card sketch inspiration - nataliegramleystamps

more color mondays – bubble bath, pretty in pink and pool party

by nataliegramleystamps | Mar 2, 2026 | card samples, color challenge, Designer Series Paper, In Colors, sketch challenge, stamps ink paper

Today’s More Color Monday is also a repeat card sketch back on February 18th I posted a blog post about card sketch #118 -= it is such a fun and easy way to make a card I thought I would show you another version with a totally different Designer Series Paper to show you just how versatile a sketch can be! This sketch is super awesome because it allows you to stretch you DSP by using 3″ and 4″ squares! No WASTE!!

Measurements:
BASE: Pool Party CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
DSP: 4″ square, 3″ square
Bubble Bath CS: 3 1/4″ square, 5/8″ x 2 1/8″
Pretty in Pink CS: 7/8″ x 2 5/8″
Basic Black CS: scrap

Adhere the 4″ square of DSP to the top of the card front.

Adhere the 3″ DSP square to the Bubble Bath matte.

Stamp the sentiment Celebrate to the small Bubble Bath CS layer in Tuxedo Black Memento ink.

Mount onto a piece of scrap Pretty In Pink CS and cut to 1/8″ border on the bottom.

Leave about 1/4″ on the right-hand edge for the punch.

Using the Happy Labels Pick a Punch on the Ticket stub side – punch the right-hand edge of the sentiment piece to make it look like a ticket stub edging.

Stamp Happy Birthday from the Boardwalk Fun stamp set in Tuxedo Black Memento ink in the center of the inside of the card.

Die cut a palm tree from the Boardwalk Fun dies in Basic Black CS and adhere to the bottom right-hand corner of the inside of the card.

Adhere the 3 1/4″ matted DSP square to the lower center of the 4″ DSP square on the card front.

Pop up the sentiment over the DSP on the card front.

I place three Frosted Irridescent Dots (which are a retired product but I will put an alternative active product in the photo links below for your buying pleasure! LOL) onto the card to finish off this fun and easy card sketch birthday card!

Try this sketch today with some of your DSP stock 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

Product List

Beach Boardwalk Suite Collection (English)

[166844]

$63.50

Boardwalk Fun Bundle (English)

[166829]

$43.00

Boardwalk Fun Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[166822]

$20.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

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

[122924]

$14.00

Beach Boardwalk 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[166820]

$12.50

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$8.00

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

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[154031]

$7.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Boardwalk Fun Dies

[166828]

$28.00

Pearlized Faceted Circles

[166978]

$8.00

← shadow block technique painted illusions card embossed designs mix and match cards and envelopes card →

card sketch #117

by nataliegramleystamps | Jan 23, 2026 | card samples, card sketches, die cutting, embossing folders, masculine cards, my favorites, stamps ink paper

Today’s card continues the series on Card Sketches with #117!

This simple sketch provides plenty of creative inspiration with a layer and a double matte with sprigs behind it. I followed the sketch quite literally but later on next week I will show you another card from this same sketch with a completely different look!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″, 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer, and scrap
for the die
Vellum CS: scrap for the sentiment matte
Lemon Lime Twist CS: 1/2″ x 4″, and scrap for
the die

Emboss the Basic White CS layer with the Stone and Vine 3D embossing folder.

Adhere the embossed layer to the card base.

Take the 1/2″ x 4″ Lemon Lime Twist CS strip and adhere it to the center of the card front.

Die cut two concentric circles from the Spotlight on Nature dies. The smaller one in Basic White CS and the next size up in Vellum CS.

Stamp the sentiment in Lemon Lime Twist ink and color the edges with a blending brush and the same ink.

Adhere the Basic White stamped circle onto the vellum circle with Stampin’ Seal.

Pop up the sentiment vellum circle with Stampin’ Dimensionals – making sure to stay inside the Basic White circle outline.

Die cut the large leaf sprig die in Lemon Lime Twist cardstock and cut into 2 pieces.

Attach the sprigs to the sentiment piece and adhere the sentiment focal piece to the card over the Lemon Lime Twist strip.

I added Holographic Resin Dots to the card for a little sparkle to complete the card!

Try your hand at this card sketch – if you are new to sketches try it literally as the sketch is drawn or be creative and use the sketch as a launching point and go crazy with ideas!

Let me know what you make – now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Greenery Lane Bundle (English)

[166877]

$49.50

Greenery Lane Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[166870]

$24.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[144245]

$14.00

Vellum 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper

[167099]

$10.00

Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad

[147145]

$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

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Greenery Lane Dies

[166876]

$31.00

Spotlight On Nature Dies

[163580]

$35.00

Stone & Vine 3 D Embossing Folder

[166990]

$10.00

Holographic Resin Dots

[165598]

$8.00

← greenery lane peek through card more color mondays - petunia pop, peach pie and summer splash →

card sketch #115 – get inspired with sketches

by nataliegramleystamps | Jan 2, 2026 | card samples, card sketches, Designer Series Paper, die cutting, masculine cards, new catalog, sneak peak, techniques

Today’s post is all about simplifying the creative process! Ever feel stumped sitting at your desk with a lot of choices and no clear direction? All of us get that way – I find I lose my mojo when my space is messy – but I can get in a creative slump at any time and when I do using a card sketch can prime the creative juices into flowing again!

So today’s card sketch #115 is all about getting the creative juices flowing with a simple layout!

I had so much fun with this sketch that I have a bunch of samples to show you different ways to make this sketch come to life!

Measurements:
BASE: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″. scored at 4 1/4″
DSP: 1″ or 1 1/8″ x 3″
Layers: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″
Scrap for sentiment focal point
scrap for die cut

The perfect thing about a sketch is that it is only a spring board for your imagination!

The pool party sections in the sketch can be DSP, cardstock, embossed cardstock, stamped background images and anything else your creative soul can devise!

That is what I love about sketches even though everyone starts with the same template the outcome is whatever you can make of it!

In my first example I cut the DSP strips at 1 1/8″ x 3″ and adhered them to a Basic Beige 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer.

I die cut from an Old Olive scrap a Textured Notes rectangular die and stamped Love and Hugs sentiment from the Greenery lane stamp set in Mossy Meadow ink for some contrasting color.

I adhered the Basic Beige layer onto a Mossy Meadow card base and popped up the sentiment layer on Stampin’ Dimensionals.

I die cut a greenery piece in Basic Beige scrap from the Greenery Lane die set and adhered it to the bottom portion of the sentiment die.

I added three Antique Pearls to the sentiment layer around the words to highlight them!

Since the base is a darker colored cardstock I added a Basic Beige layer stamped with a leaf image from the Greenery Lane stamp set in Mossy Meadow ink to tie the whole card together!

The second sample I used a different page from the Nature Walk DSP like the first card but changed the color scheme and made the DSP strips 1″ x 3″ for a little paper saving I cut a 3″ x 4″ DSP piece and cut into (4) 1″ x 3″ strips! I just needed to adjust the space in between the strips on the card front.
I used Crumb Cake, Pecan Pie and Early Espresso with the script DSP pieces and stamped the inside as well!

In my third sample I used embossed cardstock strips with the new Online Exclusive Beautiful Pattern 3D embossing folder. and the sentiments and die from the Boardwalk Fun bundle from the upcoming 2026 January to April mini catalog available on Tuesday!
I still had all the cardstock out from yesterday’s post card and I used the same colors Pretty in Pink, Flirty Flamingo and Bubble Bath!

For my last sample I made my own DSP by stamping images on a 3″ x 4 1/2″ piece of Basic White cardstock using Pretty Peacock, Poppy Parade and Granny Apple Green ink and images from the Greenery Lane stamp set.

I cut those into 1 1/8″ x 3″ pieces keeping them in order so the stamped pattern flows from strip to strip!

I embossed the vertical piece and popped up a sentiment over the Poppy Parade layer!

Use your imagination for the strips make them different sizes or from different colors and materials! See what you can design – now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp – one sketch at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Remember the SNEAK PEAK items will not be listed in the photo links below until they are available on January 6th!

And plan on joining me next Saturday for my new catalog open house!