connectthedots. Archives - Written In Ink

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