One Layer Card Tutorial

I had someone leave me a comment recently asking how I make my one layer cards, so I will walk you through a card step-by-step.  I hope it is clear and that it will inspire you to make some pretty cards!  I have found that they can be used for a variety of events and would make great card sets for gifts or just to have around when you need something.

This is the card that I will be demonstrating for you:

 



I used the following supplies:

This includes: acrylic block, ink pads/markers, stamps, mist spray bottle with water.  For my card, I used three colors of Memento Inks (Lilac Posies, Potter's Clay, Peanut Brittle).  I use markers to color the acrylic block and full size ink pads for the stamping, but either would work.  I forgot to include it in the picture, but I also used Onyx Black VersaFine Ink.

Step One:
I used an acrylic block that is a bit longer than my card so that it goes off the edges of my folded card.  I took the three Memento markers and colored the acrylic block (going from light to dark to keep from transferring color).  You can do the same using ink pads, but I find you have more control over the colors and design with the markers.  Stampin' up markers, Memento markers, Distress Ink markers...all work fine.

 

Step Two:

After you get the block inked up, then you spray mist the ink with water.  You will get a different effect depending upon how much water you use.  You kind of need to experiment a bit to see what you like best.  I find that I like them a little wetter.

 

 

Step Three:

You will "stamp" your folded card with your acrylic block. I stamped it to the left so that I would have room for my sentiment.  You could experiment with different size blocks and locations. The possibilities are endless!

 

 

Step Four:

Once you remove the acrylic block, you are left with a background of ink.  Sometimes you will have some curl in the paper, but I find that you can continue the process without any problems.

 

 

Step Five:

Now you will need to mask off the parts of the card that you want to keep clean.  I use Post-It Notes, but I recommend that you use two notes for each piece you put down.  I have found out the hard way that inks tend to bleed through one layer and leave random ink marks on your card.  It is frustrating to go through the effort to make the pretty images and then end up ruining the card!  However, if it happens to you, not to worry!  You can just cut off the part and mount it on a new card.  You won't have the one layer style, but you can still use it!

 

 

 

Step Six:

Next you will need several stamps to use to help create the background.  For this card, I used a music staff (Tin Can Mail), some flowers (Sparklers from Penny Black), and a swirl stamp (PrintWorks).  Some of them I have had for some time, but you could use faux words, all kinds of greenery and other texture/swirl type stamps.  If you look at some of my older posts, you will see all kinds of things used!

 

First, I stamped the music staff using the lightest of the three colors I used (Peanut Brittle).

 

 

Then, I used the Sparkler flowers from Penny Black using the medium color ink (Potter's Clay).

 

 

Lastly, I stamped the swirl stamp with the darkest color (Lilac Posies).  I have found I love using this swirl stamp for many of my cards.

 

 

If you want, you can add more layers with other stamps, but I decided that I would keep it to these three for this one.

 

Step Seven:

Next up is the REALLY FUN PART!  Removing the Post-It Notes to reveal your masterpiece!

 

 

 

Isn't it beautiful???? It's amazing that something so simple can look so dramatic!!!

 

Final Step:

The last thing is to add your sentiment.  I tend to use sentiment stamps from Wordsworth, but you can use anything that will fit in the space you have.  This one is from a set called "Life Affirming."

 

If you are not sure if it is the right size or whether it will work, get out your Stamp-A-Ma-Jig.  Don't have one?  You must have one!  I use it all the time for adding images to be sure they are straight or evenly spaced.  It is so simple to use and you can use it to "test the waters" with your sentiments before you commit it to paper. You can also experiment with ink colors to be sure you like it before you stamp it on your card.

 

For inking my sentiments, I tend to use Versa-Fine ink pads.  They provide better ink coverage than the Memento inks.  For this card I used Onyx Black.

 

 

For the finished card I also added a score line on either side of the inked section just to help accentuate it a bit. 

 

 

I hope that this tutorial has helped and that you will be making your own masterpieces! 

Happy Birthday to my Uncle!

This past weekend was my Uncle's Birthday, and this is the card I made to send him.  At their house in the country, they have lots of bird houses, so that is what I used for inspiration.  The digital image is from The Wax Fruit Company.  I haven't seen any new digital images from her lately, so I hope she hasn't given up adding cool images for us to use! For this one, I got out my watercolors.  Paper is by My Mind's Eye.

