My current stamping love language is stamps with coordinating multi-layer stencils. I’m so glad that Stampin’ Up!™ has a few of them now and just added this particular set in the latest Online Exclusive release. I do have a wee gripe tho. I don’t understand why Stampin’ Up! continues to call them Decorative Masks when the rest of the world calls them stencils. It’s not like there’s something different about their stencils from the ones that you can get from other vendors (except the design, which of course is specific to Stampin’ Up!). Anyhow, I’m going to call them stencils in my posts because I’m contrary like that. 😁

I love the look that stencils create for coloring and the Blending Brushes make it so much easier to get a great look with the stencils. I do have one tip that I use when I’m combining a stamped outline image with stenciling to color the inside. If you stamp the outline first and then color with stencils, if the stamped ink is water-based (like Tuxedo Black) then stenciling in the color inside could cause the black ink to smudge and bleed a bit. There are a couple of options to avoid that bleeding. The first option is to use something like Staz On that won’t bleed with water-based ink. I used a different option because I don’t love the smell of Staz On ink, and it isn’t great to use it with photopolymer stamps. So… what’s the secret? It does require a stamp tool like the Stamparatus or Misti. First stamp the outline with a light ink – I used Basic Beige. Then use the stencils to color like normal. Because the outline ink is so light, if it bleeds at all it isn’t noticeable. Once the stenciled image is complete, then stamp the outline again with Tuxedo Black. The faint outline in Basic Beige is enough to see the image to line up the stencils and is easily covered again at the end with the black ink. Isn’t that cool?!?

This current challenge was the inspiration for my card. The large flowers in the Thankful Garden stamp set are perfect to create a card with a single-stamped image. I’m so glad that this challenge inspired me to ink up this new image from the great new stamp set.

Thankful Garden Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [165526] $24.00	Thankful Garden Decorative Masks [165538] $13.00	Greetings Of The Season Dies [164112] $32.00	Daffodil Delight 1/8" (3.2 Mm) Satin Ribbon [164715] $8.00
Adhesive Backed Shiny Sequins [163484] $7.50	Small Blending Brushes [160518] $14.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.25	Lemon Lolly 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [161720] $11.50
Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045] $11.50	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [166780] $14.00	Basic Beige Classic Stampin Pad [163806] $9.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $8.00
Lemon Lolly Classic Stampin' Pad [161666] $9.00	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad [147094] $9.00	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad [147087] $9.00	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [147090] $9.00
Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad [147111] $9.00