creating background paper - nataliegramleystamps

artisan sketched garden card

by nataliegramleystamps | Oct 30, 2026 | background techniques, blending brushes, card samples, Designer Series Paper, embossing folders, Stampin' Blends marker techniques, stampin' tools, techniques

Do you like to color? I loved drawing in coloring books as a child – I find it soothing!

I was in one of those moods the other day when I created this card! I LOVE our Stampin’ Blends Alcohol Markers. They make shading and blending so darn easy!

Measurements:
BASE: Calypso Coral CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″, scrap for sentiment
matte
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″, scrap for
sentiment depending on choice of words
Artisan Sketched Garden DSP: one fussy
cut vase

Fussy Cut one of the vases from the DSP. Pick colors for the project and start to play with the Stampin’ Blends.

I usually color in the blooms with the Light Stampin’ Blend first then shade with the Dark and then go back over the whole bloom with the Light marker to blend.

In this photo I left the bottom middle and right bloom only colored with the Light marker, the middle row colored with the Light then shaded with the Dark, the bottom left bloom and the very top bloom are complete with the Light-Dark-Light technique.

Can you see the difference?

I colored in the greenery with The light and Dark Lemon Lime Twist.

I colored in the vase with the Light Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Blends marker.

Here I shaded the vase drawing over the artisan’s vertical lines and shading the base also with the Dark Pumpkin Pie marker.

Then I blended all with the Light Pumpkin Pie marker going over the entire surface of the vase to rewet the ink and blend the Light and Dark so that the shading lines are softer!

I embossed the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer with the Rustic Check 3D embossing folder.

I took the same colors I used in coloring the DSP to color the background in a diagonal pattern first coloring the diagonal opposite edges with Calypso Coral ink and a blending brush.

Then I added diagonal strips inside the Calypso Coral edging with Pumpkin Pie ink and a blending brush

I finished with a diagonal middle strip of Cherry Cobbler ink and a blending brush and adhered it to the Calypso Coral card base.

I placed the brush tip of the Calypso Coral Dark marker inside the cap and flicked the brush tip across the edge of the cap creating ink to spray/splatter onto the card base.

I popped up the colored DSP vase onto Stampin’ Dimensionals and added it to the top center of the card base.

Using a scrap of Basic White CS I stamped the “so grateful for you” sentiment from the Lily of the Valley stamp set in Cherry Cobbler ink and colored the scrap with the three Blending Brushes. I spalettered this layer also and added Stampin’ Dimensionals to the sentiment piece and added it to an appropriately sized matte in Calypso Coral CS. the matte and sentiment piece will vary sizewise depending upon the sentiment you choose.
Adhere the sentiment piece to the bottom center of the card front.

I added some gold embellishments to the card for a little extra sparkle and this colorful card is complete to send off and make someone’s day!

Now it’s your turn to make and send a card! That is the whole point to making cards – brightening someone else’s day as well as your own! Now it’s time to create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Lily Of The Valley Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[167937]

$21.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

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

[122925]

$14.00

Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad

[147101]

$9.00

Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad

[147083]

$9.00

Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad

[147086]

$9.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$9.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$13.00

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

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[154031]

$7.00

Paper Snips

[103579]

$12.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Calypso Coral Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154881]

$12.00

Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154880]

$12.00

Lemon Lime Twist Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[161682]

$12.00

Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154897]

$12.00

Rustic Check 3 D Embossing Folder

[168442]

$10.00

Radiant Gems

[168363]

$8.50

← graceful evergreen deer hot foil card

winter birthday card

by nataliegramleystamps | Oct 2, 2026 | card samples, Christmas card ideas, Designer Series Paper, die cutting, embossing folders, In Colors, masculine cards, specialty papers, techniques

Today’s card is a great Dreamy Snowflakes Winter Birthday card with the NEW Winter Dreams Specialty flocked paper in Secret Sea!
So elegant and fun – soft to the touch and great patterns!

Measurements:
BASE: Secret Sea CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″, 3″ square for die
DSP: 2 1/4″ square

Stamp the birthday sentiment I chose the “have a beautiful birthday” from the Poetic Petals stamp set on one of the Basic White CS layers.

Emboss the first Basic white layer with the sentiment with the Dreamy Snowflakes embossing folder.

Take the second Basic white layer and stamp the trio of snowflakes in Secret Sea ink and blend the edges with a blending brush and Secret Sea ink.

Adhere the trio snowflake stamped layer to the inside of the Secret Sea card base.

Adhere the sentiment layer on the front of the card base.

Using the middle square die from the Tile Garden die set, die ciut the 3″ Basic White CS square.

Cut the Specialty paper Winter Dreams to 2 1/4″ square.

Blend the die edges with a blending brush and Misty Moonlight ink.

Adhere the DSP to the Blended die cut square.

Pop up the DSP square on Stampin’ Dimensionals to the top center of the embossed layer.

Adhere the Adhesive-Backed Snowflakes to finish off this lovely winter birthday card!

I made to alternative cards with the extra watercolored paper from the card this past week. I first made the card embossing the Basic White layer before stamping the sentiment so I added the sentiment to a leftover watercolored Fluid 100 paper.

Instead of an embossed layer I used the rest of the watercolored paper for the background layer!

I love all the different versions and these Adhesive-Backed Snowflakes are such a sweet embellishment!

Try making a winter birthday card for your stash – now it’s your turn to create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Dreamy Snowflakes Bundle (English)

[168385]

$58.50

Dreamy Snowflakes Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[168378]

$25.00

Poetic Petals Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[168266]

$20.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper

[149612]

$9.00

Secret Sea 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[165624]

$14.00

Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin' Pad

[153118]

$11.00

Secret Sea Classic Stampin' Pad

[165285]

$11.00

Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad

[147113]

$9.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$9.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$13.00

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

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$17.00

Blender Pens

[102845]

$14.00

Water Painters

[168253]

$13.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[154031]

$7.00

Paper Snips

[103579]

$12.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Dreamy Snowflakes Hybrid Embossing Folder

[168384]

$40.00

Tile Garden Dies

[168573]

$37.00

Adhesive Backed Snowflakes

[168316]

$9.00

← tile garden die card More Color Mondays - golden glow, hydrangea hue and crisp cantaloupe →

creating unforgettable details in card making or scrapbooking

by nataliegramleystamps | Mar 11, 2026 | card samples, embossing folders, more than a card, my favorites, out of the box stamping, scrapbooking, stamps ink paper, techniques

Sometimes creating something special for a card or a scrapbooking page makes that piece memorable or a little extra special.

This week I am going to be at our national convention called OnStage 2026 and I created a bunch of swap cards for the event.

We are expected to use only current products and current colors, so I modified a card I did a few weeks ago and instead of using Designer Series Paper to create the beach blanket in my beach scene I wanted to create a beach blanket made out of background paper that I made.

I looked through my embossing folder as I knew that I wanted to add texture on top of whatever background design I created and decided that the Beautiful Patterns would be a great choice to mimic a blanket texture and design!

I wanted to do matching colors for the card I had designed so I started with Crumb Cake and Balmy Blue inks and did a watercolor wash striped design on our Basic White Cardstock alternating with two wide brushes from our Water Painters three brush sets.

I then dipped my very wet brush into the lid of the stampin’ pad filled with ink refill dots of ink and tapped the side of the brush with my bone folder over the watercolored paper to create a splatter effect.

I decided that the Beautiful Pattern 3D embossing folder would create a nice embossed design over the paper, so I ran it through our Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine with the BASE #1 and Embossing #4 Plates.

I cut the 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ embossed layers into
1 1/2″ strips.

Then I cut the 1 1/2″ strips into 2″ segments so I created a little rectangular blanket shape.

I took our knife edged scissors which unfortunately are no longer for sale – but use a sharp scissors to cut small fringe across the short edges on both sides.

I added the blanket to the sand of my beach scene card!

Then I proceeded to make 99 more! LOL – now I am ready to swap!

Cannot wait to show you all the great cards I will be trading for in the next coming days! I will have all of them on display at this month’s Stamp-a-Stack class on the 23rd!

Make sure that you RSVP!

Now I am off to visit and stamp with new and old friends – hope you are getting to do the same! Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie