card template #3 sketched butterflies card

card template #3 sketched butterflies card

Last week I made another card using a card template and showed that they can be an easy way to design a card.
On page 22 of the Stampin’ Up! 2024-2025 Annual Catalog we have 22 card templates for making cards! I decided to show you how just changing a few things on the card or the DSP can change the look even though all the cards started out with the same template.
I used card template #3 I have counted left to right on the bottom of page 22 and the third layout from the right is the one I will be using!

Measurements:
BASE: Coastal Cabana CS 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scrap for butterfly die cuts
DSP: (3) 1 1/8″ x 4 3/4″
Basic White 3 7/8″ x 5″ and scrap for the die cut

card #2
BASE: Pool Party 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
DSP (3) 1″ x 4 1/8″
Basic White 3 1/2″ x 5″ scrap for sentiment

Card #3
BASE: Pool Party 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scrap for sentiment matte
DSP (3) 1″ x 4 1/8″
Basic White 3 1/2″ x 5″ scrap for sentiment

Card #4
BASE: Misty Moonlight 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″ edge torn off front
DSP (3) 1″ x 5″
Basic White 3 1/2″ x 5 1/4″ scrap for sentiment
and strip for inside edge of card

card #5
BASE: Boho Blue 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 2 1/8″ and 4 1/4″ z-fold
scrap for sentiment matte
DSP (3) 1″ x 5″ (1) 3/4″ x 5 1/2″
Basic White 3 1/2″ x 5 1/4″ scrap for sentiment
Petal Pink scrap for leaf die cut

Cut the DSP to 3 strips of 1 1/8″ x 4 3/4″ and die cut the trio of butterflies out of Coastal Cabana card stock from the Sketched Butterflies die set.
Adhere the DSP strips to the Basic White layer.
Adhere the layer to the card front.
Brush Coastal Cabana ink using a Blending Brush onto a small Deckle Circle die cut and stamp the birthday sentiment from the Sketched Butterflies set onto the die. Individually ink up one of the smaller butterflies from the small butterfly cluster and stamp onto the circle die.
Pop up in the center of the sun burst.
Adhere the three Silver Drusy Adhesive-Backed embellishments onto the card to finish it off.
For card #2 take some Thoughtful Journey DSP and cut 3 strips of 1″ x 4 5/8″ and mount onto the Basic White layer.
Mount the DSP/White layer onto the card front.
Die cut a small circle from the Spotlight on Nature die set and stamp “You’re A True blessing” from the Unbounded Love stamp set in Coastal Cabana ink. I used some retired embellishments to finish the card.
For card #3 I cut (3) 1″ x 5″ strips and adhered them onto the Basic White cardstock layer.
I tied a Summer Splash ribbon around that layer and mounted it onto the card front.
I cut Pool Party and Basic White concentric banners from the Nested Essentials die set and stamped the “Hope” from the Unbounded Love stamp set in Coastal Cabana ink. I added a Petal Pink die cut leaf from the Unbounded Love die set and added some retired embellishments to finish off the card!
For the inside of card #3 I added a 3/4″ x 5 1/2″ strip of Thoughtful Journey DSP and stamped the inside sentiment from the Unbounded Love stamp set.
Card #4
Is the same as the last card but I pushed the edge of the Basic White layer to 1/8″ from the left fold and then tore the right hand edge of the card. I added a 1/4″ Basic White strip (which I always have a ton of to add some visual interest to the card.
I stamped a sentiment from the Always With Me stamp set and popped up the Spotlight on Nature die on the lower right hand side of the card front to finish it off!
For my last card sample card #5 I made a Z-fold scoring the Boho Blue cardstock at 2 1/8″ and 4 1/4″.
I adhered 3 strips of 1″ x 5″ Thoughtful Journey DSP to the Basic White layer and adhered it to the first panel careful to only adhere the left hand section of the card to the z-fold.
I added the banners from the Nested Essentials and the Petal Pink leaf die from the unbounded Love set.
I adhered a DSP strip 3/4″ x 5 1/2″ to the inside right edge and stamped the inside greeting. I added retired embellishments to finish this last card!

Using card templates can be a great way to add some different card making skills, add inspiration if you are stuck for some ideas or give you a way to create with friends and see all of the different ways to interpret the card layout given!
Try one today and see what card interpretations you come up with this card layout or one of the other ones on page 22 of the Annual Catalog!
Now go and create a card of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

This card is a little variation on the sketch using the strips from the Full of Life 6″ x 6″ DSP.
card template #15 sketched butterflies card

card template #15 sketched butterflies card

Using card templates can be an easy way to design a card.
On page 22 of the Stampin’ Up! 2024-2025 Annual Catalog there are 22 card templates for making cards!

Measurements:
BASE: Azure Afternoon CS 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White 4″ x 5 1/4″ and scrap for the die cut
Basic Black scrap for butterfly die cuts

Cut the 6″ x 6″ DSP piece of paper to 4″ and then to 5 1/4″
Adhere the 3/4″ x 4″ to the bottom of the Basic White layer.
Adhere the Basic White layer to the card inside.
Adhere a Basic Black die cut on the DSP strip.
Adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ DSP layer to the card front.
Die cut a large circle from the Spotlight on Nature dies from a scrap of Basic White CS.
Stamp the birthday sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento ink in the center left hand edge of the circle.
Adhere the circle to the center of the card front.
Adhere the trio of butterflies adhered to the lower right hand edge of the circle.
Adhere the smaller butterfly to the center top of the circle.
Adhere three Drusy Adhesive-Backed embellishments around the sentiment.

Using card templates can be a great way to add some different card making skills, add inspiration if you are stuck for some ideas or give you a way to create with friends and see all of the different ways to interpret the card layout given!
Try one today and see what card interpretations you come up with this card layout or one of the other ones on page 22 of the Annual Catalog!
Now go and create a card of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – gray granite, petal pink and balmy blue

more color mondays – gray granite, petal pink and balmy blue

I’m glad to be back in my stamp studio and creating cards for you! Today’s More Color Monday combines soft subtle colors with one of my favorite neutrals Gray Granite. Petal Pink and Balmy Blue both from our Subtles collection are the other two colors today and I chose the Changing Leaves Hybrid bundle.

Measurements:
BASE: Gray Granite: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Basic White: 3 1/2″ x 4″ & scrap for sentiment
Subtles DSP: 1″ x 4″
Balmy Blue scraps for die leaves
Petal Pink Scraps for die leaves

Emboss the Basic White 3 1/2″ x 4″ layer in the Changing leaves embossing folder. I love this folder it can die cut and emboss at the same time if you choose to but this time I wanted the image uncut and whole.
Using a blending brush I added Petal Pink ink in a circular motion to the edges of the embossed layer. Petal Pink has a brownish pink hue and reminds me of old paper when applied like this.
I die cut Balmy Blue and Petal Pink leaf dies from the Changing Leaves die set.
I stamped the sentiment with Balmy Blue ink onto the small Stylish Shapes banner (I always cut some out of my Basic White scraps and have them on the edge of my creating station on my desk)
I pressed extra ink onto the lid of my Balmy Blue stamp pad to create an ink palette and using a water painter I added water to the lid and the extra ink and dipped the water painter into the inky water. Using the handle of my blending brush I smacked the waterpainter onto the handle while over the embossed layer flicking ink splatters over the entire surface of that layer this is a fun way to add a bit of colored depth and dimension to the layer.
I adhered the Balmy Blue DSP striped pattern to the edge of the embossed layer and adhered both to the right side of the card front.

I popped up the sentiment piece onto mini Stampin’ Dimensionals and added the die cut leaves around the sentiment and placed it on the center left hand side of the card front.

I added Adhesive-Backed Pastel Sequins to the card front to finish it off with some matching sparkle. Simple and sweet I love the way this card turned out. Remember little additions like coloring the edges with a blending brush and ink splatter can take your card to the next level.

Try to level up your creation today – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – pool party, calypso coral and basic beige – faux suede technique

more color mondays – pool party, calypso coral and basic beige – faux suede technique

Today’s More Color Monday features our new Basic color – Basic Beige! I am finding this a wonderful neutral base that goes well with every color I have paired it with! Today’s pairing is Pool Party and Calypso Coral these are complimentary colors paired with a neutral.
On page 132- 133 of the new annual catalog – we talk about color theory and four types of color pairings! Monochromatic uses colors that are shades or tints of the same or similar colors – like Petal Pink and Calypso Coral. Complimentary colors are the opposite – literally! You know what they say – opposites attract! Try pairing colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel and you can create fun, bold contrasting projects!
Look for Pool Party and Calypso Coral on the color wheel below!
Today’s card has a bunch of parts and pieces but I love the way it turned out! I am going to teach you and old technique that I do not see much anymore but in a recent swap my upline did this technique on her card and it reminded me what a fun one it is – called Faux Suede technique!

Measurements:
BASE: Calypso Coral: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
4″ x 5 1/4″ for stamping and die cutting
strip of 1/4″ x 4″
Basic Beige: (3) 4″ x 5 1/4″
strip of 1/4″ x 4″
Pool Party: 4″ x 5 1/4″ for embossing
strip of 1/4″ x 4″

I stamped the starfish in Calypso Coral ink on the same color cardstock for a great tone on tone effect! I die cut each out and set aside for the assembly!
I ran the Pool Party layer through the Seaside Wishes embossing folder and then distressed the edges with my fingers, tearing and bending the outer edges.
I adhered the Basic Beige layer to the Calypso Coral base and then adhered the distressed Pool Party layer at an angle for added visual interest! Sometimes just a little twist of the layer makes the card stand out from the rest!
Using a bone folder rub the 1/4″ strips of Basic Beige, Calypso Coral and pool Party through your finger and bone folder – similar to the way you curl ribbon. Curl the paper the entire length and on both sides until the paper is soft and starts to split. Gently peel the two sides of the paper apart. The paper in the middle looks like suede – hence the name faux suede and can be used as is or you can stamp on larger pieces prepared this way!
I adhered each piece of the suede paper – suede side up across the embossed layer with Stampin’ Seal+.
I die cut one of the Basic Beige layers with the open sand dollar design and a sentiment piece from the Unbounded Love die set. I stamped the sentiment in Calypso Coral ink and placed a line of Stampin’ Seal+ down the center of the die piece only so I could slip die cuts around the edges. I loosely arranged the die and stamped images until I liked the look and then adhered them in place!
I added Ombre Matte Dots to the card front to finish off the coordinated look!

I had a few extra dies so I adhered the last Basic Beige layer to the inside of the card and added a few embellishments to that layer as well. Now the inside of my card coordinates with the card front and adds more visual interest!

Try this color combination and Faux Suede technique the next time you create! Go and create some artwork of your very own soon and share it with everyone – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – azure afternoon, pool party and lemon lolly

more color mondays – azure afternoon, pool party and lemon lolly

Well can you believe it is already July! This year is speeding by and I got up early this morning to finish this post – normally I am days ahead at designing and posting but summer life got in the way this week! It was a fun week but busy we had a fourth of July party on the fifth and fireworks on the sixth and some of our children’s friends in for the holiday week so stamping took a back seat – I love these weeks but hate not getting to spend time stamping!
Today’s More Color Monday is an unexpected favorite! I love the way this simple card turned out! It features two very simple techniques that can elevate your cards in a very fun and super easy way.
The first is using DSP to color an image – in this case I die cut the surf/paddle boards directly out of Designer Series Paper – that was it and what a difference it makes!
The second technique is paper tearing – this is a simple technique that can by used in SO MANY ways. I always tell my customers that to control the tear you need to hold the paper with both hands using your thumb and forefinger. Keep your thumbs at the tear and move them along as the tear progresses. Tear the paper towards you to create that lovely torn edge on the correct side of the paper! It’s that easy!
I layered the torn Crumb Cake card stock to look like hills of sand!

Measurements:
BASE: Lemon Lolly: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White: 3″ x 4″
3 1/4″ x 4 1/4″
Crumb Cake 2 3/4″ x 3″
DSP scraps for die cutting

Using the 3″ x 4″ layer of Basic White, color the top edge with Lemon Lolly ink and a blending brush.
Color below the Lemon Lolly with Pool Party ink and a blending brush and blend into the Lemon Lolly layer. Color about half way down this Basic White layer.
Take the Crumb Cake piece and tear into four sections using the paper tearing technique detailed above making sure that you tear across the longer 3″ side so it fits the whole way across the blended layer.
Flip the top piece over so that the pretty torn edge is facing upwards and using glue or tape adhere only the edges together this way the middle of the paper will be open like a pocket to tuck your paddleboards into.
Adhere all four layers together.
Adhere the Crumb Cake torn layers to the Ink Blended Basic White layer.
I tucked the first two paddleboards into the “sand” layers and then popped up the bottom one onto Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals to give the boards some depth and dimension!
Adhere this decorated layer onto the 3 1/4″ x 4 1/4″ Basic White layer as a matte.
Tue some Baker’s Twine in Crumb Cake color from the Baker’s Twine Essential Pack around that layer and adhere to the base card on an angle for some visual interest!
I cut a scrap piece of Basic White cardstock from one of the smaller Deckled Circles dies and stamped in Azure Afternoon ink the sentiment from the Beach Day stamp set.
I blended the edges in Lemon Lolly with a small blending brush.
I popped up the sentiment piece over the paddleboard layer and this cute card is ready to send on it’s way to brighten someone’s day!

Try these fun and easy techniques and if you played along with this color challenge upload a picture of your creation to share with all of us in the comment section of today’s Facebook post for More Color Mondays!

Now it’s your turn to go and create something easy and fun – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie