edging with ink and blending brushes

card sketch #114 – hope, love & joy card

by nataliegramleystamps | Dec 26, 2025 | card samples, card sketches, Designer Series Paper, die cutting, masculine cards, new catalog, sneak peak, techniques

Today’s card uses a simple card sketch and is a very simple Designer Series Paper card – super easy to put together and CASE!

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″ and scrap for
sentiment and die
DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″

I am going to spend my time explaining a tip and trick for getting a die centered correctly.
I actually wanted to use a different circle die than the one that came with the Hope, Love & Joy Bundle because I wanted to use the small circle from the Spotlight on Nature dies with the lined edges – I imagined it would look like the lines were radiating out from the earth so I wanted to try this circle rather than the one in the coordinating die set!

Because it is not coordinating a slightly bigger I wanted to show you the steps I took to center the image with this die.

Place the desired die on a scrap piece of Basic White CS and trace around the outside with a pencil.

Stamp in Tuxedo Black Memento ink the desired image in the center of the penciled circle.

Color the water areas of the Earth with Balmy Blue light Stampin’ Blends then outline with Blueberry Bushel Light then go over the entire water are with the Balmy Blue Light again to blend the alcohol markers.

Color the land areas with Crumb Cake Light first then outline the area with the Dark Stampin’ Blends marker then blend the entire land area with the Light marker.

I used a scrap of Basic White to stamp the outside sentiment from the scrapbooking set Exploring Nature in Blueberry Bushel ink and fussy cut around the letters then blended the edges with a blending brush and Blueberry Bushel ink.

I die cut the Earth.

I stamped the inside layer with the “stay wild & free from the Exploring Nature set and adhered it to the inside of the card base.

Adhere the DSP layer to the card front then I adhered the fussy cut sentiment to the lower third of the card front.
I popped up the Earth die cut above the sentiment and added Basic Rhinestones to finish off this lovely and simple card!

Try this centering technique or my sketch and go and create some art of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

REMINDER: this is another sneak peak so the photo links below will not reflect the SNEAK PEAK items.
These will be available to customers on January 6th and are available right now to demonstrators and in starter kits!

Product List

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Blueberry Bushel 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146968]

$14.00

Blueberry Bushel Classic Stampin' Pad

[147138]

$9.00

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

Pretty Peacock Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154895]

$9.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$6.00

← sneak peak - nature walk suite card more color mondays - pretty peacock, melon mambo and poppy parade →

snowflake kisses die cut out card

by nataliegramleystamps | Dec 3, 2025 | card samples, Christmas card ideas, die cutting, techniques

This card is a quick and easy Christmas card idea using the cut through corner snowflake die from the Snowflake Kisses Bundle. Cut through dies actually cut an image out of the cardstock leaving the cardstock intact and complete with the dies cut out of them. It’s a cool look!

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″

Yep – that’s it like I said an quick and easy card!

Take the Basic White CS layer and cut the corner snowflake die in two diagonally opposite corners – it will look like this!

Save the die cut snowflakes for the inside of the card!

Use a piece of scrap paper or a piece of cardboard as a mask/edge and apply Blueberry Bushel ink with a blending brush on that outside corners that have the die cuts in them.

Replace the edging mask on the opposite side and blend the ink on that corner.
Remove the mask and this is what you will end up with.

I stamped the “let it snow” sentiment from the Snowflake Kisses stamp set in Blueberry Bushel ink diagonally down the inbetween white space!

I adhered the die cut snowflake pieces to the inside of the card.

If I had to do it over again I would adhere a second Basic White 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece on the inside because of the darker colored cardstock and then adhere the snowflake pieces for a tone on tone effect!

Adhere the die cut and blended layer to the card base and adhere the blue Traditional Sparkling Sequins to the front to finish this super quick and easy card!

Now go and create some artwork of your very own and start collecting your Christmas cards to send to family and friends – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Snowflake Kisses Bundle (English)

[166023]

$50.25

Snowflake Kisses Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[166018]

$18.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Blueberry Bushel 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146968]

$14.00

Blueberry Bushel Classic Stampin' Pad

[147138]

$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

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Snowflake Kisses Dies

[166022]

$38.00

Traditional Sparkling Sequins

[165875]

$8.00

← more color mondays - real red, pumpkin pie and crushed curry hostess gift - christmas tags and holder →

more color mondays – cloud cover, fresh freesia and highland heather

by nataliegramleystamps | Aug 25, 2025 | card samples, card sketches, color challenge, Designer Series Paper, die cutting, embossing folders, In Colors

For today’s More Color Mondays Color Challenge I pulled from last week’s Sketch Challenge #110 and did a simple card using the Florals in Bloom Designer Series Paper which features pretty floral designs in Bubble Bath, Cloud Cover, Darling Duckling, Garden Green, Granny Apple Green, Peach Pie, Petunia Pop, Pretty In Pink, Secret Sea, Shy Shamrock, Strawberry Slush, Summer Splash, Timid Tiger

I picked the Cloud Cover striped B side of one of the choices of Designer Series paper and a complementary floral pattern for the two DSP pieces!

