coloring with soft pastels

coloring with soft pastels

When I counsel new stampers I tell them that the most economical way to start is to get a multi pack of cardstock so they can try all the colors, a pack of Basic White, some clear envelopes, a Tuxedo Black memento ink pad, watercolor pencils and the soft pastels assortment. The Soft Pastels Assortment is a box of 8 different tightly compact pieces of chalk in 8 of our coordinating colors! The eight colors are: Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo, Gorgeous Grape, Granny Apple Green, Mossy Meadow, Night of Navy and Poppy Parade.
Today’s card describes a watercoloring technique with these great chalk stick!

Measurements:
BASE: Granny Apple Green 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 3 1/4″ and 4 1/4″
scrap for the bough punch
DSP: 3/4″ x 5 1/2″
Basic White: layer 3 3/4″ x 5 1/2″
scrap for the circle die

Place adhesive on the inside strip in between the two score marks, close the card and burnish the smaller panel to set the adhesive to create a book bind fun fold.
Adhere the 3/4″ DSP piece onto the outside of the card on the book bind smaller panel.
Run the Basic White layer through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss maching with the Zinnias 3D embossing folder.
Using the spatula end of the Take Your Pick Tool scrape powder from one end of the desired colors of Soft Pastel sticks onto the flat surface of the F acrylic block. You will not need alot of powder. Squeeze a few drop of water from a Water Painter onto the bloc at the edge of the powder pile. Slowly incorporate the powder into the water a little at a time – these are hyper-pigmented powders and will get dark quickly – less is more! You can keep adding until you reach the desired hue.
I used one color at a time and started with the granny Apple Green and painted the leaves.
Using one color at a time, I painted the flower petals alternating flowers so that the flowers next to each other were different colors. When you are done with one color and want to move on to your next color. squeeze water out of the barrel of the painter pen and rub the brush onto a cloth or paper towel until the brush water runs clean and clear!
Adhere the Basic White panel to the larger panel on the card front – this is a close up of the watercoloring.
I stamped the hello sentiment onto a Everyday Details circle die in Granny Apple Green ink from the Layering Leaves stamp set and punched the bough punch with scraps of Granny Apple Green cardstock.
I attached the leaf punches to the back of the sentiment piece using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
I adhered the sentiment circle die to the card front over the water coloring. Make sure that the leaves do not protrude outside of the dimensions of the card so it still fits into a standard envelope!
I added the Parakeet Party colored Pearls from the 2022-2024 In Color Pearls embellishment pack – these will be retiring soon. I am so sad because of the iridescent quality the colors coordinate with more than just the 2022-2024 In Colors as shown here with the Granny Apple Green! Buy some before they sell out!
I made two samples with each side of the Flowering Zinnias DSP for the book bind “spine”

Now it’s your turn to try the Pastels! Go and create some art of your own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

new online exclusives  – encircled in nature product review

new online exclusives – encircled in nature product review

Yesterday, Stampin’ Up! released some amazing new stamp sets, dies, bundles and suites in their Online Exclusives promotion. This program was developed to bring you new stamps more frequently than the publication of catalogs will allow! So we have new stuff coming out more frequently – more choices!!
This is one of the stamp bundles that I will be showing you over the next few weeks and it is lovely. A stamp set called Encircled in Nature with a twig wreath and coordinating stamps and dies to make fantastic wreaths and tree scenes and even things outside of the wreath image, flowers and sprigs of leaves and stars and a moon for so many possibilities!

I have tutorial directions for an in depth Z fold card with a watercolor wash background technique and other samples to show the diversity of this year round set!

Measurements for the Tutorial card:
Base: Coastal Cabana CS 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/2 and 2 1/8″
Basic White Layers: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″
scrap of Pretty Peacock for the die
I started with a E size acrylic block and laid the Coastal Cabana ink pad on the surface of the block to transfer the ink.

