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How To Use Stencils 4 Amazing Ways | Altenew Hop

Learn how to use stencils 4 amazing ways here on my blog! Join us on the Altenew Geometry & Nature Blog Hop and you’ll learn a lot more than 4 ways!

Altenew Geometry & Nature Blog Hop

Big thanks to the lovely Laura Bassen for sending you over to my blog. No doubt she had some incredible rainbow creations to delight you! If you’d like to start at the beginning of the hop, head to the Altenew Card Blog.


All the details on how to use stencils 4 amazing ways are in this short cardmaking video tutorial. Watch her or in HD on YouTube. While you’re there I’d love it if you like, subscribe, and share with your crafty friends!


Geometry & Nature Full Release

Introducing the Altenew Geometry & Nature Stencil Release. Whether you prefer organized lines or organic patterns, this stencil release has you covered!

Dry Embossing With Stencils

Altenew Woven Stencil

There are so many different ways to use stencils and one of my all-time faves is dry embossing.

How to Use Stencils 4 Amazing Ways

The trick to dry emboss with stencils is to find the perfect sandwich for your embossing machine. For my Sizzix Big Shot, I use the following sandwich from bottom to top.

  • Base plate
  • Cutting plate
  • Two Spellbinders Embossing Mats
  • Savoy 100% Cotton Letterpress Cardstock
  • Stencil
  • Cutting plate

If your Neenah cardstock cracked while dry embossing, try less pressure with a thinner sandwich or use a different cardstock. I love my Neenah, but it’s not always the best choice for every project.

I recommend Savoy 100% Cotton Letterpress cardstock. It’s heavyweight at 118 lb cover weight, uncoated, and is meant to be pressed for relief printing. It’s fabulous for ink blending and ink smooshing. And although I don’t have one, I imagine this would be a great option for hot press foil machines too!

Dry Emboss Stencil Printing

Altenew Leaf Bed Stencil

White on white is a classic look, but sometimes you need color. Elevate dry embossing by adding direct to stencil inking for dry emboss printing.

Altenew Leaf Bed Stencil & Woven Stencil

Here I inked up the Leaf Bed Stencil with Altenew Volcano Lake and Olive Crisp Dye Inks. Just pounce your ink pads on the stencil and spritz lightly with water so that the pigments mix.

Use your perfect sandwich, and add a sheet copy paper over the embossing pads to protect them from ink. Gently place the stencil on the letterpress paper, ink side down, and run through the machine to emboss.

Just look at that gorgeous watercolor dry embossing! I finished off the card with a bit of twine, a sentiment from Circled Sentiments Stamp Set, and Sea Shore and Tropical Forest Enamel Dots.

Dry Emboss Stencil Printing + Ink Blending

Altenew Sphere Stencil

Now that you’re a dry emboss printing pro, add another layer of color with secondary ink blending.

How to Use Stencils 4 Amazing Ways

First, ink up the Altenew Sphere Stencil with Warm Sunshine and Marigold Crisp Dye Inks. Wipe any excess ink off the solid are of the stencil with a baby wipe. Dry emboss as with previous projects.

Altenew Sphere Stencil

Gently remove and clean the stencil. Replace the stencil by wiggling it in place over the raised stripes. Ink blend with Altenew Persian Blue and Midnight Violet Crips Dye Inks. Here I used an Altenew Large Blending Tool.

I added a bit of shading with Midnight Violet to create the appearance of a 3-dimensional orb.

Altenew Bold Greetings Die & Sentiment Strips

Finish off the card with an Altenew Bold Greetings die-cut and a sentiment from Sentiments Strips Stamp Set die cut with Featured Sentiments Die Set.

This card feels really cool, so much that I just wanted to keep petting it. I wish you could see the texture in the photos!

Alcohol Marker Stencil Printing

Mighty Corners Stencil

Getting into tight spaces with ink pads can be challenging. For smaller areas or detailed stencils, try alcohol marker stencil printing.

How to Use Stencils 4 Amazing Ways

First, color the stencil with Altenew Cosmic Berry, Emerald, and Olive Artist Markers. Next, spritz with rubbing alcohol in a well ventilated area. Lastly, press your cardstock onto the inked stencil.

Gently remove the stencil and admire your alcohol marker stencil print!

Altenew Mighty Corners Stencil

Finish off the card with an Altenew Hello & Hugs die-cut and Sentiment Strips 2 sentiment.

That’s a wrap, guys! Let me know what you think in the comments below. Of course, that also enters you in the giveaway too! Be sure to leave some love on my crafty friend’s blogs too! Thanks for stopping by!


SENSATIONAL STENCILS + WATERCOLOR

Create quick and easy Christmas cards with stencils and watercolor.

Join us on the Altenew Educator blog hop for loads of stencil inspiration.


Special Offer

To celebrate this release, we are offering a free gift for a limited time.

  • Receive a FREE Gift (worth $5,99, brand new Geometry & Nature Stencil Release Inspiration Guide) with every order of the Geometry & Nature Stencil Release Bundle from 9/18/2020 at 12:01 am EDT until 9/20/2020 at 11:59 pm EDT.
  • Shop here The free gift will be added to your cart automatically while supplies last.

Pin It

If you love it, pin it, and share it with your crafty friends! Visit me on Pinterest for more design inspiration, patterns, and color combinations.

How to Use Stencils 4 Amazing Ways

Giveaway

To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $30 gift certificate to 3 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog by 09/23/2020 for a chance to win. 

We’ll also draw a winner to receive a $15 gift certificate from the comments left on each designer’s blog on the blog hop list below. All winners will be announced on the Altenew Winners Page on 09/26/2020.

Next Stop

The next stop on the hop is Victoria Calvin. Refer to the full list below so you don’t miss any crafty inspiraiton!

Altenew Card Blog
Therese Calvird
Laura Bassen
Amber Rain Davis <<< You Are Here
Victoria Calvin
Nicole Watt
Jenny Colacicco
Lilith Eeckels
LauraJane
Virginia Lu
Vicky Papaioannou
Nathalie DeSousa
Tenia Nelson
Laurie Willison
Lydia Fiedler
Norine Borys
Cheiron Brandon 
Erum Tasneem
Justine Hovey
Reiko Tsuchida
Laurel Beard
Tania Ahmed
Svitlana Shayevich

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65 Comments

  1. Sarina Parhawk says:

    What a unique way to play with stencils on the 2nd card! Gorgeous projects… Thank you for the inspiration!

  2. Amazing stenciling techniques, thanks for the inspiration Amber, your cards are fantastic!

  3. Lani Mararac says:

    I love your cards Amber! Thanks for sharing.

  4. Inkin' Chickie says:

    Great looks. I like the layers with the dry embossing. I haven’t tried this technique yet, but will have to give it a try.

  5. Lauryne Cunningham says:

    Wow! Gorgeous! I love your cards and ink techniques with the stencils! Your leaf card is amazing! I’m definitely giving this a try! Thanks for the video!

  6. Marisela Delgado says:

    Beautiful! Awesome cards!

  7. Denise Bryant says:

    Awesome cards! The Sphere Stencil design is a favorite! I have to remember to try embossing with stencils too… such a pretty effect!

  8. Thank you for sharing these colourful cards! I loved your techniques!

  9. Kristine Boydstun says:

    Gorgeous cards! The circle card is my favorite one, but the leaf stencil is very pretty, too!

  10. Amber Bissonnette says:

    Awesome new stencil release! I love your cards and colouring!!

  11. Beautiful cards. Thanks for sharing

  12. Lori Lehnen says:

    Such nice cards!
    Thanks for the step by step walk through of how you use your Big Shot to dry emboss.
    I have never tried this technique with mine, but you have inspired me to try it!

  13. Dawn Tooley says:

    Thanks for sharing your video with the different techniques! Love the cards!

  14. Wow…so many great ideas for using stencils…Love them all and your cards are sooo fantastic…

  15. Brilliant array of techniques as well as cards Amber. The Sphere stencil didn’t appeal to me at all when I saw it, but after seeing how you’ve used it, well, I’ve changed my mind & it is now on my wish list. Thanks for the great video as well.

  16. Noelia Gutierrez says:

    Those were all great tips that I will definitely try. The stencils you used are fabulous. As always, I enjoyed your video. Thanks a lot, Amber. Regards from Spain.

  17. Christine Hinds says:

    I am in love with the leaf card! But all them are great! Love the instructions too!

  18. I love all these techniques! Fabulous cards!

  19. Michelle P says:

    I’m loving all the ideas, especially the dry embossing with color. I can’t wait to give it a try!

  20. Super cards! Great colors and techniques. Thank you for the inspiration.

  21. Thanks for sharing those wonderful techniques using the beautiful new stencils.

  22. Cyndi Morris says:

    Thank you for sharing these wonderful techniques for using stencils. I’ve tried dry embossing with stencils and the results have been mixed. Next time I’ll try your tip of using two embossing mats! Your cards are amazing. It never occurred to me to use alcohol markers on the stencil, but that turned out beautifully.

  23. Amber, how do you think of some of these things? That first card kills me! I would never think to ink my stencils. Can’t wait to try this. Thank you for the inspiration.

  24. Oh my gosh, these cards are simply gorgeous! Love the loose watercolored look on the first and last one especially!

  25. Such lovely cards and great ideas for these stencils! Loved the video.

  26. I can’t decide which one is my fave because they are all so amazing!

  27. Edna Hinanay says:

    What fun techniques!

  28. Bonnie OHara says:

    This was amazing. Thanks so much!

  29. Wow. These cards are amazing! The sunset one is so striking. Thank you so much for sharing you creativity.

  30. Amazing cards, thanks for sharing these ideas.

  31. Ummekulsum Kutub says:

    Beautiful cards. The techniques are brilliant. I would have never thought of using alcohol markers on stencils.

  32. Marisela Delgado says:

    Gorgeous cards and colors! Just gorgeous! 💜 Love it!

  33. cindym4378 says:

    LOVE LEARNING THESE NEW TECHNIQUES…….especially loved the sphere + leaves! THANKS for sharing!

  34. Karen Walker says:

    The Sphere Stencil card is stunning! Thanks for all the great ideas.

  35. Very beautiful embossed cards. Thank for sharing yur technique and the letterpress paper.

  36. Denise Mlady says:

    These are great techniques! I didn’t know you could use alcohol markers on a stencil. All the cards are beautiful!!

  37. Meghan Kennihan says:

    I love the leaf one! All the geometric look so cool with the sentiments too!

  38. Thank you for showing new ways (at least to me they are new)to use stencils. I really appreciate seeing you using a Sizzix machine and explaining how to dry emboss with it as that’s the machine I have.

  39. Super neat cards with very helpful tips and techniques to use the products. Thanks for sharing. Always a good visit.

  40. Very pretty cards, and thanks for the video sharing all the tips on the various ways they can used!

  41. Very creative use of the stencils! Thank you so much for sharing the video. I’ll have to try dry embossing with the layers you suggested!

  42. Really love these cards, Amber — especially that stunning sphere!

  43. Christine A says:

    Amazing cards. I like especially like the bold and bright circle one.

  44. The woven stencil makes a wonderful pattern but the circle card is gorgeous!

  45. Patty A Eifert says:

    These are amazing, especially the sphere card! I bought that one and would love to recreate what you did with it!

  46. Carolyn R says:

    I haven’t watched the video yet but I love the Hello circle stencil card. Just beautiful!

  47. Delia Wilkes says:

    Loved your video, so informative. My favourite was the card using the Sphere Stencil. Just stunning. Love this stencil release.

  48. What a great video, Amber! I love these creative ideas & can’t wait to get those stencils. I have a few but forget about them. Thanks for the awesome inspiration!!

  49. Dorothy A says:

    Thank you for the great video with so many ideas on using stencils. I also really like the sphere stencil and your card. I just love all the different color inks you used.

  50. Beth Bice says:

    Love the circle stencil. Would be versatile to use on scrapbook pages too!

  51. Love your leaf stencil card. I love the water color look you created using it that way.
    Great stencil release!

  52. Beautiful cards. Love the ways you used the stencils. TFS

  53. Maureen Reiss says:

    Wow!!! Beautiful cards!!!

  54. Debbie Bonner says:

    Thanks Amber, I love the cards you made with these great new stencils.

  55. Bernadette says:

    Thanks for all the great ideas for using stencils in different ways!

  56. Barb Housner says:

    beautiful cards, I need to play with this technique again
    thanks for sharing

  57. All of your cards are amazing, but my favorite is the beautiful letter pressed leaves! They look so light and airy, and I love that technique. I am going to give it a try!

    1. Thanks so much, Michele! It’s such a simple technique that produces fabulous results every time. Happy crafting!

  58. Kathryn Eddy says:

    Gorgeous cards, Amber. I especially love the card made with the sphere stencil.