shadow block technique

shadow block technique

What is a girl to do with all her Designer Series paper scraps? Well today’s card is an optical illusion card that checks all the boxes:
fun card – check
using paper scraps – check
easy card – check
wow technique – check!

Follow along and make a card using this technique and let me know how it turns out!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scrap for die cut
Basic Black CS: (20) 3/4″ square pieces
scrap for the word die cut
DSP: (20) 3/4″ square

Adhere the DSP squares to the Basic Black squares but offset them slightly off to the bottom and left hand side of the DSP square.
Adhere the first row of squares to the card base spacing evenly.
Adhere the remaining rows of Squares to the card front spacing evenly side to side and top to bottom.
Finish adhering the remaining matted squares to the card base, making sure that the black square is in the same position for all squares.
This gives the illusion that the DSP squares have a shadow radiating out behind them!
Such a cool optical illusion don’t you think!
Using the large banner die from the Stylish Shapes die set – stamp in Memento Tuxedo Black ink the BEST from the Friends for Life stamp set onto the die.
Adhere to the top middle of the card on an angle.
Die cut the word friend from the Friends for Life die set in scrap Basic Black cardstock and adhered below the banner die cut.
Add three Adhesive-Backed Sparkle Gems to the banner die cut on the card front to add a little bling and finish off this fun and super easy card!
Try this optical illusion card today and let me know how you like the results – now go and create some cool artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

tall z fold card on card fun fold

tall z fold card on card fun fold

This card is called a Tall Z Fold card on card fun fold. Lots of surfaces to write and show the Bright and Beautiful Designer Series Paper.

Measurements:
BASE: Azure Afternoon 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Azure Afternoon layer: 4″ x 9 3/4″
scored at 2 1/4″ and 4 1/2″
DSP: 3 3/4″ x 5″
(2) 2″ x 3 3/4″
Basic White: inside 4″ x 5 1/4″
z fold inserts: inside 2 1/4″ x 3 1/2″
outside 2 5/8″ x 4″

Adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ to the card base inside.
Score the 4″ x 9 3/4″ at 2 1/4″ and 4 1/2″
and fold in a vertical Z fold.
Adhere the 3 3/4″ x 5″ to the top panel.
Adhere the 2 pieces of 2″ x 3 3/4″ to the middle and bottom panels of the Z fold attachment.
Adhere the 2 1/4″ x 3 1/2″ Basic White layer to the center of the upper panel.
Stamp the 2 5/8″ x 4″ piece of Basic White layer and adhere only the bottom half to the bottom panel.
Adhere the Z fold card onto card front.
Adhere three embellishments on the front Basic White layer to finish the card on card fun fold.

Try this card on card fun fold today with your own supplies – one stamp at a time.

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

using designer series paper scraps

using designer series paper scraps

These are easy cards to make and a great way to use those partial pieces of Designer Series Paper.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scrap for the balloon image
Pretty Peacock layer: 4″ x 5 1/4″
DSP: (2) 1 7/8″ squares
(2) 1 7/8″ x 3″ in coordinating patterns

Adhere the square in the left hand corner, adhere the rectangular piece to the right.
Adhere the other square in the lower right hand corner, place the last rectangular piece opposite the other in the lower left hand corner.
Stamp the large balloon image in Pretty Peacock ink. Stamp the Happy Birthday sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento ink in the center of the balloon image. Die cut the balloon image.
Adhere the Pretty Peacock layer to the Basic White card base.
Place Stampin’ Dimensionals under the balloon and add it to the center of the four pieces of DSP.
Add three embellishments to the card front.

Fast and easy this is a great card! Try using your DSP scraps to make these cards! Go and create some art work of your very own – one stamp at a time.

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

swap cards ideas galore

swap cards ideas galore

It is swap time again and I have loads of ideas for you thanks to our great group of demonstrators that I swap with every month!

The first card from Michelle L features a whimsical stamp set that is just too cute called Bird’s Eye View and the little bird is peeking out from the back page through a die cut oval window and frame.

This card from Judith P uses the Taco Fiesta stamp set. All of the little cut outs on the bottom of the card are cut out and popped up on Dimensionals! Too Cute!
Legendary Ride is the stamp set that Jennie T uses for this great masculine card featuring the awesome Metal Plate 3D Embossing Folder on the right side of this card!

Lyn L’s card uses the Countryside Inn DSP which is one of the great Designer Series paper’s on sale all this month order your favorites at a 15% discount using the current hostess code HGE4RYHW or order a paper share from me over 80 pieces of 6″ x 6″ samples of every sale DSP for $25 plus $5 shipping if you are not local! Let me know!

