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Stretch Your Stencils with Ombré Ink Blending | Kathleen Schmelz

Stretch Your Stencils with Ombré Ink Blending | Kathleen Schmelz

29 Jul 2026 0 Comments

Hi everyone! It's Kathleen with you today and I wanted to share a closer look at a card I started creating during a recent YouTube Live stream but didn't get the time to finish.

In this Live session I shared two different ink blending ideas with the Wildflower Notes stencil and finished the card with the "traditional" stenciling. If you missed it, make sure to check out the replay below!

If you’re not familiar, we go live on our YouTube channel every Tuesday at noon CT for a fun, 60-minute cardmaking session—complete with amazing inspiration, lively chat, and of course, giveaways! So don't miss out!

*Disclaimer: All products used are linked below as clickable images. If a product isn’t listed, it’s been discontinued.

For the second card, instead of ink blending each part of the design or each stencil with a different color, I used all of the colors for each stencil layer to create a fun ombré effect! It's a great way to give a design a fresh new look and to stretch your supplies - especially stand-alone stencils!

Let's take a look at how you can recreate this sparkly shaker card:

  1. Card Base:
    1. (1) A2 top-folding from white cardstock
    2. Dry emboss the card front with the Sunlit Garden press plate.
  2. Wildflower Notes: 
    1. Ink blend the Wildflower Notes stencil on an A2 panel of white cardstock.
    2. Use the same colors for each stencil, going from top to bottom: Hydrangea, Cherry Blossom, Citron, and Sage. Add Calico White to the large flower centers.
    3. Die cut the ink-blended panel with the third-largest Dotted Nested Deckled Rectangle die & set aside.
      Tip: If you place the die centered onto the panel, you can keep the off-cut for a second card!
  3. Shaker Element:
    1. Tape the third and fourth-largest Dotted Nested Deckled Rectangle dies together and die cut (3) white cardstock frames and (1) Silver Glitter Cardstock frame.
    2. Back the silver glitter frame with Heat-Resistant Acetate.
    3. Stack and adhere the white cardstock frames to the back.
    4. Treat the inside of the acetate with anti-static powder, then brush off any excess to prevent the glitter or sequins from sticking to the acetate.
    5. Adhere the ink-blended panel to the back of the frame, aligning the edges to seal the shaker.
    6. Adhere the shaker element centered onto the card front.
  4. Sentiment: Hot foil (or heat emboss) a sentiment of your choice in silver. Die cut & stack it with (2) blank pieces, then adhere on top of the shaker element.
  5. Embellish to your liking, e.g. using Iridescent Dew Drops.

I hope you feel inspired by these projects and give this ombré stenciling technique a try! And if you want to know how to create the other card, make sure to watch the YouTube Live replay.

And as always, we’d love to see what you create—don’t forget to tag us on social media (@pinkfreshstudio and @cardsandconfetti) so we can admire your amazing work.

Thanks so much for stopping by today & I hope you feel inspired to try these ideas!

    Pinkfresh Studio Supplies

  • Wildflower Notes stencil

    Create soft, colorful floral backgrounds with the Wildflower Notes layering stencil set, designed by Inna Moreva. This standalone stencil set features sweet wildflowers. Key Features: Precision-cut designs feature crisp, clean stencil openings. The product name and registration marks are etched into the stencil for easy...
    $15.00
    $15.00
  • Dotted Nested Deckled Rectangles die

    Add texture, dimension, and perfectly layered frames to your handmade cards with the Dotted Nested Deckled Rectangles die set. This Essentials design features deckled edges and dotted details. Details: 7 pieces, largest 4 1/8" x 5 3/8", smallest 1 1/8" x 2 1/2" Made of...
    $19.00
    $19.00
  • Cardinal Kiss press plate

    Experience the elegance and sophistication of letterpress stationery with this gorgeous press plate, designed by Manushree Mishra. Created to work seamlessly with the BetterPress Letterpress System from Spellbinders, this innovative press plate offers the elegant look of letterpress without the mess. You can also...
    $18.00
    $18.00
  • Cardinal Kiss die

    Use the coordinating die to cut out the design, giving you more time to create! This die set features a hidden magnet in the packaging, keeping the multiple pieces securely in place. Coordinating products for purchase separately: Cardinal Kiss stamp Cardinal Kiss stencil Cardinal...
    $19.00
    $19.00
  • Sunlit Garden press plate

