Stenciled Backgrounds

 Hey Everybody,

I'm back with three more cards. We looked at watercolor backgrounds yesterday. Today we're going to look at using stencils for a background.

Here is a cute House Mouse image colored with Copic Markers and spotlighted in the negative portion of a heart. I used the cut out heart for another card and didn't want to waste this pretty glimmer paper. The House Mouse Stamp is called Easter Egg Nap.

Our challenge was pink flowers. I used the Hero Arts Tulip Pattern 4 part tulip stencil to make the background. Then I stamped and colored my little mouse with Copic Markers. I punched a heart out of my black glimmer paper and put the image behind it so it would stand out against the background. I stamped the sentiment from Stampin' Up called, Blessed Easter, then punched it out with the key tag punch. I did the same with the black glimmer paper and cut it horizontally and put it behind the sentiment. This will go to a local nursing home.   This was a 4 part stencil. There were two different colors for the flowers and two different colors for the leaves. I really like using two different colors for the flowers and leaves. It takes a bit longer, but I love the look.

Keywords: F4A835 Easter House Mouse

Stamps: House Mouse-Easter Egg Nap, SU-Blessed Easter

Paper: white, black glimmer

Ink: memento tuxedo black, strawberry slush, granny apple green, garden green, pretty in pink

Accessories: heart punch, SU-key tag punch, Hero Arts-Tulip Pattern Stencils, Copic Markers, dimensionals

Techniques: stenciling, coloring, using negative

  The second background that I stenciled was inspired by this card from the featured stamper of the week.  

What stopped me at this card was the background she made with this cute bunny.

 I made an Easter Card with a different character. I kept my card vertical and added two sentiments instead of one. I did multiple layers but didn't add a button or ribbon.
This little guy was masked then I stenciled the eggs around him. I colored him with Copic Markers and blending brushes. I outlined each egg with a fine line sharpie marker. I stamped and added the two sentiments. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.

This stencil is from Lawn Fawn called Easter Egg background stencil. If you notice I only used one color for the eggs. There are two stencils, one with egg shapes and one with designs in the egg shapes.  Typically in the plain egg shapes you'd color these with light colors then place the detailed stencil on top and color those eggs a bit darker.

I chose to just trace the plain egg shapes behind the little guy so there wouldn't be an overwhelming number of colors to distract from my image.

Keywords: FS994

Stamps: Unity Stamps-Little Weirdo, Jillian Vance-Spring Hootie

Paper: white, peach pie, black glimmer

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black, pecan pie, strawberry slush, highland heather, pretty in pink, crushed curry, balmy blue, lemon lime twist

Accessories: Copic Markers, Lawn Fawn Easter Egg background stencil, fine line sharpie black pen, dimensionals, blending brushes, computer paper for a mask

Techniques: Masking, stenciling, coloring

Here is an Easter Card with colors used on both stencils. I varied the colors of the backgrounds and tried to make them lighter than the detailed parts of the eggs.

This works well for this card because the images are small and off to the side of the card. The black sentiment really stands out against the eggs and doesn't interfere with the background at all.

 I used a die for the sentiment and added these two cute bunnies from Colorado Craft Company that I colored last year and had in my stash. It was fun to pull out colored images and add them to cards.

You may not be able to tell, but the bunny tails have paper glaze with glitter on them to make them raised and sparkly.

So there you have it, three cards with stenciled backgrounds. I have lots of other stencils for backgrounds so I might do this again with general stencils. 

Do you have stencils you could use for a background? What would you add for an image to go with your stenciled background?

Before  you begin working with colors look at your stencil and image. Are there typical colors you'll use on your image?  What colors will go well with that for your background? Just a bit for thinking ahead will make your project easier.

Well, thanks for visiting.

Blessings,

Sue

Mia and Me

 Hey Everybody,

Today I have three cards that were made by my granddaughter, Mia and me.  When Mia was with me one day, I took out a roll of white paper and some Prang watercolor paints. Mia painted all over the paper. I let it dry then cut it up into pieces big enough for backgrounds for my cards. Check them out here.

This is for the sketch challenge. The background was made by my 4 year old granddaughter with her watercolor paints. Once it was dry I cut it up to use as a background for my card.
I stamped and colored the little guy with colors to match the background paint. I added black glimmer paper behind the image. Then I added the cardstock for the sketch. The banners were made with the same watercolor paper so they are a bit more difficult to see. I love the idea of making cards with the paper my sweet girl painted.

Keywords: SC1102

Stamps: Unity-Wee Little Love Courier

Paper: white, calypso coral, black glimmer paper, kids watercolor paper

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Prang watercolor paints, brush, Copic Markers, wide oval punch

Techniques: water coloring, coloring

This is for the letter D for the Alphabet challenge where we were to use dark colors.
I stamped the bird and colored it with darker colors to match the background paper.
The background paper was painted by my 4 year old granddaughter. After it dried, I cut it up to use as backgrounds for my cards. I love the idea of making cards from paper my sweet girl has painted.
I added the image and background panels to black glimmer paper. I used a heart punch to get the black heart and added the sentiment on top of that.

