and green on the bottom, creating the basics for a scene. (having the Squeezed Rectangle stencil on the bottom meant that the ink was kept within it’s borders.
- I removed the stencils and trimmed the card face along the border created by the ink.
- I ran my ink pads along the newly cut edges, matching the colours already used.
Other:
- I laid the Mid Century Banner stencil on the front half of the card base and applied blue ink with a light hand.
- I brushed green ink in from the edges of this piece, again using a light hand.
- I looked through my Ready to Go binder and found the wee elephants, the sun and the sentiment – all just waiting for a chance to shine.
Assembly
- I put dimensional tape on the back of the card face and centered it on the card base.
- I glued the elephants and the sun in place as shown.
- After experimenting a bit I decided that the sentiment would be best about halfway down on the right, and put it in place.
Final Thoughts:

I’ve had all of the components for this card for quite a while – except for the inked up card base. I was delighted to put them into use, and to discover that they were willing to play nicely together.

I initially intended this to be a flat cardface, with the stencilled pattern inked directly onto the card base, however an inky glitch required the card face to be cut out – and after that dimensional tape seemed like a good idea to make it really stand out.

I feel that the green ink applied to the card base is a bit too dominant: if I were to recreate this card I would not apply it, or I would use an even lighter hand.

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:

     Marvellous Masks, Squeezed Rectangle: A Colorful Life Designs

     Grunge Dots: a Colorful Life Designs

     Mid Century Banners: 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:

     Elephants: Studio Light (retired)

     Sun: Here Comes the Sun, Tayored Expressions

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

Mid Century Banners by A Colorful Life Designs
08/28/2025

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