Hello, my crafty friends! Today, I’m excited to share a special anniversary card that features the delightful Anniversary Mini Stamp Set from Colorado Craft Company and a homemade heart-shaped stencil. This project combines simple stamping, easy coloring, and a touch of ink blending to create a card that's both fun and unique. If you’re looking to add a personal touch to your anniversary cards, this design is perfect for you!
Clean & Simple Heartfelt Anniversary Card:
Crafting with Love: The Heart of the Project
When I first saw the Anniversary Mini Stamp Set, I instantly fell in love with the charming couple (mice) image. It’s sweet, whimsical, and perfect for celebrating love. I knew I wanted to create a card that was both heartfelt and visually appealing. For the card front, I chose Bristol Smooth Cardstock because it’s fantastic for blending and coloring, which are key techniques in this project.
Stamping and Coloring: Adding Life to Your Card
I began by stamping the adorable couple in Versafine Onyx Black Ink in the bottom left-hand corner of my card front. Versafine is my go-to for crisp, clean lines, and it works wonderfully with water-based markers like the Tombow Dual Brush Pens. Once the ink was dry, I did some simple coloring with my Tombow pens. Their vibrant colors and smooth blending capabilities made the process quick and enjoyable.
Pro Tip: If you’re new to using Tombow Dual Brush Pens, practice blending on a scrap piece of Bristol Smooth Cardstock first. This will help you get a feel for the pens and achieve the best results on your final project.
Creating the Heart Stencil: Adding a Personal Touch
Next, I used a homemade heart stencil to add a unique background to my card. This stencil was crafted from a simple piece of cardstock, but it made a world of difference in the final look of my card. I positioned the stencil over the stamped couple, ensuring they were centered within the heart shape.
Ink Blending: Adding Depth and Dimension
With the stencil in place, I reached for my Victorian Velvet and Shaded Lilac Distress Inks. These colors blend beautifully together, creating a soft, romantic background. Using my blending tools, I carefully applied the inks around the inside of the heart stencil, being mindful not to cover the stamped and colored image.
Pro Tip: When ink blending, start with a light hand and gradually build up the color. This technique helps to avoid harsh lines and creates a more seamless blend.
Adding Details: Making Your Card Stand Out
To add a bit of tone-on-tone interest, I stamped the small gift from the Anniversary Mini Stamp Set around the inside edge of the heart stencil. This subtle detail adds depth and enhances the overall design without overwhelming the focal image.
After removing the stencil, I decided to curve the "Happy Anniversary" sentiment around the top right of the heart. Using my MISTI, I stamped the sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black Ink. The curved sentiment adds a playful touch and perfectly frames the heart.
Finishing Touches: Adding Sparkle and Shine
For the finishing touches, I adhered the card front to an A2 size card base. I then added a few highlights with a White Gel Pen and some Stardust Stickles to the champagne glass. The tiny dots of Stickles coming out of the glass mimic bubbles, adding a magical, celebratory feel to the card.
Pro Tip: Use a light touch when applying gel pen highlights and Stickles. A little goes a long way in adding just the right amount of sparkle and detail.
(Wondering what I used in this project? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible).
Conclusion
This anniversary card, featuring Colorado Craft Company’s Anniversary Mini Stamp Set and a homemade heart stencil, is a joy to create and even more delightful to give. The combination of simple stamping, easy coloring, and creative ink blending makes this project accessible for crafters of all skill levels. Remember, the most important ingredient in any card is the love and creativity you put into it. Happy crafting, everyone!
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Materials Used:
Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.
Happy Stampin'
Rick Adkins
This is so stinking cute! What a fabulous CAS card!