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

easy beautiful gallery dsp card

easy beautiful gallery dsp card

Designer Series Paper makes card making a breeze.

The Beautiful Gallery DSP feels like the images should be on an art museum wall. This is an easy DSP card for this lovely summer day, even if it rains! this card will bring a smile to anyone’s face!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic Beige CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″, scrap for the sentiment
Mossy Meadow CS: 3″ x 5 1/2″
Embossed and cut in half
DSP: 3 1/4″ x 5 1/2″

Emboss the Mossy Meadow CS with the Damask Design Embossing Folder.
Cut the Mossy Meadow Layer in half to
(2) 1 1/2″ x 5 1/2″.

Adhere the two pieces of Mossy Meadow CS to the edges of the card leaving a 1/8″ border to the right and left.

Adhere the DSP layer to the center of the card over the two Mossy Meadow layers.
Die cut the long banner from Stylish Shapes dies set in Basic Beige CS.

Stamp the “Thinking of You” sentiment from the Beautiful Motifs stamp set in Mossy Meadow ink.

Adhere the sentiment die on Stampin’ Dimensionals and set it in the right hand corner.

I adhered three Mossy Meadow Low Profile Sparkle Dots to finish off the card.

Try using some of the Designer Series Paper in your stash and making some great cards of your very own – one stamp at a time.

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

faux linen technique card

faux linen technique card

The Faux Linen technique is a fun one.
If you have extra tissue paper this is all you need and a little glue!

Measurements:
BASE: Pecan Pie CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scraps for sentiment and dies
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″

Stamp the large starfish in Pecan Pie randomly on the Basic White layer. Stamp the smaller starfish in Basic Beige ink and the stones image in Crumb Cake CS.

Squeeze out some Multi-Purpose Glue on a Silicone Craft sheet and thin it out with a little water. Paint a thin layer on the surface.
Crush a piece of white tissue paper and smooth it out and lay it down over the glue covered surface. Smooth the tissue paper down to the surface which will produce crinkles and look like linen.
Secure the extra tissue paper around the edges on the back of the Basic White CS layer.
Pop up the layer on Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhere to the Pecan Pie card front.
Stamp the large and small sand dollar in Pecan Pie ink on Pecan Pie cardstock. Die cut in the hybrid folder which will emboss and die at the same time.
Stamp the sentiment on a scrap and fussy cut a banner edge. Pop up the sentiment piece and sand dollar with Stampin’ Dimensionals and place on the card front over the faux linen layer.
Tie a piece of Basic Beige ribbon around the left hand side of the Basic White layer under the smaller sand dollar.
Adhere Drusy Adhesive-Backed embellishments around the card front.

Love the subtlety of the Faux Linen background.

Try this fun technique – go grab some tissue paper and crinkle it and make some Linen!
Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color monday – night of navy, old olive, and basic beige

more color monday – night of navy, old olive, and basic beige

When I saw the frame die from the Winterly Tree Tops I knew it would be one of my favorites! When I saw the negative space from the frame die I got the feeling of looking up into the night sky. So I decided on this card for this week’s More Color Monday challenge.
Today’s More Color Monday is all about Night of Navy, Old Olive and Basic Beige!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic Beige CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Old Olive CS: 3 3/4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ and 3/4″ x 4 1/4″

Take the negative space from the Winterly tree Tops frame die. Using a Blending Brush with Night of Navy ink.
Use a water painter and add a few drops of White Craft ink into the Craft White ink pad cover. Add a few drops of water and stir the ink and water with the Water Painter brush.
Using a bone folder tap the Water painter over the Night of Navy inked negative die.
Brush the edges of the Old Olive cardstock layer with Old Olive ink.
Adhere the Night of Navy layer onto the Old Olive cardstock.
Adhere the Old Olive cardstock onto the Basic Beige cardstock base.
Stamp the “thinking of you” sentiment onto a 3/4″ strip with Night of Navy ink and die cut with the banner die from the Greetings of the Seasons dies.
Brush the edges with a Blending Brush and Night of Navy ink.
Pop up the banner onto the card base. Hang over the edge with the hole end of the banner die.
Cut the edge off the banner.
Adhere the Basic Rhinestones Gems around the sentiment.
I love the look of this card as if it is a beautiful evening and the stars are out and one is looking up through an opening in a copse of trees.

Now go and create some art work of your very own – one stamp at a time.

Happy Stampin’,
Natalie

humble home double box fun fold

humble home double box fun fold

This Double Box Fun Fold card is super easy once you have the dimensions and what a fun standing 3D card for your favorite person!

Measurements:
BASE Piece #1: Pecan Pie: 9 3/8″ x 4 1/4″
   scored at 3/8″, 1 3/8″, 2 7/8″ and 3 7/8″
BASE Piece #2: Pecan Pie: 3 1/2″ x 5 1/8″
   scored at 3/8″ and 1 3/8″
   scraps for Humble Home punch
Basic Beige CS: 3 3/4″ x 4″
   3 1/4″ x 3 3/4″
Real Red CS: 1 1/4″ x 4″ and (2) 5/8″ x 4″
   scrap for die cut
   1/4″ strip for Humble Home punch for heart

Stamp the Home image in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on Pecan Pie scrap and punch out home and save the heart as well.

Die cut a medium circle from the Stylish Shapes die set in Real Red CS and stamp the “from our house to yours” in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.

Run the Basic Beige smaller piece through the Exposed Brick 3D embossing folder.
Run the three Real Real pieces through the Forever Plaid 3D embossing folder.
Fold the score lines in as mountain folds and add Tear and Tape to the first and smallest scored panel.
Peel off the release paper from BASE #1 and fold the second score line from the end and attach the Tear and Tape piece to the card base.
If you attach while the paper is folded flat this will put the scored tab with the Tear and Tape in the correct place to allow the card to open and close within the parameters of the envelope size.
Attach the Forever Plaid 3D embossed Real Red pieces to the box panels the two pieces of the same size attach to the side of the box and the larger piece goes on the top panel of the box.
Adhere the Basic Beige embossed piece to the BASE #2 piece.
Place some adhesive on the end opposite the Tear and Tape end to attach to the BASE #1 box.
I placed the piece upside down on Box #1 so that I made sure to only adhere where the end of the piece would meet on Box #1’s surface (you do not want to adhere past the box edge)
Flip over Box #2 and adhere the left hand edge to Box #1.
Peel the release paper from the Tear and Tape, fold over the first two panels and then collapse box #1 and with the first to panels from Box #2 folded to the back – press firmly to secure the Tear and Tape to the card base.
(I decided to add a layer to the card base after doing this step OOPS!! so if you would like a layer under Box #2 do this before adhering the end of Box #2.
I adhered the small Real Red sentiment circle die to the surface of Box #2.
I adhered a Pecan Pie small heart to the Real Red circle die.
Adhere the Humble Home punch house to the card front and I added three Real Red hearts coming out of the chimney.
I decided to add another layer to the card base so I detached BASE #2 and adhered the Basic Beige layer to the card base then reattached BOX #2.
This is a view of the card standing up!
I added three Iridescent Adhesive-Backed Discs to the card front to finish the card off with a little bling!

Try this Double Box tutorial soon with stuff from your own stash and let me know how it turns out!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie