beautiful butterflies shaker card

beautiful butterflies shaker card

Today’s blog post is a shaker card with the Beautiful Butterflies bundle: for butterfly lovers like me this is an awesome bundle with a hybrid embossing folder and gorgeous coordinating stamp and die sets.

I had some watercolor paper left over from my March 22nd OnStage swap cards and I used the last of those papers for this special card that I mailed to a friend of mine for her birthday!

Measurements:
BASE: Lemon Lime Twist CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Basic Black CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ embossed and cut
Window Sheet 3 1/2″ x 5″
Fluid 100 paper

Emboss the Basic Black layer with the Beautiful Butterflies folder and cut a 1″ border frame with the Stampin’ Trimmer.
Save the inside rectangle for the inside of the card.
Place Tear-n-Tape around the backside perimeter of the frame cut out.
Adhere the window sheet to the inside of the Basic Black layer.
Place foam adhesive strips around the backside opening of the rectangular opening.
Place a pile of Itty Bitty Bokeh Mix in the center of the Lemon Lime card base.
Remove the release paper off the foam strips and adhere the Basic Black frame to the card front so there is an even border the whole way around the card.
Adhere the large butterfly that we die cut out of the watercolored Fluid 100 paper to the lower right hand side of the frame.
Stamp the sentiment onto remaining Fluid 100 paper and die cut with the sentiment strip die and adhere above the rectangular opening .
Place glue dots on the card front to adhere additional Itty Bitty Bokeh sequins to the card front to decorate!
Adhere a Basic White 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer to the inside of the card.
Stamp a smaller butterfly in Tuxedo Black Memento ink at the top and adhere the rectangular frame cut to the lower right hand side of that layer and the inside has some fun interest!
Shake to your hearts content what a fun interactive card!
Try making a shaker card as your next project – now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

february swap cards

february swap cards

I LOVE getting HAPPY MAIL!
What is Happy Mail – for me it’s most anything sent by mail that is not advertising, junk or bills! When you get a hand written card in the mail doesn’t it bring you joy?
Demonstrator swaps are like that too! Every month I participate and cannot wait to get 10-20 cards in the mail from sister stampers that create some lovely cards for me to share with you all!

The first card is actually a late arrival from my January Swap that arrived in the mail after I posted my January Swap blog so this one features the most popular Sale-a-bration requested FREEBIE – the Bloom Impressions DSP. Carol S’s swap card uses that Sale-a-bration DSP paired with the Beautiful Butterflies dies and the Painted Plaster 3D embossing folder. For all of you that EARNED this gorgeous paper here is a lovely idea for how to use it on your own creations!

This Mediterranean Blooms DSP card from Lyn L shows an easy way to create a card using our gorgeous Designer Series papers as the main attraction! She used the coordinating bundle on top of the DSP.
Marie W’s swap card features the Linked Together bundle from the current January to April 2025 mini catalog products to create a lovely die cut creation full of colorful flowers and sentiment oval die set atop the neutral Country Woods DSP.
Judith P’s masculine swap card used the Terrific Toadstools bundle in neautral shades of Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Basic Black with splatters of Craft White ink over it to create a “magical” vibe!
Jeanna T’s swap card gives us an excellent peak at the newly released Online Exclusive suite Botanical Textures that features the Mini Corrugated 3D embossing folder, gorgeous masculine paper showing textured textiles in neutral shades and great dies and stamps to coordinate!
The Thankful Garden Bundle with it’s coordinating die, masks and stamp set is featured on Veronica S’s swap card in Bubble Bath and Lemon Lime Twist set on a background of contrasting black and white for a stunning thank you card! This is the first time I have seen the Starburst Sequins from the Lovely Garden Suite and they are stunning!
STARBURST SEQUINS #165539 $7.50
* 180 adhesive-backed pieces
* 5 mm, 6mm
* Crushed Curry, Fresh Freesia, white
This delightful swap Thankful Garden card is from Carol S. Using the sentiment from the Country Birdhouse stamp set and the flowers and foliage from the new Thankful Garden bundle with masks for easy coloring this cards focal pieces pop in Melon Mambo and Garden Green set on Black and White! The rectangular dies from the Textured Notes bundle set the tone on both the front and inside of the card.
Susan W’s swap card in beautiful green hues features the Layering Florals embossing folder, the Winter Meadow DSP, the Everyday Details stamp set and the coordinating (retired) Everyday Details dies and the Shaded Spruce ribbon all set on a Shaded Spruce card stock base.
Robin C’s swap card features the lovely Wildflower Birthday Suite of products including the Wildflower Specialty Designer Series Paper and die cut sheets, the Spotlight on Nature dies, and the eyelet embossing folder for a fun Gatefold Offset fun fold card with coordinating envelope flap with an additional piece of Designer Series paper!
This Tower card fun fold from Nancy F uses a fun stand alone display card featuring the Lovely Garden DSP and the sentiment from the Bright Borders stamp set and the coordinating To the Point Label punch for a very springtime card! She also decorated her envelope flap with DSP – clever!
Lori V’s swap card uses a belly band with a die cut from the Mixed Labels bundle to close around this gorgeous DSP from the Mixed Media Suite. But the best is the surprise inside with a pop up floral arrangement from the Mixed Florals bundle over the Painted Plaster 3D embossing folder panels!
The last card in my February Swap collection is from my upline Denise W and she made a Tri-fold Shutter card – fancy! I will be highlighting my own version on one of my upcoming blog posts and I will teach you have to make this fun card! Denise used Petunia Pop In Color for the base card and the Meant To Bee bundle with coordinating DSP to complete the look!
Hopefully we inspired you with all these fabulous swap ideas and now it is your turn to go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

