last days of sale-a-bration – aspen trees dies card

last days of sale-a-bration – aspen trees dies card

I love watercoloring but it can be intimidating for some so I LOVE this technique! The watercolor Smoosh technique is awesome for any level of stamper – beginner to advanced!

Just pick two or three complimentary colors and either a window sheet or one of your acrylic plates from the Stamparatus (#146276) – this is one of my favorite things to use the acrylic plates for!

Measurements:

BASE: Basic White CS 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Layers: Basic white 2 pieces of 4″ x 5 14/”
Sahara Sand 1 piece of 4″ x 5 1/4″
Scraps: Basic White for the sentiment

Using one of the acrylic plates from your Stamparatus, scribble 2-3 colors with your Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers in a random pattern covering an area larger than the 4″ x 5 1/4″ pieces of Basic White cardstock.
Using a spray bottle filled with Rubbing Alcohol, spray the acrylic surface with the alcohol until the colors start to run and blend.
Place the Basic White CS on top of the acrylic surface to absorb the color and alcohol mixture.

Allow to dry and repeat process for the second sheet of Basic white CS.

With the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine die cut the Sahara Sand CS piece with the large tree silhouette die from the Aspen Trees Dies set (#163102) (which is available as a Sale-a-bration FREE level two merchandise item through the end of August!) and use the two leaf dies on the alcohol Blends technique paper and die cut multiple leaves from this CS.
Adhere the second full sheet of the Alcohol Blends colored CS to the back of the Aspen Trees Die cut paper. I used Stampin’ Seal + as the paper curls slightly due to the alcohol.
Adhere this layer to the Basic White Card base and then adhere the leaves to the bottom portion of the card.
With a scrap piece of Basic White stamp the sentiment in coordinating Sahara Sand ink and I used the light Crumb Cake Stampin’ Blends marker and tapped it on the edge of a scissors to create a subtle splatter effect on the piece of paper before die cutting it from the Stylish Shapes die set.
Pop up the sentiment on Stampin’ Dimensions and adhere atop the leaf clusters.
here is a close up photo of the subtle splatter effect.
I added the sweet sorbet 2022-2024 In Color Matte Decorative dots to the front and voila a colorful Fall card! I have just the perfect young lady just off to college to send this to!
If you haven’t tried this easy and fun technique – give it a whirl – careful though it is addictive!!
It’s simple and lovely and comes out different every time! Now go out and create some art of your own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’

Natalie

making rain – more fun with vellum

making rain – more fun with vellum

I have always been a glass half full girl! I say this is full acknowledgement that this is not the case for many people – I have learned many things through out the years from very smart people and loads of them including myself believe that what you focus on in life colors your world. There are many – some very close to me that sometimes only see the glass half empty – which has been so easy to do for the last few years. I hope that my art and my blog posts in some small way shine light onto the glass half empty as well as the glass half full camps! This card is in honor of those hard times that make us stronger, the sad times that make the sweet times together sweeter, and the hope that exists in all of us.
I love rain it is cleansing and sweet and refreshes the earth, giving life giving water to all. Rain sometimes is looked upon as a bad thing but the gentle rain that accompanies most storms is a good thing (yes water can be devastating but a little rain is mostly a good thing!)
Today’s card starts with vellum and Night of navy Stampin’ Blend ink scribbled on it’s surface.
Spray the vellum colored surface with a fine mist of 99% alcohol and dry with a heat tool so that the spray makes downwards lines mimic-ing rain.
After drying the vellum take a paint brush and dip it into alcohol and allow drops of alcohol to puddle in spots on the colored side of the vellum. This will create lighter spots in the colored surface – looking like rain drops on the blue surface.
allow the drops to dry naturally instead of moving the spots with the heat tool and disrupting there shape. Decorate with the new cloud punch and the sentiment from After the storm and you have a lovely “rain storm” card full of hope!

Take care today and let your heart and spirit create art in your soul for as Picasso said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
Create hope and joy and beauty with your art and share it with someone that is in need. May you be blessed today and always!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

alcohol blends color block technique

alcohol blends color block technique

Color Blocking using the alcohol spray and blends technique is simple and so much fun!

I used our largest acrylic block, paper towels, a Stampin’ Spritzer filled with 99% alcohol, Stampin’ Blends in assorted colors and a piece of 5 1/2″ x 3″ Basic White cardstock.

Place a folded piece of paper towel down to protect your work surface, then the cut piece of Basic White cardstock and then lie the large acrylic block on top of them both. The reason I layer it this way is to protect the work surface and also to give you an idea of how much of the cardstock you wish to cover with color.

Gather your desired Stampin’ Blends colored markers – I used So Saffron Dark, Flirty Flamingo Dark, Pool Party Dark, Granny Apple Green Dark, and Highland Heather Dark.
Color in blocks of color in your desired pattern and portion of the cardstock you wish to cover with color (in this example I colored the entire width of the paper – at the end of the blog post I will post a picture of an alternative card that I did not color the entire paper – to show you the difference)
I colored So Saffron at the bottom followed by Flirty Flamingo then Pool Party then Granny Apple Green and finally the Highland Heather.
Remove the cardstock from underneath the acrylic block and set aside to avoid spritzing the paper. Using 99% Isopropyl Alcohol in a Stampin’ Spritzer liberally spray the colored portion of the acrylic block and turn upside down and press into the cardstock.
Carefully peel the wet cardstock off the acrylic block and allow to dry.
Decorate and give to someone special!

