more color mondays – berry burst, coastal cabana and gorgeous grape – paper pumpkin alternatives

more color mondays – berry burst, coastal cabana and gorgeous grape – paper pumpkin alternatives

by | May 12, 2025 | card samples, color challenge, die cutting, fun fold, kits, more color mondays, my favorites, paper pumpkin/kit collection alternatives, paper pumpkin/kits collection, stamps ink paper, techniques

Every month I get a craft kit in the mail and I was super excited to receive last month’s April 2025 Inked Occasions kit – so excited in fact I increased my order to 2 kits because I knew that i would LOVE the alcohol inks images on the base cards so much that I would want extra and I am so glad that I did!

This kit is absolutely gorgeous and I have so many ideas! This is the first set of alternative projects and the first one highlighted is the More Color Mondays color challenge card!

I picked three favorite colors from the kit: Berry Burst, Coastal Cabana and Gorgeous Grape and designed a fabulous window card to highlight one of the stunning die cuts in this kit!

First let me show you the three card designs that are detailed in the kit – beautiful on their own with nothing more to do than just follow the full color instructions sheet!

Here are the items required for the first card:

This card features a beautiful gold-foiled die cut as the sparkling focal point. The instructions detail to pop this die cut up on the right-hand side of the gorgeous card base.

First I stamped the small butterfly images onto the card with the Berry Burst ink spot included in the kit. Then popped up the die in between the stamped images.

I stamped the Congratulations sentiment on the shaped die and the “you are amazing” on the rectangular sentiment die and popped them up on the mini Stampin’ Dimensionals provided in the kit over the gold-foiled die cut.
And the first gorgeous card is complete!
I gathered the supplies for the second card in the instructions.
I stamped the “thinking of you” sentiment in Berry Burst ink on the appropriate shaped die cut and punched it out and popped it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The base card is gold-foil framed and I adhered the fabulous alcohol inked die cut silhouettes over the bottom of the card.
I adhered the sentiment piece over the right-hand side of the die and stamped a few butterflies above the sentiment to finish off card #2 from the instructions! So EASY!
Card #3 from the instructions stamped the small butterflies onto the card, popped up the gold-foiled “hugs” sentiment and stamped the “I’m here for you” sentiment in one of the rectangular sentiment die boxes and popped that up below the hugs and this card is done! Even easier!
These are the three cards that come in the kit SO SO PRETTY as is but now for today’s More Color Monday card and the rest of the alternative projects I made!
I just loved the silhouette die that came in the kit so I decided to highlight that in my More Color Monday’s card and I made a window card out of it!

Measurements:
BASE: Coastal Cabana CS: 5 1/2″ x 9″
scored at 2 3/4″
Gorgeous Grape CS: 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ strip
Berry Burst CS: scrap for sentiment matte
Card Kit Card: cut into four pieces
2 1/8″ x 5 1/2″
Window Sheet: 3″ x 5 1/2″

Adhere the Window Sheet to the shorter edge of the card and match with the back edge of the card to make a clear front panel.

Adhere the Gorgeous Grape strip under the bottom edge of the 2 1/8″ x 5 1/2″ card kit layer.

Adhere the card kit layer over the Window Sheet layer and adhere evenly to the top of the card front.

Lay the die cut piece face side down over the card matching the bottom edges. Add liquid glue to the foliage that will be above the cardstock edge not below where the window sheet is except foe the very bottom edge.
Turn the die cut over and matching up the bottom edges adhere to the card.
Stamp the “Congratulations” and “you are amazing”sentiments in Berry Burst and pop up on the card base. Place the “Congratulations” above the Window sheet on the left-hand side and the “You are Amazing” below the window sheet on the right-hand side.
I added five Purple Shimmer Gems to the card front, tucking some under the sentiments.
I added three small single butterflies in Gorgeous Grape ink to the upper right-hand side of the card kit card layer.
I decided I wanted to little bit more emphasis on the “Congratulations” sentiment so I added a Berry Burst matter under the sentiment and fussy cut to match the die cut form.

I love the see through bottom “apron” of the card – just stunning and it shows of the beauty of this alcohol inked die!

