Written In Ink

Category: Christmas

  • Step-by-Step Guide to Create a Beautiful Winter Card

    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

  • Make a Retro Christmas Card with Vintage Design

    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

  • Crafting a Unique Christmas Card with Non-Traditional Colors

    Crafting a Unique Christmas Card with Non-Traditional Colors

    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

    Pink Border Layer: 5 ⅜ x 4 1/8

    Card Face:  5.25 x 4

    As this is a 6 x 9 stencil,  it was too big to use on my Grip Mat.

    Card Face:

    I laid the card face on my work surface, positioned the stencil and applied pink ink across all exposed areas.  

    Grabbing a smaller brush and a darker pink,  I added deeper colour to the center of the roses and randomly to the swirls.

    Using a shading brush, I added purple ink to the dots in the pattern.

    I cut the paper in half, creating two card fronts,  and selected one for this card.

    I added Fairy Wings Nuvo drops to the purple dots,  and set the card face aside to dry.

    Other:

    I looked through my sentiment binder and found this large Merry Christmas, perfect for this design.

    I cut a small strip of pink card stock (the same colour as that used for the border layer)  4 x .5

    Assembly

    I glued the pink border layer to the card base,  and the (now dry) card face on top of this, centering it on all sides.

    I glued the sentiment strip to the pink cardstock strip, then glued these to the card face approximately ⅔ of the way down.

    I added three small, translucent white gems to the sentiment strip, as shown.

    Final Thoughts:

    The shading and Nuvo drops add so much to this card design: the additional depth and visual interest make a huge difference.

    I enjoy using non-traditional colours in Christmas card design,  and I’m happy with this one!

    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: Rose Swirl, 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

    Nuvo Drops: Fairy Wings, Embellish Away

    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.

    Rose Swirl by A Colorful Life Designs

  • Crafting Beautiful Cards: Foiling with Stencils

    Crafting Beautiful Cards: Foiling with Stencils

    make a card that makes them say “WOW!”

    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

    When I work with Duo Gel or embossing pastes I don’t use my Grip Mat –  purely a personal preference in the interest of protecting the surface of the mat.

    Card Face:

    • I put my card face on a sheet of scrap paper, positioned the stencil and fastened it in place with Mint Tape.  
    • I spread Duo Gel over the entire surface and then carefully removed the stencil.  The stencil is immediately immersed in water to prevent the gel from drying on the surface.
    • I put the card face aside to dry.  Duo Gel is dry when it is completely clear –  I usually leave it for two or three hours before coming back to it.
    • I don’t have running water near my craft room, so when working with this gel or pastes I have a container of water on the floor beside me so I can immerse the stencils immediately.  I usually do several of these at a time when I settle down to work with either gel or paste.
    • Once the card face had dried I laid a piece of transfer foil on top and ran it through the Big Shot.
    • The pressure from the machine caused the pretty part of the foil to stick to the Duo Gel,  so when I removed the sheet,  the silver stayed behind on the stencilled pattern.

    Other:

    • I used a scrap of heavy white cardstock to cut out the snowflake.
    • I looked through my sentiment binder and selected one that would work for this card.

    Assembly

    • I put dimensional foam on the back of my card face,  and then centered it on the card base.
    • I glued the snowflake to the card face as shown. (I allowed a little extra time for the liquid glue to grab on the foiled surface.)
    • I glued the sentiment across the center of the snowflake.
    • I added rhinestones to the top and bottom of the snowflake.

    Final Thoughts:

    If you’ve never tried foiling with stencils and duo gel,  I recommend it!  It’s a lot of fun  with gorgeous results –  just be certain to buy transfer foil for this purpose and you’re good to go.

    This was a really fast card to make,  but it was time consuming to figure out how to use the panel.  The foiling is gorgeous, and really packs a punch.  I tried several ideas, put it aside for a while, tried a few more …. And finally decided on the design that you see in the photo.

    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: Snowflake Net, 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

    Duo Gel: Deco Foil,  R& R Scrapbooking

    Transfer Foil: Shattered Glass, Deco Foil, R&R Scrapbooking

    Die: Recollections, Michaels  (retired)

    Ink: 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.

    Snowflake Net by A Colorful Life Designs

  • An easy, fast, ELEGANT card

    An easy, fast, ELEGANT 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

    Gold Border Layer: 5.25 x 4

    Card Face:  5 ⅛ x 3 7/8

    Card Face:

    • I laid the burgundy card face down onto my grip mat and positioned the stencil.  I applied Duo Gel through the stencil, then carefully removed it to avoid smudging the paste.
    • I put the stencil into water immediately,  and set the card face aside to dry.
    • Once the gel was dry, I set a piece of gold transfer foil on top of the (now very sticky) pattern, and ran this through my Big Shot.
    • After removing the transfer foil, I had a beautiful gold foiled starburst, created by the stencil + the paste and foil.

    Duo Gel  is a white paste when applied,  when dry it is clear and super sticky –  which is how it pulls the foil off of the backing sheet.

    Other:

    • I looked through my Ready To Go binder,  and found this gorgeous die-cut star, previously created and just waiting to be used.
    • I also found the perfect sentiment in my Sentiment Binder and pulled that out for use.

    Assembly

    I glued the gold foil cardstock to the card base, and then added the card face on top of this.

    I glued the die-cut star on top of the stencilled star burst.

    I added foam tape to the back of the sentiment and put it in place.

    And finally,  I put a pearl in the middle of the star.

    Final Thoughts:

    This card has such an elegant, luxe feel: there is just enough glimmer from the two different kinds of foil to give it an eye catching glimmer.

    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:  Star Halo,  A Colorful Life Designs

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

    Duo Gel: Deco Foil,  R&R Scrapbooking

    Gold Transfer Foil: Deco Foil, R&R Scrapbooking

    Dies: Star of Wonder,  Stampin’ Up! (retired)

    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.

    Star Halo by A Colorful Life Designs

  • How to Make a Gorgeous Card with Dotted Wreath Stencil

    How to Make a Gorgeous Card with Dotted Wreath 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

    Border Layer: 5.5 x 4.25

    Cranberry Card Face: 5.25 x 5.25

    Card Face:

    • I laid my card face on a piece of scrap paper and positioned the stencil.  I applied green embossing paste through the stencil, then removed the stencil very carefully so I didn’t smudge the paste.
    • The stencil went into water immediately,  and the card face was put aside to dry.
    • Once dry the card face was cut in half, and became 5.25 x 2.75.
    • I also cut ⅛” off the top and bottom of this piece.

    Other:

    • I glued the card face (or rather, half of it!)  to the kraft border layer on the left, ensuring equal spacing on the top, bottom and left-hand sides.
    • I placed this newly created combination into my stamp positioner and stamped the reindeer image with Versamark embossing ink.  I stamped several times to get a good impression.
    • I removed this from the stamp positioner, added copper embossing powder, and set it with my heat gun.
    • I drew a narrow line snugly against the right-hand edge of the cranberry cardstock,  added copper embossing powder and set it with my heat gun.  

    This was necessary because of the raised cranberry layer:  no ink transferred immediately beside it,  so I used the embossing pen to draw a line and fill in the narrow gap.

    • I stamped the sentiment on a scrap of cardstock in cranberry ink and cut it with a die.
    • I die cut a tiny bow out of the same cardstock.

    Assembly:

    • I glued the sentiment to the card face, allowing part of it to hang off the left-hand edge.  I cut this off flush.
    • I glued the card face to the card base.
    • I added the tiny bow to the reindeer as shown.

    Final Thoughts:

    I wasn’t at all sure about this design when I tried it,  but I quite like it in the end.

