Faux Stained Glass Technique with Country Birdhouse stamp set

 Do you love card techniques? Here's one to put on your list to try- Faux Stained Glass. I love this technique and the shiny end result. You can use your favorite stamp images, colors and greeting with this technique and create a truly unique card. 

I love the look of stained glass. It is so beautiful and such a fun way to make art. So I created a faux stained glass card technique. You can use any stamps you like, any color combos you like and a few additional supplies to create a faux stained glass look. For this card, I used Country Birdhouse stamp set by Stampin' Up!®. I stamped my images in Memento Black ink. Then I drew in lines with a Basic Black Stampin' Write marker. You can draw in lines with a pencil first and then trace over them. If I want a greeting I stamp that too. After I have my lines drawn in, I use a color tool to add different colors to my sections. I prefer Stampin' Blends markers, however, you can use whatever you have. Don't be afraid to leave white space.  When you're done adding color, it's time for the magic to happen. Apply versamark ink all over your layer. *see video. Then cover it with clear embossing powder. This can be a tad tricky as you need to hold onto the very edge carefully. I lay mine down on my grid paper to heat set it. Once all the powder has been melted, tilt it around to make sure you didn't miss any spots with the heat. Let your layer cool for a minute. Now you repeat the embossing process. I do at least 2 coats of clear embossing. You can do 3 or 4 if you like. Don't have versamark or embossing powder? That's ok. Skip this step. You'll still have a beautiful and unique card. 

Here's an up-close view of the finished layer. You can see all the little imperfections in the finish. This gives it a true stained glass look. Layering the clear embossing several times, helps you achieve this look. Isn't it just beautiful?! 

Let your layer cool for a few minutes. The edge may curl a bit. mine usually do. I added my layer to a piece of Basic Black cardstock. If you don't want an extra layer or don't have black cardstock, You can finish off the edge with your black marker to make a border. ** You'll need to do this before you heat emboss. 

Because you've heated the layer several times and it can be a bit unruly, you'll want to use a strong adhesive to help it adhere to your black layer or card base. I prefer liquid multipurpose glue or tear n' tape adhesive. The liquid glue gives you a little wiggle room to get your layer straight but needs help while drying to stay put. I place clean, clear blocks on top of my layer while it dries. Tear n' Tape bonds instantly and doesn't need extra weight to adhere. Use what you have and what you are comfortable with. You can also use Seal+.

Here's another card I made with Citrus Blooms stamp set by Stampin' Up!®. I absolutely love the oranges. You can see all the texture in the up-close pic of the layer. I just love the finished look of the faux stained glass technique. 

Watch the Facebook Live replay here or over on my YouTube Channel.

Want to see more ideas with this technique? Check out my Stained Glass Card Technique- Check out this amazing technique post. 

Supplies I used for this card:

• Country Birdhouse stamp set by Stampin' Up!®
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Basic Black Stampin' Write marker
• Stampin' Blends Markers: Lemon Lime Twist, Granny Apple Green, Smoky Slate, Balmy Blue, Azure Afternoon, Blueberry Bushel, Natural Tones Medium, Medium Deep and Deep, and Pecan Pie.
• Versamark watermark ink
• Clear embossing powder
• Heat tool
• Basic White, Basic Black and Azure Afternoon cardstocks
• Basic card making supplies: trimmer, clear blocks, grid paper
• Tear n' Tape adhesive or liquid glue

Card Measurements:

1. Card base: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" scored at 4 1/4"
2. Basic Black: 5 1/4" x 4"
3. Basic White: 5" x 3 3/4" (2, one for inside)

Browse my online store to see stamps and the other supplies I used. *Country Birdhouse stamp set is on the Last Chance section so it's retiring soon and while supplies last. 

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Beth