Today, I am sharing with you an elk Christmas card with a blended ink background. I have a few handmade Christmas card designs to share with you this year, and I used the blended ink technique on all of them.
I know you love making Christmas cards as much as I do, but sometimes it is challenging to come up with a new design each season. So I wanted to give you a head start with this easy and neat elk Christmas card.
With this card tutorial, I will also show you how to blend inks to create a beautiful backdrop for the elk die cut. This technique has been around for a while, but this is the first card that I have used it on. If you’ve been wanting to incorporate this into your cardmaking, then this is a great card to start with.
And this card will let you give your family and friends a one-of-a-kind Christmas card! As I have said before, I think that handmade cards are mini works of art. Really, this card is a unique, mini gift itself.
Watch my Handmake Elk Christmas Card With Blended Ink Background video here:
What Is The Blended Ink Technique?
Basically, the blended ink technique means that you use brushes or dabbers to blend two or more different colors of ink. In the video above, my intention was to blend three colors (pink, blue, green), but I ended up using four colors (added purple) because I didn’t like pink.
In the end, I decided the best approach was to use blue and purple in the elk Chrismas card with blended ink background.
Stacked Layer Technique
Another technique that I use in the elk card (on all my Christmas cards this year!) is stacked layers. I recently discovered this technique while admiring cards by other cardmakers in a Facebook group.
This technique means that you need to cut three copies of your embellishment or sentiment. Once all the layers are cut, you will glue them one on top of the other before adding the embellishment to the card.
Gluing the layers together provides a way to add depth to your card and is a substitute for using foam dots or squares.
Stacked layers give a lot cleaner look to the card than foam dots.
On the elk Christmas card, I use stacked layers for both the elk and the Merry Christmas sentiment.
Elk Embellishment
I created the elk SVG for you to use to make this card. You can find it in my Maker Library. If you haven’t signed up for all my free resources, you can do it here.
Elk can be found where I work and live quite often. In fact, I usually can watch elk herds walk by my office windows each week. Over the years, I’ve taken a lot of photos (from a safe distance).
Public Service Announcement: Please be smart when you see wild animals like elk in a national park. Yes, they are awe-inspiring creatures, but don’t get too close. It can end badly for you and for the animal. The National Park Service has provided information on wildlife viewing.
To make this elk SVG, I traced a photo that I had taken. It cuts and stacks well. One word of caution, though. Don’t cut the image too small. The antlers are thin and can be difficult to glue when they are tiny.
For your convenience, I included affiliate links which means I may make a commission, but it won’t cost you any more. Read my entire disclosure here.
Materials and Supplies
- White cardstock
- Black cardstock
- Inkpads in two or three colors
- Blender brushes or dabbers
- Paper cutter
- Scor Pal
- Elk Christmas Card files (item #22) in Maker Library
- Bearly Art glue
- Cricut Maker 3
Let’s make an elk Christmas card with a Blended Ink Background
This is a three-layer card that is primarily made with white cardstock. #cleanandsimplecardmaking
You will need a base card. I made my cards 5×7 inches, so I cut my cardstock 10×7 inches.
The middle layer is 4 3/4 x 6 3/4 inches and is the layer on which you will create the blended background.
The top layer features a circle (3 1.4 diameter) cut-out that features the blended ink background. Cut the top layer to 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches.
Download the cut files for this project from my Maker Library (join here), and then upload them to your cutting program. I use Cricut Design Space.
Step 1: Cut, Score, and Fold Cardstock
I use the same Recollections white cardstock for all the layers. While you can use a Cricut or other cutting machine to cut all the layer pieces, I only used my Cricut Maker 3 for the top layer with a circle.
I used my Fiskars paper cutter to cut the base card and the middle layer.
When you cut the base card layer, score it in the middle and fold. I used my ScorePal for scoring. It is so much easier than folding then creasing the card
Step 2: Blend the Inks
Decide on two or three inks. I like blending two colors, such as blue and purple. With this card, I started with three colors-pink, blue, and green (all Distress Inks). Then I decided I did not like the pink, so added a purple (Distress Oxide) on top of the pink.
Since I made several of these cards, I eventually used just two colors-blue and purple.
I would suggest that you choose a few colors and try blending them on scrap paper to see how they interact and which combinations you like best. To blend, use a brush or finger dabber.
Take one of the circle cards and use it as your guide or stencil for blending. Center it on the middle layer and blend the inks inside the circle. Start the blending motion of the brush on the stencil to avoid harsh lines in your background.
Step 3: Cut the Elk and Merry Christmas Sentiment
If you haven’t already uploaded the elk SVG, go ahead and do it now. Resize if you need to do so. I cut at the size that it is when you uploaded it.
I cut the elk on black cardstock so that it gives a silhouette effect on the card. When I clicked ‘Make It’, I filled up the page with copies, so that I could cut multiple. Remember that you will stack these, so you will need to cut three for each card you make. Follow the instructions on the screen to cut the elk image.
Slowly and carefully remove the elk images from the mat. The antlers are small and then and will tear easily. To remove the elk, turn the mat face down and peel the mat away from the cut images.
Glue three elk layers together to make the stacked elk. I used Bearly Art glue with the precision tip.
You will do the same for the Merry Christmas sentiment. The sentiment is in two layers. One layer is the writing layer, and the other layer is the offset. You will need to cut two offset layers for each card. I glued two offset layers to one writing layer for the stacked effect.
Step 4: Layer and Finish the Handmade Elk Christmas Card with a Blended Ink Background
First, take the middle layer with the blended background and align it on the base card. I used the Bearly Art glue for all layers.
Next, take the top layer with the circle, align it over the middle layer, and glue it.
After gluing all the layers together, glue the elk stack near the bottom of the circle on the top layer. Then center and glue the sentiment near the bottom of the top layer.
Interested In Making Other Christmas Cards?
Step-by-Step Last Minute Christmas Card
How To Make A Delightful Handmade Christmas Tree Card
Craft Simple, But Marvelous Handmade Christmas Cards With Cardstock
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