Horse whimsy

This horse stencil was one of the club member's stencils from  Clarity. I don't think it's one I'll get much use from (which is rare!) but our family in Somerset are horse mad, so it was perfect for my husband's aunt's birthday.

I started with stencil card, and blended a pale layer of green and blue distress ink over the whole thing.

I then placed the stencil over and pressed versamark through the aperture. I added clear embossing powder and heated to melt.

My versamark was a bit stained with blue, so the colour changed a little. I now have one I keep clean and just use for clear embossing - I do try to learn lessons!

I stamped a script stamp, also in versamark, and clear embossed this too.

I then added more ink, with the embossing acting as a resist. I darkened the green and blue, and added some of the script in blue as well.

With hindsight, I think I'd add more detail to the background before heat embossing, so the horse has more interest.

I watered down some silver paint and splattered it over the card. I also used it to tone down the bottom right corner, which I wasn't happy with.

I coloured a scrap of card with blue, and die cut the sentiment.

 I attached it to that problematic bottom right corner!

I edged in the green, then cut a mount and lightly coloured that with the blue to give a narrow frame, before adding to a 5x7 card blank.

I love the whimsical effect the blended colours and silver sparkles create, it has a lovely ethereal feel.