Hello, crafty friend! Today starts a new mini series of projects & tutorials featuring a tropical stamp & die collection designed by Kat Uno for Catherine Pooler Designs. Let’s get started with the first project…
Step 1: Stamp, Color, & Cut
To start, I stamped images from “Hey Tweetie” in an alcohol marker-safe ink onto a thick white cardstock. I then used alcohol markers to color the images before die cutting them all out.
Step 2: Layout Planning
Once I had a stack of die cut images ready to use, I began planning the layout.
I started with an A2 card front and drew lines with a pencil where I planned to do some ink blending and stamping, so I could better envision how the images would show in the opening.
Step 3: Ink Blending
Ink was then added using foam blending tools. I placed the darkest color on the bottom and transitioned into lighter colors to mimic the sun shining down through the tropical canopy.
Step 4: Stamp & Emboss
Once the ink blending had dried and settled, I then stamped leaf images from “In the Tropics” in clear embossing ink and heat set detail white embossing powder on top.
Step 5: Splatter
I can’t make a card without a bit of ink splatter, so I flicked white pigment, blue acrylic, and clear sparkly ink over the ink blended and stamped area.
Step 6: Card Base
While I waited for the ink splatters to dry, I grabbed a top folding A2 card base and some white linen textured cardstock which I trimmed down into two strips: 1/2“x51/8” & 2″x51/8“.
Step 7: Trim & Tape
Once the inked layer was dry, I trimmed away some of the edges until I was left with a 37/8“x51/8” panel.
I then attached the ink blended panel to the card base with flat tape and the linen cardstock strips with foam adhesive.
The die cut images were also added ensuring a bit of foam adhesive was tucked under areas where they would hang over the inked area, so they would be protected from sagging.
Step 8: Finishing Touches
A few lines and dots were added to the bird with a white gel pen.
Finally, a few sequins were added, and that was it!
If you’d like to see more projects, please visit my Gallery. You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube as well. I hope you come back soon to see the next project, or subscribe for automatic email updates. Until next time… stay crafty!
– Laura Evangeline