    Experience the elegance and sophistication of letterpress stationery with this gorgeous press plate, designed by Inna Moreva. Created to work seamlessly with the BetterPress Letterpress System from Spellbinders, this innovative press plate offers the elegant look of letterpress without the mess. You can also...
    $24.00
    $24.00
  • Essentials Glitter Cardstock: Silver

    Your paper crafting creations will sparkle & shine with our Silver glitter cardstock pack! Our high quality 8.5” x 11” glitter cardstock is 250 gsm, non-shedding and easy to diecut. For more intricate dies, you may need to use a metal shim or the...
    $7.50
    $7.50
  • Heat-Resistant Acetate Sheets

    Craft with confidence using Heat-Resistant Acetate Sheets. These clear sheets are perfect for shaker cards, windows, card bases, and overlays. The durable, heat-resistant quality allows for heat embossing and hot foiling without warping. Each sheet cuts easily with dies or paper trimmers, giving you clean,...
    $8.00
    $8.00
  • Premium Dye Ink Pad : Hydrangea

    Our USA-made premium dye ink is acid-free, making it perfect for stamping on cards and in scrapbooks. We've included a raised felt pad surface for perfectly crisp coverage on stamped images of any size. This ink is fast-drying and ideal for water-based techniques. USA-made...
    $5.63
    $7.50
    $5.63
  • Premium Dye Ink Pad : Cherry Blossom

    Our USA-made premium dye ink is acid-free, making it perfect for stamping on cards and in scrapbooks. We've included a raised felt pad surface for perfectly crisp coverage on stamped images of any size. This ink is fast-drying and ideal for water-based techniques. USA-made...
    $5.63
    $7.50
    $5.63
  • Premium Dye Ink Pad : Citron

    Our USA-made premium dye ink is acid-free, making it perfect for stamping on cards and in scrapbooks. We've included a raised felt pad surface for perfectly crisp coverage on stamped images of any size. This ink is fast-drying and ideal for water-based techniques. USA-made...
    $5.63
    $7.50
    $5.63
  • Premium Dye Ink Pad : Sage

    Our USA-made premium dye ink is acid-free, making it perfect for stamping on cards and in scrapbooks. We've included a raised felt pad surface for perfectly crisp coverage on stamped images of any size. This ink is fast-drying and ideal for water-based techniques. USA-made...
    $5.63
    $7.50
    $5.63
  • EasyBlend Grip Mat 6.5" x 8.5"

    EasyBlend Grip Mat Stick Smarter. Blend Better. Create Freely. The EasyBlend Grip Mat gives you the perfect balance of hold and release. Secure enough to keep cardstock in place, yet gentle enough for clean, damage-free removal. No more tape, no more shifting, no more...
    $28.00
    $28.00
  • 1” blending brushes

    Introducing our sleek & modern 1” Blending Brush set, dubbed by Jennifer McGuire as "The Magic Brushes". The larger brush size easily blends ink on larger surfaces.    Each set includes (3) 1” blending brushes that offer a white lacquer handle with the Pinkfresh...
    $18.50
    $18.50
  • Precision Clear Craft Glue .5 oz

    This premium glue is ideal for use in papercrafting. The pen-style applicator features a fine, precision tip, allowing for detailed and accurate application. The glue goes on white, ensuring visibility during use, and dries crystal clear for a professional finish. It’s water-based and acid-free,...
    $5.00
    $5.00
  • Precision Clear Craft Glue 2 oz

    This premium glue is ideal for use in papercrafting. The applicator features a fine, precision tip, allowing for detailed and accurate application. The large 2-oz size offers excellent value. The glue goes on white, ensuring visibility during use, and dries crystal clear for a...
    $10.00
    $10.00
  • Dual Tip Embellishment Tool

    Our Dual Tip Embellishment Tool is made of brass that matches our other Studio Essentials products PERFECTLY! Each metal side is sturdy & high quality, and you can really feel that when you pick the tool up. It's not heavy, but it feels just...
    $16.00
    $16.00
  • Dew drops: Iridescent

    1 pack of iridescent dew drops in mixed sizes (3mm/4mm/5mm/6mm). Each Dew Drop is flat-backed and can be easily adhered to a paper crafting project using liquid glue and a jewel pick or tweezers.
    $5.00
    $5.00
  • Triangle Brass Tray

    Sleek and stunning, our brass triangle tray is perfect for showcasing embellishments you want to add to your cards or paper crafting projects! Simply shake a few embellishments into the tray, then use an embellishment wand, tweezers or your fingers to pick out the...
    $10.00
    $10.00
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