    This is such a great stencil to play with –  and I still  have half of it to work into a 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: Dotted Wreath : A Colorful Life Designs

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

    Versamark Embossing Ink:  Ecstasy Crafts

    Embossing Pen: Versamark, Ecstasy Crafts

    Copper Embossing Powder: Wow,  R&R Scrapbooking

    Embossing Paste: Later Gater, Simon Hurley,  R&R Scrapbooking

    Stamps:  Cheerful Prancing, Unity Stamps  (retired,  but there are still similar stamps     available!)

    Dies: 

         Sentiment: Stampin’ Up! (retired)

         Bow Topper:  Scrapbook.com

    Ink: 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.

    Dotted Wreath by A Colorful Life Designs

  • Step-by-Step Card Making: Unique Design Ideas

    Step-by-Step Card Making: Unique Design Ideas

    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:  4 x 5.5

    Card Face:

    I laid the card face on my Grip Mat and positioned the ornament stencil.

    I masked off the metal hanger at the top.

    I applied light blue ink with a soft hand, deepening the colour towards the edges, and maintaining a lighter section towards the top right.

    Leaving the ornament stencil in place,  I positioned the snowflake stencil towards the right, allowing it to extend into the ornament slightly.   

    I applied the same blue ink over this, again using a light hand.

    I moved the snowflake stencil to the bottom right of the opening, and created the pattern there as well.

    I added a  silver to the ornament hanger (although I wanted a pure silver I grabbed the wrong brush and ended up with an unplanned mixture of colour).

    I used a corner rounder punch on the top two corners of the card face and then placed it in an embossing folder  and ran it through the Big Shot.

    Other:

    I used the same corner rounder on the top corners of the card base.

    I looked through my sentiment binder and selected a beautiful sentiment created with my Glimmer machine.

    Assembly

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

    I added the sentiment towards the upper right, as shown.

    I added a white bow to the hanger, securing it to the card face with a glue dot.

    Final Thoughts:

    I always love texturizing my card faces, or a portion of them.  In this instance however the stencilled pattern became harder to distinguish.   I like this card,  but it would have been beeter without the embossing.

    I do love the combination of the two stencils.

    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

    Marvellous Masks Ornaments, A Colorful Life Designs

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

    Sentiment: Christmas & Glimmer Sentiments,  Spellbinders, Amazon

    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.

    Split Snowflake by A Colorful Life Desig

  • Make a Christmas card with a masculine twist

    Make a Christmas card with a masculine twist

    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:  5.5 x 4

    Scrap of Kraft Cardstock 3 x 2

    Small Black border layer: 3 x 2 3/16

    Black Strips:  4 x 3/19  (three of them)

    This stencil has long strands which are unsecured between the top and bottom – a recipe for unwanted movement while applying ink. Before starting I sprayed the back of the stencil with Pixie Spray, and waited about 30 seconds before proceeding.

    Card Face:

    • I laid the card face on my Grip Mat and positioned the stencil.  I applied metallic gold ink across the exposed areas.

    Other:

    • I placed the scrap of kraft cardstock into my stamp positioner and added the tree with Versafine Onyx.  I stamped a couple of times to ensure a very bold image.
    • Once the ink had dried,  I placed this in an embossing folder and ran it through the Big Shot.

    Assembly

    • I glued the black border to the card base.
    • I glued the card face to the border layer, centering vertically.
    • I glued the three narrow strips to the card face, evenly spaced.
    • I glued the embossed/stamped layer to the smaller black border, centering vertically.
    • I put dimensional foam on the back of this smaller piece,  and positioned it in the center of the card face.

    Final Thoughts:

    This is clearly a masculine card:  this is determined by the shapes and colours used.  There is nothing in the design or the focal image that indicates that this has to be for a male… and yet that is the only real choice.

    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: Drizzled Lines,  A Colorful Life Designs

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

    Stamps:  Christmas Tree of Hope, Joy and Love, Unity Stamps (retired)

    Lisa Horton Metallic Gold Ink: Glitter & Ink

    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.

    Drizzled Lines by A Colorful Life Designs

  • All I need for Christmas is endless coffee, and a great card design

    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

  • Create Your Own Snowman Card with Easy Techniques

    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