One Layer Stenciling 

Hello! I have an upcoming 25th birthday in my family and I wanted to create something really unique. I didn’t have anything particular in mind so I decided to let the challenges available dictate the card’s direction.

Cas-ual Fridays have a Tic Tac Toe challenge. I have never attempted one of these before. Choosing which line to follow gave me the card idea I was looking for; a one layer, with a tag, rainbow card. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge also gave me inspiration. It calls for the use of stencils, perfect for a one layer card.  And, as this card was for a woman, I was able to add a girly theme from Kitty Bee Designs Challenge #98 and the current Creative Knockouts Challenge.

I decided to make the “25” element a major feature of this one layer card and I needed a custom stencil to do that. Using Simon Says Stamp Big Numbers Dies, I arranged the 2 and 5 in place on a piece of thin acetate (that was originally stamp packaging) and run them through the die cutting machine. I also cut a second set of numbers from another scrap piece of acetate to use as masks later on.

While I had the die cutting machine out, I also cut a stitched edge tag out of some scrap white cardstock. I still don’t have a stitched edge tag die so I made mine by partially die cutting a generic stitched edge rectangle. I then cut the top of the tag by partially die cutting it with a generic stitched hexagon die. I finished it off by quickly punching a hole in the top centre with a punch.

I started work on the one layer theme directly onto a 5″×7″ card base. I placed my homemade stencil on the bottom left corner of the card and, using sponge daubers and a pounding motion, applied colours over the numbers in an ombre style, using two tones of Distress ink.

Once the first set of numbers were finished, I masked them off with the positive acetate number pieces, moved the stencil up the page, so the numbers were slightly overlapping the lower set and applied the next set of colours. This gave the appearance of the top set of numbers being placed slightly behind the lower set of numbers. I repeated this until I had five sets of numbers in a rainbow coloured formation.

I then applied the same rainbow colours to my tag, using the lightest of each colour set and an Inkylicious ink duster. Once all the colours were laid down I misted the tag with Tsukineko Sparkle Shimmer Spritz and set it aside to dry. This spray leaves a lovely shine but also reacts with the distress inks to help blend them even further.

Once dry, I placed the tag in place on the card. While the numbers and tag looked okay, the surrounding white space detracted from the overall look. As none of my challenges had a CAS requirement, I decided to add a few floral elements to the piece. I felt this would help emphasise the girly theme and give the one layer theme a lot more interest.

I masked the numbers with the positive acetate number pieces and stamped leaves around them. I used a retired Hero Arts Fern Leaf Clear Stamp Set (CI834), Pistachio Memento Dew Drops dye ink and my Misti.

These leaves gave the whole card a tropical look when combined with the rainbow colours of the numbers and the tag. I enhanced that look further by adding a few layered flowers from the Altenew Vintage Flowers stamp set and stamping them in similar Memento Dew Drops colours to what I’d used for the numbers. I felt these flowers, stamped in similar rainbow colours, tied all the elements together and the floral elements filled the space on the card beautifully.Finally, I die cut a sentiment for my tag from white cardstock sprayed with more Tsukineko Sparkle Shimmer Spritz and with JAC paper applied to the back. I cut the words out using Impression Obsession’s Greetings die set and added them to my tag. I put foam tape on the back of the tag and placed the tag onto the card.

To finish the tag off, I tied a bow in a piece of Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper String and glued it into place with Ranger Multi Medium Matte Adhesive. I chose to use this string as it holds its shape really well once formed compared to other baker’s twine style strings.

One final note about challenges, I added this card to a few extra challenges that all have a current theme of anything goes. They are Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, 4 Crafty Chick’s #357 Challenge, Simply Papercrafts’ Challenge #48 and Polkadoodles Crafting Challenge week 26.

While I didn’t initially set out to create a tropical, summery look card, I like how it all fell into place. I hope it will warm a cold, southern hemisphere winter’s birthday.

Distress Inks used for stenciling:

• Shaded Lilac
• Wilted Violet 
• Tumbled Glass
• Salty Ocean 
• Twisted Citron 
• Mowed Lawn 
• Mustard Seed 
• Spiced Marmalade 
• Spun Sugar 
• Picked Raspberry