Try these 2 simple stenciling techniques to create the illusion of layers!

Hello Altenew friends! Hannelie here today, sharing a colorful one-layer card I made using a combination of two simple stenciling techniques. By using these two techniques, I was able to create a one-layer card that looks like it has layers. I used a playful yet harmonious color palette of yellow, orange, green, and pink, which gives the card a cheerful spring vibe!

I used the Dancing Drops Stencil to showcase the combination of the two stenciling techniques, but you can achieve a similar effect with most background stencils in your stash!

The two stenciling techniques I used are:

1. Masking.
2. Tone on tone stenciling.

Many of you are already familiar with both techniques, but let’s take a quick look at what each one means.

• Masking is a technique where you cover parts of your card with a temporary barrier—like masking paper, low-tack tape, or die-cut shapes—as protection from ink or other mediums. This allows you to create clean, sharp edges, layered effects, or preserve white space. Once the ink blending is complete, you remove the mask to reveal a crisp, untouched area underneath—perfect for sentiments, focal points, or the illusion of depth in a one-layer card.
• Tone-on-tone stenciling is a subtle decorative technique where a stencil design is applied using a color that is very close in shade to the background color. This creates a low-contrast effect that adds texture and depth without overwhelming the surface.

To make today's card, using two simple stenciling techniques, you will need :

1. White card stock.
2. Dancing Drops stencil.
3. Stampwheel or Sticky mat.
4. Fuchsia, Mid Yellow, Lime and Orange Cream Fresh Dye inks.
5. Masking tape.
6. Blending brushes – Large Blending brush for the first lighter layer of color, and Mini Blending Brush for the second darker layer of color.
7. Obsidian black ink.
8. Sentiment from the Linear Spiral background stamp set.
9. Enamel dots.

Step by step instructions to make today's card :

1. Trim and fold the white card stock to create an A2 size card.
2. Secure the folded card onto the sticky mat of the Stampwheel.
3. Use low-tack masking tape to mask off the edges and create four blocks of varying sizes for applying the different ink colors.
   
4. Choose a different color for each block, and begin applying a light layer of ink to each one. Using a large blending brush will help you achieve a smooth, softly blended effect.
   
5. Secure your selected background stencil onto the card base
6. Using a mini blending brush, apply a second layer of ink through the stencil, making sure to match the darker layer to the lighter base color in each block for a subtle tone-on-tone effect.
   
7. Carefully remove the stencil and peel away the masking tape to reveal the magic!
   
8. Leave the card positioned onto the Stampwheel and stamp the sentiment using Obsidian black ink.
9. Embellish the card with your choice of embellishment. I used black enamel dots.

Take a look at the completed card using two simple stenciling techniques:

I love how this card turned out—simple yet layered in illusion! It’s a fun way to stretch your supplies and experiment with color ! If you’re not set on keeping the card one-layered, adding a bold die-cut sentiment can elevate the design beautifully.

I hope this project sparked some inspiration and showed you just how fun and effective tone-on-tone stenciling with masking can be—especially when you're aiming for that clean, layered look on a single-layer card. The color combo of pink, orange, yellow, and green really brings the design to life, but feel free to make it your own with colors that speak to you! Have you tried either of these techniques before? I’d love to hear how you’ve used them—or how you might combine them in your next project. Let’s keep the creativity flowing—drop a comment below or share your card with me on social media!

Happy crafting !

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