ThePowerOfACard

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

White Ink Techniques

Using white ink, whether it's from an ink pad and refill, or from a gel pen, is a great way to add texture, interest, color and fun into your card making repertoire! I will demonstrate eight techniques in my video, and then show you the card I made using that technique. I will be using the Whisper White Ink pad (which comes un-inked but with a refill bottle) and a White Gel pen (comes two to the pack). I love the un-inked pad because you can fill it with any ink and my particular favorite is Memento Black ink. Along the way, I have plenty of tips to help you - everything from clean-up to drying time to pen usage tips. I really hope you try some of these techniques and have fun too!

1. Ink Pad Direct to Embossed Paper

For this technique, I embossed a piece of Pretty Peacock cardstock with the Fern & Flora embossing folder. I recommend using a larger piece than you need and then trim it to the exact size after adding the white ink. Turn the ink pad upside down and lightly swipe it over the raised parts of the embossed paper. Change your direction frequently and keep swiping until you get the coverage you want. The ink stays wet quite a while, so give it time to dry before trimming and remember to wipe any ink off your fingers or work surface before continuing.

I matted the trimmed square with white and then a Pretty Peacock square cut from the Tile Garden dies. I added this to a belly band. The gate fold card is decorated with the Whispering Woods DSP. I used a panel of Pool Party for the inside, decorated with a strip of DSP and an embossed sentiment from the Soiree Salutations stamp set.

2. Ink Pad and Blender Pen

A Blender Pen can be used with watercolor pencils, regular inks and with the white ink pad. It really looks great when you apply it to a darker colored cardstock. For my sample, I stamped the Sweet Foliage background stamp in Mossy Meadow ink on the same colored cardstock. Then, using the Blender Pen, pick up ink from the stamp pad and color the leaves. It is a simple way to brighten up the dark image and make the leaves pop.

In my card, I added the colored strip of leaves to a base of Crumb Cake and tied the Mossy Meadow/Vanilla Gingham ribbon around front of the card. The same stamp/ink was used on white, but stamped off to make the pattern lighter. After punching it out with the 2-3/8" Circle Punch and matting it with the Spotlight on Nature dies, I added the sentiment from Words & Wishes and some Natural Matte Dots.

3. Ink Refill and Water Painter

This is a fun technique with any color, but it can be a little messy and unpredictable! I suggest using a large piece of grid paper to cover your work area before spritzing. Take the white ink refill and place a small amount on a block. The ink is quite thick and may be difficult to squeeze out of the bottle. Next, squeeze a little water from the pen next to the ink. Start mixing with your brush tip until you get a loose mixture of white ink. Then tap the Water Painter against something hard (like a bone folder) to splatter paint across your cardstock. I suggest more splatter than you think at first because I find it dries a little lighter.

I used the framed Violets bundle for my sample. I spritzed the smaller oval cut from Highland Heather. The larger oval was also the same color, but I used a Blending Brush to add more Highland Heather ink to darken it slightly. I colored the violets (stamped in Basic Gray ink) with Blends (Highland Heather, Lemon Lolly and Granny Apple Green). The background panel of Lemon Lolly was embossed with the Rustic Check embossing folder (which looks way better than it looks in the catalog!).

4. Ink Pad and Sponge (or Dauber)

By using a sponge or dauber, you can add clouds or uneven texture to your paper. You can pick up ink directly from the ink pad, or do the same thing as we did with spritzing and pick it up from the block. Simply dab your sponge on the paper to get the desired effect. This would also be a fun way to add foam to waves.

My sample is CASEd from the catalog and modified slightly, and features the Welcome Noel bundle and Noel Tidings stamp sets. I used Pool Party and Garden Green Two Tone cardstock for the sky and trees. The houses were stamped in Secret Sea on Basic White and sentiments were stamped in Garden Green and Secret Sea. The Adhesive-Backed Snowflakes add a little touch of sparkle.

5. Gel Pen - Drawing Lines and Dots

Before starting to draw with the pen, start the flow of ink on a piece of scrap paper. Hold the pen more vertical than you might normally write and go slowly! You will definitely get better lines when you take your time. This ink also takes a little time to dry, so be mindful not to touch your lines and get unwanted smears. If you like to doodle, you are going to love using this pen! You can add lines of all sorts and patterns to just about anything. Think Zen Doodle - the possibilities are endless.

6. Ink Pad to Paper Edges

This is probably the simplest technique to use. Once you have your layer ready, just rub the sides over the ink pad to get a soft white edging. Not only does this add some color (almost like a mat without the addition of more paper), but it also adds dimension. I like to do this to my sentiments, but it could be used for any layer on your card.

My sample for the previous two techniques uses the Simply Leaves bundle. I started out by adding splotches of color (Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Real Red and Pumpkin Pie) to a piece of white cardstock. Then I punched out the leaves and drew patterns with the Gel Pen. I added some lines around the edge of my Crumb Cake card base and popped up the leaves. My sentiment was stamped in black and edged in white.

7. Gel Pen and Swiss Dots

This is really a subset of number 5, but I gave it it's own technique number because making Swill Dots is just so much fun! I particularly love adding them to small shapes or letters. Draw little circles in a fairly regular pattern, being careful not to smear when you are getting close to being done and have little space to hold your piece.

I cut out the letters using the Party Alphabet dies in Old Olive and Cajun Craze. After adding my dots to the Old Olive letters, I popped them up using the Cajun Craze ones as a shadow. I added them to a white panel embossed with the Softly Woven folder (such a simple texture that's not too busy adds so much texture), along with strips of the Sunflower Fields DSP, then added it all to a card base of Golden Glow. The sentiment is from Poetic Petals and stamped in Early Espresso (fussy cut to only have the word incredible). This would be a fantastic way to add titles to your memory keeping pages!

8. Ink Pad and Embossing Powder

Most of the time, I use Versamark ink when heat embossing. But you can use the white ink pad to do it too! Simply stamp with white and apply your powder - it sticks the same way. What's nice about doing this is that you have a layer of white even before you add your powder and this may often yield a more solid white sentiment than if you had used Versamark. I recommend using an old toothbrush or a Stampin' Scrub to clean your stamp because the white ink really gets into the crevices.

My last sample is a fun fold I learned from Demonstrator Wendy Lee. I used a Garden Green Base and the Swirls of Magic embossing folder for the card base. The inside panel of DSP is from the Timeless Christmas pack. While I glued two pieces of paper together because I wanted the same design on both sides, you don't have to do that. My sentiment and tree is from the Holly Jolly Branches Bundle (Garden Green tree on white and white embossing on Poppy Parade) and the label is from the Scalloped Blooms dies.

There are so many fun and easy ways to add white ink into your craft room! Which one will you try first? Do you have a favorite, or one that is new to you? I'd love to hear what you think of this video - please leave me a comment!

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

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Product List

Uninked Stampin’ Craft Pad & Whisper White Refill

[147277]

$10.50

White Gel Pens

[166642]

$9.00

Fern & Flora 3 D Embossing Folder

[167744]

$11.00

Whispering Woods 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[168368]

$13.00

Tile Garden Dies

[168573]

$37.00

Soiree Salutations Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[168337]

$18.00

Spotlight On Nature Dies

[163580]

$35.00

2 3/8" (6 Cm) Circle Punch

[161354]

$25.00

Mossy Meadow & Very Vanilla 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Gingham Ribbon

[168364]

$9.00

Sweet Foliage Photopolymer Stamp Set

[168241]

$24.00

Natural Matte Dots

[167510]

$8.00

Blender Pens

[102845]

$14.00

Words & Wishes Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[167889]

$25.00

Rustic Check 3 D Embossing Folder

[168442]

$10.00

Framed Violets Bundle (English)

[168194]

$49.50

Welcome Noel Bundle (English)

[168465]

$48.50

Noel Tidings Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[168449]

$20.00

Adhesive Backed Snowflakes

[168316]

$9.00

Simply Leaves Bundle (English)

[168165]

$45.00

Poetic Petals Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[168266]

$20.00

Sunflower Fields 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[168351]

$13.00

Party Alphabet Dies

[165263]

$99.00

Softly Woven 3 D Embossing Folder

[168466]

$12.00

Holly Jolly Branches Bundle (English)

[168280]

$40.50

Swirls Of Magic Embossing Folder

[168179]

$10.50

Timeless Christmas 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[168537]

$13.00

Scalloped Blooms Dies

[167646]

$39.00

Saturday, September 19, 2026

Christmas Cards in Unexpected Colorways

I love Christmas. I love making Christmas cards. I love decorating for Christmas. And I loved making this video for you! (Please note, if you are trying to watch the video prior to September 30th, you'll need to wait until then to see it.) When you make as many Christmas cards as I do, it's a good idea to start early. I've been featuring at least one in my monthly card classes for the past several months. Normally, I make them in the traditional color schemes - mostly red and green. However, you don't have to stick to tradition! I've selected non-traditional colorways for the cards in this video. There will be color combos you don't typically see in Christmas cards and I hope it will inspire you to try something different this year, if only for a card or two!

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Thick Basic White 4-1/2" x 11"; Basic White 2-1/2" x 3-1/2"; Artisan Sketched Garden DSP 4-1/2" x 5-3/4"; Granny Apple Green 1-1/4" x 3-1/2"; Strawberry Slush 1-1/8" x 3"; Lemon Lime Twist 3/4" x 2"
Stamp Bundle: Holly Jolly Branches
Die: Scalloped Christmas Cheer
Inks: Strawberry Slush, Granny Apple Green, Lemon Lime Twist
Embellishment: Adhesive-Backed Bats Ghosts & Dots

The card I'm demonstrating features the Scalloped Christmas Cheer dies. It's a simple layout with a wow factor because of the dies. I've made mine as a side open card, but you could easily make this as a top fold by changing the dimensions of the card base to be 5-3/4" x 8-1/2". After scoring and folding the card base, use the largest scallop die and cut out the card. Make sure the bottom of the die is just above the two edges. The top edge of the die will hang over the fold - this is needed so that the card opens properly. Also cut the same shape from the DSP. The black and white patterned paper is from one of my favorite packs, the Artisan Sketched Garden. This will be adhered on the cart front. Because this is a full scallop, the card front now looks complete (and not chopped off at the side like the card base).

