Category: Fun

How to Use Duo Gel for Stunning Card Effects
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

Focal Piece: 2.5 x 1 (after being trimmed down)

Sentiment: 1.5 x 1.5 (after die cutting)

Strips: .25 x 5.25 ( x 2)

Card Face:
- I laid the card face onto the grip mat and positioned the Mod Rectangles stencil.
- I applied red ink over all exposed areas, deepening the colour at the edges to create a border.
- After removing the first stencil, I placed the Airy Swirls stencil.
- I covered all exposed areas with Duo Gel, removed the stencil carefully (to avoid smudges), and put the card face down to dry.
- Once the gel was dry (it goes on white but becomes clear when dry), I laid a piece of transfer foil on top and ran it through the Big Shot. When I removed the piece of foil, the sticky gel had left those areas of the foil in place, creating the stencilled pattern.
When I use Duo Gel, the stencils go immediately into water once removed as the gel will be almost impossible to get off when dry.

Other:
- I placed the cardstock for the focal image into my stamp positioner and added the image of the woman with brown ink. I used my trimmer to cut this to size along the dotted border, finishing with a corner punch to round the edges.
- I replaced this with the smaller piece of cardstock for the sentiment, stamped it with the same brown ink, then cut it down to size with a die.
Assembly
- I centered the card face on the card base, and then added the focal piece towards the left as shown.I glued the two narrow strips to the right of this image.
- I added dimensional foam to the back of the sentiment and placed it as shown, allowing it to slightly overlap the focal image. I added three small gold pearls at the bottom of this piece.
Final Thoughts:

Purple and red are a fabulous colour combination, and they work well with this pair of stencils: one so structured and the other so loose and flowing.

This created a fun backdrop for the tongue-in-cheek, vintage focal image.

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

Mod Rectangles, A Colorful Life Designs

Airy Swirls: A Colorful Life Designs:

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

Stamps: Motherhood is a Verb, Unity Stamps (retired)

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Duo Gel: Decofoil, R&R Scrapbooking

Transfer Foil: Decofoil, R&R Scrapbooking

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.

Mod Rectangles by A Colorful Life Designs

Airy Swirls by A Colorful Life Designs
12/07/2025
Beautiful Multi-Color Stenciling for Card Making
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 x 5

Sentiment Strip: 5 x 1.5”

Card Face:
- I laid the card face on a piece of scrap paper and positioned the stencil (this is a 6 x 9 stencil, so there are options how how to place it – even on a 5 x 5 card face), and secured it with Mint Tape.
- Using small blending and shading brushes, I applied colours to the stencil. I used orange on the center of the flowers , then, moved to a dark red, then to pink. I finished the background with soft beige.
- I spattered the card face using metallic gold watercolour.
- I ran all edges over a Versafine Onyx ink pad, adding definition to the card face.
Other:
- I placed the strip of card stock into the stamp positioner and added the sentiment with Versafine Onyx. I ran the two horizontal edges of the strip over the black ink pad.
Assembly
- I glued the card face onto the card base, centering on all sides.
- I added dimensional foam to the back of the card strip and centered it horizontally on the card face.
Final Thoughts:

This is a really pretty stencil to play with, and the options for colour are endless – everything from monochromatic to full colour, as I have chosen here.

I’m really happy with the result of this multi-colour stencilling, but it was absolutely necessary to use smaller brushes to control colour placement.

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: Lace Close Up, A Colorful Life Designs

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

Stamps: Technique Junkies (no longer in business)

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Sampler Pack, Waffle Flower, R&R Scrapbooking

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.

Lace Close Up by A Colorful Life Designs
12/05/2025
How to Use Stencils for Beautiful Holiday Card 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

Black Border Layer: 5.5 x 4.25

Card Face: 5.25 x 4

Card Face:
- I laid the card face onto my grip mat and positioned the stencil with the ivy swag where I wanted it. I used a small blending brush and green ink over this part of the stencil, being careful to avoid ink in other open areas on the stencil.
- I moved the stencil and added ivy to other sections of the card face randomly.
- I wiped the stencil down to remove the green ink. I added the poinsettias with red ink, switching to the small brush designated for that colour.
- The stencilling was complete, but I wanted more detail in the background, so I added two different backgrounds stamps with light brown ink.
To use a background stamp:

It can be difficult to get a good impression with a background stamp – there’s a lot of area to cover. I get good results with this method – I’m quite certain I saw it on Youtube, but cannot remember who to give credit to.

I lay the stamp on my work surface and ink it up thoroughly, going over it more than once to be certain I’ve got good coverage.

I lay my card face directly on this, carefully lining up the edges so that it’s straight. I hold it down with one hand to be certain that it doesn’t move.

I place a piece of copy paper over the card face very carefully, not allowing any movement.

I run my fingers or palm over the copy paper, switching hands as necessary – one holding everything still and the other transferring ink.

When I’m satisfied I remove the copy paper and then the card face, careful not to smudge.

I use the copy paper to keep ink off of my hands – it will inevitably transfer to the card face! (The stamps are larger than the card face, so there is exposed ink.)

This method allows me to vary pressure or skip over parts of the image if I don’t want solid inking.

I often use a slightly larger piece of cardstock than I need: if I don’t get it quite straight, I can trim it down and fix that.
- With the background complete I put the card face into my stamp positioner and added the bakers twine and bow images using Versafine Onyx ink.
- I used a corner rounder punch on each corner.
Other:
- I looked through my sentiment binder and found these wee gift tags which had been created and saved for future use … it saves so much time to have things like this ready and waiting.
Assembly
- I glued the black border layer to the card base, and then centered the card face on top of these.
- I added the tiny gift tags as shown.
Final Thoughts:

I think this card face would have been good with only one background stamp rather than two: if I recreate the design I will try that.

I was trying for the look of a retro Christmas gift with this card – not as successfully as hoped, but it’s a fun card anyway.

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: Retro Candy Canes, A Colorful Life Designs

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

Stamps:

Rustic Linen, Altenew

Woven Stripes, Altenew

Handmade Twine Bows, Picket Fence

Bakers Twine, Picket Fence, Scrapbook.com

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Small Blending Brushes: Waffle Flower, Scrap n’ Stamp

Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Cream Card Base & Card Face: Recollections 100 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.

Retro Candy Canes by A Colorful Life Designs
11/29/2025
Create Stunning Snowflake Cards with This Simple Design
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

Green Border Layer: 5.5 x 4

Card Face: 5.5 x 5.25 (before tearing)

Scraps of holographic cardstock

Card Face:
- I laid the card face on my Grip Mat and positioned the stencil. I added green ink around the snowflakes as well as the edges – leaving the center white.
- I tore the un-inked edge of the cardstock at approximately 3” and used my scissors to roughen the edges.
Other:
- I die cut a snowflake from the holographic cardstock, as well as a 5.5 x .25” strip.
- I stamped the sentiment on a scrap of cardstock and fussy cut around it.
Assembly
- I glued the green border layer to the card base, centering vertically.
- I added the card face on top of this, lining it up with the green layer on the left-hand side (this did not allow any of the green to show, but since I had added green ink to the edges of the card face, that wasn’t necessary.
- I slipped the narrow holographic strip under the right-hand edge of the card face.
- I added the sentiment as shown.
- I added three small green gems to the white border on the right, and a larger green gem to the center of the snowflake.
Final Thoughts:

I really like the combination of this lovely stencil with the soft green – the result of this mixture is a very 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: Split Snowflake, 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

Holographic Cardstock:Recollections, 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.

Split Snowflake by A Colorful Life Designs
11/21/2025
Step-by-Step Guide to Create a Beautiful Winter Card
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

Red Border Layer: 5.25 x 4

White border Layer: 3 ⅝ x 2 3/8

Card Face: 3.5 x 2.25

Card Face:
- Using black Memento ink, I stamped the card face with the image of the woman and then coloured her with alcohol markers.
- I placed the card face on my Grip Mat and then positioned the Dot Mat stencil. I added red ink across the open areas, allowing it to fade as it approached the image.
Other:
- I removed the card face from the Grip Mat, and replaced it with the red border layer. I positioned the Eddies stencil and applied red ink with a heavy hand.
- After removing the stencil, I placed this piece in an embossing folder and ran it through my Big Shot.
- I looked through my sentiments binder and selected one that worked perfectly with the image.
Assembly
- I glued the red border layer to the card base, centering on all sides.
- I glued the card face to the white border layer, centering on all sides.
- I glued these two pieces together.
- I added the sentiment as shown.
Final Thoughts:

This image from Unity is awesome, and that sentiment from Spellbindersk created the perfect collaboration.

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:

Dot Mat: A Colorful Life Designs

Eddies, 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

Stamp/Die: Christmas Glimmer Sentiments, Spellbinders, Amazon

Stamp: Freaking Cold, Unity Stamps

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

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.

Dot Mat by A Colorful Life Designs
11/20/2025
Make a Retro Christmas Card with Vintage Design
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

Red Border Layer: 5.5 x 4.25

Kraft Card Face: 5.5 x 4.25 (before die cutting)

Card Face:
- I laid the card face onto my grip mat and positioned the postage stamp stencil. Using a soft hand, I added brown ink just inside the border areas.
- Leaving this stencil in place, I added the Vintage Santa stencil to the mix, positioning the section with Santa in the bottom-left corner and allowing the image to extend slightly beyond the paper. I applied cranberry red ink after masking off all adjacent open areas.
- I used the same cranberry ink and one of the presents to create a row of gifts up the right-hand side of the card, repositioning each time. The gift overlapped the right-hand edge of the first stencil, allowing a partial image.
- I used a rectangular deckled-edge die to cut the card face down to the finished size. I applied metallic gold paint to the edges of this.
- I inserted the card face into an embossing folder and ran it through the Big Shot.
- I touched the raised surfaces of the paper with a brown ink pad, using a very soft hand.
Other:
- I looked through my sentiment binder and selected three small die-cut images, previously created on the same Kraft cardstock and embossed in gold.
Assembly
- I glued the border layer to the card base, and then centered the card face on top.
- I added the three small die cuts as shown.
Final Thoughts:

My goal here was to create the feeling of an heirloom Christmas card, treasured for years. The vintage images were paired with the other ways I’ve marked the paper – and I think I succeeded 🙂

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:

Retro Santa, A Colorful Life Designs

Marvellous Masks Postage Stamp: 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

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.

Retro Santa by A Colorful Life Designs
11/19/2025
All I need for Christmas is endless coffee, and a great card design
Alternate title: A guide to surviving errors and still ending up with a card!

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:
- Using Memento black ink, I stamped the image in the upper right of the card face, and then coloured it with alcohol markers.
- I placed the card face down on the Grip Mat and positioned the coffee cup portion of the stencil in the lower-left corner. I masked off open areas on the stencil near the mug, then used red ink over the exposed area.
- When I removed the stencil, I was dismayed to see that I had been too energetic with my brush between the mug and the handle—and I had ink between the two, instead of a lovely, clean page. What to do?
- I cut very carefully along the outline of the mug, removing it completely from the card face. Then I laid it on a scrap piece of cardstock and traced it. I carefully cut this piece out and then tested it in the opening on the card face. Once I saw that I had a good fit, I glued the card face to a piece of scrap copy paper (cut down to 5.25 x 4”) and glued the blank “mug” into the opening.
- I used my snips to remove the paper between the mug and the handle, cutting carefully along the lines. Once that was done, I was able to glue that piece back in place directly over the blank.
- I repositioned the stencil and placed the sentiment I wanted to use in the upper-left corner, then applied black ink to the open areas.
- I put the other stencil in place: I used yellow ink and a light hand to create the pattern around the mouse.
Rather than grab my yellow ink pad, I simply used the residual ink on the yellow brush. Because I only wanted a subtle background, this worked well. I learned this tip from my friend on YouTube – check out Amy’s Wares for some great tips.
- I outlined the mug with silver gel pen: while I was outlining the handle, the pen slipped and suddenly I had an unplanned streak of silver ink …. I dealt with that by adding additional lines to the handle, creating stripes. I decided to add dots to the rest of the mug just for fun.
- I ran the edges of the card face over my red ink pad., creating definition.
Assembly
- I glued the card face to the card base, centering all sides.
Final Thoughts:

I had coloured the mouse and lights (so adorable!) and didn’t know what I wanted to do next. A random hunt through my stencil binder resulted in my tripping over the Christmas Coffee stencil and a plan was born. Serendipity is a wonderful thing!

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:

Christmas Coffee Stencil: A Colorful Life Designs

Connect the Dots, A Colorful Life Designs

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

Stamps: Merry and Bright, House Mouse, Spellbinders (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.

Connect the Dots by A Colorful Life Designs

Christmas Coffee by A Colorful Life Designs
10/30/2025
Create Your Own Snowman Card with Easy Techniques
There is nothing this wee fella loves more than a good snowfall.

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 die cutting)

White Cardstock for die cutting: 4 x 4

Card Face:
- I laid the card face on my Grip Mat and positioned the stencil.
- I used ink that matched the cardstock across all open areas, using a heavy hand to get a saturated result.
- I removed the stencil and sprinkled clear embossing powder over the wet ink, immediately setting this with my heat gun.
- I used a deckled rectangle die to cut the card face down to approximately 5.25 x 4”.
Other:
- I positioned the square die on the smaller piece of white cardstock and ran it through my Big Shot.
- I looked through my Ready to Go binder and selected the wee snowman, which had already been coloured and cut out.
- I checked my sentiment binder and selected one that worked with the design.
Assembly
- I glued the card face to the card base.
- I centered the die-cut square on the card face and glued it down.
- I added the snowman towards the bottom right.
- I added the sentiment across the snowman.
Final Thoughts:

This is a fun and festive card to celebrate the season.

When I cut out the snowman I cut tight along the outer lines and cut off the arms (they are so thin and delicate that cutting them out would be very time-consuming.) I rectified this by using a fineliner to draw them back on once I had the snowman glued to the die cut square. I got this tip from a Jennifer McGuire video, and use it often.

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: Christmas Words, 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: A Colorful Life Designs (retired)

Dies: Your Next Stamp (no longer in business)

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

Christmas Words by A Colorful Life Designs
10/28/2025
Is “Fast & Easy” your cardmaking jam? Stencils for the win!
Two stencils and a couple of pre-coloured & cut elements … easy peasy.

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 laid the card face onto my Grip Mat and then positioned the Fine Snowflakes stencil: I applied white pigment ink on all exposed areas, using a heavy hand to ensure good saturation.
- After removing this stencil, I replaced it with the Tree Edger #1 stencil, positioning this approximately half way down the page (horizonally).
- I used the same white pigment ink to create a tree line, with a lighter hand than I had used for the snowflakes.
- I moved the stencil down and repeated this step, to create a second tree line directly below the first.
- I used a white gel pen to add dots of snow to the night sky.
Other:
- The wee house and tree were already stamped, coloured and cut out, waiting in my Ready to Go binder, as was the sentiment. I pulled all three out for use on this card.
Assembly
- I glued the card face to the card base, centering on all sides.
- I glued the house in the middle of the card, just a bit up from the bottom.
- I added the tree as shown, overlapping the house slightly.
- I added the sentiment to the upper left.
- I added rhinestones to the center of each snowflake.
Final Thoughts:

This is a very outside-the-box card for me: both design wise and as a Christmas card. None the less, I like 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.

Stencil:

Fine Snowflakes: A Colorful Life Designs

Christmas Tree Edger #1, A Colorful Life Designs

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

Versamark Embossing Ink: Simon Says Stamp

White Gel Pen: Arteza, Amazon

Clear Embossing Powder, Wow, Simon Says Stamp

Stamps & Coordinating Dies: 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.

Fine Snowflakes by A Colorful Life Designs

Christmas Tree Edger #1, by A Colorful Life Designs
10/26/2025
Making Cards or Making Mischief ? sometimes you can have both!
Peaceful & calm outside, but inside? Mischief and mayhem!

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

Card Face:
- I stamped the trees roughly in the center of the paper using Memento black ink. I coloured the trees with alcohol markers.
- I placed the card face onto the grip mat, and then added one of the Arches stencils, centering the opening around the trees.
- Using a light hand, I added blue ink in the open areas.
- I added snow to the scene by spattering white metallic watercolour into the opening, directly over the image.
- I removed the Arches stencil and placed the Floor Perspective stencil towards the bottom of the card face, immediately under the window. I used brown ink across the open areas. I wanted to continue the floor pattern across the entire width of the card face, so I moved the stencil to the right and tried to line up the pattern before applying ink again. (you can see that I was not entirely successful!) I repeated this on the left side of the card face, extending the tiled floor there as well.
- I protected the window image created earlier by adding the corresponding mask to cover the inked area completely. I used a loop of low-tack tape on the back of the mask to keep it in place.
- Using a strip of low tack tape to mask the edge of the floor, I added yellow ink to the top of the card face around the window.
- I put the Sparkles stencil in place and added the same yellow ink across the exposed areas, creating a tone on tone pattern.
- I added light grey ink to the border area between the floor and wall to create shadow.
- I put the mask back in place over the window and traced around this with a black marker. I used a ruler and the same black marker to create the window panes within this border.
Other:
- I had previously stamped and coloured the image of the dog with the string of lights: I fussy cut around the image. To give this just a bit more “pop” I used a clear medium over the Christmas bulbs – this added a bit of depth and a lot of shine.
- I looked through my sentiment binder and found one that worked perfectly with the scene.
Assembly
- I glued the card face to the card base.
- I glued the dog in place.
- I added the sentiment across the center of the trees.
Final Thoughts:

Supplies: (and links where possible)

This card involved a lot of design on the fly …. I started the process with the idea of using the Arches stencil, and no real plan. It created itself as I went along (something that happens often in my craftroom), and once I had added the floor, wallpaper and outlined the window I thought the card was done.

When I went back and had another look the following week, I realized it still needed “something”. So I looked through my pre-coloured images and discovered the perfect final touch.

I love it when serendipity strikes!

Supplies:

   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:

Marvellous Masks Arches, A Colorful Life Designs

Floor Perspective, A Colorful Life Designs

Sparkles, 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:

Dog: Christmas Fun, Penny Black, Amazon

Trees: Impression Obsession (no longer in business)

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

Marvellous Masks Arches by A Colorful Life Designs

Sparkles by A Colorful Life Designs

Floor Perspective by A Colorful Life Designs
10/25/2025

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