gallery blooms card sketch #101 layout

gallery blooms card sketch #101 layout

Today’s blog post is the first in a series of cards using a card sketch. Card Sketches are a great starting point for creativity.

Sketch #101 starts with a base card with several layers including a natural element.

Measurements:
BASE: Secret Sea CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Cloud Cover CS: 2″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White CS: (2) 3″ x 4 1/2″ and 4″ x 5 1/4″

The trio of flowers image from the Gallery Blooms bundle has a long stem and I have a tip for proper placement for the coordinating die.

Gallery Blooms stamp set is a photopolymer stamp set and they can be repositioned so the stem might not be in the current position to be die cut. I die cut a scrap piece of Basic White cardstock with the trio floral stamp image. I put this die cut paper over the photopolymer stamp and adjusted the stem inside the die paper.

Take this positioned stamp image and ink it up in the Secret Sea ink and stamp on a scrap piece of Basic White CS.
Using a Blender Pen – which is a brush tip pen that contains clear ink – this clear ink can “re-wet” the Secret Sea ink of the trio flower image.
Draw the Blender Pen over the outlines of the flowers and spread the ink from the edges into the center.
Stamp the background stamp from Beautiful Motifs stamp set all across the front of the card base. Stamp in Secret Sea ink.
Color the edges of the card front in Secret Sea ink.
Emboss a 4″ x 5 1/4″ Cloud Cover CS piece with the Mini 3D embossing folder.
Cut the layer in half to 2″ x 5 1/4″.

Die cut the trio flower image with the coordinating die from the Gallery Blooms Bundle.

Adhere the embossed layer to the left hand side of the card base, mimicking the layer on the card sketch.
In card sketches, use your creative eye and know that you do not need to copy the sketch literally! For the circle in the sketch I added a rectangular layer instead of a circular image!

I die cut from the Textured Noted set of dies and stamped a sentiment from the Beautiful Motifs stamp set in the bottom right-hand corner.

I die cut the trio flower image from the Gallery Blooms stamp set and popped it up on the Textured Notes rectangular die cut.
This stamped image is the Natural element in the sketch – this element could be anything so use your imagination!
Adhere the rectangular die layer to the center and right of the embossed layer.
Stamp the flower tops on the bottom of the 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer Basic White CS and adhere it to the inside of the card.
I added three Secret Sea 2025-2027 In Color Flat Pearls to the card around the floral image and this is my take on Card Sketch #101.

Let me know what you come up with! Now grab some items from your personal stash and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – strawberry slush, timid tiger and darling duckling

more color mondays – strawberry slush, timid tiger and darling duckling

Today’s More Color Mondays features a new suite that will debut tomorrow called Florals in Bloom with the Annual Catalog go live date on May 6th.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 2 1/8″ and 4 1/4″
(2) 1 7/8″” x 5 1/4″
3″ x 3 3/4″ scored at 3/4″, 1 1/2″, 2 1/2″, 3″
scraps for dies
DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Strawberry Slush CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″, scraps for dies
Timid Tiger CS: 3″ x 4 1/2″, scraps for dies
Darling Duckling CS: 3″ x 4″, scraps for dies

Score the card base like a regular Z fold fun fold
at 2 1/8″ and 4 1/4″.
Emboss the two 1 7/8″ x 5 1/4″ layers of Basic White cardstock with the Eyelet 3D embossing folder and adhere to the first two panels of the card base.
Adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer of DSP from the Florals in Bloom Suite of products set to debut with the New 2025-2026 Annual Catalog tomorrow!
Score the 3″ x 3 3/4″ piece of Basic White cardstock at 3/4″, 1 1/2″, 2 1/2″, 3″.

Adhere the first and fifth panel together to form a rectangular box.

Lay the flattened box in the middle of the DSP layer just to the right of the score line. Flatten the box with the edge toward the inside 4 1/4″ fold of the card. Adhere the inside panel just a sliver away from the score line and close the card front and rub so the box adheres to the second panel.
Open the card and place Stampin’ Seal + or Tear-n-Tape on the inside panel of the box next to the DSP. Close the card and rub on the back of the card to adhere the box to the DSP layer of the card.
Die cut the Strawbarry Slush layer with the second largest Textured Notes dies.

Stamp “where you’re planted” sentiment in Strawberry Slush ink onto a Basic White 1/2″ strip and cut the words apart. Adhere in the center of the die cut layer.

