Christmas ideas - nataliegramleystamps

hostess gift – christmas tags and holder

by nataliegramleystamps | Dec 5, 2025 | 3D projects, Christmas card ideas, Designer Series Paper, die cutting, stamps ink paper, techniques

It is the holiday season and you will probably be invited to holiday dinners and parties and this is the season for hostess gifts as well!

This little Christmas tag holder is the perfect little hostess gift for those sweet celebratory occasions!

Follow along today to learn how to make this sweet gift ensemble for your holiday outings.

Measurements:
BASE: Cherry Cobbler CS: 6″ x 8″
scored at 3 1/2″ and 4 1/2″
Mossy Meadow CS Pocket layers:
(2) 3 1/2″ x 5 1/2″
scored at 1″ and 1 1/2″ on the 6″ side
scored at 1″, 1 1/2″, 4″ and 4 1/2″ on 8″ side
Mossy Meadow CS Belly Band:
1 1/2″ x 11″
scored at 1 3/4″, 3″, 6 1/2″, and 7 3/4″
DSP: (2) 2″ and 2 1/4″ and 3 1/4″ x 5 3/4″
scraps of Basic White and Night of Navy CS
for the Belly Band

Score the 2 pocket layer in Mossy Meadow
at 1″ and 1 1/2″ on the 6″ side and at 1″, 1 1/2″, 4″ and 4 1/2″ on 8″ side.

Cut a slightly diagonal slice inside the second score line on the 8″ side up to the first score line on the 6″ side.

Cut another diagonal slice on the opposite side inside the 4″ score line up to the first score line on the 6″ side.

Cut along the first score line on the 6″ side to the diagonal cuts on both sides.

Cut four small cuts at the 1″, 1 1/2″, 4″ and 4 1/2″ up to the second score line

Place Tear-n-Tape in the first two and last two sections as shown in this picture below.

Place two small pieces of Tear-n-Tape on the tab on the opposite side of the pocket as the last four pieces were placed – as shown in the picture below!

Fold the score lines so that the four pieces of Tear-n-Tape are on the outside and remove the release paper off the four pieces and fold the smallest tab under the outside tabs on both sides – it will look like the picture below!

Adhere the longer tab in between the two score lines on the middle tab so it looks like the picture below.

Remove the two pieces of Tear-n-Tape on the middle tab.

Adhere the flap of the middle tab over the two sides – like the photo below.

Turn the box to the side with the slot and place four pieces of Tear-n-Tape down the two sides of the slot.

Remove the release paper to the four pieces of Tear-n-Tape and adhere the pocket to the bottom inside of the two outer panels of the Cherry Cobbler base.

Adhere the two smaller pieces of DSP to the pockets and now you can load your tags into the pockets!

Score the belly band and place Stampin’ Seal + to the smaller edge.

Place around the closed tag holder and adhere the belly band tight enough to not fall off but to be able to slide off with ease!

Decorate the belly band.

I used the Christmas Word Collage hybrid embossing folder for some of the tags this is a Last Chance product and a great item to have in your collection!

Here are the tags we will be making at this month’s library classes!

Cannot wait to see you all there!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Branching Out Bundle (English)

[165776]

$47.50

Branching Out Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[169204]

$24.00

Snowflake Kisses Bundle (English)

[166023]

$50.25

Snowflake Kisses Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[166018]

$18.00

Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial)

[163987]

$60.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Cherry Cobbler 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[119685]

$14.00

Mossy Meadow 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[133676]

$14.00

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]

$140.00

Branching Out Dies

[165775]

$29.00

Christmas Words Collage Hybrid Embossing Folder (English)

[165912]

$42.00

Light & Wonder Dies

[165762]

$38.00

Paper Tags Dies

[165461]

$28.00

Patterned Tags Dies

[165910]

$31.00

Snowflake Kisses Dies

[166022]

$38.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$6.00

Faceted Snowflakes

[166077]

$10.00

← snowflake kisses die cut out card more color mondays - pretty peacock,pecan pie and crumb cake →

bokeh background with golden greenery

by nataliegramleystamps | Jul 24, 2024 | card samples, Christmas card ideas, die cutting, stamps ink paper, techniques

Besides stamping, I love photography! The Bokeh effect has always reminded me of those pictures people take of Christmas lights where the lights are out of focus and there are loads of white circles covering the page – like the photo below!

For today’s blog post I am going to teach you an easy method for recreating this effect! All you need is a circle mask made from punches or dies and white ink!

Measurements:
BASE: Pretty Peacock: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Basic White: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ for masks
4″ x 5 1/4″ for the outside layer
scraps for die cut and sentiment piece.

I did a watercolor wash on an acrylic block. I used the Stampin’ Up! E acrylic block and applied ink direct to the block from the lemon Lime Twist ink pad directly onto the E block in the center.

I added Lost Lagoon to the left side of the block and Pretty Peacock to the right side.

I misted the surface of the acrylic block with water.
Spray enough water so that the ink starts to run together and dose not have a lot of beading on the surface.

Place the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer over the acrylic block and rub gently so that the water and ink absorb into the paper. Pick up and place another paper on the ink – you usually can get two impressions from one ink application – the second will be lighter but still pretty!
Allow to air dry or if in a hurry dry with the Heat Tool.

Every paper turns out with slight variations – I simply LOVE this technique for creating awesome watercolored backgrounds!

Here are some of the papers I created.

Create a mask with multiple different sized circle openings – I used the four smallest circles from the Stylish Shapes die set!
Place over the dried watercolor paper.

Using a Blending brush and the Craft White ink – I squeezed a few drops of re-inker in the ink lid and brushed the ink onto the blending brush.
Using a circular motion I applied the ink over the mask – in a variety of sizes and depths of color.

Remove the mask – reposition and repeat the blending brush ink application until the desired Bokeh effect is achieved.

Stamp a sentiment I chose a sentiment from the new Online Exclusives Greetings of the Season in Pretty Peacock. I fussy cut the sentiment and blended Pretty Peacock ink over the cut surface of the sentiment! I also cut a die from the Golden Greenery die set in Basic White scrap.

I adhered the watercolored layer to the Pretty Peacock base. I popped up the fussy cut sentiment piece onto the lower left hand corcer of the card front.

I popped up the die on mini Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhered it to the top right corner.

I added some white pearlescent sequins from the Adhesive-Backed Sequins Trio to finish off the card.

This effect has always reminded me of Christmas lights so I thought it perfect for this first Christmas card of the season!

Try this Bokeh effect soon and let me know what

Product List

Golden Greenery Bundle

[164117]

$56.50

Golden Greenery Photopolymer Stamp Set

[164331]

$24.00

Greetings Of The Season Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[164325]

$25.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$13.00

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

[150880]

$11.50

Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad

[147145]

$9.00

Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad

[161678]

$9.00

Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad

[150083]

$9.00

Uninked Stampin’ Craft Pad & Whisper White Refill

[147277]

$10.50

Whisper White Craft Stampin' Ink Refill

[101780]

$7.00

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 Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

$4.25

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Paper Snips

[103579]

$12.00

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$15.00

Clear Block E

[118484]

$13.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00

Golden Greenery Dies

[164116]

$39.00

Adhesive Backed Sequins Trio

[161206]

$8.00

← more color mondays - lost lagoon, berry burst, and soft sea foam stamp and spritz watercolor technique →

christmas tags class – paper pumpkin alternatives

by nataliegramleystamps | Dec 6, 2023 | Christmas card ideas, out of the box stamping, paper pumpkin/kits collection, stamps ink paper, techniques

I subscribe to our Paper Pumpkin kits! I love getting the kits in the mail each month but I have a bunch of them that I haven’t gotten to!
I had a number of past years Christmas boxes because I always make my own cards so i decided to make Christmas tags with the stamps and some of the items from past Paper Pumpkins!
Want to join me and make some very cute Christmas Tags for your holidays?
I will be out at two local library next week – Greenville Area Library Tuesday, December 12th, at 5:45pm and the Conneaut Lake Library on Wednesday, December 13th from 1-3pm. RSVP directly to the local libraries. The cost of the class is $10 for 10 different Christmas tags and below are the tags we will make!