Easy stencil ideas for cards by Sanna

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Sanna Lippert

Hi everyone, Sanna here! When Jaime contacted me and asked if I would like to do a blogpost or two for the TCW blog, I was more than thrilled and immediately agreed. I love the TCW Stencils and have been using them quite intensively recently!! So my first post in May is about cards. I did four cards using the Mini Garden Gate, Quatrefoil, Kaleidoscope, Honeycomb, Tiny Circles and Mini Elevator Gate Stencils. So prepare for quite a long post …

Materials for the first card:

You will need: stencils, white cardstock, a card base, embossing ink pad, clear embossing powder, craft sheet, heat gun, ink pads and a pen.

1. Place a stencil over the white cardstock and press embossing ink over the mask into the paper. While you are at it, cover the whole paper up, so you can use the other images for later projects, if you like.

2. Remove the stencil, cover the embossed areas with clear (or white) embossing ink and heat them with the heat gun until the powder starts to melt (don´t burn your fingers!).

3. This is what everything looks like after you are finished heating the powder.

4. Now add ink over the images with an ink blending tool. I used Distress Inks (bundled sage, wild honey and worn lipstick) from Ranger Inc. You could also use a spray ink here too.

5. After inking, I outlined the stencil images with a black pen for more contrast, but you could also skip this phase, if you prefer the original look.

6. After that just use as much or as little of the embossed and inked paper for a card (or on a layout) and decorate/embellish to finish your project. I used a wide chevron washi tape to create a flower. Just first fold the washi in half and then fold it again lengthwise to create a flower. Fast and easy and adds nice contrast to the card.

Now for the second card. Since I had leftover pieces of that previously embossed paper, I used them for this quick project.

I punched butterflies out of the leftover pieces and layered them over each other and added a rhinestone on top. Then I used the “Tiny Circles” stencil, placed it on the card and dabbed some white acrylic paint with a sponge over it. This creates a really nice background for the colorful butterflies – I really like this stencil a lot! Finally just decorated and glued all together. Really fast and easy!

Materials for card number 3:

You will need: craft sheet, Mini Elevator Stencil, card base, embossing ink, embossing powders (white or like me holographic, cream, yellow and orange), heat gun and embellishments of your choice.

First place the stencil over the card and add embossing ink. Then take orange embossing powder and add a wide strip over the card. Dab off the residue, then add in the same manner yellow, cream and the lightest color. Next heat the powder with a heat gun. Now your ombré card base is done. You can create gorgeous backgrounds just by changing the colors and stencil patterns! You could now either outline the images or even add spray ink or stamp ink over the white areas, if you´d like to experiment more, but I wanted to leave the image as it is. Then just add the embellishments and your card is finished!

For the last card you will need:

Card base (I prepared the background with Distress Ink – scrattered straw – and a background stamp), “Honeycomb” stencil, twine, needle and a black pen. And later coloring pens – I used Copics.

First place the stencil over the card and outline the image with a waterproof black pen. Then grab your coloring pens and color the pattern. After that punch holes around the hexacon images to be able to stitch through the card with twine. Finish the card with a sentiment and embellishments. I used a hot air balloon stamp and a rub-on, then glued everything down with foam pads for a more dimensional effect.

I hope you have enjoyed the tutorials and got inspired by them! Thank you TCW and Jaime for having me here – looking forward to my next post later in May!! See you!

xoxo, Sanna

“Brick” Custom Card in Less than Five Minutes!

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Lain Ehmann

Hey there! It’s Lain Ehmann, scrapbooking superhero and queen of the fast crafting project! Today I’ve got a short video to show you how to create this custom card in less than five minutes — PROMISE.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Cubist Template (TCW248)
Smooth white cardstock trimmed to 4×5-1/4″
Blue notecard folded to 4-1/4×5-1/2″
3 coordinating colors of acrylic crafters paint with dauber top (I used plum, turquoise blue, and yellow)
Bakers twine (I used yellow and white)
Button (I used blue)
Sentiment stamp (I used “Thinking of You” by Paper Smooches)
Small bit of yellow cardstock
Glue dots
Adhesive
Square punch
Flower punch
Black stamping ink (I used Versafine)

Once you have all your materials together, you’re ready to crank!

(Click above to watch video on Vimeo, then afterwards, come back here!)

And there you have it. A cute custom card in just a few minutes!

I hope you enjoy this little tutorial. For more project ideas like this, come visit me at LayoutaDay.com!

P.S. Leave a comment and let me know if you prefer photo tutorials or video tutorials. I aim to please!

Simple Embossed Card Tutorial

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Lain Ehmann

Lain Ehmann of Layoutaday.com is the queen of fast and simple paper crafting – but she’s never willing to sacrifice interest and color for time! In this tutorial she shows how to use your templates with embossing powder for a fast, fun technique.

Hey! Lain here! My absolute favorite template is Dots All Around. I love its versatility for scrapbooking, cardmaking, or art journaling. Today I’m going to show you how to use it to create this fun card.

Step 1. Gather your materials. For the embossing technique, you’ll need the Dots All Around template, Versamark ink, a q-tip to apply the Versamark, several colors of embossing powder, white cardstock, and a heat gun. I also used an embossing pouch to cut down on static on the cardstock.

Step 2. Position your template and apply the embossing ink. Pounce the q-tip on the Versamark pad and use it to dab in the first ring (smallest) of the template. I used a few strips of washi tape to hold the template in place. Note: You could also use a sponge applicator to apply the ink.

Step 3. Apply the Embossing Powder. Shake your first color of embossing powder over the ink and shake to remove excess (I store my embossing powder in lidded plastic containers to cut down on muss and fuss). Step 4. Use a heat gun to melt the embossing powder. Keep your heat gun moving, and don’t get it too close to the paper. This will help cut down on warping. You’ll see that my rings aren’t “perfect,” and I like that. The result gives the project a handmade feel that I love. If you are concerned about perfection, you could try using a Versamark pen rather than the q-tip method.

Step 5. Reposition the template and create circle number 2. Reposition the template and use the same q-tip method to apply Versamark to the second ring of dots.

Step 6. Apply embossing powder and zap with the heat gun.

Step 7. Repeat with your third and fourth rings. Keep going as much as you’d like! I chose four rings, but you could do three or ten. You’re fully empowered!

After you’ve completed your rings, you can embellish the card any way you like. I added a sentiment inside the ring, tied on some bakers twine, and added a cute die-cut patterned paper cloud. Voila! You’re done!

If you like these quick and easy techniques and projects, please visit me at my blog at Layoutaday.com. I’d love to share more of my simple and fun scrapbooking and paper crafting projects and hints with you.

Martha Richardson’s creations

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Jaime

Martha Richardson has a real love affair with our templates and Tattered Angels Sprays.

Tattered Angels Paint Mediums Used on above tag:

Glimmer Mist in Key Lime Pie & Pearl

Glimmer Chalkboard in Fairway & Calypso

She took 3 of her favorite templates:

And then went to town with them. Here’s what she writes:

“I often talk about MOP TAGS, these are manilla shipping tags that I use to mop up any excess mist and I save them for future use. I have two tags created from these Mop Tags and stenciled watercolor paper.”

Tattered Angels Paint mediums used:

Chalkboard Glimmer Mist in Firefly, Valencia, Alaskan Salmon & Pink Polka Dot

Glimmer Glam in Chandelier & Rockin’ on Sunshine

“The above photo shows the back of the tags where I added the left over pieces, the watercolor paper that I use and more stencils & it’s matching MOP TAG!

My second project is part of a monthly challenge created by 3 fabulous artists called THE WHATEVER’S, based on creative storytelling. If you want to know all the specifics you can find all the info. here at Nathalie Kalbach’s blog or here at Catherine Scanlon’s blog or here at our very own Tattered Angel, Vickie Chrisman’s blog! I was intrigued by the concept and spent sometime thinking about the story I wanted to create. I knew that a piece of old wallpaper would be the base for my 1st page/story and of course this could only be created with Tattered Angels.”

“Tattered Angels Paint products used:

Glimmer Mist in Nougat, Partridge in a Pear Tree, Woven Burlap & Cinder

Glimmer Chalkboard in Chalk

Here is the finished page and you’ll be able to read my story about The Whatever’ here.”

Thanks Martha! Absolutely beautiful!! Click here to read her blog.

