Discover 3 Tips for Softer Stencil Coloring

Hi everyone, Jenny here! Today, I have a tutorial and video for you which features three tips for softer stencil coloring. I'm featuring the Fairy Tale Florals Stamp, Die, and Coloring Stencil set for my main focal image.

Stamp Your Outline in a Lighter Color (Or Start with Just Stencil Coloring)

Rather than choosing black or darker ink for the outline portion of the stamp, try and use a lighter color. It adds a whole different vibe to an image, giving a softer edge. I used Sunray Crisp Dye Ink to stamp the main outline floral and left my stamp in the MISTI.

TIP! You can soften the look even more by starting with your stenciling and omitting the outline stamp until the end.

This can be a little trickier and is dependent on the stencil itself. For this stamp, I wasn't able to do it as the stencils require several rotations to color in the entire image, so the outline is required to guide the stencil coloring.

Leave White Space When Stencil Coloring

I used the Mini Blending Brush Set to ink blend on the color using the coordinating Fairy Tale Florals 2-in-1 Coloring Stencil. These are smaller brushes that allow for more focused ink blending.

I used Pastel Sunrise Crisp Dye Ink for the main flowers, swiping in the ink from the edge towards the center of the petal, but not completely coating the petal so that there was a white ‘highlight' in the center. I then used Canyon Clay Ink in the center, adding it more darkly and blending out ever so slightly to just add a hint of shading.

For the leaves, I used Chamomile Ink, blending from the base towards the tip, leaving the white space toward the tip. I then darkened at the very base of the leaves using Snapdragon Ink.

You might find you have blended over and covered up some of the stamped images, (or if you're starting with stenciling only) you can then add it back into your MISTI and re-stamp over the top with the original color.

Add Depth with Stamped Details In Your Stencil Coloring Inks and Add White Gel Pen Details

The Fairy Tale Florals also comes with ‘layering stamps' that act as shading, although they look more like cross-hatching. I stamped these in the darkest of the colors I'd already used – Snapdragon for the leave veins and Canyon Clay for the florals. I added white gel pen detail to the centers to shine up the leaves and then die cut the entire piece.

To finish, I dry embossed a panel of Birch Wood Paper using the Walnut Branch 3D Embossing Folder and adhered the die-cut floral over the top with foam tape.

I finished with a layered sentiment from the All About You Word Die Set, using Gold Mirror and Vellum, and scattered a few Antique Gold Sequins to finish.

You can see the step-by-step tutorial in my bi-monthly Stylish Cardmaking Techniques with Jenny video:

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