Place adhesive on the top panel of the box and center the Strawberry Slush die layer over the box and adhere to it.
Die cut the Timid Tiger layer with the 3rd largest die from the Textured Notes die set and the Darling Duckling layer with the fourth largest die.
Adhere the Darling Duckling die over the Timid Tiger layer.
Place adhesive on the left side of the back of the two dies and adhere to the middle of the first panel of the card.

Die cut flowers from the Pretty Florals Bundle in the three In Colors.

Adhere the detailed Darling Duckling flower center to the large Timid Tiger flower die and adhere to the right hand corner of the die rectangles.

Stamp the “bloom” sentiment in Strawberry Slush ink and die cut. Adhere to the top of the rectangle dies on an angle.

Stamp the smaller flowers in Strawberry Slush ink – this is a two step stamping image – so stamp the base image on your grid paper and then stamp the flower “stamped off” image on your cardstock. Stamp the detailed smaller flower over the base in full strength and die cut them out. I stamped three flowers at full strength for some variation.
Arrange them around the Timid Tiger die cut and pop some up on Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Add a Darling Duckling bloom with Timid Tiger edge tucked under the Timid Tiger die cut.
Add two of the medium blooms on the inside Strawberry Slush layer.

This is what the Double Decker Pop Up fun fold looks like in a standing position!

I added some small and medium Darling Duckling 2025-2027 In Color Flat Pearls to the smaller flower centers and Strawberry Slush Pearls around the Bloom sentiment!
I added a large Darling Duckling Pearl to the right hand corner of the Strawberry Slush Double Decker layer to finish this lovely Springtime card!

Try this fun fold with your stash and see what you can create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Reminder the new Annual Catalog debuts tomorrow so these new items will not be able to be linked.

in color strips card

in color strips card

Today’s card features the Beautiful Gallery Suite of products and the new In Colors: Strawberry Slush, Timid Tiger, Darling Duckling, Cloud Cover and Secret Sea.

Measurements:
Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″ scrap for the stamp/die cut
Strawberry Slush CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ and strip scraps
Timid Tiger CS: scrip straps
Darling Duckling CS: strip scraps
Cloud Cover CS: strip scraps
Secret Sea CS: strip scraps
Basic Black CS: scraps for the Beautiful Motifs
dies

Die cut the 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer with the second largest die in the Textured Notes die set.
Save the die for future use and use the frame outer edge.
Adhere the sides with tape and start to place strips over the back of the frame.
Finish lining the inside of the frame with the rest of the strips.
Stamp a sentiment on one of the strips.
Pop up the frame on Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhere to the Basic White card frame.
Stamp the large flower in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and die cut. Die cut the smaller floral images from the Beautiful Motifs die set in Basic Black CS.
Adhere the black and white floral die above and to the right of the sentiment.
Adhere the black die cuts over and under the stamped floral image.
Add 2025-2027 In Color Flat Pearls on the card front to finish off the card.

Now go and create some artwork of your own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

This is a sneak peak and the new products will not be available until May 6th and therefore will not be in the clickable pictures below.

more color mondays – secret sea, boho blue and cloud cover

more color mondays – secret sea, boho blue and cloud cover

Today’s More Color Mondays color challenge is all about something old and something new – all in hues of blue! The 2023-2025 In Colors are making their last appearance and taking their final bows and going quickly as of writing this yesterday the Boho Blue ink, cardstock and refills, Pebbled Path cardstock and refill and Wild Wheat cardstock and refill are all SOLD OUT the rest are availabel while supplies last!

I am combining them with two debuting colors from the 2025-2027 In Colors collection: Secret Sea and Cloud Cover!

Also debuting on May 6 is a gorgeous new suite called Beautiful Gallery. The 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper steals the show with art gallery inspired painted and sketched designs.

Measurements:
BASE: Secret Sea CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 2 1/8″ and 4 1/2″
Boho Blue CS: (2) 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″
scrap for sentiment banner matte
Cloud Cover CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White CS: 2″ x 5 1/5″ and
scrap for the sentiment piece
DSP: 6″ x 6″

I embossed the Cloud Cover layer in the beautiful new Damask Designs embossing folder and adhered it to one of the Boho Blue layers.
Base your cuts of the 6″ x 6″ DSP on the composition of the painting. You want to cut 3/4″ off of one end to make it 6″ x 5 1/4″ and then cut it into 2 pieces 2″ and 4″ basing the 4″ piece as the front of your finished card.

