Written In Ink

Tag: christmas card

  • Create Beautiful Christmas Cards with Stencils

    Create Beautiful Christmas Cards with Stencils

    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

    Border Layer: 5.25 x 4

    Card Face:  5 ⅛ x 3 7/8

    Card Face:

    • I stamped the girl and the tree using black Memento ink, and then coloured them in using alcohol markers.
    • I laid the card face onto my Grip Mat and positioned the Diagonal Weave stencil.  I used light gray ink and a soft hand to add this pattern to the background, carefully avoiding the two coloured images.
    • I wasn’t entirely satisfied at this point:  after mulling over my options I pulled out the Glittering Hearts stencil and added that to the background as well, using the same gray ink, and once again a very light hand.  This provided enough detail in the background to support the two images, while the soft colour didn’t compete with them for attention.
    • I placed the card face into my stamp positioner and added the sentiment in red ink, stamping a few times to get the saturation I wanted.

    Assembly

    • I glued the red border layer to the card base, and then added the card face on top, centering both of these layers carefully.
    • I added a small, textured red heart above the sentiment.

    Final Thoughts:

    I am happy with this card –  the two stencils worked together perfectly to fill in that background, providing just enough visual interest.

    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

    Diagonal Weave,  A Colorful Life Designs

    Glittering Hearts, A Colorful Life Designs:

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

    Stamps:  Impression Obsession  (no longer in business)

    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

    Diagonal Weave by a Colorful Life Designs

    Glittering Hearts by a Colorful Life Designs

  • Step-by-Step Guide to Gingerbread Card Design

    Step-by-Step Guide to Gingerbread Card Design

    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

    Card Face:  5 ⅜ x 4 ⅛

    “Snow” layer:  5.5 x 4.25

    Card Face:

    • I laid the card face down on the Grip Mat, then positioned the stencil to use the house’s outline.
    • I applied light brown ink with a very soft hand to this portion of the stencil, adding a little extra pressure around the edges to add depth and visual interest.
    • I repositioned the stencil to add the details to the house. Masking off portions of the stencil as necessary, I grabbed my small blending brushes and added the door, windows, and trim to the house, adding additional colour saturation where shown to create visual interest.
    • I added “snow”  to the house by colouring in each portion with an embossing pen, adding white embossing powder and setting it with my heat gun.
    • There is also a small detail inside the smoke coming out of the chimney –  I coloured this with my embossing pen, added holographic embossing powder and set it with my heat gun.
    • I added definition by using a black fine liner to outline the house and around each of the detail areas: I also added “bricks” to the chimney.
    • I used a soft hand and light blue ink around the house to remove the harsh contrast between the house and the stark white paper.
    • I positioned the die on the card face and ran it through the Big Shot to create the sentiment.

    Other:

    • I pulled out my “someday” binder and grabbed a gingerbread girl who had been coloured and fussy cut, and was just waiting for a chance to shine on a card.
    • I tore one edge of the snow layer, creating hills and valleys on that edge; I tore this piece in two, creating additional hills and valleys in the second tear.

    Assembly:

    • I glued the card face to the card base.
    • I glued the upper layer of the snow in place,  and then added the lower one, overlapping the two. 
    • Before the second layer was fully dry I added the gingerbread girl, tucking one lower edge in behind the snow just slightly.
    • I trimmed all layers evenly at the bottom.

    Final Thoughts:

    I love the look of that debossed sentiment on this card.

    When I added the micro liner around the chimney,  I somehow managed to smudge the ink slightly –  that detail grabs my eye and frustrates me so much!

    Over all I like the card, and was delighted to create a home for my gingerbread girl.

    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: Gingerbread House, A Colorful Life Designs

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

    Embossing Pen: Ranger, Amazon

    Hollographic Embossing Powder: Ranger,  R&R Scrapbooking

    White Embossing Powder: Wow, R& R Scrapbooking

    Stamps: Gingerbread girl:  Your Next Stamp  (no longer in business)

    Dies: Impression Obsession (no longer in business)

    Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up! 

    Detail Blending Brushes:  Waffle Flower,  Glitter & Ink

    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.

    Gingerbread House by A Colorful Life Designs

  • Easy Steps for Beautiful Handcrafted Cards

    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

  • A retro Christmas card is easy to create with these supplies

    A retro Christmas card is easy to create with these supplies

    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

    Border Layer: 5.5 x 4.25

    Card Face: 5.5 x 4

    Card Face:

    • I laid the card face on the Grip Mat and positioned the Atomic Strands stencil.  I used light green ink across the entire surface.
    • After removing this stencil,  I positioned the wreath on the card face: I applied dark green ink across all exposed areas
    • I repositioned the stencil to place the berries where they belonged on the wreath and applied red ink across all exposed areas.
    • Using a white gel pen, I added accents to both the leaves and the berries.
    • I put the card face into an embossing folder and ran it through the Big Shot, creating depth and visual interest.

    Other:

    • I used a scrap piece of red cardstock to create the bow, securing a die to the paper and running it through the Big Shot.

    Assembly

    • I glued the red border layer to the card base,  and centered the card face on top of these.
    • I glued the bow in place, and then added a small metallic gem to the center as a finishing touch.

    Final Thoughts:

    I love the retro feel of the Mid Century Atomic Strands stencil,  and I think it creates a wonderful vintage feel for this 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.

    Stencils:

         Mid Century Atomic Strands, A Colorful Life Designs

         Layered Holly Berry Wreath, A Colorful Life Designs

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

    Dies:  Bow Toppers, Scrapbook.com

    Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    White Gel Pens, Arteza,  Amazon

    Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up! 

    Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

    Cream Card Base & Card Face: Recollections 100 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

    Mid Century Atomic Strands from A Colorful Life Designs