I sprayed the surface of the Basic White cardstock layer and the acrylic block with water.
I laid the acrylic block on the center of the Basic White layer and let the ink soak in for a minute.
Pull off the acrylic block and either let the paper dry naturally or if you are in a hurry grab your Heat Tool and dry it heating both the underside of the paper and the surface to help with the paper curling that occurs when the paper is wet.
I stamped the twig wreath stamp image onto the upper center of the watercolor space.
I rotated the image and re-stamped for a thicker twig wreath image.
I stamped the curved tree image in Pretty Peacock and then without re-inking the stamp I stamped the image again to provide a fuller image with more depth.
I stamped the sentiment in the middle of the wreath in Pecan Pie ink like the wreath.
I stamped the stars and moon image in the upper right hand corner in Pretty Peacock ink.
I die cut the solitary tree out of Pretty Peacock scrap and adhered it to the bottom left hand edge of the watercolor square.
I ran that whole layer through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine with the Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder.
I scored the base card and used a bone folder to crease the score lines.
I added color to the Iridescent Pearls with the Pretty Peacock Stampin’ Blends marker and allowed them to dry.
I added SEAL Adhesive to the front panel.
I added the embossed layer to the front panel and added the Pretty Peacock-colored Iridescent pearls to the card front.
I stamped the single tree in Pretty Peacock ink on the second Basic White layer and adhered it to the inside of the card.
This is the finished Z fold card!
The stamp set comes with 11 stamps 7 image stamps and four sentiments in print and cursive fonts.
The die set comes with 10 dies. two to cut out the inside and outside of the twig branch wreath so you can cut the inside only, outside only or both! Two tree stand alone dies and one tree that cuts out the single tree stamp, one die for the flower stamp, one die for a stand only berry wreath and one die that cuts two pine boughs at once.
Note: I purchase on Amazon full sheets of magnet paper and cut them to size and stick them to the paper that the dies come on – I find it easier to remove them from the magnet sheets instead of the tape that holds them in place on the original paper packaging .
My next card sample uses just a part of the single tree stamp. I stamped in a variety of colors to create a rainbow effect on 1 1/4″ squares matted in black and mounted onto a Real Red card base.
I popped up the sentiment onto Stampin’ Dimensionals and added Black and White Gingham ribbon in a loop under the sentiment.
I added a few sparkle gems to complete the card.
My next card sample used just the flower image and flower die from the bundle in Highland Heather, Granny Apple Green and Gorgeous Grape markers and Highland Heather CS for the dies. I embossed a center panel from the Basics 3D embossing folder pack and added the dies and flowers to the bottom of the card. I added a sentiment, ribbon and Purple Sparkle gems to the card as well.
The wreath is one of the main items in this set and the next two samples use the two different wreaths. This first wreath sample I die cut the stand alone (Meaning the die does not have a stamp that coordinates with it) on Basic White cardstock and colored the branches in Old Olive marker and the berries in Light and Dark Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Blends! Then I die cut the pine boughs in Mossy Meadow CS and added them under the colored wreath for depth and texture. I added a linen twine bow and Iridescent pearls and popped up a sentiment matted in coordinating Cherry Cobbler Cardstock. I adhered the wreath to a Basic White cardstock background embossed with the Exposed Brick 3D Embossing Folder and mounted that onto a Mossy Meadow cardstock base.
I recently finished a swap card for this month’s swap and used the leaf die on the Oxidized Copper DSP and with two passes made four sprigs of gorgeous leaves I glued them into a wreath on another embossed Exposed Brick 3D layer and mounted that onto a Pretty Peacock cardstock base. I stamped the sentiment on the basic White layer before embossing and added Adhesive Backed Seuins Trio in Pretty Peacock coordinating colors to finish the swap card!
My last Sample card uses only the stand alone tree dies in Gorgeous Grape cardstock. I made a cloud background with a mask made from the Basics Borders die set, with Highland Heather and Gorgeous Grape blending brushes. I mounted the Basic White layer onto Gorgeous Grape card base with a sentiment and Iridescent Pearls around the wording to finish this elegant and simple card!
Here are six ideas for this new Online Exclusive bundle and that is just the start of the possibilities for this set. Check out the rest of the Online exclusive offerings that just dropped yesterday from a new latte suite to a magnificent Magnolia bundle!

Now go create some art work of your very own – 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

making your own designer paper

making your own designer paper

Sale-a-bration is HERE!!!

This project is made with the gorgeous new Level Two Sale-a-bration set called Detailed Dogwood. It is a collage set with beautiful images and perfect for the application I am using for today’s blog post – making your own designer paper!

There are actually two techniques for this post!
When you have a stamp set like this one – which you can earn for FREE with a $100 purchase! – with a lot of smaller images it lends itself well to background paper stamping.

Measurements:
BASE: Pebbled Path 4 1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5 1/2″
Pebbled Path layer 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
scrap for sentiment piece
Basic White 4″ x 5 1/4″ for inside

Start with the Pebbled Path layer and stamp one of the medium images in the upper and lower diagonal corners.

Continue stamping until the entire surface of this layer is filled and designed to your liking.

I wanted to give it more texture so i embossed it with the hatchmark design from the Basics 3D folders pack.

Cut this in half and now you have background paper for two cards.
Adhere the paper to the base. (I later decided to add a small matte to this in Lemon Lolly to tie in the color of the post bleached flowers.)
I stamped the larger dogwood flowers from this set in Versamark and sprinkled the black embossing powder from the Basics embossing powders pack and heat set with our Heat Tool.
Using an old brush or a dried out Blender Pen, I diped the old Blender pen in Gel Bleach and painted the bleach inside the embossed flower lines. Each dyed paper bleaches a different color – I always love watching the color develop! It reminds me of the old days when we used to develop film and you would be able to see the image appear – the color developing is a similar experience! Who would have guessed that Pebbled Path bleaches out to Lemon Lolly?
After I fussy cut the dogwood flowers out I popped them up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and placed it on the upper right hand section of the card.
I added the Pebbled Path Textured ribbon to the lower part of the card.
I stamped a sentiment from the Wonderful Thoughts stamp set in Pebbled Path ink on the same color cardstock. I stamped off twice the dotted pattern and stamped over the sentiment and then cut it out using the Nested Essentials dies.
I moved the flowers and the ribbon up to accommodate the banner die and the sentiment.
I added some Gold Brushed Metallic Dots to highlight the flowers bleached areas.
I added a lemon Lolly matte to further accentuate the bleached color of the flowers I thought it was so pretty I wanted to call attention to it even more!

Try bleach or making your own paper today with the stamps you have! Go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color monday – pretty peacock, lost lagoon and moody mauve

more color monday – pretty peacock, lost lagoon and moody mauve

Creative stretching is a very good thing! Sometimes like exercise we resist it, it can be uncomfortable, even anxiety producing – well maybe not that bad but like exercise for our bodies – stretching our creative potential is a great thing for our brains!! Like MOST of you paper crafters, out there, I LOVE paper. Unlike my children (that are constantly trying to get me to confess my favorite among them) – I do have favorite colors and not so favorite colors!
I have to be honest, Moody Mauve is not in my color wheel house! It is a lovely color just not my favorite and I do not use it often enough. So I decided to stretch my creativity and include it in this week’s color challenge.

I also included a technique direct to rubber coloring using our Stampin’ Write markers which in my opinion do not get enough love! This is the most economical way to get a lot of the Stampin’ Up! colors by buying our marker color families! You can experiment with all the colors and then buy only the ink pads that are your favorite!

Measurements:
BASE: Pretty Peacock 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″, (2) 1/2″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White layer: 4″ x 5 1/4″
scrap for largest STylisg Shapes circle die
DSP: Winter Meadow 2″ x 5 1/4″
Lost Lagoon: 1/2″ x 5 1/4″ (2)

Cut the Pretty Peacock base cardstock, score and fold in half.
Emboss the Basic White layer with the hack-marked Basics 3D Embossing Folder.
Adhere the embossed layer to the cardbase.
Adhere the Lost Lagoon and Pretty Peacock strips to the outer edges of the DSP.
Adhere that whole piece to the center of the embossed layer.
Stamp the sentiment from the Magical Meadow stamp set in the center of the largest circle die from the Stylish Shapes die set in Pretty Peacock ink.
Using Moody Mauve and Pretty Peacock Stampin’ Write markers color the pomegranate pods in Moody Mauve and the leaves in Pretty Peacock. Re-wet the stamp ink by breathing on the stamp surface. Stamp the images on the outer edges of the circle around the sentiment.
Cut a length of Moody Mauve Textured ribbon that wraps over your palm about three times. Loop it loosely under the circle die with Stampin’ Dimensionals to hold the ribbon in place and adhere to the center of the card front.
Add the 2023-2025 In Color dots to the card to finish it off with a little coordinating bling!

Try to stretch your creative potential today – use a stamp set you haven’t used yet or a color that isn’t your favorite and make a beautiful work of art of your very own – one stamp and one color at a time!!

Try these colors and upload your creation to today’s Facebook comment section and inspire others to stretch their creative potential too!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie