Reflections Cards

Have you seen those reflections cards with beautiful water reflections and wondered how they are made? They are easier to make than you might think!

All you will need are your stamps, inks and other papercrafting tools/supplies, plus a sheet of acetate or plastic. I also used my brayer to make my card. I used the retired Wild About You stamp set and the Occasional Greetings stamp set (also retired) from Stampin' Up! to make my card.

Here's What To Do:

Start with your background. I chose Whisper White cardstock and brayered Bordering Blue ink on one side to make the water, then Old Olive ink on the other side to make the grass. Load up your brayer with ink then start lightly laying colour down off the cardstock but just next to it, so you will avoid having lines on your cardstock instead of soft, blended edges.

See how you wind up with a lighter area in the middle of your image when you brayer colour onto it from either side?

Once your background is to your liking, ink up your image with black Stazon ink and stamp it on the grass. I didn't cover the whole stamp with ink as I wanted my crocodile to be a bit fuzzier in the water, but then I made a second rub on with a fuller inked image as I didn't like the first effect. Go ahead and experiment to get just the look you want. I placed my crocodile in the centre but you could place him anywhere, as long as he is next to the water.

Now here is the secret to making Reflections Cards. Take your acetate or plastic and ink up your same stamp again, then stamp the image onto the plastic. Flip the plastic over to make a mirror image and ensure the inked image is face down on the card where you want it to appear in the water. Rub over the image with your brayer for a lighter effect, or treat it as a rub-on and use your bone folder to transfer the refection to the water.

Once you have your reflection the way you want it, tear two pieces of paper and tape them down to make a strip of ground in between. Slip your card image underneath and line it up so that the exposed card shows your ground line. Brayer some Close to Cocoa ink on the exposed bits, adding layers of colour till you are happy with the result.

I added more touches such as shadows to the 'real' crocodile by colouring him in a bit with some Stamp 'n' Write markers. Then I stamped the bird and the flowers in colour using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to position them. And I finished my card with some leftover Christmas designer series paper and some neutral brads from Stampin' Up! before adding my sentiment in a crooked line. Well, crocodiles are crooked critters, aren't they? Or am I wrong? Lol!

I trust you will try making some Reflections Cards now and hopefully will let me see the result. I have seen some beautiful cards made with tree stamps, for example.

Go on - give it a try!

Do You Have A Favourite Handmade Card to Share?

Do you make greeting cards? Please do share it with me.

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