Hello Hello!!

It is me,  Marlene Meijer-van Niekerk! Today I am happy to share a step-by-step photo tutorial with you…

“A card and gift in one”

It is an idea that I got from my mother & father that started with  “card & gift in one” cards  years ago:

WHY?

I just always think that the amount of time that goes into our little artworks, deserve a better platform than hidden in a drawer, so why not make a card that can be given away as an artwork in it’s own right. Something that can be framed and what better method to use….than stenciling!

What you  should take into consideration is:

•  don’t add to much texturewhile stenciling ( because the paper needs to be framed under glass )
• keep the  border plain around the edges, don’t add text there, because it will disappear under the mounting of the frame.

I should mention before I start that The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project. This post also contains affiliate links. However the opinions and the stenciling techniques I share are solely my own.

SUPPLIES FOR THE CARDS:

• I will be using 2 stencils. The first one being the lovely Postcard stencil by Rebekah Meier (TCW536) and the second one , the stencil by Ronda Palazzari, called The Story (TCW507).
• Modeling paste
• Palet knife
• Waterbrush
• Gelato’s (watersoluble crayons)
• DecoArts Dazzling Metallics (gold)
• Watercolour paper
• A nook paper punch
• A gel pen(green metallic)

LET’S GET STARTED!

Cut a sheet of watercolour paper into two pieces

Use a nook paper punch to punch off the corners

Take out the lovely TWC stencils you are going to use and your modeling paste. Position the stencil onto your watercolor paper and with a palet knife scrape the modeling paste through the stencil onto the watercolour paper. Remember never to let modeling paste  dry on your stencil, so… wash it off immediately after use.

Make sure you let  your modeling paste dry first , before going on to your next step. Add some colour to your page intuïtively, by using your gelato’s. I used 3 different colours of gelato’s, but chose colours that are related(in the same colour family) on the colour wheel.  With a waterbrush I activated the gelato’s and let it run and drip freely.

I let the paper dry and then I added a bit more colour to the spots I wanted to jump out, like the flowers on the left.

I finished my design by adding accents with a gelpen(on the right) and Dazzling Metallic paint (on the left).

To go on and really finish it off as a gift, follow the steps below.

You will need polybags or transparent foil(to make bags) just slightly larger than your cards.

You will also need some craft cardstock, cut it at the same width as the polybags and fold it double

First write your parsonal sentiment/message on the back of your card , before inserting and sealing it in your polybag.

Doodle a border on the front side of your craft cardstock/label with a fineliner.

Stamp your text on the front of your label, on the back you can add your name.

I used advanced double sided scotch tape to adhere my label to my polybag, but you can use a stapler or anything else on hand.

I hope you enjoyed the project and I am looking forward to your comments!

Kind regards

The Crafter’s Workshop design team member

Marlene Meijer-van Niekerk

The final product: “a card and gift in one”