Keywords: ABC24D4

Stamps: Unity-Wee Little Love Courier

Paper: white, black glimmer paper, white watercolor paper

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Prang Watercolor paints, paint brush, dimensionals, heart punch

Techniques: water coloring, coloring

Our challenge was to make a card with music. This is an older, retired Stampin' Up set. I stamped on paper watercolored by my 4 year old granddaughter. I colored the hearts in with Copic Marker. I stamped the piano and colored the heart with a Copic marker. I stamped the sentiment and added it to black glimmer paper. I added black glimmer paper behind the image and behind the background paper.

Keywords: WT1093 piano music

Stamps: Music From the Heart

Paper: white, black glimmer, watercolor paper

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Prang watercolors, paint brush, Copic Marker, dimensional

Techniques: stamping, coloring, water coloring

Well, what do you think of those backgrounds? They are all very different aren't they? Just having the colors in each of them gave me ideas of what type of image I wanted for each card. So you don't have to be a real artist to make backgrounds.

Maybe I'll give it a try myself. I don't know if I can be a carefree as my 4 year old, but it's worth a try!

How about you? Could you just randomly add color and brushstrokes to a piece of cardstock or watercolor paper?  Let it dry or use a heat tool, then make a card using that as your background.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue

March 3rd New Products

 Hey Everybody,

There are lots of things that are new at Stampin' Up.

• Product of the Month
• Kits
• Online Exclusives

Notes Of Spring NEW Product of the Month Available March 3, 2026 – Create an adorable card with this NOTES OF SPRING  stamp set and send it to some-bunny you love! Or use it to craft a scrapbook  spread of a moment you hold deer. Whatever you choose to create, this stamp  set with woodland friends and useful sentiments is sure to add some  springtime joy! THE PRODUCT OF THE MONTH – Is an exclusive product released each month! – Can be unlocked for just $5 with orders over $75 (after discounts and rewards). – Is only available while supplies last—they can sell out quickly! – Is limited to one per customer. Shop with me here – SUE’S ONLINE STORE New Online Exclusives are available today, March 3rd. Check them out here. Check out the new kits here. 167820 RADIANT REMINDERS KIT $14.00 167992 EVERY LITTLE THING KIT (ENGLISH) $21.00 Paper Pumpkin subscriptions will see an upcoming price increase.  Here are the new prices for Paper Pumpkin Kits beginning with the April 2026 Kit: Here is the new pricing for refills and past kits released after March 11, 2026. Prices for refills and past kits released before March 11, 2026 will remain unchanged. As always if you have questions, please let me know. I'll be showing some of the new Online Exclusives next week in classes. I will have some samples of cards made and other new products to check out. If you haven't signed up for a class, let me know when you'd like to attend. Classes are  Monday at 10 Tuesday at 1 Thursday at 10 Friday at 7 I can't wait to see you in class.  Blessings, Sue

Have You Ever Heard of Faux Cyanotype?

 Hey Everybody,

Once again I have two challenge cards.

Our challenge is to make a creation with a cat on it. This challenge is for the Clean and Simple card challenge, so I need to keep it minimal. That's not my style so this in itself is a challenge for me. LOL  I stamped the kitty, colored it with Copic Markers and cut it out. I used my blending brush and the cloud piece punched out from my punch to make the clouds in the sky. I added ribbon for the kitty to hold on to. I stamped the sentiment and added the white panel to a bashful blue cardbase. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.

Keywords: CAS888

Stamps: Unity Stamps-Purr-fect Time

Paper: white, balmy blue

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black, balmy blue

Accessories: blending brush, scissors, Copic Markers, SU-Night of Navy gingham ribbon, dimensionals, cloud cut out

Techniques: fussy cutting, ink blending

Here is my second card. This is called Faux Cyanotype. It's really a photography technique but was adapted for card making.

Sabrina's challenge is Faux Cyanotype. This was a fun technique to learn. I cut a square from my masking paper and placed it on my white cardstock. I used a stipple brush to add ink to the square. Then I stamped the square with the image and faded jeans Distress Oxide ink. The masking paper ripped my paper so I had to cut out the square and add it to another cardbase. I added misty moonlight paper behind it, then stamped Happy Birthday. This card will be sent to someone on my birthday card list from Splitcoaststampers. The group I belong to is called, BRAK which stands for Birthday Random Act of Kindness.

Typically what we do is print out a message with who we are and why we're sending a card. Then we add that the the inside of the card and send it blank so the person can use the card themselves.

Keywords: TLC1097 Faux Cyanotype

Stamps: Country Road-Stampin' Up

Paper: white, misty moonlight

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Distress Oxide-faded jeans, SU-misty moonlight

Accessories: masking paper, stencil brush, square die

Techniques: Faux Cyanotype

Check out the video to show you how to do this technique. I had trouble with my masking paper sticking to my white cardstock, so if you are using masking paper, you might want to touch it to your clothing a few times so it's not as sticky.

What do you think? Is this something you'd like to try?  It's really and quick and easy technique to do.

How about the cat card? Do you have anything in your stash that would make a great card?

Good luck with these two challenges. I hope you give them a try.

Blessings,

Sue