Written In Ink

Tag: masculine

  • Create a Unique, Masculine Valentine’s Card Using Stencils

    Create a Unique, Masculine Valentine’s Card Using Stencils

    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

    Kraft Border Layer: 5.25 x 4

    Card Face:  5 ⅛ x 3 ⅞

    Scraps of Kraft cardstock for die cuts

    Card Face:

    • I laid the card face down onto a piece of scrap paper and positioned the stencil.  
    • After securing these with Mint Tape, I applied DIY embossing paste across the open areas of the stencil.
    • I carefully removed the stencil and placed it in water immediately.
    • I put the card face aside to dry.

    When working with embossing paste, I prefer use a piece of scrap paper under my work,  and not risk getting the paste on my Gel Plate.

    Also, when working with embossing paste, I keep a container of water by my side to put my stencils in immediately –  these pastes are difficult to impossible to remove once dry.

    • Once the paste was dry, I put the card face into my stamp positioner and added the sentiment with Versamark embossing ink.  I sprinkled this with embossing powder and set it with my heat gun.

    Other:

    • I stamped and die-cut a small row of hearts using kraft cardstock.
    • I die-cut the larger heart from kraft cardstock.

    Assembly

    • I glued the border layer to the card base, and the card face on top of these, centering both layers.
    • I glued the row of hearts and the larger die-cut heart in place, as shown.

    Final Thoughts:

    I love black and kraft cardstock together:  this awesome stencil allowed me to combine them in a masculine card that will become my husband’s valentine card this year.   No last-minute scrambling for me –  at least not this year, LOL.

    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: Love Waterfall,  A Colorful Life Designs

    Versamark Embossing Ink: Simon Says Stamp

    Vintage Pearl Embossing Powder,  Ranger, Amazon

    Stamps/Dies: Stampin’ Up! (retired)

    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.

    Love Waterfall by A Colorful Life Designs

  • Create Stunning Cards with Stencils & Embossing Paste

    Create Stunning Cards with Stencils & Embossing Paste

    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

    Focal Image Strip:  5.5 x 1.75”

    Sentiment strip: .25” x 4

    Card Face:

    • I laid the card face onto the Grip Mat and positioned the Diamond Lattice stencil.  
    • I applied brown ink across all exposed areas, allowing variation in tone to provide depth and visual interest.
    • I applied DIY embossing paste randomly over the card face.  I carefully removed the stencil and put the card face aside to dry.  

    When I use embossing paste the stencil goes into water immediately to prevent the paste from drying on the stencil. This makes clean-up much faster and easier.

    • Once the paste had dried, I used the Grunge Dots stencil to add dots here and there in the remaining inked portions of the pattern.

    Other:

    • I placed the Focal Image strip into my stamp positioner and added the leaves with dark brown ink,  stamping several times to get an intense image.
    • I sprinkled clear embossing powder over the image,  setting it with my heat gun.
    • Next I placed the narrow sentiment strip in the stamp positioner and stamped the sentiment with the same dark brown ink,  again stamping multiple times to get intense colour.
    • I sprinkled this with clear embossing powder too, and set it with my heat gun.

    Although I used a dye based ink for both of these,  stamping several times created enough saturation that the ink was wet enough for me to use the embossing powder successfully. Stamping only once wouldn’t have worked, as the ink would have dried too quickly.

    Assembly

    • I glued the card face onto the card base, and then added the strip with the leaves, centering both vertically.
    • I put dimensional foam on the back of the sentiment and then added it to the card face, centering horizontally.

    Final Thoughts:

    The combination of ink and embossing paste work well with this design,  and the addition of the dots provided additional depth and 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.

    Stencil: 

    Diamond Lattice,  A Colorful Life Designs

    Grunge Dots,  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

    Stamps: Falling Hearts,  Unity Stamps  (retired)

    Ink: Stampin’ Up!

    Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up! 

    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.

    Diamond Lattice by A Colorful Life Designs

    Grunge Dots by A Colorful Life Designs

  • Touch his heart with a card he is sure to treasure

    Touch his heart with a card he is sure to treasure

    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

    Kraft Border:  5.5 x 4.25

    Black Border:  5.25 x 4

    Kraft Card Face:  5 ⅛ x 3 7/8

    Card Face:

    • I laid the card face onto my grip mat and positioned the stencil at an angle, extending off  the right-hand side.
    • I went over the exposed areas with red ink and then added another layer of ink to the outer edges, using a darker cranberry red.  
    • I placed the card face into my stamp positioner and added the sentiment with Versafine Onyx, stamping it two or three times to achieve a dark, clear image.

    Other:

    • I used a separate scrap of kraft cardstock for the tree. After placing it in the stamp positioner, I stamped the green leaves on the tree, carefully masking off the trunk.  I stamped twice to get the depth of colour I wanted,  masking both times to protect the trunk.
    • I repeated these steps to stamp the trunk, using brown ink,  stamping twice for the desired saturation and protecting the leaves both times by masking.
    • I used the matching die to cut this out.

    Assembly

    • I glued the kraft border to the card base.
    • I added the black border and the card face on top of these, centering both times.
    • I glued the tree in place.

    Final Thoughts:

    I really like this combination:  kraft cardstock produces such a different “feel”,  and the elements in this card work well with that.

    This masculine card would work for birthdays, a graduation, a new job – almost any occasion.

    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:  Leafy Heart Frame, A Colorful Life Designs

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

    Stamps & Die:  Rooted in Nature, Stampin’ Up!  (retired)

    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 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

    Leafy Heart Frame by A Colorful Life Designs