Colorful Happy Birthday

Welcome back to my blog.  June is a busy birthday month for my family so I'm making lots of birthday cards. 

For today's card I decided to use Distress Oxide inks to make a colorful background.

I began by embossing my cardstock with a Magenta stencil in my Big Shot Die cutting machine before I added the ink.  This gives the card a bit more texture and interest.  To emboss with a stencil I began by cutting a piece of Elizabeth Craft Soft Finish white cardstock to 4 ¼” x 5 ½”.  I love this cardstock because it has a softly textured finish on one side and the ink blends on it really well.  To make the sandwich for embossing with the stencils is as follows:  Base plate open to Tab 1, cutting plate, rubber embossing mat, cardstock, stencil, cutting plate.  Depending on your machine, you may need to add a shim to get enough pressure on your cardstock. 

Align the stencil onto the cardstock and tape in place.  I used Distress Oxide inks in a rainbow order for this card but you can use any inks and combination.

I used ink blending brushes but you can also use other application tools to apply the color.  After I finished applying the ink, I removed the stencil and set the piece aside to dry.

Meanwhile, I cut the Memory Box #99684  ‘Happy birthday’ sentiment from a piece of glitter cardstock and used Copic markers to color the letters.  I also cut two more die cuts of the sentiment from white cardstock and adhered all three pieces together for a stacked sentiment that would stand out on the card.

To prepare the stenciled piece for cutting, I determined where I wanted to place the die cut.  I decided to start the word “Happy at 1” from the bottom left side of the card stock and end of the “birthday” sentiment ended about 2” from the bottom.  The sentiment measures about 1 1/8” tall so wanted the opening to be 1 ¼” wide.  I turned the cardstock over and measured 1 “ from the top on the left side of the card, then made another mark at 2 ¼”.  (You need to do the opposite on the back side to get the angle right for the sentiment.)  On the right side of the cardstock, the first mark is at 2” and the second mark was at 3 ¼”.  Draw lines to connect the marks and then cut.  Note:  I worked this out on a piece of scrap paper first to make sure I had my measurements correct, then cut the stenciled piece.

I adhered the pieces to the front of a kraft cardstock A2 card, then adhered the die cuts to the opening. 

This techinique will work with any stencil and I've had fun experimenting with a variety of stencils and ink colors.  I hope you will give it a try.  Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Products Used

Distress Oxide Ink (Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Mermaid Lagoon, Wilted Violet)

Elizabeth Craft Soft Finish White 90lb Cardstock

Memory Box Happy Birthday, #99684