blending brush background - nataliegramleystamps

more color mondays – pretty peacock, melon mambo and poppy parade

by nataliegramleystamps | Dec 29, 2025 | card samples, color challenge, die cutting, more color mondays, new catalog, techniques

Today’s More Color Mondays color challenge features Pretty Peacock, Melon mambo and Poppy Parade.

There are a couple of fun techniques to this card and a SNEAK PEAK of the Boardwalk Fun Bundle.

Measurements:
BASE: Melon Mambo CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Poppy Parade CS: 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″, scraps for dies
Basic White CS: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″
Pretty Peacock CS: scraps for dies
Melon mambo CS: scrap for dies

Adhere the Poppy Parade CS to the Melon Mambo CS base.

Color the bottom of one of the Basic White CS layers with a blending brush with Pretty Peacock ink.

Using another blending brush color the top of the Basic White layer with the Melon Mambo ink.

Color the top of the Basic White layer with a blending brush and Poppy Parade ink.

Spray the glass surface with water and pat the Basic White layer over the water covered glass and mix the watercolor onto the blended color surface.

Dry the layer with a heat tool.

Using the edge of a Versamark ink pad, swipe in lines over the top of the layer and concentrated in a small squiggle down at the bottom.

Sprinkle gold embossing powder over the versamark ink.

Heat with a heat tool until embossing powder melts.

Adhere the watercolored layer onto the card base.

Stamp Happy Birthday in Pretty Peacock ink on the second Basic White layer.

Color over the Basic White layer with the Melon Mambo and Poppy Parade blending brushes.

Die a small palm tree from the Boardwalk Fun die set from Pretty Peacock cardstock. Adhere the palm tree die to the right of the stamped sentiment.

Adhere the layer to the inside of the card.

Die cut the ferris wheel and the taller palm tree in Pretty Peacock CS.

Adhere to the middle of the colored layer on the card front. Pop up the ferris wheel on Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Die cut the ferris wheel carts in Poppy Parade and Melon Mambo cardstock.

Adhere the carts onto the ferris wheel in alternating colors.

Die cut the ticket die in Melon Mambo cardstock.

Stamp the Enjoy the Ride in Melon Mambo ink onto the ticket die.

Pop up the ticket onto the card front on the lower left hand corner at the base of the Ferris Wheel dies.

I love the way this background turned out – try this watercolor and heat embossing technique.

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Reminder this card is a SNEAK PEAK of an upcoming stamp bundle – the photo links for the sneak peak items will not be included below until they are available.

Product List

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Melon Mambo 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[115320]

$14.00

Poppy Parade 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[119793]

$14.00

Pretty Peacock 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[150880]

$14.00

Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad

[147051]

$9.00

Versamark Pad

[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]

$15.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Heat Tool (Us And Canada)

[129053]

$32.00

Metallics Wow! Embossing Powder

[165678]

$21.00

← card sketch #114 - hope, love & joy card double front flap fun fold card - boardwalk fun bundle →

card sketch #114 – hope, love & joy card

by nataliegramleystamps | Dec 26, 2025 | card samples, card sketches, Designer Series Paper, die cutting, masculine cards, new catalog, sneak peak, techniques

Today’s card uses a simple card sketch and is a very simple Designer Series Paper card – super easy to put together and CASE!

Measurements:
BASE: Blueberry Bushel CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ and scrap for
sentiment and die
DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″

I am going to spend my time explaining a tip and trick for getting a die centered correctly.
I actually wanted to use a different circle die than the one that came with the Hope, Love & Joy Bundle because I wanted to use the small circle from the Spotlight on Nature dies with the lined edges – I imagined it would look like the lines were radiating out from the earth so I wanted to try this circle rather than the one in the coordinating die set!

Because it is not coordinating a slightly bigger I wanted to show you the steps I took to center the image with this die.

Place the desired die on a scrap piece of Basic White CS and trace around the outside with a pencil.

Stamp in Tuxedo Black Memento ink the desired image in the center of the penciled circle.

Color the water areas of the Earth with Balmy Blue light Stampin’ Blends then outline with Blueberry Bushel Light then go over the entire water are with the Balmy Blue Light again to blend the alcohol markers.

Color the land areas with Crumb Cake Light first then outline the area with the Dark Stampin’ Blends marker then blend the entire land area with the Light marker.

I used a scrap of Basic White to stamp the outside sentiment from the scrapbooking set Exploring Nature in Blueberry Bushel ink and fussy cut around the letters then blended the edges with a blending brush and Blueberry Bushel ink.

I die cut the Earth.

I stamped the inside layer with the “stay wild & free from the Exploring Nature set and adhered it to the inside of the card base.

Adhere the DSP layer to the card front then I adhered the fussy cut sentiment to the lower third of the card front.
I popped up the Earth die cut above the sentiment and added Basic Rhinestones to finish off this lovely and simple card!

Try this centering technique or my sketch and go and create some art of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

REMINDER: this is another sneak peak so the photo links below will not reflect the SNEAK PEAK items.
These will be available to customers on January 6th and are available right now to demonstrators and in starter kits!

Product List

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Blueberry Bushel 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146968]

$14.00

Blueberry Bushel Classic Stampin' Pad

[147138]

$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]

$15.00

Pretty Peacock Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154895]

$9.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$6.00

← sneak peak - nature walk suite card more color mondays - pretty peacock, melon mambo and poppy parade →

snowflake kisses – work smarter not harder!

by nataliegramleystamps | Oct 17, 2025 | card samples, Christmas card ideas, die cutting, online exclusives, techniques

Today is all about working smarter not harde!

Let’s make two cards for the price of one!

The gorgeous background die from the Snowflake Kisses bundle is the perfect way to get two cards with little extra effort!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: (2) 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″, 4″ x 5 1/4″
Azure Afternoon CS: scraps for cutting
sentiment piece and snowflakes

Die cut the round circle die and the three larger snowflakes and the cluster of smaller snowflakes from the Azure Afternoon scraps.

Die cut the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer with the background snowflake die.

Hold or temporarily adhere the background snowflake die to a Basic White card front.

Using light pressure as to not bend the die we are using as a mask, brush with Azure Afternoon ink and a blending brush over the entire surface of the mask and the card front.

You will create the base for card #2 and color the die to attach to Card #1 at the same time!

Adhere the die to card #1 Basic White card base.

Stamp in Azure Afternoon ink Be Warm and Well sentiment to the center of the Azure Afternoon circle die.

Pop up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and add to the center opening of the die.

Adhere the 4 snowflakes from the small snowflake die cluster to the centers of some of the snowflakes in the background die.

Add silver embellishments to the card front such as Drusy Adhesive-Backed embellishments.

Stamp sending warm hugs in the center of card #2 and add the three larger Azure Afternoon snowflake dies around the sentiment.
Adhere three pearls like the Antique pearls currently available or look forward to these gorgeous sneak peak Pearls of Beauty which are available November 1st which will coordinate with the upcoming Brushed with Beauty suite!

With little more effort than making the first card you get the second BONUS card too!
Try this technique whenever you decide to color your large dies and use them as a mask to make a background for a second card!

Hope you try this technique soon and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

!-------- TAMS Start ----------> Product List

Snowflake Kisses Bundle (English)

[166023]

$50.25

Snowflake Kisses Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[166018]

$18.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Azure Afternoon 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[161719]

$14.00

Azure Afternoon Classic Stampin' Pad

[161663]

$9.00

Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial)

[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]

$15.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Snowflake Kisses Dies

[166022]

$38.00

Antique Pearls

[164679]

$8.50

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$6.00

← pleated prism fun fold more color mondays - azure afternoon, daffodil delight, and lemon lime twist →

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

by nataliegramleystamps | Oct 13, 2025 | card samples, color challenge, die cutting, more color mondays, my favorites, online exclusives, techniques

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

Product List

Snowflake Kisses Bundle (English)

[166023]

$50.25

Snowflake Kisses Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[166018]

$18.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Balmy Blue 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146982]

$14.00

Highland Heather 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146986]

$14.00

Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[122924]

$14.00

Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad

[147105]

$9.00

Highland Heather Classic Stampin' Pad

[147103]

$9.00

Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

[147107]

$9.00

Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial)

[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]

$15.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Snowflake Kisses Dies

[166022]

$38.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$6.00

← scrapbooking tips and tricks pleated prism fun fold →

boho vibes su creativity challenge

by nataliegramleystamps | Sep 10, 2025 | card samples, die cutting, masculine cards, my favorites, stamps ink paper, techniques

Every month, Sara Douglas, Stampin’ Up!’s CEO challenges us with a creativity task – everyone can play along and this month’s challenge uses any of our alphabet sets!

On pages 106-107 in our current 2025-2026 Annual Catalog is a beautiful spread entitled “Customize & Personalize with Dies” and features our three current alphabet sets –

the Mini Alphabet Dies #162934 ($31.00) – this set is perfectly sized for customizing your cards small enough to fit onto a card front and designed as one die to cut all of your letters at once – How easy is that?

My personal favorite – the Alphabet A La Mode #160750 – ($42.00) this medium sized alphabet is your do it all work horse small enough for card making and large enough for scrapbooking – this set can do it all!

and new this year the Party Alphabet Dies – #165263 – ($99.00) these letters are about 2 1/4″ tall and add an eye-catching accent to any of your projects. This also comes in a bundle for $125.00 (#165265) with the Party Banner dies for a complete banner making package that will be the hit of your parties!

Today’s project uses the Sunshine Vibes bundle from the Boho Vibes Suite Collection in Fall colors for a great happy Fall card!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
4″ x 5 1/4″ layer, scraps for rainbow base and
letter dies
Cajun Craze CS: 3″ x 4 1/4″ and scraps
Calypso Coral CS: 3″ x 4 1/4″ and scraps
Crushed Curry CS: 3″ x 4 1/4″ and scraps
Poppy Parade CS: 3″ x 4 1/4″ and scraps
Pumpkin Pie CS: 3″ x 4 1/4″ and scraps

Die cut the rainbow pieces from each color .

Take the Basic White 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer and with blending brushes color the entire area with Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie and calypso Coral inks.

Spray the area with water droplets from a Stampin’ Spritzer – this is called water lifting – the areas of water droplets will lift the ink and make lighter spotting on the surface of the colored area.

Dry with a Heat Tool or let air dry. If using a Heat Tool you should heat from both the bottom and the top of the layer to minimize paper curling.

Cut the word FALL from the Alphabet A La Mode dies and place on the bottom of the layer for spacing and stamp the word “happy” in Tuxedo Black Memento ink from the Blooming Phrases stamp set above where the letters will be adhered.

Adhere the letters to the colored layer and then adhere the layer to the card base.

Arrange the rainbow pieces one from each color on the rainbow Basic White base die and adhere starting on one side and adhering the next one in order.

Pop up the rainbow dies onto Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhere above the stamped sentiment.

I stamped the inside with the good vibes sentiment from the Sunshine Vibes stamp set in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and the sun and rays in Daffodil Delight ink above the sentiment to finish off the inside of the card!