Bright and Beautiful Suite collection is the product suite used by Vickie G for this great center flap fun fold card with a sweet balloon stamped inside!
This sweet Taco Fiesta card by Denise W uses easy shading with a Blending Brush to color the card front and the Alphabet a la mode dies for the Happy on the front. The inside is just as cute as the front!
Kathi D sent two cards from last month and this month’s swaps! Double bonus! The first uses Circle Sayings and Countryside Inn DSP in hues of Boho Blue, one of our popular new In Colors!
Her second card was for last month’s For the Guys swap and features the Beside Me stamp set.
Lori V never disappoints and this lovely Zany Zoo card is a fun fold card with lots of pizzazz!
The Zoo Crew paper is also on sale this month and included in my paper share!
Night of Flight is our Hostess stamp set and is the set Susan K used in this elegant and simple SIP card! SIP = stamps, ink,paper simple stamping does not need to be plain and boring!
Marie W’s card uses the Cane Weaving 3D Embossing folder as a background and the Layering Leaves bundle for a lovely card.
Softly Sketched stamp set sets the stage for Susan K’s swap card and just a hint of Masterfully Made DSP at the bottom which is also a DSP featured in this month’s sale and my paper share!
Robin G’s card arrived yesterday in time to post it on this blog entry and it is one of my favorites using all the current In Colors and the new Vellum Basics in a die cut circle behind the Timeless Arrangements dies! Nice Job all set in Boho Blue!
Denise W’s swap card for May features Just My Type stamp set and the Zoo Crew DSP which is also included in the June DSP sale with 15% I absolutely love black and white paper and this DSp offers a wacky and zany zoo crew on one side that matches the Zany Zoo bundle but it also goes with ANYTHING on the reverse side for those of us that do not have the stamp set we can use the black and white side for everything! This paper is also included in my paper share! E-mail me if you would like to participate!
Hope these ideas inspired you to grab one of these stamp sets and create some artwork of your very own – go out and create one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Paper Snips
[103579]
$11.00
Bough Punch
[157711]
$22.00
patchwork pieces die set

patchwork pieces die set

There are lots of hidden gems in the new catalog – so much great new stuff that some of it is easy to overlook. I am constantly scouring the catalogs for new ideas and overlooked products and this die set can be one of those items! I noticed it on my first go around but many have commented on the fact that they overlooked it so i decided to highlight this product in my blog post today!
Patchwork Pieces (#161592) can be located on page 165 of the new Annual May 2023- April 2024 catalog! A die set of two 3 3/16″ x 4 11/16″ background dies – these cute dies can create background possibilities that are seemingly endless. Combine them with cardstock or DSP or both and watch the ideas flow!
For the first two cards I used the Bright and Beautiful 6″ x 6″ DSP (#161449) and two colors of cardstock – Azure Afternoon (#161719) and Lemon Lime Twist (#144245).
I cut one die image from each color and cut a few Basic White pieces of cardstock at 3 1/2″ x 5″ to glue the patchwork pieces onto.
I alternated three sets of background images and came up with three different backgrounds.
I mounted them onto Basic White Cardstock and cut the white cardstock to an even border.
I stamped the thank you sentiment from the Something Fancy stamp set and die cut with the smallest circle from the Stylish Shapes die set. Then I die cut the next circle up for a mat out of a scrap piece of Azure Afternoon cardstock. I mounted the sentiment piece to the Azure Afternoon circle die cut.
I cut a 4 1/2″ x 11″ of Azure Afternoon cardstock scored it at 5 1/2″, folded in half for the card base.
I adhered the patchwork background to the card base on an angle, placed Stampin’ Dimensionals onto the Circle die and mounted the sentiment to the patchwork background center.
I colored Basic Rhinestone gems with the Dark Azure Afternoon Stampin’ Blends marker.
I added the colored Rhinestones to the card front.
For the second example I adhered the patchwork pieces background onto the Lemon Lime Twist cardstock.
I die cut the smallest square from the Stylish Shapes die set with Basic White card stock and stamped the Oh Happy Day sentiment from the Playing in the Rain stamp set. I adhered this square to the next die square up cut out of Lemon Lime Twist card stock and popped it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and mounted it to the patchwork pieces center on a diagonal. I added three Iridescent Rhinestones to the card front.
I mounted this patchwork piece to another Azure Afternoon card stock base.
I love how bright and easy these backgrounds were to create!
The second die in the set cuts a curvy pattern across the page and I created a Berry Burst card to showcase this die.
I cut a striped Berry burst piece of Bright and Beautiful DSP with this Patchwork Piece die and adhered it to a Basic White piece of Cardstock. Cut an even border and mounted it to a Berry Burst cardstock base, added a sentiment inked in Berry Burst and die cut from the backside of the same DSP and added a Berry Burst die from the Artistic Die set.
Check out this die set and make some fun backgrounds. Go out and create some art of your own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie