Written In Ink

Category: Baby

  • Create Beautiful Cards with Love Ewe and Celtic Knots

    Create Beautiful Cards with Love Ewe and Celtic Knots

    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 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.)

    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

    8”  of ¼” white ribbon.

    Card Face:

    • I placed the card face in my stamp positioner and stamped the image in the center using Versafine Onyx.
    • I sprinkled clear embossing powder over the wet ink and set it with my heat gun.
    • I repeated these steps with the sentiment.
    • I laid the card face on the Grip Mat and positioned the stencil.  I used yellow ink and a light hand to apply it through the stencil around the edges of the card face, allowing it to fade as it approached the image.
    • I ran the edges of the card face over the ink pad to create definition.
    • I secured the embossing die on the card face using Mint Tape and ran it through the Big Shot.

    Other

    • I tied the ends of the ribbon together in a knot,  and then cut the ribbon at the half way spot on the loop.

    Assembly

    • I used scotch tape to secure the ribbon to the card face towards the left as shown.
    • I glued the black border layer to the card base, and then added the card face on top,  centering on all sides. 

    Final Thoughts:

    I love this image/sentiment from Unity,  and the stencil makes a great backdrop.  When I had the card face complete I thought it needed “something more”,  and added the ribbon.

    I don’t like the look of the ribbon,  and would omit it next time!

    Supplies: (and links where possible)

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

    Stencil: Celtic Knots,  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:  Love Ewe, Unity Stamps (retired)

    Dies: Whimsy Dies,  Stampin’ Up!  (retired)

    Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up! 

    Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

         Copics:  Wallacks

    Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

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

    Do you have any comments or thoughts 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.

    Celtic Knots

  • Create an Adorable Baby Card That Will be Treasured

    Create an Adorable Baby Card That Will be Treasured

    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:  5.25 x 4

    Card Face:

    • I placed my card face on the Grip Mat and positioned the Dotted Trellis stencil. I applied a mixture of yellow and pink ink randomly across the exposed areas.
    • I switched out the stencils, putting the Circles Galore stencil in place, and added turquoise ink over the first layer of stencilling.
    • I placed the card face in the stamp positioner and added the pink ribbon to the top-left corner of the card face.
    • I stamped the sentiment directly onto the card face, as shown, using Versafine Onyx.  I sprinkled this with clear embossing powder and set it with my heat gun.
    • I ran the edges of the card face across the pink ink pad.

    Other:

    • I looked through my Ready To Go binder and decided to use the wee chick, which was pre-coloured with alcohol markers and fussy cut.

    Assembly

    • I glued the card face to the card base, centering on all sides.
    • I glued the wee chick onto the card face and drew legs and feet so she is standing on the bottom of the ribbon.
    • I added card bling randomly to the card face.

    Final Thoughts:

    I really like the shapes and colours in the two layers of stencilling:  with that in place turning this into a baby card seemed natural.  (I almost always decide what direction a card will go in once the first steps are complete …. And often not until the card is finished.)

    The large stamped ribbon is a nice contrast to the wee chick.

    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:

          Dotted Trellis,  A Colorful Life Designs

          Circles Galore, 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:

    Ribbon:  Technique Junkies (no longer in business)

    Chick:  I am Chickie, Nellies Choice, Ecstasy Crafts

    Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up! 

    Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

    Memento Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    Alcohol Markers:

         Stampin’ Blends: Stampin’ Up!

         Copics:  Wallacks

    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.

    Dotted Trellis by A Colorful Life Designs

    Circles Galore by A Colorful Life Designs

  • Create Stunning Cards with Love Waterfall Stencil

    Create Stunning Cards with Love Waterfall Stencil

    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:  5.25 x 4

    Card Face:

    • I placed the card face down on my Grip Mat and positioned the stencil. 
      I added soft yellow ink across all open areas.
    • After removing the stencil I placed the card face into my stamp positioner and added the crib, mobile and the shelf with teddy and blocks using Versafine Onyx.
    • I ran the edges of the card face over the versafine ink pad.

    Other:

    • I used a scrap of cardstock to stamp the sentiment with Versafine Onyx,  and cut it out with a die.

    Assembly

    • I glued the card face onto the card base, centering on all sides.
    • I glued the sentiment in place at the top of the mobile, created the illusion that the mobile was hanging from the sentiment.

    Final Thoughts:

    I love the contrast between the soft yellow and the dramatic black:  they work very well for this design.

    Looking at the card now,  I wish I had added a bit of shadow under the crib to ground it:  I didn’t think of it at the time,  but it would have been a good touch.

    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: Love Waterfall,  A Colorful Life Designs

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

    Stamps & Die: Stampin’ Up!  (retired)

    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.

    Love Waterfall by A Colorful Life Designs

  • Send Big Love with a Handmade Card

    Send Big Love with a Handmade 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

    Border Layer: 5.5 x 4.25

    Card Face: 5.5 x 4.25

    Card Face:

    • I put the card face into the stamp positioner and stamped the bunny a couple of times with black Memento ink, centering the image.
    • I coloured her in with alcohol markers  (Memento ink doesn’t react to alcohol, making it perfect for this purpose).
    • I put the card face onto the grip mat and positioned the stencil:  I used pink ink to create the pattern around the bunny –  using more ink/ more pressure around the edges and allowing the ink to fade as I neared the center.
    • I added a rectangular stitched die to the card face, centering carefully.  This die creates a pattern in the paper; \it is not a cutting die.
    • I returned the card face to the stamping platform and added the sentiment with Versafine Onyx.  This is actually one stamp: to create the separation, I had to mask off the appropriate section, and stamp the other.
    • I used a punch on all four corners to create the peek-a-boo pattern.

    Assembly

    • I glued the black border layer to the card base, and then added the card face on top of that.
    • I thought this card needed one final detail,  so I added a clear heart shaped gem to the card face to finish it off.

    Final Thoughts:

    • This bunny is absolutely adorable,  and that sentiment suits perfectly.
    • If I were to re-do this card,  I would position the “sending” a little further to the right –  but by the time I saw the problem on this card it was too late to fix!

    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: Droplet Grid,  A Colorful Life Designs

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

    Stamps:

         Cuddly Girl, Nellie’s Choice, Ecstasy Crafts  (out of stock)

          Sentiment:  Technique Junkies  (out of business)

    Dies: Stitched with Whimsy, Stampin’ Up!  (retired)

    Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up! 

    Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

    Memento Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    Alcohol Markers:

         Stampin’ Blends: Stampin’ Up!

         Copics:  Wallacks

    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

    Droplet Grid by A Colorful Life Designs