Measurements:
BASE: Cloud Cover CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″ and 2″ x 3 3/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Fresh Freesia CS: scrap for the sentiment die
Highland Heather CS: 2″ x 3 3/4″
DSP: (2) 1 3/4″ x 3 1/2″

PLace the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer in the Exposed Brick 3D embossing folder. Place the folder in the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine using the #1 base platform and the #4 embossing plate. Emboss the layer.

Adhere the Cloud Cover striped DSP piece to the Cloud Cover matte.

Adhere the floral piece to the Highland Heather matte.

Pick a sentiment from The Right Words stamp set and pick a suitably sized Spotlight on Nature circle die.

Stamp the sentiment onto a Fresh Freesia scrap
and die cut with the Spotlight on Nature die using the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine with the #1 base, #2 thin die adaptor plate and 2 cutting plates #3’s.

Using the Highland Heather ink and a blending brush color the edges with the ink.

Adhere the Basic White layer to the card base leaving even borders.

Adhere the Cloud Cover DSP piece vertically to the left side of the White embossed layer leaving an even border on the left-hand side.

I adhered the floral DSP layer perpendicular to the Cloud Cover piece positioning it higher on the card so that I could adhere the sentiment piece below and at their junction of the the pieces forming a triangular shape which is appealing to the eye!

Pop up the sentiment piece onto Stampin’ Dimensionals and place in the junction of the two DSP pieces.

I added three Purple Fine Shimmer Gems to finish off the card.

Sketches are a simple way to find your card or project inspiration – try picking out a card sketch today and design a card or scrapbook page from the sketch design! Go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

The Right Words Cling Stamp Set (English)

[165316]

$26.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Cloud Cover 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[165621]

$14.00

Fresh Freesia 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[155613]

$14.00

Highland Heather 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146986]

$14.00

Highland Heather Classic Stampin' Pad

[147103]

$9.00

Florals In Bloom 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper & Sticker Sheet (English)

[166643]

$17.00

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

Exposed Brick 3 D Embossing Folder

[161600]

$11.00

Spotlight On Nature Dies

[163580]

$35.00

Purple Fine Shimmer Gems

[162611]

$8.00

← extraordinary flora elements of text card july 2025 demonstrator swap cards →

nests of winter suite card – new mini catalog products

by nataliegramleystamps | Sep 6, 2024 | card samples, Christmas card ideas, die cutting, techniques

Today’s blog features the Nests of Winter Suite of products – one of the coolest things in this suite in my opinion is the frame die of foliage. Today I am using the negative space of that frame die to create a background for the card!

Measurements:
BASE: Pecan Pie 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Mossy Meadow layer 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White layer. 3 3/4″ x 5″
scrap for sentiment piece
Basic Beige scrap for birds stamp

Stamp the double birds in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on Basic Beige cardstock.

Using the Cherry Cobbler watercolor pencils – color the berries.

Color the bird with Balmy Blue watercolor pencil.

Color the bird’s belly with the Crushed Curry watercolor pencil.

Color the branches with Pecan Pie watercolor pencil.

Using a water painter color each colored section starting with the lightest color and then brush the water painter until it paints clear and paint the next darkest color until all colors are watercolored.

Die cut the frame from the Nest of Winter and use the negative die space for the mask, place the mask in the center of the Basic White layer and with a blending brush color the outside edges of the Basic White layer over the mask with Mossy Meadow ink.

Turn the mask 180 degrees and without reinking the blending brush brush the remaining color over the edges of the mask which will result in a lighter color bledning over the mask.

Adhere the Mossy Meadow layer onto the Pecan Pie card base.

Adhere the Basic White layer onto the card base slightly tilted.

Die cut the largest circle from the Stylish Shapes die set and stamp the sentiment in Mossy Meadow ink and drag the blending brush across the edges to just give the edges a little color.
Adhere to the lower left hand corner of the card.

Pop the double bird image up onto Stampin’ Dimensionals and layer in the upper right hand corner of the card.

I added two cork embellishments around the sentiment and the card is complete.

Sometimes using the negative space that might easily just get tossed in the trash produces a beautiful unexpected background! Try using those negative die spaces and see what you can create – one die, one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie