what can you do with just one stamp set?

what can you do with just one stamp set?

If you fall in love with paper crafting – in the beginning it can be overwhelming! There is so much to choose from and many of us WANT it all!! LOL! But you can do so many things with one versatile stamp set!
Recently I had a new member of my team over to stamp and she wanted to stamp with one of the stamp sets she had purchased in her starter kit so she could have samples to show at her first workshop!
So I picked out every color from the Brights Collection – you can purchase an assortment pack of cardstock in each collection and receive 20 sheets – 2 of each of the 10 colors in that collection for $10. Cut the cardstock in half to make a standard card and that pack will give you 40 cards!
Here are the cards we stamped the other day together with her set Inked and Tiled!
We used the coordinating ink pad but just as easily have used just the Versamark ink pad to create the same tone on tone color coordination!
The first color in the collection is Poppy Parade and we stamped the line stamp along the right edge of the card and stamped the long stemmed flowers a few times across the left hand side of the card. I used the spotlight technique to add a little interest to this version. I stamped the flower heads onto the bottom of a small circle punch and adhered it over the middle flower group. I stamped the just a note sentiment on the top and trimmed the edge of the circle that hung over the card.
I colored the vanilla and gold ribbon with a Stampin’ Blends to match to step this card up but it is not necessary for the beginner stamper!
For the Mambo Melon card we stamped the single flower across the card front and then cut from the score line at 1″ from each edge. Adhere the small panels to the card base and leave the middle panel as the card opening.
We stamped a 2 1/2″ x 4″ Basic White layer in Mambo Melon Ink with the single matching flower and the “hello Friend” sentiment, adhered it across horizontally and added embellishments to finish this card!
For the Flirty Flamingo card, I stamped the same single flower but only on the right edge of the card. Stamped “lots of love” sentiment on 1/4″ strips and adhered them at different lengths to add visual appeal to the card! I added ribbon and embellishments to step it up a notch!
For the Pumpkin Pie card I used three of the flower stamps from this set to make this “happy birthday” card. I stamped the small double flowers down each edge. Stamped the long stemmed flowers on a 2″ x 5 1/2″ strip of Basic White and used a Blending brush for the edging. I took a 1″ strip of Basic White for the happy birthday sentiment and added the small single flower on one side. I added blending to the sentiment piece, popped it up for some depth and dimension and added some embellishments to finish off the card!
The next card in the collection is Daffodil Delight! Bright and Cheery I stamped the long stemmed flowers across the bottom of the card. Stamped the flower tops on the sentiment strip and happy birthday sentiment in the same ink! I popped up the sentiment for a little dimension and added Lemon Lolly embellishments for some yellow accents. I stepped this one up with a little White ink flicked on the card surface with a water painter.
I used the leaf stamp for the next two colored cards – this one in Lemon Lime Twist! I punched the sentiment piece from the Lasting Labels punch and stamped the leaf image on the left side and the Thank you on the lower right. I added Iridescent rhinestones for some sparkle and popped it up over the Natural Wavy Trim for some added texture and interest!
This card is a great example of a beginner card using a Basic White card stock strip instead of ribbon to add the visual interest without using another product! I stamped the little stamen like image on the top of the card and the leaves on the bottom and added the “lots of love” sentiment across the strip that separated the two images.
If you wanted to step up this card try adding Wink of Stella to the leaves for a little sparkle!
The coastal Cabana card is a stepped up card using an acrylic block and both a Granny Apple Green stamp pad and the Coastal Cabana one applied directly to half of the block. I sprayed the block with water and “stamped” it onto the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer. After it dried I added the long stemmed flower image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I added the Black and Vanilla gingham ribbon and Adhesive-backed Sparkle Gems for a little bling!
The Azure Afternoon card uses the small double flower bud image stamped in a round circular pattern and then again in the opposite direction around the outside of the card edge.
I stamped the bud image once on a circle punch and the “hello Friend” sentiment on the lower opposite side of the bud image. I bledned the edges with a Blending Brush and to step this up I embossed the circle punch and popped it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The last color in the Bright Collection is Berry Burst and this card used the line image as a background diagonally on the base card. I stamped the single flower image on a 2″ x 5 1/2″ piece of Basic White cardstock and then embossed it with the Basics 3D embossing folder to step it up! I stamped the happy birthday sentiment full strength on a small circle punch and stamped the same flower image stamped off once around the edges and Blended the circle with Berry Burst ink and a Blending Brush! I added embellishments for a little sparkle.
Ten different and interesting cards – one pack of paper, one stamp set and one set of ink pads or a single Versamark pad. Add a few embellishments and a Blending brush and the possibilities are endless!
Try using a single stamp set in different colors and see what you can create! Now go and make some artwork of your very own – one stamp set at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Paper Snips
[103579]
$11.00
designing a card from a template

