happy birthday sneak peak card

happy birthday sneak peak card

by | Feb 26, 2026 | card samples, die cutting, my favorites, online exclusives, sneak peak, stamps ink paper

Rolling Waves are a great analogy for life sometimes – you just need to roll with things! Today’s post should have posted yesterday but for anyone that has been following me – you know this week was a busy and hard one that eventually everyone needs to deal with. Late in January we lost my mother unexpectedly and Saturday was her Memorial Mass. I stayed in Northern Virginia for a few extra days to work on things at her home and drove back late Tuesday night with the intention of getting everything I needed to do done on Wednesday! I almost succeeded – I just didn’t get this post typed up and finished in time so it is here for you today.
One of the special things about stamping is that it is my ME time, my solace, my saving grace – it is how I pamper and “take care” of myself – truely – it is something I have loved and enjoyed for 25 years now!

It is so important to have time to recoup and regenerate especially when you are taking care of children and parents and are in that middle space. This is my comfort zone and if you know me I gravitate towards summer, sun and water! This card combines all of that into a fun and whimsical birthday card!

Measurements:
BASE: Crumb Cake CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Basic White CS: 2 1/2″ x 3″, scraps for
umbrellas, sentiment, shells and foam dies
Summer Splash CS: scrap for water and
umbrella dies

Die cut the shells out of a scrap of Basic White CS.
Using blending brushes and Summer Splash, Flirty Flamingo and Crumb Cake ink, I colored the shells and starfish.
I cut a corner out of a scrap of Basic White CS about 3″ on the bottom side and about 2 1/4″ up the side. I stamped it with the large water stamp in Balmy Blue and blended the color with a blending brush as well.
I adhered it to the card front corner.
I die cut the foamy water die out of Summer Splash CS and set it on the card corner above the Balmy Blue stamped piece.
I die cut the foam out of a scrap of Basic White CS tucked it under the Summer Splash die.
I stamped the Crumb Cake CS with the sand image in Crumb Cake ink and then adhered the foamy water dies down over the corner piece.
I adhered some of the shells at the water line.
I die cut two umbrellas out of scraps of Basic White CS and then one of each design in Flirty Flamingo and Summer Splash. I adhered them in alternating patterns.
I adhered the Flirty Flamingo and White umbrella to the card.
I popped up the Summer Splash and White umbrella on Stampin’ Dimensionals over the lower left-hand edge of the Flirty Flamingo and White umbrella.

I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Rolling Waves stamp set in Summer Splash on a long 1/2″ strip of Basic White CS and slid it back and forth until I decided on the location of the wording and adhered it down to the card.

I adhered the last two shells to the left-hand side of the Happy Birthday sentiment.
I added three Pearlized faceted Circles from the Lovely and Beautiful Suite of products to finish off this fun card that did my soul good!

Take time out each day to do something you love and take care of yourself so you can be good for others! Now go and create something beautiful – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Remember since this is a sneak peak and not available until March 3rd to customers the rolling waves stamps, dies and bundle will not appear below in the photo clickables.

Product List
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 166780 ]
[166780]
$14.00
Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 120953 ]
[120953]
$14.00
Summer Splash 8 1/2" X 11 Cardstock [ 163797 ]
[163797]
$14.00
Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147105 ]
[147105]
$9.00
Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147116 ]
[147116]
$9.00
Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147052 ]
[147052]
$9.00
Summer Splash Classic Stampin Pad [ 163809 ]
[163809]
$9.00
Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial) [ 163987 ]
[163987]
$60.00
Paper Trimmer
[152392]
$28.00
Bone Folder
[102300]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal
[152813]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal+
[149699]
$12.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive
[138995]
$7.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue
[110755]
$6.00
Mini Glue Dots
[103683]
$7.25
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
[144108]
$4.25
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
Blending Brushes [ 153611 ]
[153611]
$15.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [ 149653 ]
[149653]
$140.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive [ 154031 ]
[154031]
$7.00
Pearlized Faceted Circles [ 166978 ]
[166978]
$8.00
more color mondays – petunia pop, peach pie and summer splash

more color mondays – petunia pop, peach pie and summer splash

by | Feb 2, 2026 | card sketches, color challenge, embossing folders, In Colors, masculine cards, more color mondays, my favorites, new catalog, stamps ink paper, techniques

Who says masculine cards need to be neutral or muted colors – this More Color Mondays color challenge card was made for a special birthday that is today in our family!

