more color mondays – highland heather, balmy blue and pool party

more color mondays – highland heather, balmy blue and pool party

If you have been following me for any length of time you know that I am partial to snowflakes in the winter and butterflies in the summer!

I loved the Snowflake Kisses bundle when it came out with our recent Online Exclusives release this Fall! The beautiful die set paired with the clever sentiments are a must have for anyone like me that loves snowflakes!

Measurements:
BASE: Highland Heather CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″ scraps for snowflake dies
Basic White CS: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″
Balmy Blue CS: scraps for snowflake dies
Pool Party CS: scraps for snowflake dies

Take one of the Basic White CS layers and using blending brushes and burnish the Highland Heather, Balmy Blue and Pool Party inks into the layer.
Take the other Basic White CS layer and die cut with the large snowflake background die from the Snowflake Kisses bundle.
Adhere the snowflake die background to the Blended Background layer and cut any excess from the edges of the colored layer.
Stamp a sentiment into the circle space in Highland Heather ink.
Die cut one or two snowflakes from each colored cardstock scrap.

Arrange the snowflakes around the snowflake background and adhere once satisfied with the arrangement.

Cut the snowflakes that hang over the edge.

Adhere the layer onto the Highland Heather card base.
I added Basic rhinestone Jewels to the center of each snowflake.
I added two more rhinestones around the snowflake sentiment in the center of the card for emphasis.

Don’t you just love this background effect – it is so easy to achieve with a little colored ink and blending brushes – try your hand at creating a background of your very own and then add some stamping and create some great artwork of your 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

snowy delight bundle card

snowy delight bundle card

This fun winter card will be on be one of the. featured cards at my upcoming card class and with the new Snowy Delights Bundle with coordinating dies and masks it is super easy to make!

UPCOMING CLASS SCHEDULE:
*Card Class Design A
**Card Class Design B
***Card Class Design C

*September 9th – Greenville Area Library 4:30pm – 6:30pm * (RSVP to library)
*September 15th – Conneaut Lake Library 1pm – 3pm
(RSVP to library)
**September 23rd – Linesville Library 2pm – 4pm**. (RSVP to library)
***September 29th – studio class 1pm – 3pm (RSVP to me) same format as library classes 4 cards for $10***
*Card designs for the Greenville Area library and the Conneaut Lake Library classes are the same –
**the designs for the Linesville Library and ***studio class are different from the other classes!

Measurements:
BASE: Azure Afternoon CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″ , 3/4″ x 4 1/4″
scrap for snowflake die

Whenever I am stamping a larger format stamp image I turn it stamp side up and place the ink pad directly on the stamp image.
I think this gives you better coverage and control as you can see where you are inking!
I stamped the large snowflake image from the Snowy Delights stamp set off the layer above and below – this creates the illusion of expanse!
I stamped in Blueberry Bushel ink.
Using the Snowy Delights Decorative Masks #1 and Balmy Blue ink and a blending brush – I colored in the two partial snowflakes.
Using the Snowy Delights Decorative Masks #2 and Lost Lagoon ink and a blending brush – I colored in the two partial snowflakes over the Balmy Blue ink.
Using the Snowy Delights Decorative Masks #4 and Azure Afternoon ink and a blending brush – I colored in the two partial snowflakes and the empty white space beside the two partial snowflakes.
Using the cluster of smaller snowflakes stamp image in Blueberry Bushel ink I stamped in between the two partial large snowflakes to add depth and texture.
Taking the extra 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer I stamped the large snowflake image off the bottom of the page in Blueberry Bushel ink.
I stamped the inside sentiment in Blueberry Bushel ink and blended the bottom edge with a blending brush and Blueberry Bushel ink for added color and texture.

Stamp the outside sentiment to the 3/4″ x 4 1/4″ strip, add the small snowflake stamp to the left-hand edge and blend the edges with a blending brush.

Adhere this layer to the inside of the card base.
Add the large snowflake die to the upper partial snowflake image – matching the die with the image and adhere with Multipurpose Glue.
Turn the layer over to the backside and cut the die that is hanging over the edge off.
Adhere this layer to the card front.
Pop up the sentiment strip on Stampin’ Dimensionals and add to the bottom third of the card front.
Add the new Frosted Iridescent Dots in the Blue color to the card front to finish off this lovely Wintery card in a soft coordinating style.

Try your hand at some masking today and go create some artwork of your very own – one mask- one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – pumpkin pie, petal pink and balmy blue

more color mondays – pumpkin pie, petal pink and balmy blue

Today’s More Color Mondays color challenge takes it’s cue from the gorgeous Everyday Skies 6″ x 6″ DSP. The sheet on the front of this card is covered in fluffy clouds of Petal pink and light Pumpkin Pie set against a Balmy Blue sky. A perfect summer sky for a summery fun fold card! This card is called a Pop Out Swing Fun Fold and i will show you how easy it is to make!
Follow along and make one of your own!

Measurements:
BASE 1: Balmy Blue CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
BASE 2: Balmy Blue CS: 5 1/2″ x 8″
scored at 2″, 4″ and 6″
DSP: BASE 1 outside layer: 4″ x 5 1/4″
BASE 2 inside layers: (3) 1 3/4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White CS: 1 3/4″ x 5 1/4″
Pumpkin Pie CS: scraps for butterfly dies
Petal Pink CS: scraps for butterfly dies

Score BASE 1 at 4 1/4″ and BASE 2 at 2″, 4″, and 6″.

Adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Everyday Skies DSP layer to the Balmy Blue BASE 1 card front.