designing a card from a template

Were do you get your inspiration? That’s a question I get often from my customers. Inspiration can come from everywhere, really! Many paper crafters find inspiration from card sketches. Easy cards are made easier when you use sketches as a starting point.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
scrap for the largest rectangular in Everyday
Details Dies
strips 4 1/4″ x 1/2″, 4 1/4″ x 3/4″

Below is a card template as a starting point.

Fold the card base at the score line and place adhesive in the top portions of the card. Place the first wild wheat cardstock strip across the center of the card area that has your adhesive on it from left edge to right edge straight across.
Add two identical copper clay strips above and below the wild wheat cs strip in the center.
Lay down the last color of strips above and below the copper clay in Boho Blue cardstock strips.
This adds color and a foundation for a simple card background.
Die cut a scrap of Basic White cardstock with the largest rectangular die in the Everyday Details die set.
I stamped one of the twig stamps from the Layering Leaves stamp set from Million Dollar sales achiever, fellow demonstrator Rachel Tessman in Wild Wheat ink at an angle on the upper left hand side of the die.
I stamped the open leaf twig in Boho Blue lower and angled towards the opposite corner on the rectangular die cut out.
Next I stamped the sentiment Sending Hugs from the Layering Leaves stamp set below the two stamped twig images in Boho Blue.
Using a small Blending Brush I edged the perimeter of the die cut out in Wild Wheat ink by brushing the edges in a perpendicular downward brush stroke against the edge.
I cut a 6″ scrap of Wild Wheat Textured ribbon and looped it on one end and adhered it down over the strip background.
I popped up the sentiment die cut on Stampin’ Dimensionals and popped it up over the ribbon piece.
I added In Color Dots in Wild Wheat around the sentiment to finish off this easy card inspired from the template.
I used the negative space of the rectangle and adhered tape around the backside of the frame using similar color palette from the 2023-2025 In Colors cardstock strips pushed up next to one another.
I stamped a sentiment across the strips in Pebbled path ink.
Then I ran it through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine using the 3D Basics embossing folder with the hatch marks to give it a textured linen look.
I Popped up the layer on Stampin’ Dimensionals and added it to a 4 1/4″ x 11″ piece of Basic White cardstock scored and folded at 5 1/2″ in landscape mode.
I added three Pebbled Path In Color dots to finish this card.
This card used the template as a starting point but I changed the orientation of the strips and added some embossing and a frame. So many possibilities!
This card started with a Gorgeous Grape Colored Cardstock base and used white and Pool Party strips as the starting point for the card background and added the focal point and the sentiment in the circle from the Circle Sayings Bundle. I added the In Color Pearls in Tahitian Tide to compliment the Pool Party strips and colored the cupcake image with Watercolor Pencils and Water Painters.
My last sample using this template started with a Mambo Melon base and Basic White, Gorgeous Grape and mambo Melon strips as the centerpiece background and added a Paper Butterfly Accent colored with blending brushes and ink as the focal point. I popped up a Gorgeous Grape die cut from the Deckled rectangles die set and embossed the sentiment from the Layering Leaves stamp set in white embossing powder. I added Iridescent Rhinestones to finish off this elegant and easy strip card inspired by the template.

Try designing some artwork of your very own from this template or one of your choosing – let me know what you come up with! Now go and create your own art – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

happy valentine’s day

happy valentine’s day

Happy Valentine’s Day! Today’s blog post is all about a great combination technique – a baby-wipe watercolor paper technique.

Grab a wet baby wipe and add a few drops of re-inker. Rub in a circular motion applying ink to a portion of the watercolor paper. Repeat this with a new baby wipe and a new color, overlapping the previous color. I chose three colors for a berry milkshake effect – Flirty Flamingo, Berry Burst and Gorgeous Grape re-inkers.

Measurements:
BASE: Mambo Melon CS 5 1/2″ x 7 3/4″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 3 1/8″ x 5 1/2″ and
scraps for dies
Watercolor paper: 4 1/2″ x 5 1/2″

After the watercolor paper is completely dry, i die cut the ice cream scoops for the milkshake from the Share a Milkshake bundle.
I stamped the milkshake glass two step stamp in Mambo Melon and stamped off for the base portion.
I stamped the decorative glass portion of the base stamp in full strength Mambo melon ink and also stamped a straw and cherry as well.
Die cut all of the desired pieces for the card front.
Score the card base at 4 1/4″ and fold over so that the short side is at the front.

Stamp the Be My Valentine sentiment on the lower left hand corner in Tuxedo Black Memento ink.

Cut a 1″ x 5 1/2″ strip from the watercolor paper so you get all three colors and emboss it with the Basics 3D embossing folder.
Adhere to the right hand edge of the inside base of the card so that it peeks out when the card is closed.
Cut a 3 1/8″ x 5 1/2″ Basic White cardstock layer for the inside of the card to the left of the 1″ strip.
Stamp the “You’re the cherry on top” sentiment in mambo melon ink on the upper center of the layer and adhere to the inside of the card.
Start adhering the dies to the front of the card – make sure you place the glass image low enough to accommodate the amount of ice cream scoops you die cut!
I adhered the ice cream scoops in a gradient effect and placed the straw on the bottom scoop and the cheery on the top!
I added Opaque Adhesive-Backed Gems to finish off the card!
Now to write a sweet note to the love of my life – SHHHHHHH don’t tell him I snuck it into his backpack last night so he’ll find it today at work!

Hope you were able to create cards for those you love – it’s what this paper craft is all about!
If you didn’t yet and you have someone special that needs to hear it – go and create some artwork of your very own and let them know – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’ and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Natalie

more color mondays – flirty flamingo, melon mambo and granny apple green

more color mondays – flirty flamingo, melon mambo and granny apple green

More Color Mondays are here once more – this time it’s Flirty Flamingo, Mambo Melon, and Granny Apple Green and a great new technique the Blackout Technique.

Measurements:
BASE: Melon Mambo CS 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White layer: 4″ x 5 1/4″
scrap for sentiment

Run the Basic White layer through the Layered Florals embossing folder.
Turn to the debossed side and using a blending brush color the larger flowers in Mambo Melon ink.

Color the smaller flowers with a smaller blending brush in Flirty Flamingo ink.
Color the leaves in Granny Apple Green ink – do not worry about coloring outside the lines.
Pull a Memento Black ink pad over the top of the debossed images do not push down but drag across the paper.
Cut the layer down to 4″ x 5 1/4″ and wrap black and white gingham ribbon around the basic white layer. Adhere the layer to the base.
Die cut the scrap of Basic White with the second smallest rectangle from the Detailed Essentials die set. Stamp the “Thank you so much” sentiment in Mambo Melon ink. Brush Mambo Melon ink with a blending brush around the die edges. Pop the sentiment up on Stampin’ Dimensionals over the ribbon.
I adhered the inside layer with a cut piece of the blackout technique.
The black ink covers the flat surfaces and allows the debossed coloring to pop!

