All the Best Wishes

now and throughout the year

TUTORIALSTENCILCHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY SEASON

11/12/20232 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.)

I have always liked this sentiment set with the splotchy, negative imagery. It has to be paired with the right image to work - and this stencil provided the perfect opportunity.

Let’s Get Started:

Card Base: 5.5 x 8.5, scored and folded at 4.25

Red Border Layer: 5.5 x 4.25

Card Face: 5.5 x 4.25

Ribbon: 8” x ⅛”

Card Face:

I secured the leaf portion of the stencil to the card face with Mint Tape in the upper left corner and applied green ink across the entire surface. I added ink towards the bottom, increasing intensity gradually and creating a smooth gradient as the colour moved towards the top of the page.
I repositioned the stencil so that the leaf veining and berries were lined up correctly, and secured it again with Mint tape. I masked off the berries and inked the veining in a very dark green.
I removed the masking from the berries, and covered up the veining: I inked up the berries with a dark red ink.
After the ink was completely dry, I added white gel pen to create highlights on the berries and a few spots on the leaves.
I dusted the entire surface with anti-static powder and put the card face into my stamp positioner.
I stamped the sentiment with Versamark and removed the piece from the stamp positioner.
I used the Versamark again to add spatter here and there on the card face.
I added gold embossing powder and used my heat gun to set it.
I secured a curved border die to the right-hand side, using Mint tape to be certain that it didn’t slip as it went through the Big Shot.

Other:

I tied a knot in the red ribbon, positioning it so that it would be towards the top of the card.

Assembly:

I glued the card face to the red layer, aligning on the left-hand side.
I positioned the ribbon towards the left-hand side, securing both ends with scotch tape.
I glued this to the card base.

Final thoughts:

I really like this stencil, it has a very contemporary feel to me - the size of the image allows for a lot of variation in placement on the card front, which is fun.

I like the combination of the stencilled image and that cool sentiment; however, I made the choice to overlap the two and in the end, I didn’t like the green peeking through the sentiment. If I were to re-create this card I would separate the two.

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: Layered Holly Sprig, A Colorful Life Designs

Stamps: Every Good Wish, Stampin’ Up! (retired)

Die: Basic Border Dies, Stampin’ Up! (retired)

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Memento Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Mint Tape:Scrapbook.com

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Versamark: Simon Says Stamp

Gold Embossing Powder: Stampin’ Up!

White Gel Pen: Sakura, Amazon

Stamping Platform:Misti, Spellbinders

The platform I use has retired, but the Misti is very similar.