die cutting with designer series paper

more color mondays – lost lagoon, flirty flamingo and darling duckling

by nataliegramleystamps | Feb 23, 2026 | card samples, color challenge, Designer Series Paper, die cutting, In Colors, online exclusives, techniques

Well this third Product of the Month release is a hit! This Designer Series Paper is beautiful and the inspiration fort todays’ More Color Mondays color challenge card! Painted Illusions is the February release in the Product of the Month category and this DSP is fabulous if I could buy it more than once I would. the first few photos are the different sides of the paper included in the packet.

Measurement:
BASE: Lost Lagoon CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″, scraps for dies
DSP: 4″ square and 2″scrap strip for dies
Vellum CS: 4″ square

Emboss the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer with the Soft Waves 3D embossing folder and adhere to the Lost Lagoon card base.

Take the empty circle die from the Springtime Scenes awesome die set collection die cut the Painted Illusions Product of the Month DSP and save both the inner circle and the outer ring – we will be using both!

Die cut the vellum layer with the leaf circle.

Glue the DSP outer circle to the outer portion of the vellum leaf circle die.

Glue the inner DSP circle die to the upper middle of the card front onto the embossed Basic White layer.

Add glue to the vellum layer only under where the DSP ring is. Attach over the circle ont he card front.

Take two blending brushes and Flirty Flamingo and Darling Duckling ink and color a scrap piece of Basic White CS.

Stamp the lady bug image from the Springtime Scenes stamp set and die cut them out.

Blend another Basic White scrap and die cut the sentiment image and stamp the sentiment “Sweet springtime” in Tuxedo Black memento ink on the die cut.

Pop up the three lady bugs around the vellum circle.

Adhere the sentiment on the lower right hand side of the card front.

I added the new embellishments Pearlized Faceted circles – I love these new sparkles!

I wanted to add a little more Lost Lagoon so I die cut some leaf dies!

I added the leaf die images to the card for more color balance!

Don’t be afraid to add to a card that you had planned out if it seems out of balance – you will grow better at design elements of a card and if you are thinking something is missing or off sometimes it is. Try adding something with out gluing it down you can always remove it then if you decide it was better in the original format.
Experiment that is how you get better at designing!

Now it’s your turn to go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

PS: remember that the Springtime Scenes is an Online Exclusive March Release so it will not appear in the photo links below because it is only available as a pre-order for demonstrators or new recruits in the starter kit!

Product List

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Lost Lagoon 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[133679]

$14.00

Painted Illusions 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[167977]

$5.00

Vellum 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper

[167099]

$10.00

Darling Duckling Classic Stampin' Pad

[165277]

$9.00

Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad

[147052]

$9.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$8.00

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

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[154031]

$7.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Soft Waves 3 D Embossing Folder

[164695]

$11.00

Pearlized Faceted Circles

[166978]

$8.00

← more than just cards - party banners and party alphabets happy birthday sneak peak card →

more color mondays – misty moonlight, secret sea and cloud cover

by nataliegramleystamps | Nov 17, 2025 | card samples, Christmas card ideas, color challenge, Designer Series Paper, die cutting, embossing folders, In Colors, masculine cards, more color mondays, my favorites, new catalog, specialty papers, techniques

Today’s More Color Monday’s color challenge features the Peaceful Garden Suite Collection of products highlighting the Misty Moonlight, Secret Sea and Cloud Cover blue tones.

I will also be teaching you the layering circles technique which is a cool layering technique!

Measurements:
BASE: Misty Moonlight CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Secret Sea CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Cloud Cover CS: 3 3/4″ x 5″
Peaceful Garden DSP: pick three designs for
die cutting
Peaceful garden Glimmer Paper: for die cuts
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″, 1/2″ strip for
sentiment

I used the Spotlight on Nature nested circles die set and choose the second, third, fourth and fifth circles from the largest.

DSP design #1 cut one each from the smallest and largest circle die.
Glimmer Paper: cut one each from the third and fourth circle sizes.
DSP design #2 cut one each from the third and fourth circle sizes.
DSP #3 cut one each from the smallest and largest circle die.

Lay them out so that the top row the design #1 smallest circle starts the row and next is Glimmer Paper second smallest then DSP #2 second largest circle and last in the top row is DSP #3 largest circle.

On bottom row DSP #1 largest circle, then Glimmer Paper second largest circle then DSP #2 second smallest and lastly DSP #3 smallest circle.

Starting with the bottom row adhere the second largest circle to the largest circle move the Glimmer Paper circle so that the curves of the circle on the left side line up.

Adhere the next circle on top of the Glimmer Paper this will be DSP #2 or the second smallest circle and then adhere the smallest circle on top of the entire stack matching up the left curve of the circles.

Start on the top row with the largest circle on the bottom and adhere the second largest circle so that the right-hand side of the curve of the circles line up.

Adhere the second smallest circle which will be the Glimmer paper on top of the first two circles matching up the right sided curve of the circles.
Then adhere the smallest circle on top of the Glimmer Paper circle.

This is how they will look completely adhered.

Cut both circle bunches in half.

Swap the bottom halves of the circles and slide the pieces until the papers match up and look like they are swirling into one another.

Emboss the Cloud Cover layer in the Peaceful Greenery embossing folder and adhere to the Secret Sea layer and then adhere those two layers onto the Misty Moonlight card base.

Place the two pieces of the layering circles on the card base and place then so they are equidistant from the edges of the card. Adhere the bottom part of the circles to the card base.

Using a Basic White 1/2″ strip, stamp in Secret Sea ink the Peace, Love & Joy from the Peace on Earth stamp set.

If you slide the end of the strip into the punch you can cut one side at a time and therefore make the banner any size you wish! Place one end of the strip into the Banner Sayings punch and cut one end of the strip into a banner edge.

Place the other end of the strip through the other end and lift up the banner cut edge above the punch so that you only cut the remaining side!

Glue the top half of the layering circles above the bottom circle offset so that the matching DSP lines up.

Pop up the sentiment strip and place over the entire length of the layering circles.

One o fthe things I love about these Traditional Sparkling Sequins is that you can color them with our Stampin’ Blends markers! I used the dark Azure Afternoon Stampin’ Blends marker as well as the Misty Moonlight Stampin’ Blends markers to color the blue sequins and added it to the card around the sentiment piece.

I wanted to add a dove on the right hand side but the dove faces the other way so I cut the dove upside down on the Secret Sea Glimmer paper so that it would face the opposite way!

I popped it up on Stampin’ Dimesionals and placed it as if it was sitting on the right-hand side of the sentiment strip to finish off the card!

This is a stunning card and although it requires a little extra die cutting and adhering the layers together it is not difficult to do and the effect is well worth it!

Try this layering circles technique with your stash 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