Easy Steps for Beautiful Handcrafted Cards

My wish for you this year, next year and always.

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

Copper Border Layer: 5.5 x 4.25

Card Face: 5.25 x 4

Card Face:

  • I laid the card face on the Grip Mat and then positioned the stencil.
  • I applied light green ink with a soft hand over all exposed areas.
  • I allowed the ink to dry ( this only took minutes, but is a critical step when working with embossing powder).
  • I put the card face into my stamp positioner and added the sentiment and the spatters using Versamark embossing ink.
  • I sprinkled copper embossing powder over the surface, and set it with my heat gun.

Other:

  • I positioned a rounded-corner rectangular die in the center of the card face.  I added the next largest die around this. 
  • After ensuring that there was equal spacing all the way between the two dies,  I ran it through the Big Shot.   This created that copper  outline in the center of the card.

Assembly

  • I glued the copper border layer to the card base.
  • I glued the card face on top of these, centering on all sides.
  • I put the center piece in place, carefully centering on all sides.
  • I added three small gold embellishments to finish the card.

Final Thoughts:

I’m a sucker for the unexpected in design,  so I love negative images.  This is an old, long retired stamp set,  but I pull it out every year to make Christmas cards.

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 Montage,  A Colorful Life Designs

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

Versamark Embossing Ink: Simon Says Stamp

Copper Embossing Powder,  Wow,  R&R Scrapbooking

Stamps: Stampin’ Up! (retired)

Dies:  Rounded Corner Rectangle Infinity Dies,  Hero Arts

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up! 

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Card Bling:  A Colorful Life Designs

Cream Card Base & Card Face: Recollections, 110 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.

Christmas Montage by A Colorful Life Designs