STAINED GLASS WINDOWS

Have you ever noticed the cool Graceful Glass 6" x 6" Designer Vellum on the bottom of page 165 of the Annual Catalog? If you haven't, take the time to go to that page. Look at a few of the samples on page 164 to see how the Stampin' Up! designers used some of these papers. Exquisite, huh?

So my girls could get a taste of these lovely vellum papers, I cut a few of the sheets into quarters, giving them two designs from which to choose for their project at the October Stamp-In.

I'd made up sample cards for each of the designs so they could see possibilities. When I am doing a workshop (class), I encourage my attendees to do whatever they'd like to a project to make it their very own. Just because I did it one way doesn't mean that is the best or only way to create it. 

Using the Stampin' Blends to color the stained glass window looking designs, I pointed out in my two samples the difference: in the first one, I colored in every bit of the design, while in the second sample, I colored in some of the features, but left lots of white space. In my opinion, they are equally beautiful. No right way. No wrong way.

Unfortunately, at the time we did these cards, I had a very limited palette of Stampin' Blends from which to choose for their creations. I have since discovered that I love love love Stampin' Blends and as of right now, I can report that I possess 16 sets of the lights/darks plus the Bronze pen. So I have 33 to color with! More to come I am sure. 

Anyway, back to the cards. I felt that since the "windows" were lovely and striking enough on their own that I wanted them to be the stars. So I kept the rest of the card at a minimum.

A close-up of my first sample in which I colored in every part of the design.

The second design where I left lots of white spaces:

A close-up of the second sample.

If you would like to follow along with how I put together the rest of the cards, please read on for the tutorial.

SUPPLIES:

Graceful Glass 6x6 Designer Vellum (page 165 of the Annual Catalog)

Black cardstock

Whisper White cardstock

Stampin' Blends (page 204-205 in the Annual Catalog)

Black ink

Wishing You Well stamp set (page 35 of the Holiday Catalog)

Big Shot

Subtle Embossing Folder (page 223 of the Annual Catalog)

Circle Die

Black Rhinestones

Stampin' Dimensionals

INSTRUCTIONS:

Color your chosen design using Stampin' Blends. Color on the side that is embossed.

Fold a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of Whisper White cardstock in half, creasing it well with a bone folder.

With equal margins on the top and sides, use the circle die to cut out an opening in a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of black cardstock. The circle should be of a size that nicely encompasses the design. Once you have your opening, run it through the Big Shot again, this time inside the Subtle Embossing Folder.

On a 1/2" x 2 1/2" piece of Whisper White cardstock, stamp the greeting in black ink. Add black rhinestones to either side of the sentiment. Adhere this to the black portion about 1/2" beneath the cut-out circle.

On the back side of the black piece, attach the vellum. I used tape to adhere mine. Just be sure to keep whatever adhesive you choose outside the open circle area.

Attach a Stampin' Dimensional to each of the corners of the black piece, as well as one in the center below the bottom of the open circle. Add it to the card front.

Stained

Smiles.