At first, I was going to start designing and making my Easter cards but being knee-deep in snow it just did not seem right. I have never seen so much snow that we got these are last three days. You see in Arkansas we usually get a little dust of snow that is melted on the same day it snows. To be knee-deep in snow and have temperatures in single numbers is unheard of. The snow is pretty but it does not put you in the mood to make Spring cards. Since we have been snowed in many people have made sure my daughter gets back and forth to work. I decided to make thank you cards for those people. To make the cards I am using masking stencils. One card is using the positive cut pieces and another is using the stencil.  

Materials:

8 1/2′ by 11′ cream colored card stock

A rose masked stencils

Distress inks in green, orange, yellow, red, and blue

 2 4′ by 4′ black card stock

Thanks, sentiment

sequins in gold and green

 Blending brushes

Glue

Corner rounder

Card number one steps:

1. Cut the 8 1/2′ by 11′ cream-colored card stock at 5 1/4′ to make the card base.
2. Lay the positive masked cutout pieces onto the card base.
3. Tape off a border all around the card base.
4. Start with the yellow distress ink and apply 1/4 way up the base.
5. Next use the orange distress ink blending it with the yellow.
6. Then apply the red distress ink to the top.
7. Removed the tape that will reveal a border all around
8. Removed the masked cutout pieces
9. Take the sentiment die and cut it out of the 4′ by 4′ black card stock.
10. Position the gold sequins around the rose to bring your eye to the rose when you look at the card. 

Here how it turned out:

Steps to card number two:

1. Use the other half the 8 1/2′ by 11′ cream-colored card stock from card number one for your card base.
2. Cut four strips out of the black card stock for the border of this card.
3. On a piece of cream-colored card stock lay the stencil down.
4. Take red distress ink and color in the rose first then with green distress color in the leaves.
5. Put the mask cut-out pieces over the stenciled image.
6. To apply color to the background start with the green distress ink and apply it halfway up. With blue distress ink overlap the green distress ink and apply to the top of the base.
7. After applying the ink remove the masked cut-out pieces.
8. Take the black card stock strips and apply them to the back of the image layer.
9. Attach the two layers to the card base.
10. Cut out the sentiment die in black and apply it with glue to the base right under the stem of the rose.
11. Add four gold sequins to each corner for the finishing touches.

Here is how it turned out: