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

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

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!

card sketch #117

card sketch #117

Today’s card continues the series on Card Sketches with #117!

This simple sketch provides plenty of creative inspiration with a layer and a double matte with sprigs behind it. I followed the sketch quite literally but later on next week I will show you another card from this same sketch with a completely different look!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″, 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer, and scrap
for the die
Vellum CS: scrap for the sentiment matte
Lemon Lime Twist CS: 1/2″ x 4″, and scrap for
the die

Emboss the Basic White CS layer with the Stone and Vine 3D embossing folder.
Adhere the embossed layer to the card base.
Take the 1/2″ x 4″ Lemon Lime Twist CS strip and adhere it to the center of the card front.
Die cut two concentric circles from the Spotlight on Nature dies. The smaller one in Basic White CS and the next size up in Vellum CS.

Stamp the sentiment in Lemon Lime Twist ink and color the edges with a blending brush and the same ink.

Adhere the Basic White stamped circle onto the vellum circle with Stampin’ Seal.

Pop up the sentiment vellum circle with Stampin’ Dimensionals – making sure to stay inside the Basic White circle outline.
Die cut the large leaf sprig die in Lemon Lime Twist cardstock and cut into 2 pieces.
Attach the sprigs to the sentiment piece and adhere the sentiment focal piece to the card over the Lemon Lime Twist strip.
I added Holographic Resin Dots to the card for a little sparkle to complete the card!

Try your hand at this card sketch – if you are new to sketches try it literally as the sketch is drawn or be creative and use the sketch as a launching point and go crazy with ideas!

Let me know what you make – now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – gorgeous grape, lemon lime twist and balmy blue

more color mondays – gorgeous grape, lemon lime twist and balmy blue

It’s another More Color Monday color challenge featuring three colors I love Gorgeous Grape, Lemon Lime Twist and Balmy Blue. I also LOVE this technique the Stampin’ Blends alcohol Vellum technique.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″, scraps for the dies
Vellum: 3″ x 6″
Gorgeous Grape CS: 1/2″ x 5 1/2″, scrap for die
Balmy Blue CS: 1/2″ x 5 1/2″
Lemon Lime Twist CS: 1/2″ x 5 1/2″

Since Gorgeous Grape is such a dark color, so the Highland Heather Dark Stampin’ Blend is very close to Gorgeous Grape color.

I colored with the side of the Dark Highland Heather Stampin Blend paint brush on the vellum.

Spray the vellum with 99% alcohol from a Stampin’ Spritzer.
Dry the vellum with the Heat Tool and push the alcohol and ink color around until the alcohol evaporates.
Start coloring the vellum with other colors – one color at a time, spray the vellum with alcohol and push the color with the Heat Tool until the alcohol evaporates.

Repeat with different colors until you like the look of the vellum.

Stamp a sentiment in Versamark ink and sprinkle with the white WOW embossing powder. Heat with a Heat tool until the powder is melted.

Use the Three Banner Punch and punch out the sentiment piece.

Cut 2 sections of all three colors of CS in 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ and adhere them together so that you have two sections of three colors.
Use the three color sections and adhere to either side of the vellum.

Die cut the large leaf die from the Beautiful Motifs dies set from a Basic White CS scraps.

Adhere the vellum down with the colored CS strips.

Adhere the die to the top of the colored vellum.

Notice how the vellum is magnified by placing it on top of the Basic White CS!

I punched the sentiment with the middle section of the Three Banner Punch.

Pop up the sentiment banner over the die and the vellum.

Die cut the flowers from the Petals of Beauty and color them with a Blending Brush and Gorgeous Grape ink.
Stamp the flower dies with the background stamps from the Swirled Designs to add texture to the petals.
I placed the stamped and textured Petal dies and popped up the flowers around the sentiment piece.
I added three white pearls of Beauty to finish off this stunning alcohol vellum cards.

Try this cool technique but know that you need to use only 99% alcohol – regular isopropyl will not do the trick! Now go and make some really fabulous colored vellum – and add one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – old olive, pool party and daffodil delight

more color mondays – old olive, pool party and daffodil delight

I do love flowers as some of you already know! So it is a dilemma when you are attracted to all of the pretty floral stamp sets – so what is a girl to do? Well I cannot buy it all SO I bought just the pretty papers from this beautiful Floral Delight Suite Collection and paired it with a sentiment I already owned from then Mixed Labels bundle.

This gorgeous suite comes with two packages of beautiful paper: a vellum specialty pack with three designs of blue gingham, and blue, yellow and white flowers with old olive leaf accents, and a 12 sheet pack of lovely 12″ x 12″ DSP full of floral and patterned papers.

This is a very simple card using the paper to make this card pop! I choose the colors from the suite as the inspiration for today’s color challenge!

Measurements:
BASE: Daffodil Delight CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Timeless Plaid DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Floral Delight DSP: scrap for flower cut out
3″ x 5 1/4″
Pool Party CS: scrap for die cut
Basic White CS: scraps for 2 die cuts
Floral and Gingham Vellum: scraps for 2 dies

I choose coordinating patterns and cut different circle dies from the Spotlight on Nature dies and die cut different sized circles from two different patterns of the Floral and Gingham vellum pack. I cut the same circle die from the gingham patterned die cut in Basic White so I could layer them together to make that die more vibrant with the white paper backing.
I cut Pool Party CS with a Stylish Shapes circle die and I fussy cut a flower from the Floral Delight DSP pack.

I layered the 3″ DSP vellum over the Timeless Plaid 4″ layer and added adhesive only in the middle where I knew the circle dies would cover the adhesive.
After all of the pieces are cut play around with the arrangement of the circles and the fussy cut flower until the arrangement is pleasing to the eye. Then adhere the pieces over the Timeless plaid and vellum layer. I trimmed off the vellum circle that went over the side of that layer but allowed the white circle die to hang over the edge to give the layer some depth and dimension and interest!
I then adhered the layer to the card base.
I stamped the sentiment from the Mixed labels stamp set in Tuxedo Black Memento ink.
I popped up the sentiment piece with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
I added Rhinestone Basic Jewels around the sentiment and fussy cut flower and the card was complete!
Try using some of the random pretty Designer Series Paper that you have lying around to create some artwork of your very own. Die cut or chop it and use it on your next card creation!
Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

nests of winter tall z fun fold

nests of winter tall z fun fold

Today’s More Color Mondays Color Challenge features Blueberry Bushel, Daffodil Delight and Gray Granite.
Today’s fun fold is called a Tall Z Fun Fold and is an easy way to create a fun card.
The Nests of Winter DSP inspired this installment of the More Color Monday Color Challenge.

Measurements:
BASE: Blueberry Bushel CS: (2) 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
Gray Granite CS: (2) 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″
DSP: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″ scrap for fussy cut bird
Graceful Greenery Vellum scrap for circle die
Daffodil Delight CS: 3″ x 11″
scored at 2″, 6 1/2″

Adhere the Gray Granite CS layers to the Blueberry Bushel CS layers.
Adhere the DSP pieces to the Gray Granite CS.
Adhere the large panel of the Daffodil Delight CS into a Z fold onto the back DSP panel.
Stamp the sentiment on the inside of the Daffodil layer.
Adhere the top portion of the Daffodil Delight CS layer and place the top DSP layer over the Daffodil Delight layer.
Fussy cut a bird out of the Nests of Winter DSP and adhere to a Graceful Greenery Specialty paper and pop them up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhere to the center of the card front.
Adhere the Tinsel Gems Four Pack yellow embellishments to the card front.

Go out and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time.

Happy Stampin’
Natalie