Create Stunning Cards with Ombre and Stencils

A card that looks somber at first glance – until it catches the light!

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  x 3.75

Focal Image: 3 x 2.5

Gold Border for Focal Image:  3 ⅛ x 2 ⅝

I started with a  piece of ombre cardstock,  which made a big difference to the final look of the piece.

Card Face:

  • I laid the cardface on my Grip Mat and positioned the Rocky Path stencil:  I applied ink which matched the darkest tones on the cardstock to all exposed areas, increasing saturation as I neared the bottom.
  • I waited until this first layer of ink was completely dry.
  • I swapped out the stencils, putting the Smooch Lines stencil down onto the cardface,  and pressing my Versamark embossing ink pad firmly through the open areas. After removing the stencil, I sprinkled gold embossing powder over the cardface,  and set it with my heat gun.

Other:

  • I stamped the image of the children on the small piece o cardstock using Versafine Onyx,and sprinkled this ink with clear embossing powder.  I set it with my heat gun.
  • Next, it went into my stamp positioner and I added the fence behind the children.
  • I used a light gray copic marker to create the shadow under the children.
  • I used a black fineliner to draw a fine line between the fence and the shadow,  adding separation and definition.
  • I used the Cloud Edger stencil to create the sky.

Assembly

  • I centered and glued the card face onto the card base.
  • I glued the gold border to the focal image, and then glued these to the card face.

Final Thoughts:

Although this card appears very flat and dull in the “full version” image,  you can see that the gold embossing powder adds a lovely lustre to the background.

I love the tiny scene in the center of the card,  but a bit of carelessness caused me some chagrin.   I had everything else completed and positioned the stencil to add the sky: as soon as I put ink to paper I realized that I had grabbed the black blending brush instead of the grey one.  So –  my initial concept was a softer sky,  but this is what I ended up with!

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:

Rocky Path:A Colorful Life Designs

` Smooch Lines: A Colorful Life Designs

Cloud Edger: 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:  Nellie’s Choice Children with Balloon,  Ecstasy Crafts

Fineliners:  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.

Rocky Path by A Colorful Life Designs

Smooch Lines By A Colorful Life Designs

Cloud Edger by A Colorful Life Designs