using basic white strip scraps

using basic white strip scraps

If you are an avid card maker like me than chances are you create a ton of paper scraps while creating! And if you are also like me you just KNOW that you can create something with those scraps, right?
I love this easy card because it uses a ton of the 1/4″ Basic White cardstock strips that I accumulate quickly when cutting my layers for my cards! I will also show you my method for organizing my paper and paper scraps using Stamp-n-Storage paper storage pockets
(you can use my affiliate link here to see the product) – http://www.stampnstorage.com/#a_aid=nataliestamps

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
strips of 1/4″ scraps
Basic Black CS: scraps for dies

This is how I organize my 8 1/2″ x 11″ cardstock.
Each cardstock color is labeled and has two different styles of pockets the 8 1/2″ x 11″ WHOLE cardstock is stored in 8.5×11 Landscape Paper Pockets (actual size: 11-5/8″ x 9-5/8″) so I can easily slip whole sheets of cardstock out the side.
Each Package contains 15 pockets and costs $21.75 making them an economical $1.45 each
When I cut sheets of cardstock and have scraps left over I put them in the
8.5×11 Portrait Paper Pockets (actual size: 9-1/4″ x 12-1/4″)
the opening for these pockets are located on the top and keep the scraps from falling out!
8.5×11 Landscape (actual size: 11-5/8″ x 9-5/8″)
which I turn on it’s side so the opening is facing outward and I put my whole sheets of 8 1/2″ x 11″ pieces of cardstock in these.
8.5×11 Portrait Paper Pocket (actual size: 9-1/4″ x 12-1/4″) which I use for my paper scraps.
So what do you do with all those scraps? Well we use them to make more cards of course!

This technique uses similarly cut strip scraps.
When I cut my 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layers I end up with 1/4″ left over strips!

If you take and glue these strips together you get a sturdy dimensional strip – I used three strips glued together to give the strip enough dimension to add depth and shadow to these cards!

Glue multiple strips together after you have a bunch of strips 3 high glued together – make a pattern on a Basic White cardstock BASE.

I used a 4 1/4″ x 11″ card base scored at 5 1/2″
I started gluing one of the strips on a diagonal.

I followed the diagonal of the first strip and glued more on base card.
Die cut some of your detailed dies in Basic Black cardstock and glue the die over the diagonal strips.
For this card I used the Memorable Blooms bundle – for the die and the sentiment.
You can place the strips in different directions and glue different dies on for a totally different look!
This card uses the foliage stem die from the Memorable Blooms die set.
This card uses the Beautiful Butterflies bundle for a stunning birthday card also in black and white!
You can also add a colored cardstock die cut atop the strip scraps for a different look.

This card uses 1/8″ strips 3 deep and attached straight across the card instead of diagonal.
I added leftovers from previous cards that were on my desk to add a pop of colors from Everyday Arches dies and Beautiful Butterflies bundle!

What a great way to use up scraps and add simple dimension to your cards – try this great technique with your scraps and see what artwork you can create of your very own – one stamp at a time – one scrap at a time!!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

onstage 2025 beautiful butterflies swap card

onstage 2025 beautiful butterflies swap card

I signed up for three special swaps for the upcoming 2025 OnStage event in Raleigh, North Carolina and then it sold out before I had the chance to sign up – I am so sad – I went last year with my sweet friend Barb and we had so much fun and I learned so much. Oh well my friend Michael that I met last year at OnStage is hosting the special swaps and this sweet man allowed me to send him my swap cards and he did not take my name off his lists! So this is one of the special cards I designed for the Demonstrator’s Choice Swap that I am in.
I chose components from some of my favorite new sets: Everyday Arches dies, Beautiful Butterflies bundle and the Elements of Text which is slowly becoming one of my new favorite background sets!

Although this card has a bunch of layers it is not difficult but I have some paper saving tips to make this – so follow along!

Measurements:
BASE: Coastal Cabana CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ piece for die cut
Lemon Lime Twist Layer: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White Layer: 3 3/4″ x 5″
scrap for sentiment piece
Fluid 100 paper: 5″ x 7″ sheet

I choose three consecutive arches dies and cut the middle arch out of the center of the Lemon Lime Twist layer and then adhered that layer to the Coastal Cabana card base.
I cut the smallest consecutive die chosen from the center of the Basic White layer and adhered it to the Lemon Lime Twist layer on the card front.
I die cut from the Coastal Cabana layer the largest consecutive die chosen and adhered it over the die openings on the card layers on the card front.
I stamped the circle text image from the Elements of Text stamp set in the center of the Basic White Everyday Arches die in Coastal Cabana ink.
I adhered the Basic White Arch die to the Lemon Lime Twist die and adhered both of them to the Coastal Cabana Arches die on the card front.
I used some of the left over watercolor Fluid 100 paper that I created for the Beautiful Butterflies More Color Mondays card from my February 3rd blog post.
I colored the Fluid 100 paper with Blending brushes in Azure Afternoon, Coastal Cabana and Lemon Lime Twist and then splattered the paper with water from a Stampin’ Sprintzer and a water painter.
I then die cut smaller butterfly dies from the Beautiful Butterflies die set.
At the time I created that early February post I had a lot of scrap watercolor paper left over so I cut smaller butterflies from the scraps and this is what I designed to use up all those spare die pieces!

I used three smaller butterfly detail dies and one medium background butterfly die for each swap card.
I adhered one of the small detail butterflies to the background butterfly and adhered all three dies to the top portion of the Elements of Text stamped die piece.

I stamped the sentiment in Coastal Cabana ink and then colored the background of the paper in Lemon Lime Twist with a Blending Brush.

I fussy cut the words out to adhere to the card
at the base of the Basic White Everyday Arches die.
I added Iridescent Adhesive-Backed Discs to the card in the green hue to coordinate with the card.
After evaluating the card I decided I wanted a little more color on the sentiment piece to balance out the color used in the top of the card. So I removed the sentiment piece and brushed the edges with a Blending Brush and Coastal Cabana ink leaving some of the Lemon Lime Twist background peeking through.

This finished out the card and created a nice balance of color and textures on the card.
Hope they like my swap card!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays azure afternoon, coastal cabana, and lemon lime twist

more color mondays azure afternoon, coastal cabana, and lemon lime twist

Today’s blog post card is another card using the card layouts on page 22 from the current 2024-2025 Annual Catalog. These colors pop off the page for this More Color Monday color challenge of Azure Afternoon, Coastal Cabana and Lemon Lime Twist.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Basic Black CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Fluid 100 paper

Using the Fluid 100 Paper, I picked three colors: Azure Afternoon, Coastal Cabana, and Lemon Lime Twist.
Color the entire surface of the Fluid 100 paper with Blending Brushes in the three ink colors.
Using a Stampin’ Spritzer filled with water and a large Water Painter and spray the surface with water splatter and drop water from the water painter. Allow the paper to dry.
Emboss the Basic Black layer with the Beattiful Butterflies hybrid embossing folder.
Adhere the embossed layer to the card front.
Die cut the large butterfly from the Fluid 100 paper and adhere the top half of the card.
Color the Basic Rhinestones Jewels with the Azure Afternoon Stampin’ Blends.
Stamp the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Beautiful Butterflies stamp set on the Fluid 100 paper and die cut the sentiment piece.
Pop up the sentiment piece with Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhere to the bottom of the card on the right hand side.
Adhere five Rhinestones to the card front around the butterflies and sentiment piece.
I love this card – the colors pop off the Basic Black embossed layer.

Try to make a card with Basic Black and pops of color! Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie