I’m a sucker for a silhouette. I adore the simplicity of these images while somehow still showing so much detail. I also love it when I can ‘cheat’ with a background scene. So this project, created at the beginning of the month for World Cardmaking Day, was a match made in heaven.

SILHOUETTE COUPLE

I began my project with this image of a couple in the rain from the Silhouette Scenes Stamp Set. The key to a good silhouette is making the image really dark, it doesn’t have to be black, but dark is important. So to be extra certain I mounted the stamp onto one of the hinged plates on my Stamparatus.

Next I went looking for something to inspire my background. I had originally planned to sponge it using inks, but instead found the ideal piece in the Snowflake Splendor Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack. This particular pattern is more moody sky than snowflakes and perfectly fitted my image.

So I cut a piece of the DSP and placed it onto the Stamparatus platform. Then using Tuxedo Black ink I stamped the image onto the DSP. As I suspected, the initial image was a bit blotchy, so I simply inked up the stamp again and re-stamped it in exactly the same place. In fact I repeated this process a couple of times until I was completely happy with it.

THE PERFECT PLACE

From the Silhouette Scenes Stamp Set I then chose my sentiment “Together is the perfect place to be”.

I made sure the stamp was completely clean and placed it onto the DSP on my Stamparatus where I wanted it to go. Then I shut the second hinged plate to pick it it up. At this point I removed the stamped DSP and replaced it with some Small Grid Paper. Then I inked up the sentiment and stamped onto the grid paper. The lines on the grid paper allowed me to check that the sentiment was straight and level and I could adjust it if necessary.

As it turned out it was fine so I put the DSP back onto the Stamparatus platform, inked up the sentiment again and stamped. To make it really dark and crisp I inked up the sentiment one last time and stamped it once more on the DSP. Now all I had to do was put my card project together.

First, using my Paper Trimmer I cut and scored some Misty Moonlight Card. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder to create my card base.

Next I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) to mount the stamped DSP onto a layer of Basic Black Card. Then I fixed the layers onto the front of my card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

With that done I glued a 3/4″ strip of the DSP along the bottom edge of a layer of Whisper White Card. This layer was fixed inside the card base to provide somewhere to write the message.

Finally I cut one last piece of the DSP and glued it to the flap of a Whisper White Medium Envelope. Using Paper Snips I trimmed the DSP using the edge of the flap as a guide. In no time at all my simple but striking project was complete.

For another project using the Silhouette Scenes Stamp set see my blog post Easy sunset with sponge brayers.

PRODUCT LIST

LAST CHANCE – Today is the final day of the Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper Sale, and your last chance to save 15%. The Snowflake Splendor DSP used today is included in that offer, but the sale ends at 11.59 pm Mountain Time. Don’t miss out!