I liked this style so much I tried it with a Gorgeous Grape cardstock base.
This simple alternative card started with a Coastal Cabana card base. I used one of the
2 1/8″ x 5 1/2″ pieces of card base, I adhered two Gorgeous Grape strips on either side of the card kit layer.
I stamped the butterflies around the sentiments. I popped up the sentiment on Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals at the lower right-hand corner.
I cut one of the card bases from the kit to 4″ x 5 1/4″ and adhered it to a Gorgeous Grape CS base. I stamped the “thinking of you” sentiment in Gorgeous Grape ink and added the small butterflies around the sentiment. I added three Purple Fine Shimmer Gems.
The last alternative card from this batch I created a z-fold fun fold.
I used one of the 2 1/8″ x 5 1/2″ card kit layers on the right-hand side of the inside of the card base.
I cut the colored part of the envelope to a
2″ x 5 1/4″ piece and adhered it to the first panel of the z-fold.
I stamped the sentiment “hugs” in Gorgeous Grape and added color with a Blending Brush and stamp extra butterflies.
Add adhesive to the left-hand side of the circle die and adhere to the center of the first panel.
I added 5 Purple Shimmer Gems to the card front to finish the card.
Paper Pumpkin card kits are such great monthly kits delivered to your mailbox – for a bit of fun every month!

Try it one month and watch your creativity blossom! Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Paper Pumpkin 12 Month Subscription [ 166818 ]
[166818]
$324.00
Paper Pumpkin 6 Month Subscription [ 166817 ]
[166817]
$162.00
Paper Pumpkin 3 Month Subscription [ 166816 ]
[166816]
$81.00
Paper Pumpkin Subscription [ 166815 ]
[166815]
$27.00
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 166780 ]
[166780]
$14.00
Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 144243 ]
[144243]
$11.50
Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 131297 ]
[131297]
$11.50
Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 146987 ]
[146987]
$11.50
Window Sheets [ 142314 ]
[142314]
$5.00
Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147143 ]
[147143]
$9.00
Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147099 ]
[147099]
$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
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine
[149653]
$130.00
Spotlight On Nature Dies [ 163580 ]
[163580]
$35.00
Stylish Shapes Dies [ 159183 ]
[159183]
$30.00
Purple Fine Shimmer Gems [ 162611 ]
[162611]
$8.00
may online exclusives debut tomorrow

may online exclusives debut tomorrow

by | Apr 30, 2025 | card samples, die cutting, embossing folders, masculine cards, my favorites, online exclusives, stamps ink paper

Tomorrow the May Online Exclusives debut and there are so many great new items becoming available.

One of my favorites is the Sunrise Sailing hybrid bundle. Today’s card is an easy retirement card.

Measurements:
BASE: Coastal Cabana CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
score at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″, scrap for the
sentiment piece and the sailboat image.

Emboss the Basic White cardstock layer with the Sunrise Sailing hybrid embossing folder.
Stamp the sailboat image in Tuxedo Black Memento ink.
Stamp sailing stripes in Coastal Cabana across the sail boat.
Stamp the “HAPPY retirement” in Coastal Cabana ink on the Basic White strip.
Cut a banner edge on the sentiment strip and color the strip with a blending brush.
Adhere the embossing folder on the Coastal Cabana base.

Die cut the sailboat, curve the sails with a bone folder and pop it up over the sailboat on the embossed layer.

Pop up the sentiment piece under the sailboat.
Place three Rainbow Adhesive-backed Dots around the sailboat.

Check out this new bundle as well as others that debut tomorrow! The click-able photos will not contain the new products until they are available tomorrow!

Hope you create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 166780 ]
[166780]
$14.00
Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 131297 ]
[131297]
$11.50
Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147097 ]
[147097]
$9.00
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
Water Painters [ 151298 ]
[151298]
$13.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine
[149653]
$130.00
Rainbow Adhesive Backed Dots [ 162758 ]
[162758]
$9.00
beautiful butterflies shaker card

beautiful butterflies shaker card

by | Apr 11, 2025 | card samples, die cutting, embossing folders, my favorites, techniques

Today’s blog post is a shaker card with the Beautiful Butterflies bundle: for butterfly lovers like me this is an awesome bundle with a hybrid embossing folder and gorgeous coordinating stamp and die sets.

I had some watercolor paper left over from my March 22nd OnStage swap cards and I used the last of those papers for this special card that I mailed to a friend of mine for her birthday!

Measurements:
BASE: Lemon Lime Twist CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Basic Black CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ embossed and cut
Window Sheet 3 1/2″ x 5″
Fluid 100 paper

Emboss the Basic Black layer with the Beautiful Butterflies folder and cut a 1″ border frame with the Stampin’ Trimmer.
Save the inside rectangle for the inside of the card.
Place Tear-n-Tape around the backside perimeter of the frame cut out.
Adhere the window sheet to the inside of the Basic Black layer.
Place foam adhesive strips around the backside opening of the rectangular opening.
Place a pile of Itty Bitty Bokeh Mix in the center of the Lemon Lime card base.
Remove the release paper off the foam strips and adhere the Basic Black frame to the card front so there is an even border the whole way around the card.
Adhere the large butterfly that we die cut out of the watercolored Fluid 100 paper to the lower right hand side of the frame.
Stamp the sentiment onto remaining Fluid 100 paper and die cut with the sentiment strip die and adhere above the rectangular opening .
Place glue dots on the card front to adhere additional Itty Bitty Bokeh sequins to the card front to decorate!
Adhere a Basic White 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer to the inside of the card.
Stamp a smaller butterfly in Tuxedo Black Memento ink at the top and adhere the rectangular frame cut to the lower right hand side of that layer and the inside has some fun interest!
Shake to your hearts content what a fun interactive card!
Try making a shaker card as your next project – now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Beautiful Bokeh Suite Collection (English)
[164619]
$79.25
Beautiful Butterflies Bundle (English)
[164615]
$59.25
Beautiful Butterflies Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)
[164608]
$24.00
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[159276]
$13.00
Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[121045]
$11.50
Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[144245]
$11.50
Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper
[149612]
$9.00
Azure Afternoon Classic Stampin' Pad
[161663]
$9.00
Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad
[147097]
$9.00
Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad
[147145]
$9.00
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
[132708]
$8.00
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]
$130.00
Beautiful Butterflies Hybrid Embossing Folder
[164614]
$42.00
Foam Adhesive Strips
[141825]
$8.25
Blending Brushes
[153611]
$15.00
Stampin' Spritzer
[126185]
$6.00
Water Painters
[151298]
$13.00
Itty Bitty Bokeh Mix
[164618]
$7.50
onstage 2025 beautiful butterflies swap card

onstage 2025 beautiful butterflies swap card

by | Mar 5, 2025 | card samples, card swap, online exclusives, techniques

I signed up for three special swaps for the upcoming 2025 OnStage event in Raleigh, North Carolina and then it sold out before I had the chance to sign up – I am so sad – I went last year with my sweet friend Barb and we had so much fun and I learned so much. Oh well my friend Michael that I met last year at OnStage is hosting the special swaps and this sweet man allowed me to send him my swap cards and he did not take my name off his lists! So this is one of the special cards I designed for the Demonstrator’s Choice Swap that I am in.
I chose components from some of my favorite new sets: Everyday Arches dies, Beautiful Butterflies bundle and the Elements of Text which is slowly becoming one of my new favorite background sets!

Although this card has a bunch of layers it is not difficult but I have some paper saving tips to make this – so follow along!

Measurements:
BASE: Coastal Cabana CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ piece for die cut
Lemon Lime Twist Layer: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White Layer: 3 3/4″ x 5″
scrap for sentiment piece
Fluid 100 paper: 5″ x 7″ sheet

I choose three consecutive arches dies and cut the middle arch out of the center of the Lemon Lime Twist layer and then adhered that layer to the Coastal Cabana card base.
I cut the smallest consecutive die chosen from the center of the Basic White layer and adhered it to the Lemon Lime Twist layer on the card front.
I die cut from the Coastal Cabana layer the largest consecutive die chosen and adhered it over the die openings on the card layers on the card front.
I stamped the circle text image from the Elements of Text stamp set in the center of the Basic White Everyday Arches die in Coastal Cabana ink.
I adhered the Basic White Arch die to the Lemon Lime Twist die and adhered both of them to the Coastal Cabana Arches die on the card front.
I used some of the left over watercolor Fluid 100 paper that I created for the Beautiful Butterflies More Color Mondays card from my February 3rd blog post.
I colored the Fluid 100 paper with Blending brushes in Azure Afternoon, Coastal Cabana and Lemon Lime Twist and then splattered the paper with water from a Stampin’ Sprintzer and a water painter.
I then die cut smaller butterfly dies from the Beautiful Butterflies die set.
At the time I created that early February post I had a lot of scrap watercolor paper left over so I cut smaller butterflies from the scraps and this is what I designed to use up all those spare die pieces!

I used three smaller butterfly detail dies and one medium background butterfly die for each swap card.
I adhered one of the small detail butterflies to the background butterfly and adhered all three dies to the top portion of the Elements of Text stamped die piece.

I stamped the sentiment in Coastal Cabana ink and then colored the background of the paper in Lemon Lime Twist with a Blending Brush.

I fussy cut the words out to adhere to the card
at the base of the Basic White Everyday Arches die.
I added Iridescent Adhesive-Backed Discs to the card in the green hue to coordinate with the card.
After evaluating the card I decided I wanted a little more color on the sentiment piece to balance out the color used in the top of the card. So I removed the sentiment piece and brushed the edges with a Blending Brush and Coastal Cabana ink leaving some of the Lemon Lime Twist background peeking through.

This finished out the card and created a nice balance of color and textures on the card.
Hope they like my swap card!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Beautiful Butterflies Bundle (English)
[164615]
$59.25
Everyday Arches Bundle (English)
[164630]
$45.00
Elements Of Text Cling Stamp Set
[164774]
$26.00
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[159276]
$13.00
Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[131297]
$11.50
Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[144245]
$11.50
Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper
[149612]
$9.00
Azure Afternoon Classic Stampin' Pad
[161663]
$9.00
Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad
[147097]
$9.00
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 Stampin' Dimensionals
[144108]
$4.25
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
Blending Brushes
[153611]
$15.00
Small Blending Brushes
[160518]
$14.00
Stampin' Spritzer
[126185]
$6.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine
[149653]
$130.00
Beautiful Butterflies Hybrid Embossing Folder
[164614]
$42.00
Everyday Arches Dies
[164629]
$29.00
Iridescent Adhesive Backed Discs
[161954]
$7.00
mixed floral bokeh blended card

mixed floral bokeh blended card

by | Mar 3, 2025 | card samples, color challenge, Designer Series Paper, die cutting, more color mondays, my favorites, new catalog, online exclusives, techniques

Today is Monday and that means the latest color challenge has arrived and you all know that I love the bright colors so this trio is right in my wheel house! Pool Party, Berry Burst and Lemon Lime Twist Stampin’ Blends bring the Mixed Florals stamp image to life and are the perfect foreground for the Beautiful Bokeh 6″ x 6″ DSP!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
scrap for dies
DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″

This simple card still packs a punch due to all the gorgeous pigmented colors from the Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers!

Coloring with the Stampin’ Blends is so easy and fun. The alcohol markers are streak free and seamless. They make blending a breeze!
I always start with the Light color in the Combo pack and then highlight with the Dark blend and then redraw over the entire image with the Light again to help blend the dark highlights in to the image.

I colored the background with the Pool Party to eliminate the white space between the flower images mimicking sky in the background.

I stamped a sentiment from the Mixed Labels bundle and die cut around the imaged words. I used a blending brush in Pool Party ink to highlight the edges of the die.

I die cut the flowers.

I adhered the DSP layer to the card front.
I adhered the flowers to the right-hand side of the card front over the DSP layer.
I popped up the sentiment piece over the flower stems on the lower left-hand corner of the image.

I added Basic Rhinestone Jewels to the card around the sentiment piece and above the flowers on the upper right-hand side of the card.
I tied the Silver and White Sheer ribbon around the top score line of the card to finish off this lovely card and coordinate the silver in the ribbon and rhinestone embellishments.

Go you have any Stampin’ Blends? They really are the coolest coloring tools! Try some out today or order some soon!

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

Happy Stampin’,
Natalie

Product List
Mixed Media Florals Suite Collection (English)
[164659]
$128.00
Mixed Florals Bundle
[164642]
$56.50
Mixed Florals Photopolymer Stamp Set
[164639]
$24.00
Mixed Labels Bundle (English)
[164653]
$39.50
Mixed Labels Cling Stamp Set (English)
[164643]
$23.00
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[159276]
$13.00
Beautiful Bokeh 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper
[164607]
$12.50
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
[132708]
$8.00
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
Berry Burst Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack
[161681]
$11.00
Pool Party Stampin' Blends Combo Pack
[154894]
$11.00
Lemon Lime Twist Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack
[161682]
$11.00
Melon Mambo Stampin' Blends Combo Pack
[153112]
$11.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine
[149653]
$130.00
Mixed Florals Dies
[164641]
$39.00
Mixed Labels Dies
[164652]
$21.00
Silver & White 1/2" (1.3 Cm) Sheer Ribbon
[162149]
$9.00
Rhinestone Basic Jewels
[144220]
$6.00