Season of Cheer

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 4.25, 2 each

Extra cardstock: 5.5 x 4.25, 2 each

This technique requires two identical images/patterns on cardstock: in this instance, I have used an entire card face, but it can also have an impact with a smaller piece.

Card Face:

Start with a piece of scrap paper larger than both the card face and stencil. Put the card face in place and draw a pencil line around it. Secure it with tape.

Put the stencil in place as desired and draw a line around this as well, then secure it with tape.

I did not think of this when I created the card - and what I tried was a lot more time-consuming.

• I put the first card face and the stencil in place as suggested above with the leaves in the upper left of the card face.

• I used green ink and a light hand to ink up the leaves. I used a light hand and allowed a variation in tone across the inked surface.

• I moved the stencil and lined it up so that the veins and berries were positioned correctly.

• I used a darker green ink for the veins and a dark red for the berries. I masked each of these off as I inked the other, to prevent the wrong colour from landing in a spot that it wasn’t wanted.

• I removed the card face and set it to one side.

• I removed the stencil and wiped it down thoroughly.

• I repeated all of this with the second card face, using the outlines I had previously drawn to position the stencil correctly on the paper.

• I experimented with the die and decided to position it towards the bottom right of one card face. I secured this with Mint Tape and ran it through the Big Shot.

• I cut ⅛” off of all four sides of the second card face. This would allow it to be positioned behind the other without being visible.

Other:

• I needed to create dimension between the two layers of the card face: I could have used foam tape, but the strips between the open rectangles were very narrow. I decided it would be easier to build it up with paper.

• Using a 100 lb weight white cardstock I cut two more rectangles with the die and then snipped all of the “between” strips out of each one. These were glued behind the ones on the die-cut card face. I had to line up the strips very carefully and be certain that they didn’t shift.

• Once all of these were glued in place I cut strips that were the right length to build up the edges. I used the scraps from the pieces used earlier and again used two layers of paper. The top card front was finally ready!

• I stamped the sentiment with red ink and used a stitched oval die to cut it out.

Assembly:

• I used liquid glue to secure the two layers of card face, using a very thin line of glue on each of the strips and blotting them before putting them down on the bottom image. (I used dye-based ink, and liquid glue will make it run if there is too much.)

• I lined the two images up very carefully and left the piece to dry for a few minutes.

• I glued this to the card base.

• I put the sentiment in place as shown.

• I scattered a few red pearls around the sentiment.

Final thoughts:

Sadly, I think the piece shifted before it was completely dry as it is not perfectly lined up - but it’s really not noticeable when you are holding the card.

This technique is difficult to do with stencilled images as it’s hard to ensure a match in colour throughout. With the card in hand, it’s very easy to see discrepancies between the two layers, but oddly they are not visible in the photograph. It is more straightforward with stamped images, where you can control the intensity of the stamped image.

This was time-consuming, but it was really fun to create.

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

Die: Stitched Stripe Panel Die , Your Next Stamp (discontinued)

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Mint Tape:Scrapbook.com

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

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

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Card Base: Accent 100 lb., Amazon

Card Face: Accent 80 lb., Amazon

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