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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.)

This is a two piece stencil set and it's really easy to get a multi-coloured image with it. Just for fun I decided to create a solid coloured image with it, a silhouette.

Let’s Get Started:

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

Cream Embossed layer: 5.5 x 4.25

Gold Border: 5.5 x 3

Cream Card Face: 5.5 x 4.25

Small Scrap of Cardstock for Sentiment

Card Face:

• I used a background stamp and a dark brown ink to create a fun, swirly pattern on the card face.

• I secured the first layer of the stencil to the card face with Mint Tape, grabbed the same dark brown ink and a brush and set to work. (I worked with the vase first.)

• I applied a good layer of brown ink to the vase, ensuring a solid, even coverage.

• I removed that stencil and added the second layer. (The twigs and blossoms.)

• Again I added enough brown ink to provide solid, even coverage.

• After allowing this to dry (which took a while, as I had saturated the paper) ....

• I stamped a pattern on the body of the vase with clear Versamark, and heat embossed it in clear powder.

• Using an embossing pen, I created small dots on the neck of the vase, and heat embossed them with clear powder.

• I also used an embossing pen to put small dots on the blossoms, and added irridescent embossing powder. I heat set this and sprinkled just a tiny bit of glitter on before it cooled.

Other:

• I ran the 5.5 x 4.25 piece through my Big Shot with an embossing folder. This folder is quite plain and simply creates the look of scored lines in the cardstock.

• I selected a curved border die and attached it to the right hand side of the card face with Mint Tape before running it through the Big Shot.

• I used the same die to create a matching shape in the gold card stock, taking care that the pretty side was up, and the die secured to the right hand side.

• I stamped the sentiment on a small piece of cardstock and cut it out with a die. I pressed the edges of this die cut into my gold ink pad to give a sense of a gold border on the piece: this method is more subtle than using gold embossing powder.

** Stretch Your Pennies:

When using a narrow border for contrast as I have with this piece, you can cut the piece to a narrow strip as it will be glued behind the card face and not seen. This is a great way to stretch supplies - especially with the more expensive cardstocks.

Assembly:

• I glued the embossed layer to the card base.

• I glued the gold border to the back of the card face, allowing about 1/8" to show on the right.

• I glued the card face to the embossed layer, alligning on the left.

• I glued the sentiment in place, as shown in the picture.

Final thoughts:

The combination of the embossed layer (sadly not too visible in the picture) and the die cut border with the gold accent gives a formal feel, while the contemporary image keeps the card from feeling to heavy and stodgy. Overall, this design is a success!

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 Vase with Sprigs,A Colorful Life Designs

Stamps: both Stampin' Up!, both retired

Ink: Stampin’ Up!,

Mint Tape:Scrapbook.com

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Gold Foil Cardstock, Stampin' Up!

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Cream Cardstock: 110 lb, Michaels

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