I cut the 2″ piece down to 1 1/4″ x 5″ as I wanted a little embossed layer border the entire way around the DSP layer.

Adhere the 2″ x 5″ DSP piece on the right-hand side of the embossed layer.

I used a 2″ x 4″ scrap piece of Basic White CS for the left-hand side of the embossed layer and stamped a sentiment from the Beautiful Motifs stamp set in Secret Sea ink – this is a beautiful deep misty navy quite different from our Night of Navy. I adhered it to the side of the DSP.
Adhere this embossed layer to the inside of the z-fold card.
Take the top portion of the 6″ x 6″ DSP piece that you initially cut off and cut it down to 3/4″ x 5 1/4″ and adhere to the 2″ x 5 1/4″ piece of Basic White CS to the middle. Adhere this piece to the middle layer of the z-fold card.
Take the 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece of DSP and adhere it to the second layer of Boho Blue CS then place adhesive on the front panel of the z-fold and attach this layer so that the top, left-hand side and bottom are equally aligned to the front z-fold panel.
Using the back side of this DSP scrap stamp a “just a note” sentiment onto the scrap in Secret Sea ink and cut a banner edge on the right-hand edge. Adhere to a scrap piece of Boho Blue CS and cut a banner edge on the right-hand side to match the DSP banner edge.
Pop up the sentiment piece onto Stampin’ DImensionals and place in the upper left-hand corner of the card front or elsewhere depending on the DSP composition you choose.
I added five new In Color embellishments in Cloud Cover and Secret sea to the card front there are also embellishments which are part of this Beautiful Gallery suite called Pressed Flower motifs and they would have gone nicely with this project as well. All of this will be available to customers in early May! Love it and want to have it now? Join my team and you are able to order it in the pre-order period!

I love the way that extended Z-fold fun fold cards look like a normal card but surprise you when they are opened!

Try this easy fun fold and go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Reminder this post is going live prior to the new In Colors being available so the sneak peak items will not be in the order icons below – these are only available currently to current demonstrators to order in a pre-order but will be available once the 2025-2026 Annual Catalog goes live May 6th,2025!

updated with 25-27 in colors – stampin’ up!’s color evolution – a little history lesson

updated with 25-27 in colors – stampin’ up!’s color evolution – a little history lesson

Recently at this year’s OnStage – Stampin’ Up!’s major annual event for their demonstrators – the company announced their next set of In Colors for 2025 through 2027: Strawberry Slush, Timid Tiger, Darling Duckling, Cloud Cover and Secret Sea. At first glance it does not look like the usual coordinating set of five colors that work together but I think that these colors are all dusty hues and will work well paired with some of our favorite staple colors.

Strawberry Slush is a returning 2013-2015 In Color a favorite pink for many.

Timid Tiger is a really nice shade of Dusty Orange reminicent in color dimension or chroma to Tangelo Twist 2008 or Tangerine Tango 2014-2016 and Dusty Durango 2009.

Darling Duckling is a dusty yellow with slightly green undertones.

Cloudy Sky is a dusty gray-blue.

And Secret Sea is a deep dark stormy dusky blue almost black!

Cannot wait to work with these colors!

The following is the rest of the original color evolution blog post that I wrote with a few updates at the end for the retiring in colors and last year’s entry as well!

As we enter our 35th year in business and I enter my 23rd year with Stampin’ Up! In June I thought it would be fun to take a look at our fascination with color! I believe one of the reasons this company is strong and continues to be is definitely multi-faceted – great leadership and great products but our color coordination is second to none! It is one of the many things I love about this company, the colors are both classic and trendy, and the color coordination among our product lines is outstanding.

It is hard to fathom that 35 years ago, the company was founded with not one of their own ink colors in 1988! Stampin’ Up! didn’t release their own line of signature alitereral colors until their 1997-1998 catalog. In this catalog they introduced four color families Bold Brights, Rich Regals, Soft Subtles and Earth Elements – I am proud to say I remember those color families and still refer to myself as a BOLD BRIGHT GIRLS!!
They started from the very first release with their fascination with alliteration of color names with Old Olive, still around today as one of the original colors, Taken with Teal, Summer Sun, Yo Yo Yellow, Brilliant Blue and many others.
The original color families started with these colors:

Bold Brights: Glorious Green, Green Galore, Gable Green, YoYo Yellow, Only Orange, Rocket Red, Pink Passion, Positively Pink, Orchid Opulence, Lovely Lilac, Brilliant Blue and Tempting Turquoise.

Rich Regals: Not Quite Navy, Eggplant Envy, Forest Foliage, Baroque Burgundy, Night of Navy, Bordering Blue, Rose Red, Brocade Blue, Rose Romance, Ballet Blue, marvelous Magenta and Taken with Teal.

Soft Subtles: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Blush Blossom, Mellow Moss, Barely Banana, Sage Shadow, Lavender Lace, Mauve Mist, Almost Amethyst, Mint Melody, Bliss Blue, and Pretty in Pink.

Earth Elements: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, More Mustard, Summer Sun, Luscious Lime, Old Olive, Garden Green, Going Grey, and Basic Black.

We have gone through several color refreshes, in 2005, 2010, 2013, 2018 and 2023.

We introduced the idea of hot trendy colors collections that would be around originally for just a year in 2006 with the first In Color Collection of six colors. We later changed the program to 5 colors to remain for 2 years alternating with a second color collection in 2010.
Today I have put together charts of the In Color Program starting with the six 2006 In Color Collection featuring: Vintage Violet, Buckaroo Blue, Cool Caribbean, Marigold Morning, True Thyme and Cranberry Crisp.

In 2007 we released the second one year collection of 6 In Colors featuring: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, River Rock, Groovy Guava, and Purely Pomegranate.
In 2008 we released another one year collection of 6 In Colors featuring: Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point and Pink Pirouette. Pacific Point would re-emerge as a Core Color in the 2010 Color reset and remain a staple until 2018 as would Pink Pirouette.
In 2009 we released our last one year collection of 6 In Colors featuring: Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo and Dusty Durango. These colors were so popular that many became Core Colors in the 2010 Color Reset everyone but Dusty Durango!
In 2010, Stampin’ Up! introduced the current structure for In Color Collections remaining for two years and alternating the next year with another new collection!
2010-2012 set included: Poppy Parade, Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Blushing Bride and Pear Pizzazz. Poppy, Blushing Bride and Pear pizzazz returning as Core Colors in the 2013 Color Reset!
The 2011- 2013 In Colors included: Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party and Wisteria Wonder. Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Blushing Bride joined the Core Color Collection in 2013.
The 2012-2014 In Colors featured: Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit, Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals, and Gumball Green.

The 2010 Color Rest added new Core Colors Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight Marina Mist and Early Espresso

In 2013-2015 Stampin’ Up!’s In Color Collection included: Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding and Strawberry Slush. Adding Coastal Cabana to the Core Color Collection in 2018’s Color Reset.
2014-2016 In Colors added Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon, Mossy Meadow and Tangelo Twist to the In Color Collection.

Blackberry Bliss and Lost Lagoon eventually were added as Core Colors in 18 and 23, respectively.

2015 – 2017 brought Watermelon Wonder, Cucumber Crush, Delightful Dijon, Mint Macaron and Tip Top Taupe to the In Color mix. Stampin’ Up! added mint Macaron to the Core Color Collection in 2018.
2016-2018 In Color Collection featured: Dapper Denim, Emerald Envy, Flirty Flamingo, Peekaboo Peach, and Sweet Sugarplum adding Flirty Flamingo to the Core Colors in 2018.
in 2017, we added Berry Burst, Fresh Fig, Lemon Lime Twist, Powder Pink and Tranquil Tide to the In Color Collection keeping Berry Burst and Lemon Lime Twist eventually in Core Collection Resets last year.
2018-2020 broughtLovely Lipstick, Grapefruit Grove, Pineapple Punch, Blueberry Bushel and Call Me Clover to the In Color Collection and we called Blueberry Bushel back to the Color rest in 2023.

We added new colors to the Core Collection in 2018 including: Soft Sea Foam, Shaded Spruce, Petal Pink, Merry Merlot, Mango Melody, Highland Heather, Gray Granite, Granny Apple Green, Gorgeous Grape and Balmy Blue.