This is so easy and the cards come out beautiful and different every time!

Now it is your turn to try this technique and go and create your own artwork – one stamp at a time!!

Happy Stampin’

Natalie

stampin’ blends and alcohol on window sheets

stampin’ blends and alcohol on window sheets

Another fun way to use our Stampin’ Blends markers! This technique uses Window Sheets and 99% Isopropyl Alcohol.

Measurements and supplies:

Base Cardstock: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
Basic White Cardstock 4″ x 5 1/4″ (2) (#159276)
Window Sheet 4″ x 5 1/4″ (#142314)
Basic White Cardstock scraps (#159276)
Basic Black Cardstock scraps (#121045)
Stampin’ Blends
Poppy Parade (#154958)
Mambo Melon (#153112)
Misty Moonlight (#153108)
Shaded Spruce (#154903)
Granny Apple Green (#154885)
So Saffron (#154905)
Balmy Blue (#154830)
Mint Macaron (#514889)

Scribble your selected colors on the Window Sheet.

Take the 99% alcohol in a dropper bottle.
Using a Bulb syringe and blow the alcohol and ink around until dry and the pattern desired.
The ink design on the Window Sheet shows best when backed on our Basic White cardstock. Because the Window Sheets are clear you can see the adhesive. In order to hide this I take the two largest dies from the Stitched Rectangles set and nest them evenly together and cut a thin stitched frame. I adhere the frame to the opposite side of the ink color on the Window sheet. I attach that to a Basic white 4″x 5 1/4″ cardstock piece and cut off the excess around the edges. I mounted onto a base colored piece of cardstock and decorated the cardfront. Here are two finished examples!
The window Sheet I did with the Blues and Greens reminded me of a sky or a galaxy background so i stamped the Angel from the Angels of Peace stamp set (#156365), colored her with Light Balmy Blue (#154830) and Light Mint Macaron (#154889) Stampin’ Blends Markers. Her hair in Light So Saffron (#154905), her skin tone in Light Petal Pink (154893) and the bird in Light Misty Moonlight (#153108).
Apply Wink of Stella to the bodice of the dress and her wings. Pop her up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and add some Basic Rhinestone Jewels and the sentiment.
Using Poppy Parade and Mambo Melon, I created the background and the backed the card on Basic White cardstock and a white Stitched Rectangle die (#151820) cut frame over the top of the acetate to cover the adhesive. I used the Tombo MultiPurpose glue (#110755) to adhere the flower die cut from the Artistic Dies and the sentiment from the Art gallery stamp set. I finished off the card by backing the sentiment onto Basic Black cardstock, popping it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals (#104430) and adding some sparkle with the Rhinestone Basic Jewels (#144220).

This is such a fun and easy technique and the results are gorgeous and unique every time you try it! So order some Stampin’ Blends if you don’t have any, a package of window sheets and get some 99% Isopropyl alcohol and have a go at this technique! Have fun and be creative at least once a day! It’s good for the soul. Now co and create some art of your own…one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’

Natalie

angels of peace alcohol block background card

angels of peace alcohol block background card

Tomorrow, August 3rd, launches the newest Catalog August – December 2021 Mini Catalog! It is a winner – there are so many great sets and ideas. Today’s card I presented on my Facebook LIVE presentation yesterday at 7PM. Join me any Sunday evening for a tip, trick or card making presentation! This is a upcoming set from this new catalog called Angels of Peace (#156365)

Measurements
Pool Party Cardstock (#122924) cut 11″ x 4 1/4″
Flirty Flamingo cardstock (#141416)
cut at 8 1/2 x 5 1/2″
Basic White cardstock (#159276) 4″ x 5 1/4″
plus scraps for additional stamping
Stampin’ Blends
Bermuda Bay (#154878)
Pool Party (#154894)
Balmy Blue (#154830)
Daffodil Delight (#154883)
Mint Macaron (#154889)
Flirty Flamingo (#154884)
Pale Papaya (#154519)
Petal Pink (#154893)
Calypso Coral (#154881)
Other supplies:
Stampin’ Cut and Emboss (#149653)
Merry Melody 3D Embossing Folder (#156392)
Encircled in Beauty dies (#155546)
Paper Snips (#103579)
Stampin’ Dimensionals (#104430)
Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals (#144108)
Acrylic Block E (#118484)
Stampin’ Spritzer (#126185)

Using a larger acrylic block, color using the brush tip side of coordinating Stampin’ Blends Colors! Add 91-99% alcohol to a Stampin’ Spritzer (#126185) spray the block filled with one or more colors. See photo above! Turn over and “stamp” the block onto a Basic White piece of cardstock cut to 4″ x 5 1/4″.
My alcohol Spritzer still had a little retired Shimmer Paint which retired with the last catalog – if you are lucky enough to still have a supply you can add it to your Stampin’ Spritzer for some added sparkle! If you do not have any you can add sparkle with the Wink of Stella pen (#(#141897) to the Alcohol Blends color!
Add the colored piece of cardstock to the Merry Melody 3D Embossing Folder (#156392) and emboss the paper for added depth and dimension!
Using scrap Basic White cardstock – stamp the angel, star and sentiment images in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink (#132708) and color using the coordinating Stampin’ Blends colors.
I stamped the sentiment onto a die cut from the Encircled in Beauty dies (#155546) and highlighted the edge with a coordinating Stampin’ Blends color!
The sample above is in the blue tomes and the sample below is on the pink tones!