Written In Ink

Category: Gal Pals

  • Create Stunning Daisy Cards with Simple Stenciling Techniques

    Create Stunning Daisy Cards with Simple Stenciling Techniques

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    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: 5.25 x 4

    Card Face:  5.25  x 2.25

    Hollographic card stock:  5.25 x ⅛” (2)

    This stencil includes 3 separate daisies,  in 3 sizes.

    Card Face:

    • I laid the card face on my grip mat and positioned the largest daisy in the center of the strip:  I  applied light pink ink with a soft hand.
    • I repositioned the stencil and repeated the steps first on the left-hand side, then on the right.  I stencilled just over half of the flower on each side.
    • I positioned the middle-sized flower over the center daisy and applied the same ink,  with a heavier hand this time.  
    • I repeated this step on both of the other daisies.
    • I positioned the smallest flower over the middle daisy and applied ink, but this time I switched to a more vibrant pink.
    • I repeated this step with each of the other flowers.

    Other:

    • I placed the border layer cardstock in an embossing folder and ran it through my Big Shot.
    • I used two green ink pads to apply colour to the raised leafy pattern, lightly running them over the embossed sections.
    • I stamped the sentiment onto a piece of scrap cardstock with Versafine Onyx and trimmed it into a narrow strip.
    • I trimmed a scrap of holographic cardstock to be the same length as the sentiment,  but ⅓” wider (to allow a narrow border).

    Assembly

    • I put dimensional foam tape on the back of the border layer and adhered it to the card base.
    • I glued the card face in place on top of this, centering vertically.
    • I glued the narrow holographic strips in place on either side of the card face.
    • I glued the sentiment to it’s holographic border,  and glued these in place over the center of the middle daisy.
    • I put a large gem in the center of both the left and right flowers.

    Final Thoughts:

    This stencil was on my wish list for a long time:  I’m so glad I finally got it and got this design out of my head!     I really like the layered ink in the daisies, and the two-toned leaves are really effective (even though they aren’t showing in the photo, LOL).

    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: Daisy Trio,  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! 

    Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

    Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

    Holographic Cardstock:  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.

    Daisy Trio

  • DIY Card Tutorial with Versamark and Die-Cuts

    DIY Card Tutorial with Versamark and Die-Cuts

    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

    Card Face:  5.25 x 4

    Cardstock for die-cut:  5.25 x 4 before cutting

    Scraps of cardstock for the sentiment pieces.

    I used a gel print to get started on this card face: the texture in the pieces was a fun addition.

    Card Face:

    • I laid the card face on a piece of scrap paper and positioned the stencil.
    • I pressed Versamark embossing ink firmly through the stencil, repeating in areas until I was satisfied with the coverage.
    • After removing the stencil, I sprinkled embossing powder over the ink and set it with my heat gun.

    Other:

    • I secured the coverplate die to the large piece of cardstock and ran it through the Big Shot.
    • I die-cut “celebrate” from white cardstock three times and glued them together.
    • I stamped “let’s”  and “you”  with Versafine Onyx on small scraps,  and cut them down to their finished sizes.

    Assembly

    • I glued the large die-cut to the card face, then glued the new layer to the card base, centering it on all sides.
    • I glued “celebrate” in the center of the card face, on an angle.
    • I added  “let’s”  and “you”  as shown.

    Final Thoughts:

    I like the bold colours in this card (thanks to the gel print),  as well as all the various layers and geometric shapes.

    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: Diamond Fade,  A Colorful Life Designs

    Versamark Embossing Ink: Simon Says Stamp

    Vintage Peacock Embossing Powder,  Wow,  Amazon

    Dies:

    Circles and Crosses Coverplate, the Frantic Stamper,  Ecstasy Crafts

    Sentiment Stamps/Die,  Stampin’ Up!  (retired)

    Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

    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.

    Diamond Fade by A Colorful Life Designs

  • Send your Love in a DIY Card: Lighthouse and Clouds

    Send your Love in a DIY Card: Lighthouse and Clouds

    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

    Black Border Layer: 5.5 x 4.25

    Card Face:  5.25 x 4

    Card Face:

    • I put the card face down in my stamp positioner and stamped the lighthouse, the ground around the base, the water, and the beam of light.
    • I used light gray ink and a blending brush to add the base colour for the sky, allowing variation in depth of tone.  I added the clouds with the Cloud Edger stencil, moving the stencil on the card face and rotating it to create different cloud shapes.
    • I added the same gray ink to all borders,  adding extra colour to the water to create the look of a stormy sea.
    • I put the card face back into the stamp positioner and added the sentiment using Versafine Onyx.
    • I used a ruler to measure ½” on each corner,  marking these with pencil.  Then I connected the marks with a red marker to create a frame.

    Assembly

    • I glued the black border piece to the card base,  and centered the card face on top of these.

    Final Thoughts:

    This is one of my favourite stamp sets , and although it is (sadly) retired,  I still pull it out from time to time.

    I am always impressed with the depth I get by using the Cloud Edger stencil.

    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: Cloud Edger,  A Colorful Life Designs

    Stamps: High Tide , Stampin’ Up! (retired)

    Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up! 

    Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

    Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

     Recollections 110 lb., Michaels

    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.

    Cloud Edger

  • DIY Card Making: Blend Colors with Stencils for Great Results

    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 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: 5.⅜ x 4 1/8

    Card Face: 5.25 x 4

    Card Face:

    • I got started on this card by placing the card face on the Grip Mat.
    • Using the Daisy Trio stencil, I added pink, orange, and yellow flowers to the background, moving the stencil and placing flowers in all three sizes randomly across the blank surface.
    • Setting that stencil aside, I positioned the bee stencil on the card face and pressed my Versamark embossing ink pad firmly through the openings to create the bee.  I removed the stencil and sprinkled gold embossing powder on it. I set it with my heat gun.
    • I repositioned the stencil to allow the heart trail on the same stencil to be part of the design, then pressed embossing ink through the openings and added gold embossing powder.
    • I placed the card face in my stamp positioner and added the sentiment using Versafine Onyx.  I sprinkled on clear embossing powder, and set this with my heat gun, which made the sentiment “pop”.

    Assembly

    • I glued the card face onto the black border layer,  and then added these to the card base,  centering both layers.
    • I scattered card bling randomly across the card face.

    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.

    Stencils:

    Buzzing Bee,  A Colorful Life Designs

    Daisy Trio,  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

    Gold Embossing Powder: Wow, R&R Scrapbooking

    Stamps:  Technique Junkies  (no longer in business)

    Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up! 

    Card Bling,  A Colorful Life Designs

    Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

    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.

    Buzzing Bee

    Buzzing Path

    Daisy Trio

  • 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 Stunning Cards with Butterfly Stencils and Embossing Powder

    Create Stunning Cards with Butterfly Stencils and Embossing Powder

    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: 5.25 x 10.5,  scored and folded at 5.25

    Card Face:  5 x 5

    Card Face:

    • I laid the card face down on the Grip Mat and positioned the butterfly stencil.   I used both orange and pink for the stencilled butterflies, using more ink and additional pressure in the center of each one, allowing the colour to fade as it moved out towards the edge of the wings.
    • After the ink was dry, I stamped the small butterflies with Versamark embossing ink, sprinkled Platinum embossing powder over them, and set them with my heat gun.
    • I positioned the dotted stencil on the card face, allowing it to go over some of the butterflies. I sprinkled pearl embossing powder over this and set it with my heat gun.

    Other:

    • I stamped the sentiment used a small circle die to cut it out.
    • I used a coordinating, larger circle die to cut a second circle.

    Assembly

    • I put dimensional foam on the back of the card face and positioned it on the card base.
    • I glued the two circles together with the sentiment on top, and then glued this new combination to the card face as shown.
    • I glued three tiny pearls under the sentiment.

    Final Thoughts:

    The two embossing powders add a lovely sheen to the finished card.

    The use of pearlized embossing powder for the second stencil resulted in a subtle but pretty texture.

    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:

    Geometric Butterflies:  A Colorful Life Designs

    Buzz Path,  A Colorful Life Designs

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

    Versamark Embossing Ink: Simon Says Stamp

    Metallic Platinum Embossing Powder,  Wow, R&R Scrapbooking

    Vintage Pearl Embossing Powder, Ranger:  R&R Scrapbooking

    Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up! 

    Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

    Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

    Recollections 110 lb., Michaels

    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.

    Geometric Butterflies

    Buzz Path

  • Unique Card Making:Try Using Spackle for Embossing

    Unique Card Making:Try Using Spackle for Embossing

    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

    I love experimenting with new (to me)  techniques and products:  this card was created using spackle as an embossing paste.  I remembered something from Youtube that I saw a few years ago,  demonstrating that “something from a hardware store”  made great embossing paste.  The demonstrator was perfectly clear in what that product was – but I cannot remember!  This was my attempt to substitute, and it was really successful!

    Card Face:

    • I put my card face onto a piece of scrap paper, positioned the stencil and secured both with Mint Tape. 
    • I spread spackle across all exposed areas, removed the stencil and put the card face aside to dry.
    • I put the stencil into water immediately, to prevent the spackle from drying on the stencil.

    When I work with embossing paste  (or spackle, LOL)  I prefer not to use my Grip Mat:  I’m forever going beyond the paper with the paste, and I don’t want to get it on the Mat.

    Other:

    I had previously di- cut the gift from patterned paper: it wasn’t used at that time so I saved it in my Ready to Go Binder until it was needed.

    • I pressed the die cut into my Versamark embossing ink pad, sprinkled it with gold powder and set it with my heat gun.  
    • There were a couple of spots that weren’t completely covered,  so I repeated the process, and the second time around I had great coverage.
    • Once the spackle had dried,  I sprayed the card face with Lindy’s Magicals sprays (gold and blue).  I was pretty enthusiastic with the spraying,  so I left this to dry overnight.

    Assembly

    • I glued the card face to the card base.
    • I glued the die-cut gift in the center of the card face.
    • I glued a small gold embellishment in the center of the bow.

    Final Thoughts:

    I am  impressed with how well the spackle worked.   It is heavier bodied than embossing paste,  so it takes a little extra work to cover the areas well,  but it’s not difficult.  Because it is so heavy bodied there is no danger of it seeping under the stencil – bonus!

    I love the way the spackle took the spray,  it’s really pretty.   

    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:  Joined Roses,  A Colorful Life Designs

    Versamark Embossing Ink: Simon Says Stamp

    Gold Embossing Powder,  Wow,  R&R Scrapbooking

    Dies: Gift, KSCraft, Amazon

    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.

    Joined Roses

  • The Gothic Swirl Stencil is a Great Beginning to a Stunning Steampunk Card

    The Gothic Swirl Stencil is a Great Beginning to a Stunning Steampunk 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

    Black Border Layer: 5.5 x 4.25

    Card Face:  5.25 x 4

    Card Face:

    • I laid my card face on the Grip Mat and positioned the stencil.
    • I applied blue ink, altering pressure/intensity randomly.
    • After removing the stencil, I placed the card face down in my stamp positioner and added the steampunk images using Versafine Onyx.  (I stamped each a couple of times to get lots of depth.)
    • I spattered the card face with water and blotted it with a paper towel.

    Other:

    • I looked through my Sentiment Binder and grabbed three that I felt worked for this card.

    Assembly

    • I glued the black border layer to the card base,  and then centered the card face on top of these.
    • I added the three sentiments, with dramatically varying angles.

    Final Thoughts:

    I love the way this card turned out.

    This stencil is so beautiful and I was really happy with the way the inking turned out.  Then to decide on how to finish it –  it could head in many different directions.  My thoughts turned to steampunk  (I have just a few stamps,  and rarely play with them),  and from that moment, nothing else would do.

    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: Gothic Swirl,  A Colorful Life Designs

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

    Stamps: 

        Steampunk Images:Stampin’ Up! (retired)

        Sentiments:  Tim Holtz, 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 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.

    Gothic Swirl

  • Design a Fun Card sure to make them Grin

    Design a Fun Card sure to make them Grin

    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 3/8 x 4 ⅛

    Focal Image:  3 1/8 x 1 ⅞

    Border for Focal Image:  3.25 x 2

    Card Face:  5.25 x 4

    Card Face:

    • I laid the card face down onto my Grip Mat and positioned the stencil.
    • I applied yellow ink to all exposed areas, using more pressure in the center and allowing the ink to fade towards the edges.

    Other:

    • I had just stamped and coloured this image a couple of days prior, so I grabbed that to use on this card.
    • I stamped the sentiment on a piece of scrap cardstock and die cut it to create the finished shape.

    Assembly

    • I glued the black border layer to the card base.
    • I glued the smaller black border layer to the focal image, and then glued that newly layered piece onto the card face.
    • I put a piece of dimensional foam onto the back of the sentiment and positioned it on an angle across the focal image.

    Final Thoughts:

    I love this crusty, cantankerous old gal … you can see that she has opinions on anything and everything, and is ready to share them.   I was amused by pairing this sentiment with this image:  it’s like she is saying, “this is me,  this is my style.  Deal with it!”   LOL.

    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: Solar Rays, 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:

    Maude, Artistic Impressions (retired)

    Sentiment: Be Yourself, The Frantic Stamper

    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.

    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.

    Solar Rays Stencil

  • Impress Someone with your Graffiti Skills

    Impress Someone with your Graffiti Skills

    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

    Kraft Card Face:5.25 x 4

    Card Face:

    • I laid the card face down on my Grip Mat and positioned the Stonework stencil. I covered exposed areas with a mixture of light brown, yellow brown, and orange brown inks.
    • Removing that stencil, I positioned the Circle Tree stencil, masking off the edges to protect the surface that was already inked.   I used dark brown ink and a heavy hand to create the tree.
    • Leaving this stencil in place, I inked up a background stamp with black ink and pressed it firmly into the exposed areas.  The stamp creates a “crackled” look, as if the paint on the stone wall were about to flake off.  I used fineliners to intensify the black on the dark brown.
    • I used a gold gel pen to outline all the openings in the stencil and to complete the circle around the tree.
    • I wasn’t satisfied, so I removed the Circle Tree stencil and put the Stonework stencil back in place:  I used medium brown ink and a small shading brush to add darker colour to the stones, adding depth and dimension.
    • I put the cardface into my stamp positioner and added the sentiment with Versamark embossing ink.   I added Metallic Platinum embossing powder, and set it with my heat gun.

    Other:

    • I pressed the Versamark embossing pad onto the borders of the cardbase, sprinkled it with the same Platinum embossing powder, and set it with my heat gun.  (This ensured that the border matched the sentiment perfectly.)

    Assembly

    I glued the card face to the card base, centering on all sides.

    Final Thoughts:

    I did not completely achieve my goals with this card, but I still like it.

    I wanted it to resemble a stone wall with a tree painted onto it by a graffiti artist.   I’m not seeing my vision, which is frustrating: the addition of the extra brown ink did help with the wall’s visual depth, but it still needs improvement.   A challenge to future self.

    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:

    Stonework: A Colorful Life Designs

    Circle Tree:  A Colorful Life Designs

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

    Versamark Embossing Ink: Simon Says Stamp

    Metallic Platinum Embossing Powder,  Wow,  R &R Scrapbooking

    Stamps:   Paint Your World,  Spellbinders (retired)

    Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up! 

    Shading Brush:  Waffle Flower, R&R Scrapbooking

    Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

    Card Base & Card Face: Accent 100 lb., Amazon  or  Recollections 110 lb., Michaels

    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.

    Stonework Stencil

    Circle Tree stencil