The Shell Collecting stamp set is a reversible stamp set – it contains 6 symmetrical stamps that can be reversed directly to be used as a two step stamping process and 2 other images that contain mirrored images of each other and you can use the flat sides of the mirror image for the reverse stamping for each of those stamps! So fun to be able to fill in the background without coloring – just ink it up and go!

Measurements:
BASE: Summer Splash CS: 5 1/2″x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″, 1 1/2″ x 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″, 1 1/4″ x 4″

I started on the corner of the Basic White CS layer with the conical shell in Petunia Pop – this is one of the two images that has two mirrored images I used the back of one and the front of the other image to two step stamp.

In the second photo I stamped the fill in portion of the conical stamp and also stamped the starfish which is a symmetrical stamp and is totally reversible on it’s own in Peach Pie ink.

I reversed the starfish on the acrylic block to the smooth side and stamped off once on my grid paper creating a lighter second generation stamping effect for the Peach Pie inked starfish.

Then I stamped the conch shell which has two mirrored images in the stamp set in Summer Splash ink.

I also stamped Happy Birthday from the January POM (Product of the Month) Fabulous Sayings in Summer Splash on the 1 1/4″ Basic White layer.

I took the flat side of the mirrored image conch shell and stamped off on grid paper two make the fill in lighter in Summer Splash ink.
I matted the happy birthday sentiment in Summer Splash CS.
I finished the 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer by stamped the entire surface with alternating colors and shell types.

Then I ran it through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine with the BASE #1 plate and the Embossing Plate #4 with the Soft Waves 3D embossing folder.

I adhered the 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer to the card base and the adhered the sentiment matted layer across the top third of the card. I added two silver Faceted Snowflakes around the sentiment to finish off the card!
Try one of our super fun reversible stamp sets today this one is amazing!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Fabulous Sayings Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [ 167972 ]
[167972]
$5.00
Shell Collecting Photopolymer Stamp Set [ 167016 ]
[167016]
$21.00
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 166780 ]
[166780]
$14.00
Summer Splash 8 1/2" X 11 Cardstock [ 163797 ]
[163797]
$14.00
Peach Pie Classic Stampin Pad [ 163810 ]
[163810]
$9.00
Petunia Pop Classic Stampin Pad [ 163811 ]
[163811]
$9.00
Summer Splash Classic Stampin Pad [ 163809 ]
[163809]
$9.00
Paper Trimmer
[152392]
$28.00
Bone Folder
[102300]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal
[152813]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal+
[149699]
$12.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive
[138995]
$7.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue
[110755]
$6.00
Mini Glue Dots
[103683]
$7.25
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
[144108]
$4.25
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
Blending Brushes [ 153611 ]
[153611]
$15.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [ 149653 ]
[149653]
$140.00
Soft Waves 3 D Embossing Folder [ 164695 ]
[164695]
$11.00
Faceted Snowflakes [ 166077 ]
[166077]
$10.00
more color mondays – gorgeous grape, lemon lime twist and balmy blue

more color mondays – gorgeous grape, lemon lime twist and balmy blue

by | Jan 19, 2026 | card samples, color challenge, die cutting, more color mondays, my favorites, techniques

It’s another More Color Monday color challenge featuring three colors I love Gorgeous Grape, Lemon Lime Twist and Balmy Blue. I also LOVE this technique the Stampin’ Blends alcohol Vellum technique.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″, scraps for the dies
Vellum: 3″ x 6″
Gorgeous Grape CS: 1/2″ x 5 1/2″, scrap for die
Balmy Blue CS: 1/2″ x 5 1/2″
Lemon Lime Twist CS: 1/2″ x 5 1/2″

Since Gorgeous Grape is such a dark color, so the Highland Heather Dark Stampin’ Blend is very close to Gorgeous Grape color.

I colored with the side of the Dark Highland Heather Stampin Blend paint brush on the vellum.

Spray the vellum with 99% alcohol from a Stampin’ Spritzer.
Dry the vellum with the Heat Tool and push the alcohol and ink color around until the alcohol evaporates.
Start coloring the vellum with other colors – one color at a time, spray the vellum with alcohol and push the color with the Heat Tool until the alcohol evaporates.