Try this new technique to increase your 3D embossing folder usefulness – the Blackout technique is pretty awesome and I cannot wait to see what you make. Go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

cleaning up my stampin’ desk

cleaning up my stampin’ desk

A clean work space helps creativity and I have a tendency to save every scrap of paper from past projects – so occasional clean up is necessary for my creative energy!

The foursquare mask creates a background for this extra Stippled Roses image from a prior library class!

Another former project from a past blog post – I added some Blueberry Bushel dies from the Timeless Arrangements.
These next three cards were left overs from a past blog post mounted in three different backgrounds.
Several different pieces from past projects came together for this next card!
I took a negative frame and placed Lost Lagoon and Basic White cardstock strips pairing it with the Sending Smiles dies and a banner and vellum circle.
Another negative die in black from Artistically Inked die set with a masked Foursquare mask in the background and a loop of a retired Pretty Peacock ribbon.
I had several Basic White embossing folder papers and it provides a wonderful background for the pinwheel card.
I had many leftover daisies dies and created this birthday card with the leftover balloon die.
This card used many left over strips and a few dies from the Little Dreamers cow and the flower from Petal Park dies from a prior card.
The Basics 3D embossing folder makes a beautiful background for multiple pieces of cardstock and DSP for a pretty thanks card.
More flowers from the Petal Park dies, Autumn leaves and Sending Love envelope create a colorful card.
This next card was a discard from one of my blog posts and I stamped the thanks in Pebbled Path ink and used a blending brush around the edges.
I used the punched out Copper Clay cardstock from another project as a background for this thanks card.
This card is made with multiple bits and pieces from other projects for a winter thanks card.
I had saved this retired embossing folder piece and the sentiment that goes with it to finish off this card.
Different pieces make this Smoky Slate Black and White and Pebbled Path pieces sparked with a pop of Real Red.
Another card using many pieces including a copper clay circle.
This card used the Feel Better Soon from a former blog post and a Countryside Corners background fussy cut for a card background.
The next few cards use the pieces of DSP laying on my desk.
The top of this card was a mistake from one of the Open House attendants that I saved to use on a future card with other cardstock pieces.
I used an embossing folder on a piece of Meandering Meadows as a background for the spare stars and the Garden Meadows die as a focal point for “a star is born” card.
Lots of cards many of them will be sent off as customer thank yous cleaned up my creative space! Now it’s your turn to make some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Paper Snips
[103579]
$11.00
Chic Dies
[158815]
$37.00
most adored square explosion fun fold

most adored square explosion fun fold

Do you love interactive cards – if so you are going to LOVE today’s post!

Today’s card is a square explosion card – pull on these tabs and the square opens up like a flower and reveals a message on the inside – what a cool surprise!

Measurements:
BASE: Flirty Flamingo 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
Basic White layer 4″ x 5 1/4″
Flirty Flamingo layer 3 1/4″ square
DSP layer 6″ x 6″ folded and cut
inside white layer 2 3/4″ square

Score the 6″ x 6″ DSP at 1 1/2″ on all sides.
Cut the 4 corners out.
Fold the outside point of the edges cut inward towards the score line to create a triangle, do this on each side.
Starting with the bottom edge fold upwards towards the middle and proceeding clockwaise fold at each score line inward until you get to the last and fourth fold and tuck inside the first fold, creating the explosion square.
Stamp on the inside Basic White square piece in Flirty Flamingo for th Stippled Rose and Sweet Sorbet for the sentiment for a little contrast!
Open up the explosion square and adhere the inside layer to the center square.
Emboss the Basic White 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer in the Layered Florals 3D embossing folder and adhere to the Flirty Flamingo outer layer.
Adhere the explosion square to the Flirty Flamingo layer and adhere with Tear & Tape to the upper center of the card front.
Add Rainbow Adhesive-backed dots to the card. This is what the card looks like closed…
…and opened!

That is fun! try this easy card with some of your papers and show me what you have created – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie