more color mondays – pretty peacock, crumb cake and gorgeous grape

more color mondays – pretty peacock, crumb cake and gorgeous grape

Today’s More Color Mondays color challenge features some of the soft colors from the Perennial Lavender Designer Series Paper – Pretty Peacock, Crumb Cake and Gorgeous Grape and a freestanding fun fold card!

Measurements:
Gorgeous Grape CS: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″,
4 1/4″ x 11 scored at 2″, 3 3/4″, 7 1/4″, and 9″
Crumb Cake CS: 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″,
(2) 1 7/8″ x 4 1/8″, (2) 1 5/8″ x 5 3/8″
DSP: (2) 1 1/2″ x 4 “, (2) 1 3/4″ x 4″,
(2) 1 14/” x 4″
Basic White CS: 3 3/4″ x 4″

Adhere the DSP pieces to the Crumb Cake mattes – the 1 3/4″ DSP to the 1 7/8″ matte, and the 1 1/2″ DSP to the 1 5/8″ matte.

Score the 4 1/4″ x 11″ Gorgeous Grape CS at 2″, 3 3/4″, 7 1/4″ and 9″
Adhere the 4 1/8″ Crumb Cake CS layer to the Gorgeous Grape 4 1/4″ layer.
Adhere the two small pieces of DSP on the edges of the Crumb Cake layer leaving an even border.
Adhere the 4 1/4″ x 11″ scored layer onto the center of the card base.
Die cut a Gorgeous Grape scrap with the Spotlight on Nature die set.
Die cut a Basic White scrap with the Stylish Shape and stamp the butterfly and the thanks of Gorgeous Grape ink.
Die cut the large banner from the Stylish Shapes die set and cut it in half.
Stamp the 3 1/4″ Basic White layer and stamp images in the three More Color Mondays color challenge colors.
Adhere the banner die on either side of the circle dies and adhere to the front flap of the card!
This free standing fun fold card is so fun and perfect for displaying beautiful Designer Series Paper!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – balmy blue, old olive and basic beige

more color mondays – balmy blue, old olive and basic beige

Today’s another color challenge to inspire you to more creativity in your card design work!

The palette today is soft and neutral – perfect for a soft, subtle thank you card for someone special. The card features a gorgeous product that was introduced with the new annual catalog and I have totally ignored until now! I purchased it in the pre-order and then got busy with the new stamps and dies and forgot I had it! The Irresistible Designs contains 2 one-sided sheets of 3 different designs of white tone on tone embossed images in a leaf, floral and criss-cross pattern – used as is or colored to create stunning effects – this paper is amazing!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic Beige CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Balmy Blue CS: scrap for die

Using blending brushes in a soft circular motion – starting off the paper – I colored in a diagonal pattern Old Olive ink at the bottom right-hand corner, Basic Beige ink in the middle and Balmy Blue in the top left-hand corner.
Because the specialty paper in embossed the image does not take the ink and pops off the page in a spectacular fashion!
Adhere the specialty paper to the Basic Beige card base and add a small piece of the Basic Beige Classic ribbon folded in a loop to the card.
I stamped the thanks and the leaf image from the Spotlight on Nature stamp set in Old Olive ink on a Balmy Blue die cut from the Spotlight on Nature die set. I popped up the sentiment die on Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhered it over the ribbon loop.
I added three gold flecked embellishments from the Strawberry Slush and Pretty in Pink Gems – these actually have a section of clear gems as well as the two pink colors and are perfect for this wonderful card!

Have you played with this type of Specialty paper before? It is super fun and produces easy, amazing results – try your hand at it soon!
Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

card sketch #111 – spooky halloween

card sketch #111 – spooky halloween

Today’s card sketch is a fun one to use with strips of colored paper, Designer Series paper or strips colored by hand – the possibilities are endless!

I choose the new Online Exclusive bundle Spooky Halloween, and the coordinating Spooky Sweet DSP.