Repeat with different colors until you like the look of the vellum.

Stamp a sentiment in Versamark ink and sprinkle with the white WOW embossing powder. Heat with a Heat tool until the powder is melted.

Use the Three Banner Punch and punch out the sentiment piece.

Cut 2 sections of all three colors of CS in 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ and adhere them together so that you have two sections of three colors.
Use the three color sections and adhere to either side of the vellum.

Die cut the large leaf die from the Beautiful Motifs dies set from a Basic White CS scraps.

Adhere the vellum down with the colored CS strips.

Adhere the die to the top of the colored vellum.

Notice how the vellum is magnified by placing it on top of the Basic White CS!

I punched the sentiment with the middle section of the Three Banner Punch.

Pop up the sentiment banner over the die and the vellum.

Die cut the flowers from the Petals of Beauty and color them with a Blending Brush and Gorgeous Grape ink.
Stamp the flower dies with the background stamps from the Swirled Designs to add texture to the petals.
I placed the stamped and textured Petal dies and popped up the flowers around the sentiment piece.
I added three white pearls of Beauty to finish off this stunning alcohol vellum cards.

Try this cool technique but know that you need to use only 99% alcohol – regular isopropyl will not do the trick! Now go and make some really fabulous colored vellum – and add one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Banner Sayings Bundle (English) [ 167051 ]
[167051]
$38.50
Banner Sayings Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [ 167044 ]
[167044]
$17.00
Swirled Designs Bundle (English) [ 167311 ]
[167311]
$42.25
Swirled Designs Photopolymer Stamp Set [ 167030 ]
[167030]
$19.00
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 166780 ]
[166780]
$14.00
Balmy Blue 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 146982 ]
[146982]
$14.00
Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 146987 ]
[146987]
$14.00
Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 144245 ]
[144245]
$14.00
Vellum 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper [ 167099 ]
[167099]
$10.00
Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147099 ]
[147099]
$9.00
Versamark Pad [ 102283 ]
[102283]
$9.50
Paper Trimmer
[152392]
$28.00
Bone Folder
[102300]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal
[152813]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal+
[149699]
$12.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive
[138995]
$7.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue
[110755]
$6.00
Mini Glue Dots
[103683]
$7.25
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
[144108]
$4.25
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
Blending Brushes [ 153611 ]
[153611]
$15.00
Stampin' Spritzer [ 126185 ]
[126185]
$6.00
Water Painters [ 168253 ]
[168253]
$13.00
Heat Tool (Us And Canada) [ 129053 ]
[129053]
$32.00
Basics Wow! Embossing Powder [ 165679 ]
[165679]
$21.00
Balmy Blue Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [ 154830 ]
[154830]
$11.00
Highland Heather Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [ 154887 ]
[154887]
$11.00
Lemon Lime Twist Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [ 161682 ]
[161682]
$11.00
Stampin' Spritzer [ 126185 ]
[126185]
$6.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [ 149653 ]
[149653]
$140.00
Beautiful Motifs Dies [ 165205 ]
[165205]
$33.00
Petals Of Beauty Dies [ 167095 ]
[167095]
$35.00
Three Banner Punch [ 167050 ]
[167050]
$26.00
Pearls Of Beauty [ 167098 ]
[167098]
$8.00
more color mondays – night of navy, misty moonlight and calypso coral

more color mondays – night of navy, misty moonlight and calypso coral

by | Aug 11, 2025 | card samples, color challenge, embossing folders, more color mondays, my favorites, online exclusives, techniques

This year Stampin’ Up! added a new line of cardstock called Two-toned cardstock.

This cardstock is printed color, because the color is printed on the surface of the paper it leaves the core of the paper white! This opens up a world of possibilities for tearing and sanding!

Today’s More Color Monday color challenge card uses this new cardstock with embossing and sanding and features a rich color combination of Night of Navy, Misty Moonlight and Calypso Coral.

Measurements:
BASE: Night of Navy CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Misty Moonlight CS: (2) 1/2″ x 5 1/4″ and a scrap
strip for the sentiment piece
Calypso Coral Two Toned cardstock:
3″ x 5 1/4″

I started with a different sentiment for this card but liked it so much that I decided to make this a birthday card for my best friend and soul mate, his birthday is today so if you see Kevin wish him a great one!

Take the two-toned cardstock and emboss with the Sunflower 3D embossing folder.
Take a sanding block or a nail file and gently rub over the embossed surface rubbing away a layer of cardstock to reveal the white core in elevated areas of the embossed design.

Emboss the 2 Misty Moonlight strips with the Mini Corrugated 3D embossing folder so that the corrugated lines are perpendicular to the long side of the strip. This will make the strips appear more like a ruffled effect when added to the card front.

Adhere the Misty Moonlight embossed strips to the top and bottom edges of the Sunflower embossed Two-toned cardstock.

Distress the edges of the Misty Moonlight Corrugated embossed edges.

Adhere the embossed images to the center of the card front.

Stamp the sentiment onto the strip scrap and fussy cut a banner edge to the right hand side
and adhere on top of the sunflower embossed area.

I added Navy Charming Shimmer Faceted Dots for a finished coordinated sparkle!

This new paper delivers a punch with the white core! It is now available in all the Stampin’ Up! Core and In Color Collections! Try some soon and see what all the excitement is about!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Spring Corners Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [ 164738 ]
[164738]
$20.00
Misty Moonlight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 153081 ]
[153081]
$14.00
Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 100867 ]
[100867]
$14.00
Calypso Coral 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Two Tone Cardstock [ 166674 ]
[166674]
$10.00
Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147110 ]
[147110]
$9.00
Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial) [ 163987 ]
[163987]
$60.00
Paper Trimmer
[152392]
$28.00
Bone Folder
[102300]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal
[152813]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal+
[149699]
$12.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive
[138995]
$7.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue
[110755]
$6.00
Mini Glue Dots
[103683]
$7.25
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
[144108]
$4.25
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
Blending Brushes [ 153611 ]
[153611]
$15.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [ 149653 ]
[149653]
$140.00
Mini Corrugated 3 D Embossing Folder [ 165559 ]
[165559]
$11.00
Sunflower 3 D Embossing Folder [ 166145 ]
[166145]
$12.00
Charming Shimmer Faceted Dots [ 166139 ]
[166139]
$8.50
sketch #109 prairie grass card

sketch #109 prairie grass card

by | Jul 25, 2025 | card samples, card sketches, online exclusives, sketch challenge, stamps ink paper, techniques

Today’s card is a card sketch card. #109 card sketch is a fun one – easy and simple!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
1/4″ strip
Berry Burst CS: 1 1/4″ x 5 1/4″
Pool Party CS: 1 1/4″ x 5 1/4″
Flirty Flamingo CS: 1 1/4″ x 5 1/4″

Stamp the cattails image on each 1 1/4″ colored cardstock strip in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.
Stamp the sentiment on the 1/4 strip. Cut to
3 1/2″ long.
Adhere the colored cardstock strips leaving 1/8″ border on the three sides.
Adhere the remainder of the colored cardstock.
Pop up the 1/4″ strip over the three colored cardstock toward the top of the card.
Add the embellishments around the sentiment.
The same card with different colors using Old Olive, Lemon Lolly and Garden Green.

This is a great sketch easy to reproduce – try this and see what you can come up with!
Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Prairie Grass Cling Stamp Set (English) [ 166168 ]
[166168]
$26.00
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 166780 ]
[166780]
$14.00
Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 144243 ]
[144243]
$14.00
Flirty Flamingo 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 141416 ]
[141416]
$14.00
Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 102584 ]
[102584]
$14.00
Lemon Lolly 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 161720 ]
[161720]
$14.00
Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 100702 ]
[100702]
$14.00
Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 122924 ]
[122924]
$14.00
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [ 132708 ]
[132708]
$8.00
Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial) [ 163987 ]
[163987]
$60.00
Paper Trimmer
[152392]
$28.00
Bone Folder
[102300]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal
[152813]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal+
[149699]
$12.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive
[138995]
$7.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue
[110755]
$6.00
Mini Glue Dots
[103683]
$7.25
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
[144108]
$4.25
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [ 149653 ]
[149653]
$140.00
Charming Shimmer Faceted Dots [ 166139 ]
[166139]
$8.50
Low Profile Sparkle Dots [ 166157 ]
[166157]
$9.50