more color mondays – gorgeous grape, lemon lime twist and balmy blue

more color mondays – gorgeous grape, lemon lime twist and balmy blue

It’s another More Color Monday color challenge featuring three colors I love Gorgeous Grape, Lemon Lime Twist and Balmy Blue. I also LOVE this technique the Stampin’ Blends alcohol Vellum technique.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″, scraps for the dies
Vellum: 3″ x 6″
Gorgeous Grape CS: 1/2″ x 5 1/2″, scrap for die
Balmy Blue CS: 1/2″ x 5 1/2″
Lemon Lime Twist CS: 1/2″ x 5 1/2″

Since Gorgeous Grape is such a dark color, so the Highland Heather Dark Stampin’ Blend is very close to Gorgeous Grape color.

I colored with the side of the Dark Highland Heather Stampin Blend paint brush on the vellum.

Spray the vellum with 99% alcohol from a Stampin’ Spritzer.
Dry the vellum with the Heat Tool and push the alcohol and ink color around until the alcohol evaporates.
Start coloring the vellum with other colors – one color at a time, spray the vellum with alcohol and push the color with the Heat Tool until the alcohol evaporates.

Repeat with different colors until you like the look of the vellum.

Stamp a sentiment in Versamark ink and sprinkle with the white WOW embossing powder. Heat with a Heat tool until the powder is melted.

Use the Three Banner Punch and punch out the sentiment piece.

Cut 2 sections of all three colors of CS in 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ and adhere them together so that you have two sections of three colors.
Use the three color sections and adhere to either side of the vellum.

Die cut the large leaf die from the Beautiful Motifs dies set from a Basic White CS scraps.

Adhere the vellum down with the colored CS strips.

Adhere the die to the top of the colored vellum.

Notice how the vellum is magnified by placing it on top of the Basic White CS!

I punched the sentiment with the middle section of the Three Banner Punch.

Pop up the sentiment banner over the die and the vellum.

Die cut the flowers from the Petals of Beauty and color them with a Blending Brush and Gorgeous Grape ink.
Stamp the flower dies with the background stamps from the Swirled Designs to add texture to the petals.
I placed the stamped and textured Petal dies and popped up the flowers around the sentiment piece.
I added three white pearls of Beauty to finish off this stunning alcohol vellum cards.

Try this cool technique but know that you need to use only 99% alcohol – regular isopropyl will not do the trick! Now go and make some really fabulous colored vellum – and add one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

birthday secret message slider card

birthday secret message slider card

Did you like decoder rings when you were little or secret messages like the ones with invisible ink? This card is a throwback to the those fun days! This is a Secret Message Slider Card featuring the Swirls Designs stamp set and the new Online Exclusive Splash of Sparkles Specialty Designer Series Paper.

Measurements:

BASE: Timid Tiger CS: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
3 3/4″ x 4 1/4″, 2 1/2″ x 5″
Pretty In Pink layer: 5 1/4″ x 8 1/2″, scored at
2 3/4″ and 6 3/4″
DSP: 2 5/8″ x 5 1/8″, 1 5/8″ x 5 1/8″
Basic White CS: 2 3/8″ x 4 7/8″, 3 1/4″ x 4 1/8″

I stamped the circle image from the Swirled Designs stamp set in Timid Tiger ink to the two Basic White CS layers as shown.

Then I used the splatter image, the Enjoy the Ride and the Happy Birthday from the Boardwalk Fun stamp set in Versamark and heat embossed with Gold embossing powder and the Heat Tool.

I actually stamped the Enjoy the Ride on the 3 1/4″ piece after I photographed it – it will be the secret message you will see at the end!

With the 3 3/4″ side at the top of the 3 3/4″ x 4 1/4″ piece, score at 3/8″ for the inside slider piece.

Adhere the Basic White layers to the Mattes of Timid Tiger making sure that the score is on the left hand side of the smaller piece.

Score the Pretty In Pink cardstock layer at 2 3/4″ and 6 3/4″.

Adhere the 2 5/8″ x 5 1/8″ DSP piece to the inside left panel.

Adhere the 1 5/8″ x 5 1/8″ DSP piece to the outside right hand panel.
Add two small pieces of Tear-n-Tape to the upper and lower edge of the inside of the right side panel as shown in the photograph.
With the small tab to the left of the 3 1/4″ x 4 1/8″ adhere the Basic White stamped layer to the 3 3/4″ x 4 1/4″ Timid Tiger piece to the right of the score line.

