I have been lucky to be able to go to a few in-person classes over the past few years but, like many others, I spend a lot of time searching the internet for video tutorials, watching the YouTube videos of designers I admire and even taking classes from groups like Online Card Classes and Altenew Academy. Recently, my online addiction is the technique videos produced by Jennifer McGuire. The inspiration for this card was her tutorial on metallic stenciling, although I had to make several alterations to her techniques since I didn't have all the proper materials!
I started with metallic card stock, a new stencil, Versamark Ink, and WOW! embossing glitter in a shade matching the card.
I had wanted to do this in metallic green mirror card with metallic green embossing power but I found that I didn't have any green mirror card stock, so I changed course and went with ice blue. I had coordinating embossing powder, but it was embossing glitter, not metallic. And normally I wouldn't be stenciling palm leaves in pale blue but... if one lacks the proper products, one makes do!
Also, I discovered that the Kindred Stamps stencils were too thin to effectively dry-emboss with so, after I attempted to dry emboss, I ended up with a faint outline of the leaves, not the definition Jennifer achieved.
Products used in the making of this card were:
- Dies: Sizzix Thinlits “Tropical” (661207) and “Shadow Script #3) (662686)
- Stencils: Kindred Stamps “Palm Leaf”
- Inks: Versamark
- Embossing Powders: WOW! Embossing Glitter “Nice Ice Blue” (WS35R)
- Papers: Paper Studio “kraft” (697201); Stampin’ Up! medium green glimmer card; ice blue metallic card stock; scraps of tan and brown matte card stock, white shimmer card stock, dark blue shimmer paper, and gold metallic paper
- Adhesives: iCraft “Easy Tear Tape”; Gina K Connect Glue; Xyron 250 and 500 sticker makers