Stencilled New Baby Cards

The humble stencil is the most versatile craft product money can buy… there, we said it! Not only are they inexpensive, but they offer endless possibilities and Claire Richards is on hand to prove it. By masking off an area, you can create really unique and interesting backgrounds. Featuring washing lines of diddy baby clothes perfectly colour coordinating with the backgrounds, this set of adorable new baby cards will guarantee happy tears all round.

Learn the masking method
Stencilling and masking go hand in hand. By covering up or blocking certain areas of your card front, you’re essentially protecting the area from any ink you apply. It’s a great way to add borders, shapes or strips to your projects. A word of caution… masking sheets can damage the surface of your card sometimes so press them onto the back of your hand or clothes before adhering. P.S. Post-it notes are an excellent alternative.

Tear up the rulebook
Copy Claire’s look and adopt a pastel scheme to suit the occasion. Muted shades of yellows, blues, pinks and greens make for a gorgeous combo. Don’t be afraid to include plenty of colour on your new baby cards but make sure they are soft and delicate. Often, it’s very easy to stick to neutral shades for new arrival greetings, especially when you don’t know the gender. If that’s the case, simply swap beige for a lemony hue… job’s a good’un.

Four colours, two stencils
You might be wondering how Claire has achieved her multicoloured plaid prints but ponder no more. The trick is all in the position of the stencils. Apply the first colour of distress oxide ink, rotate the stencil, then apply the second colour. Use the second plaid stencil and repeat until you end up with four different colours. It’s a good idea to leave the inks to dry in between each application, and we recommend cleaning the stencil each time so you don’t get any unwanted ink transfers.

You Will Need:
Stamps, Lawn Fawn Little Bundle
Stencil, Lawn Fawn Plaid
Die, 8cm circle
Ink pads: Ranger Distress Oxide Salvaged Patina, Cracked Pistachio, Squeezed Lemonade, Kitsch Flamingo; black, brown
Cardstock: pink, blue, teal, yellow
Masking sheets
Alcohol markers
Adhesives: Glue, low-tack tape
Die-cutting machine

Stencilled Circle Card
1. Trim white card to 10.5cm x 13.5cm. Die cut an 8cm circle from scrap card and place towards the top of the card. Position the first plaid stencil on top, then hold in place with low-tack tape. Apply green distress oxide ink, rotate the stencil and apply blue distress oxide ink. Place the second plaid stencil on top, then apply pink distress oxide ink. Rotate the stencil and apply yellow distress oxide ink. Carefully remove the stencil.

2. Stamp a sentiment below the circle in black ink. Stamp baby clothes, birds and a washing line, then colour in with alcohol markers. Adhere to the card, near the top of the stencilled circular area. Stamp clothes pegs in brown ink, then fix to the top of each garment. Mount teal card onto an 11cm x 14cm white blank, then layer the panel on top to finish.

Stencilled Border Card
1. Cut white card to 10.5cm x 13.5cm. Use masking sheet to mask off a 6.5cm x 9.5cm rectangular area in the centre. Place the first plaid stencil on top, then hold in place with low-tack tape. Apply yellow distress oxide ink, rotate the stencil, then apply green distress oxide ink. Place the second plaid stencil on top and apply pink distress oxide ink. Rotate the stencil, then apply blue distress oxide ink. Carefully remove the stencil.

2. Stamp a sentiment above and below the stencilled rectangle in black ink. Stamp baby clothes and a washing line, then colour in with alcohol markers. Adhere towards the top of the rectangular area. Stamp clothes pegs in brown ink and fix to the top of each garment. Mount pink card onto an 11cm x 14cm white blank, then layer the panel on top.

Stencilled Diagonal Card
1. Snip white card to 10.5cm x 13.5cm. Use masking sheet to mask off a 7cm wide diagonal strip across the panel. Place the first plaid stencil onto the card, then hold in place with low-tack tape. Apply green distress oxide ink and rotate the stencil. Apply blue distress oxide ink. Place the second plaid stencil on top, then apply pink distress oxide ink. Rotate then stencil and finish with yellow distress oxide ink. Carefully remove the stencil.

2. Stamp a sentiment in the bottom-left corner using black ink. Stamp baby clothes, birds and a washing line, then colour in with alcohol markers. Adhere to the left-hand side of the panel. Stamp clothes pegs in brown ink and secure to the top of each garment. Create an 11cm x 14cm white blank, mount blue card on top, followed by the stencilled panel.

Stencilled Baby Girl Card
1. Take a 13cm square panel of white card. Use masking sheet to mask off a 5cm area along the bottom of the panel. Place the first plaid stencil on top, then hold in place with low-tack tape. Apply pink distress oxide ink, rotate the stencil, then apply green distress oxide ink. Place the second plaid stencil on top and apply blue distress oxide ink. Rotate the stencil and blend yellow distress oxide ink on top. Remove the stencil.

2. Stamp a sentiment to the masked off area with black ink. Stamp baby clothes, birds and a washing line, then colour in with alcohol markers. Adhere towards the top of the stencilled area. Stamp clothes pegs in brown ink, then glue to the top of each garment. Create a 13.5cm square blank, matt pink cardstock on top, followed by the stencilled panel.

TOP TIPS
- Stick to a pastel colour palette for a soft look
- Shake up your stencilling by layering different coloured distress oxide inks
- Leave space for your sentiments by masking off particular areas