Wishing you Days filled with Sunshine
and tranquility
TUTORIALSTENCIL
4/27/20243 min read
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
Green Border Layer: 5.25 x 4
Card Face:5.00 x 4
Card Face:
I laid the card face onto my Grip Mat and then positioned the stencil so that the sun was in the upper left corner. I applied yellow ink with a regular blending brush across the exposed areas, allowing the ink to fade as it reached the edges of the paper.
I used a regular blending brush to add blue ink to the bottom of the card face, representing water.
I used the same brush and ink to add blue to create the sky around the sun, allowing it to fade out on the right.
Using small shading brushes (sizes 0 and 1) I created the scene, first creating the bank with brown ink, and then adding in trees and shrubs. I used a quick pulling motion for the trees, starting at the base and pulling up, allowing the pressure on the brush to lessen as it ascended. When I had completed the trees I put shrubs in between by simply dabbing ink on with the smaller brush.
I repeated the process for the reflections in the water, using the same methods but applying less ink.
I cut the scene into five pieces, each 1” wide. As I cut each piece I numbered it, making it easy to reassemble. I also marked the top of each piece. (this scene would have been easy to reassemble without these steps, but I have run into difficulty in the past with card fronts that were more of a random pattern than a scene and have adopted this method to keep me from pulling my hair out in frustration.🥴)
I tore the tops and bottoms of each strip unevenly: I wanted the pieces to all be different lengths.
I put foam tape on the back of each piece.
I started to put the scene back together by placing the two end pieces. I placed the middle piece next, and finally, the two pieces that went in between. This was to ensure even spacing. I experimented before removing the release paper to be certain that I would be lining the scene up properly as well as getting the correct spacing.
Other:
I stamped and die cut the sentiment.
Assembly:
I glued the border layer to the card base, and then added the card face on top of both, centering on all sides.
I experimented a bit with placement for the sentiment, and finally glued it in place as shown.
I added 5 small clear gems to the card face - they are hard to see in the picture, but add a nice bit of shine to the finished card.
Final Thoughts:
This was definitely an experiment: when I created the card face I wanted to create a scene with reflections, and I wanted it to have a watercolour feel. I was really pleased with the result - I love watercolour, but haven’t tried this before.
I think I tore off a little too much of the scene on the top and bottom as I went through the process, but of course it’s too late to fix that now!
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: Shimmering Rays, A Colorful Life Designs
Stamps: Balloon Celebrations, Stampin’ Up! (retired)
Stamp Positioner: Misti, Spellbinders
Waffle Flower Grip Mat, 8.5 x 6.5, Scrapbook.com
Ink: Stampin’ Up!
Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!
Detail Blending Brushes, Waffle Flower
Size 0: Waffle Flower
Size 1: 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 Contact section in the header - I’d love to hear from you!
Before you go - use the Notifications box (below) to be notified when I release new work.