So Very Vintage

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.)

The Postage Stamp Masks is an excellent value (8 in the set!), because there are both stencils and masks : there are so many options - I couldn't wait to get mine and have a play.

Let’s Get Started:

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

Metallic Strips 5.5 x 1/8"

Card Face: 5.5 x 4

Card Face:

• I decided that I wanted to use a mask from the Postage Stamp set for this card, rather than a stencil, so I selected the size I needed, put Pixie Spray on the back and laid it on a slant on the card face , roughly in the center. As always, I allowed 20 - 30 seconds for the spray to sit before putting the stencil in place.

• I applied a soft green ink with a light hand around the edges of the mask.

• I repeated the process on the top left and the bottom right, varying the angles and deliberately overlapping an edge with the first image.

• Now I had three linked rectangles running on a diagonal.

• I was ready to move on, so I grabbed the Script stencil and secured it with Mint Tape.

• I used a light brown ink, with a very light hand across the surface of the card face. I varied the pressure across the stencil, allowing it to become almost invisible in some areas.

• I put the card face into my stamp positioner, and added the sentiment to the center. I stamped with a pigment ink, and added clear embossing powder to make it really stand out.

• I added two small Christmas botannical stamps to each of the other two rectangles, again using pigment ink and clear embossing powder.

• I added a few smudges and marks to the card front with the same black ink: it increase the vintage/distressed feel of the card.

• I wanted to highlight the sentiment a bit more, so I took a small deckled rectangle die and centered it around the first postage stamp. I ran this thorugh my Big Shot.

• I used the same die to cut another rectangle out of copper foil.

Other: I secured a copper metallic thread to the back of the card face on the left, and wrapped it around the paper five times, spacing it evenly on the top, but bringing all the threads together on the bottom creating a V.

Assembly:

• I glued the card face to the card base.

• I glued the die cut rectangles together, offsetting them slightly as shown.

• I glued these in place on the card face, lining up the botannical images where they had been cut by the die.

• I added one of the copper strips to each side of the card face.

• I added tiny copper sequins randomly to the metallic threads, and in a straight line under the sentiment, towards the right.

Final thoughts:

I love both vintage and distressed, so I'm really happy with this result.

Supplies: (and links where possible)

I have listed which products I have used, and where they were purchased. It's a huge marketplace and in most instances there are multiple sources and many alternatives to choose from.

Stencil: Postage Stamps Marvellous Masks, A Colorful Life Designs

Script stencil, A Colorful Life Designs

Stamps: Sentiment: an old set from Michaels, long retired

Botannicals: Big Bubbles Medium, Woodware, Amazon

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Versamark embossing ink: Simon Says Stamp

Clear Embossing Powder, Wow, Simon Says Stamp

Mint Tape:Scrapbook.com

Pixie Spray: Icraft, Michaels

Stamping Platform::Misti, Spellbinders

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

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Copper Foil, Stampin' Up! (retired)

Card Base: Accent 100 lb., Amazon

Card Face: Accent 80 lb., Amazon

Discover Exciting Cardmaking Techniques for Stunning Designs