Weekend Card Extravaganza

Friday night was craft night with my friends and we did even more of the one layer cards!  I promise I haven't given up my markers...just having fun getting inky and actually stamping!  Below are the cards I created Friday night...

The first one features a stamp from Penny Black.  The sentiment is by Wordsworth.

While I had the blue ink out, I tried another version featuring two birds on a branch by Penny Black.  Sentiment by Hero Arts.

 

 

Next up I created two strips of color and then masked both and stamped over them.  I love this!  I will definitely have to try again.  I also want to try using some shapes (circle, etc.) as the sponged backgrounds.  Main image by Panny Black, sentiment from Stampendous.

Next card used a similar color palette, but I liked the background so much, I left it alone and just added a sentiment from Wordsworth.

The last one I tried something a bit different.  I did the usual inked acrylic block, but rather than stamping the main image in black, I colored the image with markers and then added it to the right.  I love the way it turned out. Main image by Penny Black, sentiment from Wordsworth.

More ColourQ Challenge Cards

I had so much fun creating the first one, I had to do more! These next two are also for the ColourQ Challenge # 157

The next two were true one layer cards, also using the same colors. I ended up using a different focal image stamp just to mix it up a bit. I used a gray to sponge part of the background and to stamp some of the branches in the background. 

I was very happy with my THREE cards featuring the colors for this challenge. I can't wait to try the next ones!

ColourQ Challenge

It has been a while since I have done a challenge.  I have been lurking around watching all the cool cards that are being done for the ColourQ challenge and decided to play along this week.  As you can tell from all of my recent posts, I am doing a lot with the one layer cards.  I thought the colors this week for Challenge # 157 would work PERFECTLY with that technique. So...I grabbed my inks and sponges and went to it!!!

My first attempt turned out really pretty, but when I removed my masking pieces, some of the ink bled through and left splotches on the white card below.  BOOOOO!  I ended up cutting off the sponged part and used it on a multi layer card instead.  I still kept the same color palette, but gussied it up with additional layers. It might be hard for you to see the gray, but I used it to sponge the background and to stamp some of the branches in the background!

My Mom's Birthday!

Yesterday was my dear mom's birthday.  I am not going to say how old she is, but it is a milestone one!!  This card is what I sent her.  I used a stamp from A Day for Daisies and gussied it up for my mommy.  I was always encouraged to read, and to this day read A LOT!  I thought this one would celebrate that and let her know how special she is to me.

Instead of my usual Copics, I decided to do some watercoloring.  I wanted a soft look and thought that would work nicely.

One Layer Cards

I have been on a one layer card kick lately!  Apparently, I am still caught up in it!  Below are some of the latest creations using that technique.  Some of these were made on a stamping retreat last weekend, others were made one night this past week.  I imagine there will be more to come as I find time to get my hands all inky!!!

First up is one celebrating the sun and a great image/sentiment stamp from Wordsworth.

 

The next one is outside my comfort zone, but sometimes you just gotta try it and see what happens!  This one is definitely colorful and I kinda like the way it turned out! I borrowed the balloon stamp from a friend.  I think it may be by Just for Fun, but I can't remember.

 

 

Next, I explored my favorite color palette...PURPLE!  Nuff 'said. This one could be used for a variety of ocassions.  The sentiment is by Stampendous.

 

 

I love how the next one turned out!  I think it is one of my recent favorites!  I decided to NOT do a monochromoatic color palette with this one and it turned out AWESOME!  The sentiment is from Wordsworth.

 

 

I started trying to paint the sections using markers instead of dabbing inkpads on the acrylic block for the background.  Using that method makes it so much easier to create the kind of effect I like. The tree, sentiment and birds are all from Wordsworth.

 

 

The next two use the same color combination, but I used different shaped blocks for the backgrounds. Thinking of You Sentiment by Hero Arts.  The second sentiment from Wordsworth.

 

 

 

The last one I have to share features an old sentiment stamp from Wordsworth.  I love how dramatic this one is.  I love the green monochromatic background.  Definitely another one of my favorites!