Clean And Simple (CAS) Christmas Cards

Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils

Hi everyone, Heidi here, today I’m on The Crafter’s Workshop blog with a Clean And Simple (CAS) Christmas card project! If you are in need of some last minute Christmas cards you probably don’t want to create multiple cards that take hours and hours of time, so today I show you a project that looks gorgeous but doesn’t take an entire day to make!

——————————–

The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project. The opinions I share are solely my own. This post also contains affiliate links.

——————————–

Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils

Step 1:

Each card is created in the same way but with a different image and different colours. Usually I start my project with the background panel and then search/look for the best image to add later on. But in this case the background was depending on the image so I created the images first.

For this I choose two cookie images from the Whimsy Stamps stamp set called “Sweet Tidings” and stamped them onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface paper using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and clear heat embossing afterwards. Then I coloured the images using my Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers in combination with my aqua brush. I used the following colours of Aqua Markers: Gold, Terracotta, Chocolate, Verdant Green, Crimson, Sepia and Bud Green (because I didn’t own the right colour of Christmas green I first used the Bud Green and then added a layer of Verdant Green on top to create the Christmas green colour I was after).

When the colouring is done and dry I added some highlights using a white Gelly Roll pen, also adding some white dots in the green parts. h

Then I cut out the inner parts, mostly inside the bows, using a K30 Rite-Cut Knife by Excel Blades (love this knife!).

And to finish the images I fussy cut them using my scissors and leaving a small white border and added some Glossy Accents on the dotted parts in the tree and the wreath.

Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils

Step 2:

Then I started working on my background panels: I die cut two rectangle panels, each two sizes smaller then my card bases, from some creme coloured linen textured card stock.

I placed a panel in my MISTI Stamping tool and put the stamped and coloured image in the place I want it to go later on. This way I decided where I wanted my sentiment to be, picked the sentiment up with the door of the MISTI and stamping the sentiment using the same black ink as before.

The sentiment comes from the Crafter’s Companion stamp set called “Words of the Season”.

Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils
Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils

Step 3:

I temporarily adhered the background panel to my work surface and then adhered my stencil of choice on top using washi tape. For today’s project I’m working with the gorgeous The Crafter’s Workshop stencil called “Zig Zag” (TCW5010).

Next I’m applying my first layer of ink over the stencil: because this stencil has lots of open space and not many connected parts it is key to apply the ink carefully! I first started with some Gina K ink in “Wild Dandelion”, picking the ink up with my foam applicator tool and adding the ink to the centre of my panel and working outwards (to prevent hash lines) in a pouncing up and down motion to not move the stencil too much.

Then I added some Distress Ink in “Wild Honey” in the centre of the ink I already applied to create a darker part behind the coloured image, blending it with the lighter ink on the edges.

If you feel this is necessary you can add a little bit of the lighter coloured now to create a better blend between the darker and the lighter colour.

Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils
Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils

Step 4:

This same way I also created a red background panel using first Memento ink in “Lady Bug” and then adding Memento ink in “Rhubarb Stalk” as my darker colour.

Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils

Step 5:

And this is how my two created background panels look now after finishing the inking part.

Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils
Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils

Step 6:

To put my cards together I die cut a slightly larger rectangle panel from some gold yellow and green card stock, I adhered the two rectangle panels together using liquid glue and then I adhered this combination to a creme coloured linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape. To finish the cards I adhere the stamped and coloured images on top also using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Detail pictures:

Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils
Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils

Bonus Card

Of course you can create the stencilled background design any way you like! With the following method you have less control over the end result and it creates a bit more of a messy look, but it’s totally fun as well.

Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils

Step 1:

I started by die cutting the same rectangle panel, and placing it on my work surface. Then I placed my stencil over the panel. I adhered a post it note over the panel/stencil bottom part to prevent too much colour to go there. For my colour I choose the Ken Oliver Color Burst in “Orchid” from the The Crafter’s Workshop set called “Unicorn Magic”, this I sprinkled on over the top part of my stencil.

Then I sprayed the panel/stencil with water and let the colour particles do their thing for a few seconds.

Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils

Step 2:

I removed the stencil and sprayed a bit more water, because I didn’t wanted the strong edge where the post it note had been. Then I dabbed of the excess water with a paper kitchen towel, leaving me with this gorgeous background.

Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils

Step3:

I stamped my sentiment and coloured the cookie image the same way as I did with the other cards and this is what the finished card project looks like.

Detail picture:

Tutorial on how to create Clean And Simple Christmas cards using TCW stencils

And that’s it for today’s project! We would love to see what you create with The Crafters Workshop Stencils and Mediums.
You can share it with us on our Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest using hashtag #tcwstencillove.

Heidi Jakobs  

The Crafter’s Workshop Design Team Member

We love to hear from our fans, so please leave a comment here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.