2019-2021 In Colors featured Purple Posy, Seaside Spray, Rococo Rose, Terracotta Tile and Pretty Peacock and brought Pretty Peacock to the Color Reset last year in 2023.
2020-2022 In Colors included: Bumblebee, Cinnamin Cider, Just Jade, Magenta Madness, and Misty Moonlight and added Misty Moonlight to the Color Reset in 2023.
2021-2023 In Colors brought: Polished Pink, Pale Papaya, Evening Evergreen, Soft Succulent and Fresh Freesia , keeping Fresh Freesia in 2023.
My personal favorite set of In Colors will be retiring in May! The 2022-2024 In Color Collection features Sweet Sorbet, Parakeet Party, Tahitian Tide, Starry Sky and Orchid Oasis. These colors will no longer be available after April 30th so if you need anything, I would recommend ordering some as they are getting low in some inventories and when they are depleted they are SOLD OUT! The current hostess code in EGCF9KYB.
2023-2025 In Colors contained great neutrals including: Copper Clay, Wild Wheat, Boho Blue, Moody Mauve and Pebbled Path and these are the colors that will be retiring with this current catalog – love any of these colors then DO NOT WAIT they always sell out when they are retiring!

Copper Clay
#161721 CS
#161647 ink pad
#161654 refill
#161662 Blends

Wild Wheat
#161725 CS
#161651 ink pad
#161655 refill
#161661 Blends

Boho Blue
#161724 CS
#161650 ink pad
#161656 refill
#161659 Blends

Moody Mauve
#161723 CS
#161649 ink pad
#161657 refill
#161660 Blends

Pebbled Path
#161722 CS
#161648 ink pad
#161653 refill
#161658 Blends

These were last year’s In Colors that debuted with the upcoming 2024-2025 Annual Catalog are Peach Pie, Petunia Pop, returning original color Pretty in Pink for an encore as this new batch of In Colors, Shy Shamrock and Summer Splash!

If you want to see this colors in person and are in the area, I will be hosting a New Catalog Open House in May! Come join the fun!
Keep watch for the details on my social media!

Hope you enjoyed this color evolution and stroll down memory lane.

This upcoming catalog features a very cool color theory section with an awesome color wheel that talks about monochromatic, complementary, analogous and triadic color combinations! I absolutely LOVE the upcoming catalog and the new way it is designed!

Don’t have a demonstrator and live in the US? Let me know if you would like to have your own copy of the new catalog once it is released and I will send you one!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

scrapbooking workshops

scrapbooking workshops

I had the opportunity recently to attend the first of three virtual scrapbooking workshop training seminars.
To say that I am delighted for Stampin’ Up! to be expanding their scrapbooking line is an understatement – I am so excited with the offerings that are coming out and super excited to see the line that will be debuting in the future!
The first session met to discuss and put together the double scrapbooking pages of the new Meant To Bee scrapbooking workshop.
The workshop is a totally self contained packet that includes all of the product to make three gorgeous double page scrapbooking spreads with a lot of product left over to create more matching pages of your own!
The kit comes with a full color instructions booklet with step by step details on how to cut and put together these pre-designed scrapbooking pages.
The first page of the first double page spread features little 2″ x 2″ square of the patterned paper – one of which is exclusive to this workshop and coordinates with a stamp bundle and two toned scrapbooking paper that color coordinates with this suite of products.
The words and bumble bees are stickers for easy adhesion and coordination!
The second page of this spread carries the squares of DSP theme to the matching page and allows for a seamless spread to highlight your scrapbooking photos!
I used some recent photos of a family vacation to set off this stunning and easy to do scrapbooking spread!
I used a coordinating marker to draw dotted lines for the bee’s trail across the pages – such a cute detail!
The second spread used Designer Series paper as the background with the exclusive bee designed DSP to make the photos pop. Easy coordination with pop out die cut stars and flowers to decorate as you like along with the stick words with mixed fonts and coordinating colors!
The last page is set on Old Olive cardstock and carries the coordinating DSP papers along for a coordinated set of pages or use them separately – these photos were from an adult only Napa wine country tour we took last year and featured just a few of the many happy pictures we took! The third page was made from scraps and left overs from the kit and I still have many more scraps of DSP, stickers, punch out shapes and cardstock to use to create a bunch more pages!

I loved the ease of this coordinated kit and cannot wait for the next one to show you!

Interested in getting a group together for a scrapbooking night? Let me know and we can make your next ladies night out a scrapbooking fun night!

Below I have included the codes and linked photos of ALL the coordinating products,
I only used the Meant to Bee Scrapbooking Workshop to create these pages! You could do a whole themed scrapbook with just these products though – would “bee” super cute!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie