bleached hand-penned petals

bleached hand-penned petals

Using bleach in Stamping always brings out fun results! This is one of the first “techniques” I learned when I first started stamping 20 years ago – crazy that I have been doing this for that long but I still love it as much as I did the day I discovered the craft!
Regular laundry room bleach will do fill a small cup or dish with bleach get a small paint brush and play! Different colors of cardstock will bleach lighter shades of the original color or sometimes surprise you with a totally different color altogether! Here we are using blending brushes to color on Basic White cardstock, stamping in Versamark and heat embossing with white embossing powder and then painting on the bleach! Simple as that!
Stamped with the large flower image from the Hand Penned Petals Stamp set (#155070) in Versamark (#102283) and embossed with White Embossing powder (#155554 – Basics Stampin’ Emboss Powders)
With Blending Brushes (#153611) I blended Balmy Blue ink (#147105), Pacific point ink (#147098), Misty Moonlight (#153118), and Night of Navy ink (#147110) on the Basic White cardstock (#159276)
Using a small paint brush I painted inside the embossing lines with the bleach.
And finished the cards…here are two different examples!
pop out window fun fold card

pop out window fun fold card

Another Fun Fold card – this uses the Layering Circles Dies (#151770) to create a pop out window fun fold card!

Measurements:
Basic White Cardstock (#159276)
*5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ scored at 4 1/4″
*5 1/4″ x 8″ scored at 2″, 4″ and 6″
Designer Series Paper in the sample I used Fine Art Floral (#154558 – which will be retiring at the end of June) choose complimentary patterns
*5 1/4″ x 4 (for the card front)
*1 7/8″ x 5 1/8″ for the inside center pop up panels
* piece of scrap colored cardstock or DSP for the sentiment

Adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece of Designer Series paper to the card base using tape only on the outer edges of the DSP. Die cut a circle or shape with tapered edges (a square or rectangle will not work because the edges will catch on the window). Separate the die cut shapes save the DSP die cut for another use and keep the Basic White card stock circle for a future step.
Take the 8″ x 5 1/2″ cardstock piece oand on the 8″ side score at 2″, 4″ and 6″.

Then fold as shown in the second picture below.

Adhere the 2 smaller pieces of DSP to the center two sections of the Basic White 8 x 5 1/4 piece of cardstock.
Adhere with Stampin’ Seal + for a strong seal – the right section to the right outer edge of the card base leaving an equal border the entire way around the insert.
Fold the cardstock so the DSP pieces are back to back and the left hand DSP section is on the right side with the left hand section of Basic white cardstock up against the fold of the card as shown in the picture below!

Using the Stampin’ Seal + make three lines in a C shape on the outer edges of the card as shown above and close the card front over the taped section and rub to adhere. This is what the card will look like at this point…

Place Stampin’ Seal + on the right side of the circle only and lay the Basic White cardstock circle die inside the die cut circle and rub the right side to strengthen the tape seal.
Here are two other samples with some retired products but I wanted to show you how changing the die shape or the paper changes the look completely!
Embellish the card front and the circle that will “pop out” of the card and you have a Pop Out Window Fun Fold Card!

Hope this Inspired you – now go out and create art – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’,

Natalie

dandy laser-cut paper

dandy laser-cut paper

Stampin’ Up! catalogs are always so graphically beautiful and packed with visual stimuli that sometimes it is a bit overwhelming! There are great things in the catalog that I think go unseen or missed! I believe the Dandy Laser-Cut paper is one of those beautiful items that gets lost in all the visual elegance of our catalogs! This gorgeous laser cut paper is stunning and there is so much you can do with it! Tonight at 7pm I will be demonstrating how I made these card in a Facebook Live – so if you are available join me and if you are reading this blog post after the Facebook Live airs I will be attaching it to the end of this post later on tonight after the Live is over so you can view it at your leisure!
For the cards I made I used colored cardstock that corresponds to the color combinations in the Dandy garden Designer Series Paper (#154297) – Bumble Bee (#153077), Misty Moonlight (#153081) and Mossy Meadow (#133676) cardstock.  Stampin’ Up! does the color coordination work for us – so I use those pre-designed color combinations to me advantage – why reinvent the wheel as they say! Below is one of the 2 sheets that come in the pack!

The Dandy Laser Cut Paper (#1154300) is so dainty and detailed. It comes with 2 sheets each containing different card front images and accents. I made a total of 13 cards with the designs and accents. The pieces can be colored with our Blending Brushes and here is my tip for the day! – Place a quarter sheet of Basic White or other neutral cardstock directly under your image and color onto the paper – not only will it keep your work surface clean but will create a lovely masked image – two cards for the price of one!

Above is one of the geometric designed card fronts that I colored in Misty Moonlight ink (#153118) with our Blending Brushes (#153611) and to the left is the Basic White quarter sheet of cardstock (#159276) I used to color the stencil on creating a masked image that I cut now cut down to 4″ x 5 1/4″ to use on a Misty Moonlight card base! The following two photos are the cards I created with the card front and the mask.

Here is another example of that same technique!
On this second card not only did I use the card front image as a stencil but I also used the flower image negatives to create an image overlay! Easy and a great layered effect.

There are separate pieces that come in the laser cut paper pack including dragonflies, flowers and leaves. Here are some of the cards I made using the separate pieces.

The card below uses the Pale Papaya Open Weave Ribbon (#155672) dyed with Blending Brushes (#153611) and Bumble Bee Ink (#153116)! Remember with lighter color ribbon you can achieve almost any coordinating color!!

Here is another card created using another card front image and some of the Dandy Garden Designer Series Paper (#154297) dragonflies that directly coordinate with the Dragonflies Punch (#154240).  I also used the Double Oval punch (#154242) in Misty Moonlight for the sentiment piece.

Lastly I created some more Water splattered paper like my previous paper pumpkin post – So Cool. This technique is a little addictive and thought it would make a fun background for the laser cut images!

Join me Monday, May 10th at 7pm for the Facebook Live where I will demonstrate the Masking and Water Splatter techniques used to make some of the cards above or if you are reading this post after that time the replay is linked below!

Did you know that if you loved any of the products show you can just click on the pictures above and they will take you directly to my Shop With Me page!
Technology is pretty cool!
I love to show my customers how to use all of the items in the catalog – so many pretty items and so many pretty ways to use them! Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions I am here to help you stamp at your best and achieve the results you desire! Hopefully this inspired you to go and create a little art yourself ONE STAMP AT A TIME!

Happy Stampin’

Natalie

so cool – april 2021 paper pumpkin alternative projects 19-16-9-2

so cool – april 2021 paper pumpkin alternative projects 19-16-9-2

April Paper Pumpkin came a little late do to some supply issues – just another COVID interruption – but boy was it worth the wait – it is potentially my favorite paper pumpkin stamp set to date! I love that it coordinates with the Sweet Ice Cream set and Designer Series paper! You are probably wondering about the blog post title – what in the world is the 19-16-9-2?
Well this paper pumpkin kit makes 12 cards – 3 each of 4 designs IF you follow the directions and make the cards exactly as is…but there are many demonstrators (including myself) that take the opportunity each month to show everyone just how versatile these kits can be. I made one of each of the 4 original kit designs and then I went to work creating my own works of art and came up with 19 – 3 x 3 cards using the stickers in the kit, 16 full size cards using mainly the kit components (including the 4 original designs) , 9 cards using paper that I made and the stamps included in the kit and 2 scrapbooking pages (a 12″x12″ and an 8 1/2″x11″!) PHEW!  That is a total of 44 cards and 2  double page layout scrapbooking pages!

Here are the four pre-designed original shape cards from the kit:

Using the 2 sticker sheets that came in the kit – I cut 12″x12″ cardstock into 3″x 6″ pieces scored at 3″ to make 8 cards from one sheet of 12″x12″ cardstock. I used my blender brushes and matching shades of ink to create a subtle colored background on the cardfront. I adhered the stickers and stamped sentiments and viola – easy cards to attach to a gift/gift bag or a lunchbox note or a million other ways to use these adorable 3″ x 3″ cards!
Next I cut most of the cards in half and mounted the shape cards onto full sized cards and added sentiments and sequins! I colored the plain card backs with ink and distressed them with water droplets.
Finally I created paper to mimic the backgrounds of the popsicles – I used my blending brushes and covered an 8 1/2″ x 11″ piece of cardstock with Mambo Melon ink, Gorgeous Grape ink, and Pacific Point ink, overlapping the colors. I took an old toothbrush and a small cup of water and dripped and splattered the water onto the inked cardstock. The water droplets lift the color and make a great distressed look!
I stamped the popsicle and watermelon image onto the paper I created and created the cards below!
And finally I created two scrapbooking pages – one 12″ x 12″ and one 81/2″ x 11″!

This was such a fun paper pumpkin – I hope this inspired you to go out and create some art of your own – one stamp at a time!

 

Happy Stampin’,

 

Natalie

simply elegant suite card – coloring foil DSP and ribbon

simply elegant suite card – coloring foil DSP and ribbon

The Simply Elegant Suite is just that – SIMPLY ELEGANT!!! The Suite (#155764) comes with one of each of the following items: Elegantly Suite Bundle (#155753) (which is the the Elegantly Said stamp set (#155095) and the Elegant Tag punch (#155762)), the Simply Elegant Specialty Designer Series Paper (Specialty because one side of each of the 6 designs is metallic foiled!), and Simply Elegant Trim (#155766) ordering made simple with just one item number!
This card uses the Stamp set, Punch and DSP paper to create – well,  a Simply Elegant thank you card!

Measurements:
*Cinnamon Cider (#153078)
Cardstock: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ scored at 4 1/4″
*Basic White Cardstock (#159276) : scraps for
embossing and the tag punch
* Simply Elegant DSP:L cut to 4″ x 5 1/4″ and
4″ x 1/2″ piece for the inside of the card
* 16″ piece of Pale Papaya Open Weave ribbon
(#155672)

Using a blending Brush (#153611) in Cinnamon Cider ink (#153114) add color to the gold foiled white background DSP. When desired tone is reached adhere to the base Cinnamon Cider Cardstock.

With a Basic White scrap punch out the Elegant tag punch.
Stamp the corner image in the Cinnamon Cider ink and stamp off 1-2 times and stamp the lightened image onto the edge of the tag.

Stamp the sentiment full strength onto the tag, using the blending brush add a little color to the edges and pop up on dimensionals, placing it in the lower right hand side of the card.

Using the other scrap piece of Basic White cardstock stamp the flower image twice in Versamark and pour the Gold Embossing powder and heat set it with the Stampin’ Heat Tool.

Fussy Cut the flowers and layer them under the tag on the front of the card.

Open up the card and stamp in Cinnamon Cider ink the corner stamp in the upper right hand corner, the sentiment in the middle and then adhere the 4″ x 1/2″ sheet of DSP paper that is colored in the same way as the larger piece to the bottom of the card inside!

Using a Blender Brush place the new Pale Papaya Open Weave ribbon on the ink pad, apply pressure and pull the ribbon through the space below the blending brush- dragging it across the ink pad surface – do this on both sides to color both sides evenly.

DO YOU REALIZE WHAT THIS MEANS!!!!!!!

Open Weave ribbon in virtually every Stampin’Up! color!!!

YAY!!

The finished card – I think it really did turn out … Simply Elegant!!

Inspiring you to go out and create art one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’

Natalie