creating a mask - nataliegramleystamps

best starter kit deal ever!

by nataliegramleystamps | Oct 1, 2025 | card samples, die cutting, masks, online exclusives, techniques

Can you believe it’s October already?

Today starts one of the best starter kit deals ever!
New team members who purchase their starter kit from October 1 to 31 will be able to choose between these two offers:

$125 USD worth of products for just $35 USD
$189 USD worth of products for just $99 USD

…and still free shipping!

Today’s card is a sweet monochromatic Halloween card using the Spooky Halloween bundle.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″, 4″ x 5 1/4″, scrap for die
Basic Black CS: 2 1/4″ x 4 1/4″

Die cut a smaller Stylish Shapes die circle and place a small roll of Scotch tape to the back of the circle in the upper right-hand corner of the Basic White layer.

Color the layer with a blending brush and Secret Sea ink.

Stamp the top portion of the layer with the star image from the Spooky Halloween bundle with Secret Sea ink.
Remove the mask.

Stamp the sentiment onto the left-hand side of the layer.

Adhere the layer to the card base.

Die cut the house and bats on Basic Black CS and stamp the Halloween critter from the Spooky Halloween bundle in Secret Sea ink and die cut.
Adhere them to the card front.

Adhere three black stars from the Shimmer Star Foam stickers onto the card front.

Don’t like Halloween cards – try this technique with the Light & Wonder bundle.

If you are thinking about getting some home supplies to start your paper crafting journey now is the time – this starter kit deal is the best ever! Let me know if you want help ordering some supplies and getting your own starter kit!

Try creating some artwork of your very own one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Spooky Halloween Bundle (English)

[166199]

$45.00

Spooky Halloween Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[166192]

$19.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Secret Sea 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[165624]

$14.00

Secret Sea Classic Stampin' Pad

[165285]

$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

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$15.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Spooky Halloween Dies

[166198]

$31.00

Stylish Shapes Dies

[159183]

$30.00

Shimmer Star Foam Stickers

[166202]

$9.50

← more color mondays - pretty peacock, crumb cake and gorgeous grape direct to paper technique →

making a watercolor template – friendly seagulls watercolor card

by nataliegramleystamps | Feb 21, 2025 | card samples, my favorites, new catalog, Sale-a-bration, stamps ink paper, techniques

Today’s blog post is about creating a template with dies to use to watercolor through the negative space to create a unique background.
Today I wanted to create a segmented background of equal squares so i used the smallest square die from the Stylish Shapes die set and ran a 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer of Basic White through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine creating two rows of three die cuts resembling window panes.

Measurements:
BASE: Coastal Cabana CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Pool Party CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper: 1/2 sheet
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ for mask/template
scraps for stamping

Using 3M Post-it Labeling and cover up tape I secured down one side of the template over the watercolor paper – because the Fluid 100 1/2 sheet is smaller than the template make sure that the template is evenly spaced on the watercolor paper.

Squeeze the lid of the Coastal Cabana ink pad and get some ink on the lid.
With a Water Painter place a few drops of water onto the lid and mix the ink and water with the brush. I used the medium brush size from the three piece set that comes with when you order the Water Painters #151298 3 painters in a set $13.00.
Brush the inside of each die opening with the watercolor wash.

Allow to dry before removing the template.

Remove the template and make sure the surface is totally dry before stamping.

I stamped in Tuxedo Black Momento ink the flying birds image in the top two boxes.

I stamped the fish image in the middle left-hand box and the shells image in the lower right-hand box.

On scraps of Basic White CS I stamped two of the birds from the Friendly Seagulls FREE Level One Sale-a-bration Rewards stamp set that you can earn with a $60 order. I think this is such a fun set!

I used Stampin’ Blends to color the birds: Pool Party Light and Dark to color the wings and Smoky Slate to shade the bellies and wings of the seagulls, Lemon Lolly for their beaks and webbed feet and crumb cake dark for the french fries.

I fussy cut the birds using the Stampin’ Up! Paper Snips which are the best knife edged scissors to fussy cut with as you can cut all the way to the tip!

I adhered the birds onto the remaining two boxes.

I stamped “hey friend” sentiment in the upper left-hand box to finish the stamping on the card!

I popped up the watercolored layer on Stampin’ Dimensionals and added it to the 4″ x 5 1/4″
Pool Party layer.

Opening the Paper Snips scissors and running one of the blades across the edges of the Pool Party layer I distressed the edges of this layer and then adhered it to the Coastal Cabana base card.

I finished off the card with the new Sparkle Gems but just as easily could have used the Riverside Irregular Pearls on this project as well
Which do you like better?

Try this water coloring template technique and show me what you create!
Which embellishment do you like better?

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Friendly Seagulls Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[164961]

$17.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$13.00

Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131297]

$11.50

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

[122924]

$11.50

Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad

[147097]

$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

Water Painters

[151298]

$13.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00

Stylish Shapes Dies

[159183]

$30.00

Riverside Irregular Pearls

[164937]

$9.00

Two Tone Sparkle Gems

[164633]

$9.50

← january swap cards more color mondays - melon mambo, peach pie and flirty flamingo →

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 →

creating a scene inside a mask

by nataliegramleystamps | Sep 23, 2023 | card samples, stamps ink paper, techniques

Today we are creating a scene inside negative die space with strip scraps torn across the width to represent mountains and sky scenery.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic Gray 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White: layer 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ for die cut
4″ x 5 1/4″ for card front layer
and strip scraps for blending

you will notice in the picture I have two ink pads and blending brushes I switched out the Gray Granite for Smoky Slate ink to make the sky lighter.

Die cut a shape out of the 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ layer in the upper center space of the layer. Place the die cut layer over the 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer for blending.

Tear strip scraps in mountainous shapes and lay each one down over the die space. Blending the mountainous strips with lightly colored Night of Navy ink in a circular motion. Remove the first strip and add another above the first and repeat the blending. Do the same with a different third strip scrap.

Add straighter torn strips for the sky portion. I added strips with Smoky Slate blending then added a little setting sun colors in Crushed Curry and Cameo Coral.

Remove the die layer and add a silhouette stamp from the Magical Meadows stamp set from the new September to December catalog and a sentiment – this one is from the Charming Sentiments stamp set. Wrap the Black and white Gingham ribbon around the bottom of the layer and tie a knot.