Written In Ink

Category: Friendship

  • How to Make a Stunning Debossed Card

    How to Make a Stunning Debossed Card

    Let’s get Started:

    Card Base: 5.5  x 8.5, scored and folded at 425

    Border Layer: 5.5 x 4

    Card Face:  5.5 x 4 (before tearing)

    I had a card face which had been started but put aside:  I had originally swiped black ink onto the surface and then I had put it into a striped embossing folder and run it through the Big Shot… and then put it aside.  I picked this up one day, and thought “what would happen if I used the back of this as a base for an image?  The stripes are debossed that way …  it might be interesting.”   And so it began.

    Card Face:

    • I stamped the flower onto the card face,  followed by the long sentiment using black Memento ink for both.  I overlapped the two deliberately.
    • I coloured the flower using alcohol markers.  While colouring the blossom, I accidentally filled in one of the debossed channels:  there was nothing to do but continue doing that as I continued colouring the image.
    • I wanted more colour,  so I added the Simplify in red ink, to match the flower.
    • I tore both sides off close to the image, distressing the edges quite a bit.

    Other:

    • I used a wide flat brush with gold watercolour paint and created a gold strip down both sides of the border piece:  I deliberately created a jagged, irregular line as I went.  Once this was dry, I placed it in an embossing folder and ran it through the Big Shot.   
    • I added spatter to the card face using both silver and gold watercolour paint.
    • I stamped the “happy life”  sentiment onto a narrow strip of scrap paper and then used my snips to create the flag on the right.

    Assembly

    • I glued the border layer to the card base, centering vertically.
    • I put dimensional foam on the back of the card face and added this to the border layer, again centering vertically.
    • I glued the sentiment onto the card face as shown.
    • I added bling randomly to the card face.

    Final Thoughts:

    I’m really happy with this card:  I like the look of the image stamped onto the debossed card face,  and the tiny sentiment on the stem.

    If I were to do this again,  I would lightly touch a few of the torn edges of the card face with the same gold ink used elsewhere. This would have tied that element in quite nicely.

    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.

    Stamps: Bloom and Simplify, Unity Stamps (retired)

    Metallic Watercolour Paint:  Amazon

    Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up! 

    Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

    Memento Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    Alcohol Markers:

         Stampin’ Blends: Stampin’ Up!

         Copics:  Wallacks

    Bling: A Colorful Life Designs

    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 –  I’d love to hear from you!

  • When handcrafted is heartfelt: Tips for Stunning Card Designs

    When handcrafted is heartfelt: Tips for Stunning Card Designs

    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: 

    4.25 x 11, scored and folded at 5.5

    Card Face:   3 ⅞ x 5.5

    Card Face:

    • I laid my card face on the Grip Mat and positioned the Starry Rays stencil so that it was hanging off on the left hand side.  I used light green ink across the exposed surface.
    • Leaving that stencil in place,  I secured the Floating Flowers stencil,  applying a darker green ink over the exposed areas.
    • I removed both stencils and spattered water lightly over the ink,  blotting off quite quickly.  This added texture and depth to this part of the design.
    • I placed the card face in my Stamp Positioner and used Memento ink to stamp the image of the tulip.
    • I coloured this with alcohol markers.
    • I spattered purple metallic watercolour over the card face.

    Other:

    • I looked through my binder of sentiments and selected one that worked for the design.

    Assembly

    I added the card face to the card base, centering vertically.

    I used a dark green marker and a ruler to draw a line down each side of the card face, creating a faux border layer.

    I put dimensional foam on the back of the sentiment and put it in place as shown.

    Final Thoughts:

    I love this bold tulip,  and the stencils created a fabulous background for it.

    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:

        Starry Rays,  A Colorful Life Designs

        Floating Flowers, A Colorful Life Designs

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

    Versamark Embossing Ink: Simon Says Stamp

    Stamps: Sketched Tulip, Technique Junkies  (no longer available)

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

  • 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.