While you are cutting, cut out the three trees from the Holly Jolly Branches bundle - the largest in Granny Apple Green, middle one in Strawberry Slush and the last in Lemon Lime Twist. Also cut out the second largest scallop from the white. Assembling the card is easy - stamp the sentiment on the left side of the label in Strawberry Slush, then adhere the three trees using Mini Dimensionals. Add some black embellishments to match our color scheme. On the inside, add a stamped tree in Strawberry Slush and stamp the sentiment in Granny Apple Green. Use the small cluster of stars to stamp on the left side of the envelope in Lemon Lime Twist.

The initial card I created with this layout was done in Azure Afternoon and Shaded Spruce. The paper I used is from the Whispering Woods pack of DSP. I love that $3 from the sale of each pack is donated to charities around the world. The patterns are lovely and are a mix of scenes and subtle patterns. There are four sheets each of the three double sided papers, which makes this a great pack when you are making multiples of your cards. I used the stamps from the Scalloped Christmas Cheer for my sentiment and holly leaves and berries. They do have to be fussy cut, but that's pretty simple to do.

My next colorway is a pastel rainbow. I loved the little trees I used in my demo card and decided to make a rainbow of them. Normally, I go for the bright colors for my rainbow, but decided to use Bubble Bath, Highland Heather, Pool Party, Soft Sea Foam, Lemon Lolly and Calypso Coral from the Subtles color family. I didn't know exactly what size tree I would need in each color, so I just cut all three sizes from each of them. Then I liked using all of them, but there were too many to fit in a "normal" card size. I decided to add in Strawberry Slush and change the layout to a slimline card and was thrilled with the result! I cut the bottom edge of my inner Crumb Cake Layer in a wavy line as if there was snow at the bottom. Linen Thread behind my sentiment, also from the Holly Jolly Branches Bundle completes the card front. I stamped another rainbow of trees on both the inside of the card and on the envelope. This card turned out to be surprise favorite!

If you saw my video from September 16th called Additional Ways to use the Hot Foil Dies), you will see how I "stamped" my snowflake and sentiment in Highland Heather for this Light Purples color combination. My card base is Fresh Freesia, stamped with dots from the Balloon Festoon stamp set to add texture. I used Fresh Freesia Two Tone paper to mat my snowflake, then tied a knot of Fresh Freesia Satin ribbon. The Sunset Sparkle Sequins have just the right one to add the sparkle this card needed. For the inside, I cut a circle from the center of the two-tone paper before I attached the snowflake and added a sentiment made with the Magical Christmas Hot Foil die.

My next card uses more paper from the Whispering Woods pack and features Soft Sea Foam and Pretty Peacock. This is another wonderful card to make when you want multiples! I stamped the sentiment directly on the DSP, matted it with a thin layer of cardstock and popped it up on the background piece of DSP - super easy! My sentiments are from the Stitched Stockings stamp set.

I've always liked Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie together and you've probably seen me use this combo often. I made a background using the Starry Night Hot Foil die and the light pink foil. Then I made ornaments using the Festive Cheer bundle - some of them are full strength, while others were stamped off or a mixture of the two. There is a die for cutting the "strings" and I recommend using adhesive sheets with these because it makes adhering them to the card so much easier!

Secret Sea and Cloud Cover are two colors that also work well together. I used the Pretty Poinsettia bundle, which has the most gorgeous flowers and leaves that work with the Impressions plate, to make my arrangement. I did cut apart the leaf to make a more compact arrangement. The DSP is Nature walk and it was torn to follow the torn edge of the card front. To add the Cloud Cover Textured ribbon, I cut a slit in the card fold with an exacto knife, then I tied it with Secret Sea Bordered Open Weave ribbon and white Baker's Twine (from the Essentials pack). I really adore this card, but it is not one that I would like to make multiples of since it is a bit more time consuming!

My last sample uses Crisp Cantaloupe, Very Vanilla and Pretty Peacock. I also added some Petal Pink, which acts as a lighter shade of the Cantaloupe. I decided to CASE (Copy and Share Everywhere) a card from the September - December catalog. The suite shown on pages 16 and 17 is so lovely in warm, natural colors and I thought this would be perfect for my alternate scheme. I used the Noel Tidings and Welcome Noel bundles, plus the Softly Woven embossing folder, just like they did in the catalog. I added the 2026-2028 Pearlized Specialty DSP, Baker's Twine in vanilla, Crisp Cantaloupe Shimmer Brush, and the Moody Palette Glossy Dots. To make my dots match, I colored them with my dark Pretty Peacock Stampin' Blend marker.

Thanks so much for watching my video - even if you want to use traditional Christmas colors, I hope I've shown you some fun ideas for your Christmas card making projects.

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

Shop my Store! (or use the QR code below)