Hey, crafty friends! I’m so excited to share today’s card with you, especially since Halloween is just around the corner. I love making cards that capture both the sweet and spooky sides of the season, and this card does exactly that! For Day 11 of my Halloween card series, I used a combination of ink blending and coloring on kraft cardstock to create a playful design featuring pumpkins and a charming witch from the Hocus Pocus Stamp Set. Let’s dive into the details and explore some tips that can help you elevate your ink blending and stamping on kraft cardstock.
Ink Blending and Coloring on Kraft Cardstock:
Why Kraft Cardstock?
Kraft cardstock has a warm, rustic texture that I love working with, especially for fall and Halloween projects. There’s something about its natural, earthy tone that just makes colors pop in a unique way. For this project, I used Neenah Desert Storm 100 lb Cardstock for both my background and my stamped elements. One of my favorite things about blending ink on kraft is how the darker colors show up, adding depth and richness to the design. If you haven’t tried blending on kraft before, I highly recommend it—it offers a whole new dimension compared to traditional white cardstock!
Pro Tip: When blending on kraft, I like to start with bright, bold colors and then layer deeper tones to create contrast. Don’t be afraid to build up the color slowly—it’s all about those smooth transitions.
Ink Blending: Creating a Spooky Pumpkin Background
For this card, I started by blending Distress Oxide inks using the Pumpkins Stencil from Simon Says Stamp. I used Craved Pumpkin and Rusty Hinge Distress Oxide inks to build up a vibrant orange glow across the stencil. The blend of these two colors gives a great range of pumpkin shades, from bright and bold to deep and rich. I added some Rustic Wilderness for the stems and then deepened the shadows between the pumpkins with Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Oxides.
This ink-blended background is a fantastic way to highlight the stenciled design while letting the kraft cardstock shine through. The pumpkins feel dimensional without needing any extra layers!
Pro Tip: To make your blending smoother, hold your foam blending tool at an angle and work in circular motions. Blending from the outer edge of the stencil inward helps avoid harsh lines. And don’t forget to use smaller blending brushes for tight areas like the stems—this gives you more control.
The Magic of Stamping & Coloring
Now, let’s talk about that adorable witch from the Hocus Pocus Stamp Set! I stamped her onto another piece of Desert Storm Cardstock and colored her in using OLO Markers. These markers are wonderful for layering rich, vibrant colors, even on kraft cardstock. I love how the witch stands out against the rustic background, and the OLO markers made it easy to add shading and depth to her pumpkin seat.
A little story here—when I first started coloring on kraft, I was a bit hesitant, thinking the colors wouldn’t be as bright as on white cardstock. But I quickly learned that coloring on kraft adds a cozy, vintage feel that’s perfect for autumn and Halloween cards. Plus, with the right combination of markers and inks, your images can still pop!
Pro Tip: When coloring on kraft, be mindful that lighter colors can appear muted. Don’t be afraid to go in with darker shades for more contrast. Adding white gel pen highlights, like I did with the spider web pattern on the witch’s dress, is a great way to bring your images to life.
Adding the Sentiment & Final Details
For the sentiment, I kept things bold and simple. I die cut a layered “hello” from Pitch Black Cardstock to contrast against the warm tones of the kraft background. I also die cut a stitched circle from kraft to anchor the witch image—this small detail helps tie the design together.
One of my favorite things about this card is how all the elements flow together. From the orange pumpkins in the background to the witch on the stitched circle, everything follows a diagonal line across the card. This kind of layout keeps the eye moving and makes the design feel cohesive without being overwhelming.
To finish off, I couldn’t resist adding some Rainbow Splash Gem Stickers in orange. I placed them along the diagonal line to enhance that flow from the top left to the bottom right. And, of course, a few well-placed white gel pen highlights on the stamped image bring everything together with a little sparkle.
Pro Tip: If you’re ever unsure where to place embellishments, follow the flow of your design. Adding gems or rhinestones along the natural lines in your card layout helps guide the eye and enhances the movement of the design.
Wrapping It Up
I had so much fun creating this sweet and spooky card, and I hope it inspires you to try some ink blending and coloring on kraft cardstock. The combination of vibrant inks and warm tones really brings out the Halloween spirit in a unique way. Plus, the Hocus Pocus Stamp Set is just too cute not to use!
If you’re looking to try something new, give kraft cardstock a shot for your next project—you’ll love the depth and richness it adds. Be sure to check out my video tutorial for even more tips and tricks, and as always, happy crafting!
Ink Blending On Kraft Cardstock Halloween Card Video Tutorial:
If you have problems watching the video here on my blog you can always watch it on my YouTube Channel by Clicking here!
(Wondering what I used in this video? 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). As always I appreciate your support of my videos!
OLO Color Combinations:
Below are a list of my color combinations for my card today. I have listed the color combinations from the lightest color to the darkest used on each item. I colored the images from darkest to lightest.
Pumpkin - OR 1.3, O 2.4, O 2.5, O 2.7
Pumpkin Stem - YG 1.4, YG 1.6, G 1.7
Shirt, Shoes & Stockings - RV 1.3, RV 1.5, RV 1.7
Stockings - V 2.6, V 2.8
Skin - OR 2.0, OR 3.2, OR 3.4
Blush on Checks - R 0.2, R 0.3, OR 2.2
Hair - YO 2.3, YO 2.5, YO 2.7
Hat - O 2.4, O 2.5 (band); CG 5, CG 7, CG9 (hat)
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
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