Comparing Technique Variations - with the Same Color Palette
One of the classes from Concord & 9th Summer Camp 2025 used an inlay die and coordinating layering stencils. (Those products were exclusive to the event, but this same approach applies to other dies and stencils also, so I thought it was worth sharing, for the process and results.
Approach:
Most of the details for techniques here were part of the class, so I won’t go into detail here, but you can see that the background is created with the stencils only - and not the inlay cover die.
I chose a different color palette than the class, and pulled in a bright but cool blend of Starfruit, Sprout, and Lakefront. (Honestly, the Sprout probably wasn’t even necessary, as the other two colors would blend to create a similar hue, but I did use the Sprout here.)
The greeting is white embossing on Lakefront cardstock.
Techniques:
For this one, the background is stenciled, but with the inlay die cut outline layered on top of it.
I also added the inlay pieces around the flowers and butterflies. (I used Mushroom cardstock for those.)
Colors:
cardstock: Concord & 9th Mushroom, White.
ink: Concord & 9th Pink Lemonade, Pimento, Sunflower, Clementine.
Side-by-side comparison of cards 2 and 3: stenciled background vs. cardstock inlay.
Techniques:
I thought it would be fun to do a comparison of that same color palette used on card 2 with the inlay die and cardstock only.
Cardstock colors used are the same as the combined set of ink & cardstock colors used for card 2.
Pulling in one of the background colors along with white for the sentiment added another variation as well. I chose a greeting that was all dies, to continue that die cut & card stock style.
Colors:
cardstock: Concord & 9th Pink Lemonade, Pimento, Sunflower, Clementine, Mushroom. White.
Techniques:
I often want to keep going with more variations, so I allowed myself one more (so far) for this series. This one is inlay again, no stencil.
Two twists were added for this card: some open “window” shapes that show the inside, and I switched up the inlay frame and used it in one of the colors instead of white. Making that shift changes the way the colors work together a bit, and it allows the contrast of the white peeks inside the card to stand out more.
A smaller butterfly die fit inside the shaped window, and I used coordinating colors of enamel dots on one of each butterfly color for an additional layer of accent and detail.
Colors:
cardstock: Concord & 9th Pink Lemonade, Pimento, Sunflower, Clementine, Mushroom. White.
Techniques:
Because I have a hard time stopping once I get going, here’s another that is more of a departure from the variations above. I created one with the inlay die cut frame only, and not the inlay pieces or stencil.
This one is a play with positive and negative spaces. I offset the frame at an angle to create visual interest and dynamic shapes with the angles.
I used Kristina Werner Design’s Simple Dots Background Stamp to add a very subtle texture (within the frame die cut only), using white ink.
When placing the die cut frame and background stamp, I also made sure there was just enough space for the sentiment off the side of the die. I intentionally planned it to fit just right, but without being too tight to either edge.
A trio of butterflies, cut from cardstock just one shade deeper than the background appear to fly out of the frame and toward the simple greeting, and beyond the card.
Placing the most detailed butterfly next to the greeting, and overlapping the edge of the frame, gives it the most visual weight which creates a strong focal point. The fact that it is the only butterfly with a second “color” of white also enhances that.
Colors:
cardstock: Concord & 9th Pimento, Powder, Harbor. White.
Thank you for visiting!
I hope you get some time to create something soon.