Card Sketch #111 Measurements:
BASE: Granny Apple Green CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ embossed
scrap for sentiment piece and critter stamp
Basic Black scrap for bat dies
DSP: (2) 3/4″ x 4″
(2) 1″ x 4″

I embossed the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer with the Dotted Circles 3D embossing folder with the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine using the BASE plate #1 and the Embossing Plate #4.

I cut the Basic Black scrap with the bat die using the BASE plate #1, the Thin Die Adaptor #2 and the 2 cutting plates #3.

Adhere the Basic White embossed layer to the Base card.
Arrange the DSP strips on the upper half of the card and adhere over the embossed layer in a pleasing pattern.
Stamp the critter in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and the sentiment on scrap pieces of Basic White CS. Die cut the critter and cut the sentiment piece to size.
Adhere the critter to the left-hand side of the DSP arrangement.
Adhere the two bat dies overhead.
Using a blending brush and Granny Apple Green ink blend color onto the edges of the sentiment piece and pop up onto Stampin’ Dimensionals – adhere to the lower right-hand side of the card front.
Adhere embellishments off to finish the card – the suite comes with the coordinating DSP and the sweetest star embellishments!

I just may be converted to a Halloween card girl – LOL still not the biggest fan of the holiday but these cards are just too cute!!

Try making something fun for Fall this week and go create some artwork of your very own- one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

florals in bloom anniversary card

florals in bloom anniversary card

Today is a simple stamping card using two diagonally cut pieces of designer series paper.

Measurements:
BASE: Pretty in Pink CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
DSP: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″ cut diagonally
Flirty Flamingo CS: scrap for die cuts
Basic White CS: scrap for stamping

Adhere the Florals in Bloom DSP to the base card.
Adhere the other piece of DSP to the bottom corner of the base card.

Stamp the anniversary sentiment onto a Flirty Flamingo CS die cut from the Spotlight on Nature. Add Stampin’ DImensionals onto the back of the die cut and adhere above the intersection of the two diagonal pieces of DSP.

Stamp the butterflies from the Spotlight on Nature stamp set in Tuxedo Black Memento ink. Fussy cut the butterfly and add Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back of the butterfly image.
Add the butterfly to the right corner of the Flirty Flamingo die cut.
Add five Iridescent Pearls around the sentiment and card base.

Try this simple design today and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time.

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

florals in bloom sketch #102 card

florals in bloom sketch #102 card

Sketches are one great way to stretch that creative bone in your body that either needs some motivation or inspiration. When you are feeling like you need a little assist there are so many ways to get help!

Many demonstrators and groups post card sketch challenges or online databases of sketches, Pinterest is another great resource and I will be posting occasional card sketches to give my customers inspiration as well!

This card sketch is a SUPER simple one but is awesome for maximizing your 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper you can make 9 of these cards out of one 12″ x 12″ piece of paper!

And just by changing out the DSP the cards look totally refreshed and new!

Measurements:
BASE: Pretty Peacock 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
DSP: 4″ square piece cut in half to make
(2) 2″ x 4″ pieces
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ and 1/4″ x 4 1/4″

I usually place a Basic White layer on the inside of the cards I make that use darker colored cardstock to make it easier to write on the inside of the card.
Cut the DSP in half paying attention to the DSP pattern and keeping the design together so the pattern flows once you adhere the DSP to the card front.

Take the top patterned piece and adhere it to the top of the card front leaving an 1/8″ border on the sides and top of the card stock.

Adhere the bottom DSP piece to the bottom of the card front leaving an 1/8″ border on the bottom and sides of the card front.
I stamped the horizontal sentiment stamp from the Blooming Phrases Online Exclusive stamp set that debuted this month in Pretty Peacock ink. I stamped the leaves at the end of the word line in Granny Apple Green ink on the Basic White strip.
Pop up the strip and adhere to the center of the card spacing it evenly in between the top and bottom DSP panels.
I added some two-toned sparkle gems to the card to finish this easy and lovely card!
This is another version with another DSP design from the Florals in Bloom collection.
Just changing the paper can make an entirely different card look!
Try this simple design with your stash of papers and see what you can design – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie