coloring iridescent pearls - nataliegramleystamps

experimenting in water, ink and stripes with textured notes bundle

by nataliegramleystamps | Apr 18, 2025 | card samples, die cutting, masculine cards, stamps ink paper, techniques

The other day I was playing around with the Painted Stripes background stamp. I wanted to experiment with water and ink and see what the difference would be between applying ink directly to the stamp and spritzing with water or applying the ink directly to the glass mat studio and spraying it down and then dipping the stamp into the inky water?

I got a bunch of 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White sheets and started to play with the ink and water!
First I applied Pool Party onto the Glass Matt and then applied Pretty Peacock ink directly above the Pool Party ink. I sprayed water from a Stampin’ Spritzer until the colors were fluid and started to blend in the middle.

I placed the Painted Stripes background stamp into the inky water and then placed it onto the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer and held it in place while the ink and water soaked into the card stock.

Next I placed the Pool Party ink pad over the cleaned Painted Stripes stamp set and inked about half of the stripes.

Then I inked the top half of the Painted Stripes stamp set with the Pretty Peacock ink pad.

I sprayed water from a spray bottle or Stampin’ Spritzer over the entire surface of the Painted Stripes stamp.

I placed a 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White Cardstock layer over the Painted Stripes stamp that is on the table facing upwards (this way the water does not run but stays in place) and rub the back side of the cardstock holding the paper in place so it does not shift.

I resprayed the stamp surface and placed a second piece of cardstock over the surface this will produce a lighter softer version of the first but still pretty as there is enough ink to do this at least twice!

Allow to dry before using.

I found that the first version turned out lighter than the full strength second version! But the second spraying of the second ink direct to stamp version looked a lot like the first ink on glass version without a lot less mess!
Answer achieved! I liked the second version better but the first one was messy fun!

I cut a few dies from the Textured Notes die set from the prepared watercolor sheets. This die set is a series of concentric rectangles with all different types of embossed edging – so very cool – perfect for cards as well as scrapbooking!

I cut a 4 1/4″ x 11″ piece of Basic White cardstock and scored it at 5 1/2″.
I stamped the smaller leaved foliage in Pool Party ink on opposite diagonal ends of the card base and flicked some inked water from a Water Painter over the card base surface.

I stamped the larger leaved foliage on the larger Basic White die in Pretty Peacock ink.

I cut a smaller die with the stripes in the opposite direction from one of the watercolored layers. I stamped the sentiment in Pretty Peacock ink and die cut one die up in Pool Party card stock. I popped the sentiment piece up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhered it to the Pool Party die and added it to the middle of the card above the other stamped die piece.

I colored some Iridescent Pearls with the Dark Pretty Peacock Stampin’ Blends marker.

I added the pearls to the card front.

I added some more splatters with a Water Painter and the left over inky water on the glass matte surface.

I thought the card needed a little more color and a die cut one up from the larger Basic White die on the card as it was blending into the card and you could not see the lovely Textured Notes die edging – so I cut the larger die in Pretty Peacock card stock and mounted it under the original rectangle.
This made the first die cut pop and looks so much better I think.

I keep the card in the order I designed it to show you all sometimes you go back at the end and add one thing to make the card even better! Do not hesitate to add and play if you feel the card is missing something – usually your gut is right!

Hope you get a chance to have a play with stamps, ink and paper this week! Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Painted Stripes Cling Stamp Set

[165437]

$20.00

Textured Notes Bundle (English)

[165556]

$48.50

Textured Notes Cling Stamp Set (English)

[165548]

$23.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

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

[122924]

$11.50

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

[150880]

$11.50

Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

[147107]

$9.00

Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad

[150083]

$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

Water Painters

[151298]

$13.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00

Textured Notes Dies

[165555]

$31.00

Pretty Peacock Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[161676]

$11.00

Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels

[158987]

$7.50

← 2025 OnStage fun fold swap cards bonus post - hoppy easter treat box →

full of life 4 piece puzzle slider card

by nataliegramleystamps | Dec 20, 2024 | card samples, Designer Series Paper, fun fold, stamps ink paper, techniques, Uncategorized

Today’s blog post details a Puzzle Fun Fold using the Full of Life 6″ x 6″ DSP sometimes called a 4 Piece Puzzle Slider card.

I love the starburst pieces of this pack of DSP dividing them up in a puzzle creates a very fun card.

Measurements:
BASE: Pool Party CS: 4 1/4″ x 9 1/2″
scored at 1″, 2″ 7 1/2″ and 8 1/2″
Matte pieces (2) 2 1/8″ x 2 1/4″
(2) 2 1/8″ x 3 1/4″
DSP: 3 3/4″ x 5″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″

Cut the Base card 4 1/4″ x 9 1/2″ then score at 1″, 2″, 7 1/2″ and 8 1/2″.

Cut the DSP layer in half at 1 7/8″ on the 3 3/4″ side.

Put the paper back together and cut the top piece at 3″ from the left side.
cut the lower section at 2″ from the left hand side.

Fold the cardstock base in a mountain position at the 1″ score line and a valley position at the 2″ score line. Fold the score at the 7 1/2″ in a valley fold and a mountain fold at the 8 1/2″ score.

Adhere the DSP to the Matte pieces.

Adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White piece to the center panel on the base card.

Adhere the top matted DSP piece to the top of the left hand panel.

Adhere the lower left hand piece to the lower bottom of the left hand panel.

Adhere the lower right-hand matted piece to the lower portion of the right-hand panel.

Adhere the last matted piece to the top portion of the right-hand panel.

On the medium banner from the Stylish Shapes stamp in Pool Party ink the background stamp.
Stamp in Tuxedo Black Memento ink the “thinking of you” sentiment from the Friends for Life stamp set.
Adhere to the lower right-hand corner and cut off the right-hand edge that hangs over.

Color the Iridescent Pearls with a Dark Pool Party Stampin’ Blends Marker. Allow to dry.

Place five colored Iridescent Pearl embellishments onto the card front to finish off the card!

This card stands up on it’s own and such a fun way to display great looking Designer Series Papers! Try this fun fold with your stash and see what artwork you can create – one pattern and one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Full Of Life Suite Collection (English)

[163369]

$82.50

Friends For Life Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[163359]

$25.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$13.00

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

[122924]

$11.50

Full Of Life 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[163357]

$12.50

Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

[147107]

$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 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]

$130.00

Stylish Shapes Dies

[159183]

$30.00

Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels

[158987]

$7.50

← getting the most out of your designer series paper out of the box stamping →

more color mondays – calypso coral, peach pie and daffodil delight

by nataliegramleystamps | Oct 21, 2024 | card samples, card sketches, color challenge, embossing folders, fun fold, In Colors, more color mondays, stamps ink paper

Today’s More Color Monday features the Humble Home bundle on a Split Panel card. This fun take on a regular card still uses a half sheet of 8 1/2″ x 11″ piece of cardstock – just adding a twist!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
(2) 1 1/4″ x 4″
(1) 2 1/4″ x 4″
Peach Pie 4″ x 5 1/4″ and scrap for the punches
Calypso Coral scrap for the punches
Daffodil Delight scrap for the punches

Cut the 4 1/4″ x 11″ at 1 1/2″ then cut 2 1/2″ off the end then score at 1 1/2″
Save the cut off pieces we will be using!

Stamp the house image from the Humble Home stamp set on scrap pieces of the three colors Calypso Coral, Peach Pie and Daffodil Delight!

Punch all three houses out with the Humble Home punch and punch out an extra heart from each colored card stock.

Take the extra Basic White pieces (2) 1 1/4″ x 4″ and the 2 1/4″ x 4″ and place them in the 3D Forever Plaid folder. I placed the two smaller pieces up and down vertically in the folder and the larger piece in the folder horizontally so that the patterns were the same orientation when I adhere them to the card.

Adhere the plaid smaller panels to the panel just to the right of the score line on the card and the 1 1/2″ cut off piece.

Adhere the larger embossed piece on the 2 1/2″ cut off piece. Place tape on the shorter outer edges of the 2 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ piece. Place the 1 1/2″ cut off piece on the right hand edge of the inside of the card base. Adhere the larger piece across the two small embossed panels.

Adhere the three houses to the card front across the middle panel.

I took our pearls embellishments and my Dark Peach Pie Stampin’ Blends marker and colored three small pearls with the blends alcohol based marker. Allow a few minutes to dry and then using my Take Your Pick tool I added them to the card for a beautifully coordinated embellishment!

I used the heart punches on the outside and the inside of the card.
The hearts were a little bit bigger than the doorframes so I added the dots from the door frame with a Basic Black Stampin’ Write marker.

I decided to rework the card as the white on white did not effectively show the split panel design as well as I liked so I added a 4″ x 5 1/4″ Peach Pie to the inside of the card.

What a fun and different way to use a standard card size and give it a little twist LITERALLY!!!!

Try this fast and easy card alternative design and go and create a little artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Humble Home Bundle (English)

[164094]

$39.50

Humble Home Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[164286]

$20.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$13.00

Calypso Coral 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[122925]

$11.50

Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[119683]

$11.50

Peach Pie 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[163799]

$11.50

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$8.00

Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker

[100082]

$3.00

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

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00

Forever Plaid 3 D Embossing Folder

[164049]

$12.00

Humble Home Builder Punch

[164093]

$24.00

Peach Pie Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[163827]

$11.00

Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels

[158987]

$7.50

← sketched butterfly double z gate fold card overlapping tri-fold humble home card →

frosted forest peek-a-boo window card

by nataliegramleystamps | Oct 11, 2024 | card samples, Christmas card ideas, die cutting, masculine cards, techniques

I have done window cards before and I love the peek through aspect of creating a punch or a die cut geometric shape in a card and placing something through that space to look at. This card uses the Online Exclusive bundle called Frosted Forest – one of my favorites in the last Online Exclusives release! It comes with Masks that are so easy to use and enable ANYONE to be able to color in the tree images with expert precision and ease! Also the stamp set and dies are super versatile! This trio of tree silhouettes is lovely and totally different that the stamp images found in the set.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
3 3/4″ x 5″
scrap for trio tree silhouette die
Mossy Meadow 4″ x 5 1/4″

I die cut a large circle from the Spotlight on Nature die set in the smaller Basic White layer but you could use the circle punch as well.
I die cut the trio tree die in Basic White and adhered it to the back of the Basic White layer so that the tree images were almost centered.
I adhered the Basic White layer to the Mossy Meadow layer.

I adhered the Mossy Meadow layer to the Basic White card front.

I stamped the words Merry Christmas in Mossy Meadow ink to the bottom of the Basic White layer.
I have a pretty steady hand but should have put this step at the beginning after the circle die or punch step. (This way if you mess up the stamping you can turn over the layer and have a second try at it! Fortunately I did not screw up LOL!)
One of the reasons that Iridescent Pearls are my ALL TIME Favorite embellishment is not only are these exquisite as they are shiny and iridescent – which I love BUT you can color them for every Stampin’ Blends color that you have! I colored them with Mossy Meadow Dark Stampin’ Blends marker to exactly match the cardstock! LOVE THAT!

I decided I wanted a little more snowy sparkle so i whipped out my Wink of Stella glitter pen and brushed the trees and snowy hill and a little of the top Basic White layer with glitter – it’s hard to pick it up in the photos but trust me it is sparkly!!

Try a peek-a-boo window card with a set you have 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