making a watercolor template – friendly seagulls watercolor card

making a watercolor template – friendly seagulls watercolor card

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

simply stamped heart shaped bundle card

simply stamped heart shaped bundle card

Today’s blog post is all about FREE stuff! This heart shaped bundle card is made with two different FREE products. The level one Sale-a-bration DSP called Bloom Impressions Designer Series Paper creates the die cut heart as the center focal point from the Heart Shaped bundle.

Measurements:
BASE: Blueberry Bushel CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
DSP: scrap for the heart die cut

This card uses the layout #14 from page 22 from the Annual Catalog.

Using a blending brush, brush a circular ink area with Blueberry Bushel ink in the upper center of the Basic White CS layer.
Grab a Water Painter and the Craft White ink pad and add water to the lid of the ink pad. Tap the brush on the edge of a bone folder over the Basic White CS layer and create a splatter pattern over the Blueberry Bushel ink spot.
Adhere the Basic White layer onto the Blueberry Bushel card base.
Die cut the heart outline die from the Heart Shaped bundle from the Bloom Impressions DSP.
Adhere the heart with glue over the Blueberry Bushel area.
Stamp the sentiment below the heart die.
Adhere three Rainbow Adhesive-Backed Dots around the sentiment in the Blueberry Bushel tones.

I love the little details of this simply stamped card – the white ink splattered color blended background, the DSP die cut heart as the focal point.

Try die cutting DSP and creating a simple card – now go and create some art work of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – melon mambo, berry burst and lemon lime twist shadow box fun fold

more color mondays – melon mambo, berry burst and lemon lime twist shadow box fun fold

Are you a Friends TV Series fan? When I saw the Friends of the Ocean Suite and the lobster the first thing I thought of was my son asking for the complete DVD boxed set of the series for Christmas – we loved that series and if you are a fan, you will get this card and understand immediately why I saw this Designer Series Paper and knew I had to make this card!

Measurements:
BASE: Melon Mambo 4 1/4″ x 11″
scraps for the alphabet dies
DSP: (2) 3/8″ x 4 1/4 and (1) 3 1/2″ x 4 1/4″
Scraps for the alphabet dies
die cut of the large lobster
Basic White CS: 3 1/4″ x 4″

Score the base on the 11″ side at 1/2″, 1″ 4 1/2″, 5″, 5 1/2″, 6″, 6 1/2″, 10″ and 10 1/2″.

Fold the card in half and adhere the 3 1/4″ x 4 1/4″ DSP piece to the center front panel

Die cut the largest square out of the center of the card front.
Adhere the 3/8″ x 4 1/4″ DSP pieces on the outer panels of the card front.
Adhere the Basic White CS layer on the center large panel on the inside of the card.

Adhere the score lines on either side of the center score line.

Die cut the larger lobster out of the DSP and adhere it to the lower corner of the Basic White window area.

Cut the word Lobster out of the Friends of the Ocean DSP and adhere to the lower portion of the lobster die cut (I closed the card front and using a pencil marked the corners keeping the images inside the corners so you can see the images through the shadow box opening.

Cut the Mini Alphabet dies in Melon Mambo CS and adhere the MY above the lobster on the left-hand side.
Adhere the right-hand panels together.
Adhere the word YOU’RE off of the top of the shadow box opening.
I added a Lemon Lime Lime circle die under the word MY to add color to the card.
This card has a bunch of scoring but is relatively easy and looks impressive!

This shadow box card is a 3D Stunner – try it with your stash and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

shadow block technique

shadow block technique

What is a girl to do with all her Designer Series paper scraps? Well today’s card is an optical illusion card that checks all the boxes:
fun card – check
using paper scraps – check
easy card – check
wow technique – check!

Follow along and make a card using this technique and let me know how it turns out!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scrap for die cut
Basic Black CS: (20) 3/4″ square pieces
scrap for the word die cut
DSP: (20) 3/4″ square

Adhere the DSP squares to the Basic Black squares but offset them slightly off to the bottom and left hand side of the DSP square.
Adhere the first row of squares to the card base spacing evenly.
Adhere the remaining rows of Squares to the card front spacing evenly side to side and top to bottom.
Finish adhering the remaining matted squares to the card base, making sure that the black square is in the same position for all squares.
This gives the illusion that the DSP squares have a shadow radiating out behind them!
Such a cool optical illusion don’t you think!
Using the large banner die from the Stylish Shapes die set – stamp in Memento Tuxedo Black ink the BEST from the Friends for Life stamp set onto the die.
Adhere to the top middle of the card on an angle.
Die cut the word friend from the Friends for Life die set in scrap Basic Black cardstock and adhered below the banner die cut.
Add three Adhesive-Backed Sparkle Gems to the banner die cut on the card front to add a little bling and finish off this fun and super easy card!
Try this optical illusion card today and let me know how you like the results – now go and create some cool artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

christmas card swap cards

christmas card swap cards

A new batch of Demonstrator swap cards is in and have loads of lovely ideas.

This first swap card uses the gorgeous Seasons of Elegance 12″ x 12″ DSP embossed with the Painted Trees 3D embossing folder. The Peaceful Seasons dies created the banner and Christmas word. Simple and elegant and lovely card made by Jennie T.

Lyn L’s swap card uses the Hearts and Hugs stamp set and the Sentimental Christmas DSP.
The background of the Pecan Pie CS is embossed with Timber 3D embossing folder.
Lori V’s swap card in Real Red uses the Dear Santa stamp set and creates a background with the Dear Santa words. The focal point is colored with Stampin’ Blends and uses the Festive Glimmer Paper.
Marie W’s Sweetest Star bundle swap card features the Iconic Celebrations DSP as a background on the Mossy Meadow card base. The santas were colored with Smoky Slate, ivory and Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Blends. The Real Red and White Adhesive-Backed Peppermints make the cutest embellishments.
This next swap card by Judith P uses the Regal Winter Suite Collection – the beautiful DSP and the dies and stamp set of the Regal Flora made a great thank you card.
This card from Kathi D. uses the Sentimental DSP which is a Stampin’ Up! give-back product. Our company donates a bit of every purchase of this DSP for children’s literacy. The sentiment and dies are from the Christmas Labels Bundle.
Vickie G’s swap card features Graceful Deer and the Forever Forest stamp sets and the Forever Forest dies. The background uses the Fragrant Forest background stamp.
This Christmas Friends bundle swap card from Veronica S uses the Plaid 3D embossing folder, the small circle of DSP is from the Nests of Winter DSP. The Peppermint embellishments finish off a lovely card.
This next swap card uses the Gold dipped cards, the Gold Textured Adhesive-backed Dots, the So Swirly embossing folder. The Surfing Santa stamp set uses Staz-on Black ink and watercolored with Summer Splash on the surf board, and Garden Green, Crushed Curry and Cherry Cobbler and Petal Pink for his arms for the santa.
The last swap card from Lori V is a fun fold diorama card using Real Red as a base colored card stock and the Dearest Santa stamp set. Such a super sweet card!

Hope these Christmas cards in this swap give you loads of inspiration and get you in the mood to stamp! Now go and create some Christmas artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time! ONLY 20 more days until Christmas is here!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00