Written In Ink

Category: thank you

  • A simple & elegant – and sincere! – thank you card

    A simple & elegant – and sincere! – thank you 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

    Card Face:  5.5 x 4.25

    Card Face:

    • I placed the card face on the Grip Mat and positioned the stencil.
    • I applied metallic silver ink across all exposed areas.
    •      Although I routinely use blending brushes for dye inks,  I use blending foams for pigment/metallic inks.   This is mostly because I have a supply of foams (from my pre-brush era) and I want to have a dedicated foam to each colour of metallic/pigment ink.)
    • After removing the stencil I placed the card face into the stamp positioner and added the sentiment with Versafine Onyx.
    • I used the edge of the ink pad to apply a narrow border of silver ink to all edges of the card face.

    Assembly

    • I glued the card face to the card base.

    Final Thoughts:

    I needed a simple but elegant thank you card –  this duet more than met the challenge!

    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: Filigree Leaf Stencil, A Colorful Life Designs

    Stamps:  Simply Sentimental,  Trinity Stamps

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

    Ink: Metallic Ink- Lisa Horton, Glitter & Ink

    Blending Tool:  Studio Light, Ecstasy Crafts

    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

    Filigree Leaf by A Colorful Life Designs

  • Make and send sea of thanks

    Make and send sea of thanks

    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: gel print,  5 1/8 x 4 1/8

    Card Face:

    • I placed the card face on the Grip Mat and positioned the stencil.
    • I pressed my Versamark embossing ink pad through the stencil firmly,  making sure that there was good ink transfer across the exposed surface.
    • After removing the stencil I sprinkled the card face with sparkly mint green embossing powder,  and then used my heat gun to set it.

    Other:

    • I looked through my Ready to Go binder,  and grabbed three wee fish which had already been coloured with alcohol markers and then cut out.
    • I stamped the sentiment using Versafine Onyx, sprinkled on some clear embossing powder and set it with the heat gun.  I used snips to fussy cut the sentiment.

         Versafine Onyx is a pigment ink and takes longer to dry:  this allows time for heat embossing which intensifies the stamping.

    Assembly

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

    I glued each of the fish down individually, and then put dimensional foam on the back of the sentiment before putting it in place.

    I used clear acrylic dots to represent bubbles coming from the fish,  creating a stream coming from two of the three fish  (visible in the close up image, but not in the full shot).

    Final Thoughts:

    The embossing powder stands out nicely against the dark gel print background,  and the pattern in the gel print provides a lot of depth and additional interest.

    The end result created a cute watery environment for the fish.

    Supplies: (and links where possible)

       I have listed which products I have used, and (if possible) where they may be purchased. It’s a huge marketplace and in most instances, there are multiple sources and many alternatives to choose from.

    Stencil:  Droplet Grid,  A Colorful Life Designs

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

    Versamark Embossing Ink: Simon Says Stamp

    Clear Embossing Powder:  Wow,  Simon Says Stamp

    Green Embossing Powder:  Michaels  (retired)

    Stamps: Bite Me, A Colorful Life Designs (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: Accent 100 lb., Amazon

    Do you have comments or thoughts to share on this design?  Drop me a line in the Comments Section below –  I’d love to hear from you!

    You can also use the Comments Section  to be notified when I release new work

    Droplet Grid from A Colorful Life Designs