Master the Board: Layering Harlequin Stencils and 3D Embossing

Hi, crafty friends! It’s Heejung Hunsberger here, and I am thrilled to be a Guest Designer on the Spellbinders blog today. For this May feature, I’m excited to share a project that explores the incredible depth you can achieve with the Chess & Checkers Collection.

Today’s project focuses on the stunning synergy between Layered Harlequin Stencils and 3D Embossing Folders. By following a specific order of operations – especially prioritizing stenciling before embossing – you can create a tactile game board that looks incredibly realistic. Let’s dive into the tutorial!

If you’d like to get to know me better, visit my blog or follow me on Instagram. Additionally, I have a YouTube channel where I regularly post video tutorials.

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Creating the Harlequin Background

The foundation of the “game board” is created using the Layered Harlequin Stencils. To maintain a sophisticated design, a specific color strategy is applied:

• Layers 1 & 2: Blended with soft pink tones

• Layers 3 & 4: Blended with refreshing green tones.

Keeping the color families consistent for these pairs ensures a clean, professional checkerboard effect.

Step 2: Die-Cutting, Coloring, and Assembling the Chess Pieces

The stars of the show are the chess pieces. Using the Chess & Checkers Die Set, pieces are cut from a coordinated palette:

• Green Team: Fern, Rainforest, and Mint cardstock.
• Pink Team: Dahlia, Tutu, and Blush cardstock. I layered the die-cut pieces together to build thickness. To give them more life, I used alcohol markers to add shading and a white gel pen for highlights, making the pieces look glossy and 3-dimensional.

Step 3: Planning the Layout & Shadow Stenciling with Masking

Before adding texture, it’s vital to plan your layout while the paper is flat.

• The Planning: The assembled chess pieces are placed onto the flat, stenciled panel to decide the final positions.

• The Shadow Technique: Once the layout is set, the shadow stencil is used. To ensure a crisp result, masking tape is applied around the specific areas to be inked. This prevents accidental ink transfer. The shadows are then inked directly onto the flat panel.

Step 4: Trimming to Size and Stamping the Sentiment

Now, we prepare the final flat elements.

• Trimming for Balance: After placing the chess pieces, any excessive empty space on the right side of the panel is eliminated by trimming the stenciled panel down to 3 3/4″ x 5″. This achieves a perfectly balanced composition. Trimming must be done now, before the 3D embossing adds texture.
• Sentiment: A strip of Blush cardstock is cut to 1/2″ x 5″ and stamped with “happy BiRTHDay” from the Chess & Checkers Stamp Set using crisp black ink.

Step 5: Adding 3D Texture with Embossing

With all ink work and precise trimming complete, the panel is run through the Platinum Six machine using the Harlequin 3D Embossing Folder. Because the shadows and specific cuts were already finished on the flat surface, the 3D texture sits perfectly on top, creating a tactile depth that makes the board feel like a real game set.

Step 6: Final Assembly with Foam Dimension

To bring the card to life, the trimmed panel is adhered to an A2 card base. The sentiment strip and every chess piece are then attached using foam squares. By matching the pieces perfectly to their stenciled shadows and lifting them off the embossed surface, a spectacular 3D effect is created, adding a professional, high-end feel to the project.

Pro-Tips for Success

1. Trust the Eye for Trimming: Do not hesitate to stray from standard sizes. Trimming the panel to 3 3/4″ x 5″ helps eliminate awkward negative space and makes the chess layout pop. Always do this before embossing!
2. Smooth Pieces for Pop: Keep your chess pieces pattern-free. The contrast between the deeply textured Harlequin background and the smooth, glossy pieces creates a dynamic visual impact.
3. The Golden Rule: Stencil First, Emboss Last: Stenciling over an already embossed surface is nearly impossible to do cleanly. Always finish ink work and shadow placement on a flat surface.

Hopefully, this tutorial inspires new ways to experiment with the order of techniques—remembering to “stencil, trim, and keep pieces smooth before embossing”—to create professional-level depth in card making. Thank you for joining today!

Happy crafting! XOXO, Heejung

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