Stenciled Background with Distress Oxides

My very good friend Pam Nelson send me a photo of a background she did using a Magenta stencil and Distress Oxide inks. I was so inspired by it that I asked her if I could use her design.  Here is the photo that she sent me.

by Pam Nelson

One of the cool things about this gorgeous background that I didn't know at first, is that Pam actually dry embossed the stencil into the paper. You can see Pam's post here, and she has lots of photos and descriptions of what she did, including clear instructions for dry embossing a stencil. While you are there, check out her other posts. I guarantee she will inspire you also.

I didn't dry emboss my backgrounds, but I will definitely do that next time. It helps create a beautiful, crisp image. I just taped a cardstock panel to the back of the stencil, turned it over, and blended the colors through the stencil sing a blending tool. Oxide inks blend very well anyway, and this time is no exception.

Here are my backgrounds and the inks I used:

Following Jennifer Mcguire's very good advice, I made more than one background while I had the paper and inks out. I used a Neat and Tangled stencil, but I think there are a lot of great stencils that would work with this technique. Pam used brushes to lay down color and I used blending tools. As you can see, both work very well. Going in rainbow order makes very pretty blends.

The first card I made was for my son-in-law's birthday

This is such a colorful, busy background that I liked the idea of keeping it simple and just putting a circular message in the center. I matted the panel in black to match the sentiment. This was a super easy card with lots of impact.

I also needed a graduation card for our oldest grandson who graduated from High School this year

I love how these cards turned out, and they were so simple to make! I hope you try it.

And be sure to check out Pam's post on her blog. Her card is amazing!

Products Used:

Birthday Card

Papertrey Ink Phraseplay 5: Happy Stamp Set & Die

Hero Arts DI 199 Infinity Nesting Circles

Neat & Tangled Rice Paddies Stencil NAT275

Distress Oxide Inks: Festive Berries, 

Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron,

Peacock Feathers, Wilted Violet

Neenah Solar White cardstock 80# & 110#

Papertrey Ink True Black cardstock

Versafine Onyx Black ink

Lawn Fawn LF768 Small Stitched Rectangle Stackables

Graduation Card

Papertrey Ink For The Graduate stamp set

Wordsworth S212-H Well Done You

Impression Obsession C15014 Congratulations

Hero Arts DI 199 Infinity Nesting Circles

Neat & Tangled Rice Paddies Stencil NAT275

Distress Oxide Inks: Festive Berries, 

Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron,

Peacock Feathers, Wilted Violet

Neenah Solar White cardstock 80# & 110#

So Silk Glamor Green cardstock

Versafine Onyx Black ink

Lawn Fawn LF768 Small Stitched Rectangle Stackables

Magenta Super Saturday - Stencil Stamped Heron

Hi! I'm over at the Magenta blog today and you can see that post here.

I love all of the stamps in the Magenta Spring 2019 release, but I particularly like the Egret and the Heron, because they are beautiful and peaceful. I chose the Heron this time because he seems to be contemplating the start of a new day.

This card was done using the stencil stamping technique that I have done many times. You can see some of the things I have done using this technique here, (scroll down for the stencil stamped items) here, here, and here. To see them all, you can search for "stencil stamping" on my blog search feature.

I first die-cut a panel of Neenah Solar White 80# cardstock using the Lawn Fawn LF768 Small Stitched Rectangle Stackables die. The largest die in this set cuts a 3.75" x 5" rectangle with a stitched edge. 

I applied Distress Ink direct to paper, using Twisted Citron at the top, Mowed Lawn at the bottom, and Mustard Seed and Wild Honey in the middle to simulate a sunrise. For this technique to work, you need a lot of ink on your paper - the more you have, the better it works.

I took the new Magenta stencil, TM297 Shell Texture and sprayed it with Pearly Water (water mixed with Perfect Pearls powder). When doing this technique, you don't want to get the stencil too wet, or it will just make puddles on your paper. I often use watercolor cardstock for stencil stamping, but this time I wanted to see how regular cardstock would work. If I try it again with regular cardstock, I might use 110# Neenah. I sprayed the stencil until the water was beading up but not running off.

I pressed the stencil onto the card panel and pressed it down with a paper towel. When I lifted it off, I could see the texture of the stencil, and also some of the droplets of water that were on the plastic part of the stencil. I loved how it turned out. As the panel dries, the image becomes more prominent.

To finish it off, I stamped the Heron stamp and sentiment with Versafine Onyx Black ink. I chose not to stamp the Heron's reflection on this piece, but it is on the stamp, and is a nice option. I tried really hard to get the shimmer of the Pearly Water to show up; maybe you can see it better at this slightly oblique angle. It's very pretty in real life.

To finish the card, I mounted the panel onto a 4" x 5.25" piece of Stardream Flame cardstock, and adhered it to a base card of Neenah Solar White 110# cardstock.

Enjoy and have a beautiful day!

I have received some questions about how to get the Magenta stamps I use. You can order directly from Magenta by going to their online store here. You can see the Spring 2019 collection here, and you can click on "Stamps" and/or "Stencils" to look at the entire collection. If you are interested in a stamp I have used on any of my blogposts, you can click on the name of the stamp or stencil below the image at the bottom of each of my posts, and the link will take you to that stamp or stencil in the Magenta Store. Just put the item in your basket, and as many more as you wish, and check out. You will be glad you did!

Magenta Products Used:

0763.M Reflective Blue Heron

TM297 Shell Texture

07.969.F have a Beautiful day!

Other Products Used:

Distress Inks: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn,

Mustard Seed, Wild Honey

Perfect Pearls Powder

Lawn Fawn LF768 Small Stitched Rectangle Stackables Die set

Versafine Onyx Black ink

Stardream Flame cardstock

Neenah Solar White cardstock 80# & 110#