Flip BASE 1 over and adhere one of the Beautiful Bokeh DSP strips to the left-hand edge of the backside.
Die cut the large base butterfly image from the Beautiful Butterflies bundle out of the card front – cutting through both layers on the front and the DSP on the back side.
On BASE 2, place the 5 1/2″ side of the paper at the top edge of the Stampin’ Trimmer, cut at 3/4″ down to the 2″ score line on each side of the paper. Then cut along the 2″ score line in between the cut lines. This will leave two tabs on the top and bottom of this BASE piece.
Adhere the other two 1 3/4″ x 5 1/4″ Beautiful Bokeh DSP pieces to the second and thrid panels of BASE 2.
Stamp and decorate the Basic White 1 3/4″ layer and adhere to the last panel of BASE 2.
Place Multipurpose liquid glue to the back side of panel 4 and adhere to the right-hand edge of BASE 1 making sure that the outside edges align.
Fold in between panels 2 and 3 and apply liquid glue to the tabs.

Clos ethe card front over the tabs and adhere to the back of the BASE 1 card front. If you lie the BASE 2 flat and bring the BASE 1 card front over it this will ensure that the card will close well after adhering.

With the card closed, apply liquid glue to the inside right panel, the part that is visible through the butterfly die cut out space.
Die cut the butterfly base in Pumpkin Pie CS.
Die cut the butterfly detail die in Petal Pink CS.
Adhere the detailed die to the base with Liquid Glue.
Adhere the completed butterfly die to the right-hand edge that has glue on it – laying the butterfly into the original die negative space.
Once dry this will allow the butterfly to “swing” as the mechanism opens and closes with the card!
I added two smaller butterflies to the inside of the card and Holographic Resin Dots to the outside of the card to finish it off with a llittle sparkle!

You can cut out the front of the card wish any shape! Try a die that you have on hand and see what artwork you can create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – flirty flamingo, daffodil delight and balmy blue swap card

more color mondays – flirty flamingo, daffodil delight and balmy blue swap card

Today’s More Color Monday Color Challenge was all about my Fun Fold Swap for the SOLD OUT OnStage 2025 Stampin’ Up! Event starting this coming week in Raleigh, North Carolina. On March 13th lucky demonstrators that registered in the first 6 hours that the event registration was open will be gathering in Raleigh, Strasbourg, France and Brisbane, Australia. I sadly will not be among them this year as I got shut out but a friend and fellow demonstrator that is hosting a large scale swap allowed me to remain on the list so I will have some fun elite OnStage Swaps to share as soon as they return home and he mails them out – stay tuned!

This is the card I submitted to the Fun Fold card swap!

Measurements:
BASE #1: Basic Black CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 2 1/8″ and 4 1/4″
BASE #2: Basic Black CS: 3 1/2″ x 7″
scored at 3 1/2″ and 5 5/8″
scrap for die
Mixed Media DSP: (2) 1 7/8″ x 5 1/4″
Beautiful Bokeh DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White CS: 3 3/8″ x 3 3/8″
2″ x 3 3/8″
1″ x 3 3/8″
scrap for the sentiment die
4″ x 5 1/4″ for the Mixed Florals stamp/die cut
4″ x 5 1/4″ for the back-side of the card

Score the larger Basic Black BASE #1 at 2 1/2″ and 4 1/4″.
Adhere the 1 7/8″ strips of Mixed Media DSP to the first and second panels of BASE #1.
Adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece of Beautiful Bokeh DSP to the third panel of BASE #1.
Stamp the tulip image from the Mixed Florals stamp set on one of the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layers.
Color the smaller flower petals in Light Balmy Blue Stampin’ Blends markers.
Color the lower half of the smaller blooms in Dark Balmy Blue Stampin’ Blends and then go over the entire petal to blend the colors with the Light Marker one last time.
Color the tulip petals with the Light Flirty Flamingo Stampin’ Blends marker.
Color the lower half and the highlight marks of the tulip blooms with the Dark Flirty Flamingo marker and then color the entire tulip petal surface with the Light marker to blend the flower petal.
Color the leaves with Soft Sea Foam Light marker.
Highlight with the Dark marker and then blend with the Light marker to finish the leaves.
Die cut the floral image out with the corresponding die.
I cut the flower image in two pieces.
I initially took the first and third Basic White layers the 3 3/8″ square (1st panel) and the 1″ (for the third panel) and embossed them with the Beautiful Butterflies embossing folder I later decided to use the Distressed Tile 3D embossing folder – because I liked the smaller pattern for this card!
I stamped the inside sentiment onto the 2″ layer and adhered all three layers to the smaller Z fold BASE #2.
I die cut the rectangular die shape from the Mixed labels die set in Basic Black cardstock and adhered it to the lower portion of the first panel.
I stamped the outside sentiment and die cut from the Mixed Labels bundle and burnished the edges with Flirty Flamingo ink and adhered it above the black die on the first panel.
I folded the smaller z fold closed and added Stampin’ Seal + to the exposed edge of the back of the first panel and adhered it to the middle of the larger BASE #1 first panel.

Then I closed the smaller Z fold and placed Stampin’ Seal + to the back of the third panel and closed the back side of the card over the tape securing the smaller Z fold to the larger z fold.

Adhere the smaller tulip stamped image to the third panel of the smaller z fold so that the leaf is sticking out at the top.
Place Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back of the large tulip piece and adhere to the left side of the first panels.
I decided I wanted one of the bloom to be Daffodil Delight as I did not have enough of this color on the card. So I redid the smaller bloom in Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blends.
I added Adhesive-Backed Pearl trio embellishments to the card to finish off this fun swap card with some coordinating bling!

I love the way this turned out – how about you do you like the decisions I made during the creative process – changing the flower colors and the embossing folder? Let me know what you think and which way you preferred it!

Do not be shy to change your mind while creating – creative process is a fluid thing and be open to your creative instinct – try new things and do not be afraid to go in a different direction then you originally imagined – you might just like the outcome better than the original inspiration!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

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