Stencil Colouring Made Easy

For this technique I have used large patterned dies and added colour either to the die-cut or used the die-cut as a stencil to colour through.

You could use any die for this technique but large patterned dies are great, as when you colour them you can create a number of patterns using different colours. To colour the die-cuts or colour through the stencils I have used Spectrum Noir ColourBlend Pencils. These are a high pigment pencil and the colours will blend easily.

If you wish to colour the die-cut, as in the ‘Happy birthday’ and ‘Hello’ cards, use a good quality cardstock to die-cut from. This ensures that when you add the coloured pencils the colour goes on smoothly and will blend well. Once the die-cut is coloured, mount onto a dark card blank to make the colours stand out.

To use the die-cut as a stencil cut from a thin white cardstock and spray the back of the stencil with repositionable adhesive – this will hold all areas of the stencil in place. Place the stencil over a dark colour card blank and use the pencils to colour through all of the openings. For a more intense colour, try applying a layer of white pigment ink over the stencil before colouring. When applying the ink dab the inkpad over the stencil – do not rub the ink over the card as it may go under the stencil. Remove the stencil and heat the ink to dry. You can then colour over the white ink carefully without replacing the stencil.

When colouring either the die-cut or through the stencils, think about how you will colour to create a pattern or areas of interest within the die-cut. You can use just one method of adding the colour or you can use the different methods together on smaller areas for your design. I hope this inspires you to use your die-cuts in a different way!