Chris Pozzi’s Sunshine Card

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Jaime

Who doesn’t love a little sunshine in the middle of Winter? (Okay you people in the southern hemisphere, don’t start boasting that you’re having a lovely Summer, thank-you-very-much!! We’re chilly and grey over here!!)

Chris Pozzi, from Scrap That Moment, made a lovely card using our Bricks stencil TCW191. For supplies list and step-by-step instructions, click here. Thanks Chris!!

Hello! Lisa Spangler

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Jaime

Lisa Spangler spotted a “triangle trend” and decided to apply it to her cardmaking tasks at hand. Here’s what she writes in her blog (using our wonderful TCW222 Triangle Mosaic)

Have you noticed the triangle trend? Seems like it’s popping up everywhere these days whether it’s home decor, fashion, and most of all — cardmaking! So when I spied this triangle template I just had to get it and play!

I just adhered white cardstock to a piece of scratch paper with removable adhesive, then taped the template over top with some washi. Then I went to town sponging on Distress inks in squeezed lemonade, perfect peacock (from the Spring Seasonal Distress pack), spun sugar, and raw persimmon (from the Fall Seasonal Distress pack). I used these sponge daubers to apply the ink — perfect to get in small spaces!

That was so fun that I couldn’t stop there — just had to do another! This time I used the template twice: first I made one layer as before, then I moved the template to cover up the completed triangles and added another layer, then I misted the whole shebang with Perfect Pearls and water. Ta dah!

Just love how this came out! I didn’t want to take away from the triangle goodness on either card, so I finished them off with a hello from my Dymo label maker and a fabric Smash tab – love those too, especially how the pinked edge is actually *little* triangles! hee.

And I love these colors together — kinda reminds me of the desert you know? Like in West Texas or New Mexico. Sun, sky, and rocks. So pretty.

And! I made some more cards with the tempting triangle template too — this time using it as a mask and misting it with Mister Huey’s! Will wrap those cards up and show you soon — can’t wait!

We can’t wait either, Lisa. Please keep us posted!!

Man Card!!

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Jaime

I love how Jean Okimoto, from ColorBox, refers to this as her “man card”. I know, it’s tough to make something “manly”. No arguments there. Jean used our mini (6×6) Chevron stencil – TCW227.

Here’s what she writes:

“Hi – Jean Okimoto here – with a guy’s card featuring our newest ColorBox Limited Edition Chalk Inkpads. ColorBox Chalk Inkpads provide great coverage for stenciling, layer beautifully and dry quickly.

With all of the bling and prettiness of recent Valentine and soon-to-be-Spring cards, it’s easy to forget about cards for the guys – here’s one I hope you’ll like. Hope he likes it too!

Click here to see directions and products used!!

Mona Pendleton

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Jaime

KK at Kay’s Company in New Zealand sent me a link to Mona’s blog and I was blown away! Check out how she used our “Bricks” stencil (TCW191). Mona even created a tutorial. There’s a little snippet below of how she used Molding Paste with Pumice to create the bricks. But she uses lots and lots of other fun things including My Favorite Things stamps and dies. If I ever needed some justification to buy more dies and stamps, this is it! Thanks Mona….I think!

More from Christin

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Jaime

Christin Grønnslett knows just how to make a collage card look elegant (versus “fussy”)! And I personally love how she uses one of my old favorites: “Flurries” Template TCW164.

ps: I love to scrape white modeling paste through it over a dark colored card (think midnight blue or even deep teal!). It’s perfect for the winter holidays. (For some added sparkle, sprinkle fine white or iridescent glitter on the paste before it dries!!)

Metal Die peek from KK

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Jaime

You may have heard that we’re coming out with American-made steel dies. It’s something we’ve been fine-tuning for a few months, and finally THEY’RE HERE!! They are perfect for any card-making, scrapbooking, Project Life® stuff that you might be doing.

I sent a few of our newest dies over to KK in New Zealand because she is a total Metal Die-a-holic! I don’t know how she has time to run her very awesome distributor business, Kay’s Company, AND be so creative, but somehow she manages. Within days of receiving said care package, she sent me this image:

From the chevron to the butterfly to the “hello” to the embossed chickenwire, they’re all dies!! Stay tuned, more sneak peeks to come throughout the weeks!! (Dies are all shipping to stores January 2, 2013 or sooner.)

The Crafter's Workshop

Category Archives: Cards