Add a piece of Tear-n-Tape along the length of the inside slider piece on the 3/8″ tab to the left of the score line.

Place the inside slider piece to the right hand side of the score line. Peel off the release paper for the Tear-n-Tape.
Fold the front panel down over the slider piece.
Adhere the front stamped panel to the outside of the first panel.

]Open up the first panel and bend the slider piece back towards the inside of the card and use a bone folder to secure the Tear-n-Tape and crease the score line.

Remove the release paper of the two smaller pieces on the last panel.

Fold the right panel over the left hand edge of the slider piece and rub the areas where the Tear-n-Tape is to secure the panel over the slider mechanism.

Now as you open and close the front left hand panel the slider mechanism will slide in and out to reveal you message – cool right?

Just like when you where a little kid create one of these cards and send a hidden message to one of your favorite childhood playmates to remind them of all the fun you used to have as kids!

Here is a short video to show you the mechanism in action!

Now it’s your turn – go and create some interactive artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

sketch #116 – layers of beauty card

sketch #116 – layers of beauty card

Today’s Layers of Beauty Bundle creates today’s card from Sketch #116.

BASE: Crumb Cake CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
DSP: 3″ x 5 1/2″
Basic White CS: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″, 1/2″ x 4 1/4″

Stamp the Layers of Beauty floral image in Memento Black ink on one of the 4″ x 5 1/4″ layers.
Stamp the image in Crumb Cake ink at the bottom of the other 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer.

Using Stampin’ Blends color the flowers in Balmy Blue dark and light, the leaves in Crumb Cake dark and light and the smaller flowers in Pool Party dark and light.
Die cut the flowers.

Cut the striped pattern from the Brushed with Beauty DSP to 3″ x 5 1/2″.

Stamp the sentiment on the Basic White strip.

Adhere the DSP to the center of the card base.

Adhere the flowers on top of the DSP.

Pop up the sentiment strip over the top of the flowers die.
Adhere three Pearls of Beauty embellishments around the sentiment piece.
Adhere the other 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer to the inside of the card base.

This is a lovely simple card. Try this card sketch and go create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

sneak peak – nature walk suite card

sneak peak – nature walk suite card

Today’s blog post is a gorgeous monochromatic SNEAK PEAK card from the Nature Walk Suite Collection of products and I didn’t even use half of the cool things in this Suite! This is a beautiful suite for Nature’s lovers and a great set for making masculine cards with ease!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Pretty Peacock CS: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″, 3 1/2″ x 4 1/2″
for the leaf die
Vellum CS: 2″ x 5 1/4″, scrap for circle die
DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″ 1 1/2″ x 4″

Using a Basic White BASE eliminates the need for an extra Basic White layer on the inside with darker colored cardstock colors.

I adhered the 4″ x 5 1/4″ DSP to the Pretty Peacock layer.

There is a very cool cross hatch patterned die in the Nature’s Symphony die set that cuts a pattern into the cardstock without totally cutting it off the cardstock layer. I die cut this patter into opposite corners of the 2″ x 51/4″ piece of vellum cardstock.

I adhered the 1 1/2″ piece of DSP to the front of the vellum and then I could add adhesive under the DSP to attach both pieces.

Attaching Vellum can be tricky because it is translucent. Because you can partially see through the material that means you usually can see the mode of adhesion too!

TIP: There are several ways around this!

1. Hiding the adhesive under non translucent paper attached to the vellum as I did in this example!
2. Hiding glue dots under wisely placed embellishments!
3. Adding Multipurpose liquid glue with a sponge or Q-tip to the entire back of the vellum
4. If you emboss vellum it creates a pattern and makes the vellum white and a little less translucent making it easier to hide adhesive as you will see I did to attach the sentiment piece!

Using a scrap of vellum stamp the sentiment from the Nature’s Symphony stamp set in Pretty Peacock ink.
I die cut the leaf die from the Nature’s Symphony die set in Pretty Peacock cardstock and mounted it with glue to the right-hand side of the card.

I die cut a circle around the sentiment from the Spotlight on Nature dies and using a silicone mat I squeezed a dollop of Multipurpose Liquid Glue onto the silicone matte and applied glue around the embossed edges of the circle die where it is less likely to show and attached the die to the center of the card above the leaf die and DSP layer.

I used the Balmy Blue gingham ribbon – did you know you can take any light colored ribbon and color it with darker Stampin’ Blends?
I love this technique! You can color coordinate ribbon to any project with the coordinating Stampin’ Blend!
Place Tear-n-Tape on the lower back edges of the Pretty Peacock and wrap the colored ribbon around the front of the layer attaching it on the tape on the back of the Pretty Peacock layer.

Then glue the layer onto the card front.

Using the Pretty Peacock Stampin’ Blends, color the Iridescent Pearls for a coordinated embellishment look!
I added five colored pearls to the card.

I added one larger and one small on either side of the sentiment piece and then added the last small one to the dot on the “i” in “smile”.

On this version I added the fifth pearl to the right of the sentiment end.

Which do you like better?

Try adding vellum to your cards for an elevated and elegant look – now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

REMINDER: the SNEAK PEAK items in the Nature Walk Suite Collection and the Balmy Blue Gingham ribbon are only available to demonstrators and in starter kits until January 6th so there will not be photo links below until they are released.

vellum is back!

vellum is back!

I cannot tell you all how excited I am that Vellum cardstock is BACK!!!

Gone for only a little while but certainly long enough to be missed! This translucent cardstock elevates any project so easily! Today’s card is a super simple one but looks like you put in all the effort!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Brushed with Beauty DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Vellum Cardstock: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Calypso Coral CS: scrap for the die cut

Run a 4″ wide layer of Vellum Cardstock through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine using the BASE plate #1 and embossing plate #4 with the Sunflower 3D embossing folder.
Cut the calypso Coral piece of Brushed with Beauty DSP to 4″ x 5 1/4″.

Apply the All Purpose Liquid glue with the larger flat tip to the entire 4″ x 5 1/4″ DSP surface.

Cut the vellum to 4″ x 5 1/4″ size and adhere to the DSP piece.

Adhere the Vellum/DSP layer to the card front of the card base.
I used the banner from the Stylish Shapes dies set and die cut a scrap of Calypso Coral.

Stamp the “Get Well Soon” from the Friendly Foliage stamp set in Calypso Coral ink to the banner.

Pop up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhere to the card front.

Adhere five Pearls of Beauty embellishments to the card front. Easy Peasy this impressive card is complete!

Try embossing vellum today and go make some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – real red, pumpkin pie and crushed curry

more color mondays – real red, pumpkin pie and crushed curry

Today’s More Color Mondays color challenge card contains a technique I have shown before with a little twist!

I love white on white cards with a slash of color – and up north we are receiving a lot of the white stuff so I was in need of a SLASH of color!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″, (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″ layers,
1/2″ strip scrap

Yep that is it supplies are minimal but the results are a WOW!

Take the two Basic White CS layers and die cut one with the Textured Notes rectangular dies – I used the fourth largest rectangle.

Save the die cut for another use as we will be using the negative die as a mask.

Take the other layer and emboss using the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine with Base Plate #1 and Embossing Plate #4 and the Sunflower 3D embossing folder.

I used my glass mat and taped the mask over the embossed layer – securing them down so they don’t move.
I burnished Crushed Curry ink with a blending brush in a strip down the right side of the inside of the masked portion of the layers.
I burnished Pumpkin Pie ink with a blending brush in a strip down the middle of the inside of the masked portion of the layers.
I burnished Real Red ink with a blending brush in a strip down the left side of the inside of the masked portion of the layers.
Normally when I do a White Wash technique I drag the Craft White ink pad over cardstock to create the Whitewashed look but I did not want to drag my white pad over bright ink colors and corrupt the white pad. The craft ink would have re-wet the colored ink and destroyed the ink pad so I took my palette knife and made an ink slurry with Craft White re-inker and water (you can use a Stampin’ Spritzer to wet the ink) then mixed and spread it on an acrylic block with the flat bottom of the palette knife.
I then dragged the palette knife over the Sunflower embossed surface to give the tips of the petals a white washed effect!
Remove the mask and reveal your lovely layer!
I used a Basic White 1/2″ strip scrap and stamped the “just because” sentiment from the Blooming Phrases stamp set and colored it with the residual ink left on the blending brushes in the same order as done on the card!
Adhere the layer to the card base and adhere the sentiment piece on Stampin’ Dimensionals for some added depth and dimension!

Add some Basic Rhinestone Jewels to the card to finish it off with a little sparkle and this simple but stunning card is complete!

Imagine the possibilities – use any shape and make a mask and color inside the negative space!

Now go and try this technique and make some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie