ink blending with blending brushes - nataliegramleystamps

snowflake kisses – work smarter not harder!

by nataliegramleystamps | Oct 17, 2025 | card samples, Christmas card ideas, die cutting, online exclusives, techniques

Today is all about working smarter not harde!

Let’s make two cards for the price of one!

The gorgeous background die from the Snowflake Kisses bundle is the perfect way to get two cards with little extra effort!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: (2) 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″, 4″ x 5 1/4″
Azure Afternoon CS: scraps for cutting
sentiment piece and snowflakes

Die cut the round circle die and the three larger snowflakes and the cluster of smaller snowflakes from the Azure Afternoon scraps.

Die cut the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer with the background snowflake die.

Hold or temporarily adhere the background snowflake die to a Basic White card front.

Using light pressure as to not bend the die we are using as a mask, brush with Azure Afternoon ink and a blending brush over the entire surface of the mask and the card front.

You will create the base for card #2 and color the die to attach to Card #1 at the same time!

Adhere the die to card #1 Basic White card base.

Stamp in Azure Afternoon ink Be Warm and Well sentiment to the center of the Azure Afternoon circle die.

Pop up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and add to the center opening of the die.

Adhere the 4 snowflakes from the small snowflake die cluster to the centers of some of the snowflakes in the background die.

Add silver embellishments to the card front such as Drusy Adhesive-Backed embellishments.

Stamp sending warm hugs in the center of card #2 and add the three larger Azure Afternoon snowflake dies around the sentiment.
Adhere three pearls like the Antique pearls currently available or look forward to these gorgeous sneak peak Pearls of Beauty which are available November 1st which will coordinate with the upcoming Brushed with Beauty suite!

With little more effort than making the first card you get the second BONUS card too!
Try this technique whenever you decide to color your large dies and use them as a mask to make a background for a second card!

Hope you try this technique soon and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

!-------- TAMS Start ----------> 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

Azure Afternoon 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[161719]

$14.00

Azure Afternoon Classic Stampin' Pad

[161663]

$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

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$15.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Snowflake Kisses Dies

[166022]

$38.00

Antique Pearls

[164679]

$8.50

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$6.00

← pleated prism fun fold more color mondays - azure afternoon, daffodil delight, and lemon lime twist →

prairie grass stamp set – new online exclusive release for july

by nataliegramleystamps | Jul 11, 2025 | card samples, online exclusives, techniques

July marks the release of more Online Exclusives products! This stamp set Prairie Grass is one of the releases.

Measurements:
BASE: Melon Mambo CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″

Ink the bottom of the Basic White CS with Crushed Curry ink and a blending brush.

Ink a strip above the Crushed Curry with the Pumpkin Pie ink.

Blend with blending brush and Poppy Parade ink above the Pumpkin Pie ink.

Blend Melon mambo ink above the Poppy Parade.

Blend Gorgeous Grape ink to the top of the Basic White layer.

Stamp the Prairie Grass image in Tuxedo Black Memento ink over the rainbow blended colors.

Take a paint brush and add water to the lid of a Craft White ink pad, tap the edge of the paint brush over a bone folder and splatter ink over the surface.

Stamp the sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento ink in the right hand corner.

Add Rhinestone Basic Jewels to the card front.

Adhere the layer to the Melon Mambo cardstock base.

Another sample without the white ink splatter.

I adhered this sample to a Crushed Curry cardstock base.

I love silhouette cards and this set lends itself perfectly to this genre.

Check out all of the great new products released in July! Go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

← card sketch #107 - extraordinary flora more color mondays - pumpkin pie, petal pink and balmy blue →

card sketch #107 – extraordinary flora

by nataliegramleystamps | Jul 9, 2025 | card samples, card sketches, die cutting, embossing folders, techniques

Sketch challenges can stretch you creatively!

This sketch (Sketch #107) has so many possibilities!

I chose to make the layers all white but you could chose to use colored cardstock or Designer Series Paper.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″, 4″ x 5 1/4″, (2) 1″ x 5 1/4″,
scrap for the sentiment die and the washi tape

Run the Basic White layer through the Garden and Glass embossing folder. Place the folder down the center of the layer and emboss.

Cut two strips of Basic White CS 1″ x 5 1/4″.

Place Stampin’ Dimensionals down each 1″ strip.

Adhere each 1″ strip down each side of the 4″ x 5 1/4″ embossed layer.

Place the Extraordinary Flora Washi Tape onto a Basic White layer and then die cut the flower images out.

Adhere the flower images on the top left hand edge and the bottom right-hand edge. Placing some under the edge and some above.

Stamp the sentiment in Flirty Flamingo ink and then use a blending brush to lightly color the Textured Notes die.

Adhere the sentiment piece with Stampin’ Dimensionals on the left hand side and tape on the right hand edge to the strip. Tuck a flower under the sentiment die piece.

Place three sequins on the card front to finish it off.

Try this card sketch and see what you can come up with! Go and create some artwork of your very own using #107 – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Extraordinary Flora Bundle (English)

[165245]

$43.00

Extraordinary Flora Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[165243]

$20.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad

[147052]

$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

Extraordinary Flora Die

[165244]

$28.00

Glass & Gardens Embossing Folders

[165597]

$9.00

Extraordinary Flora Washi Tape

[165269]

$15.00

Holographic Resin Dots

[165598]

$8.00

← more color mondays - azure afternoon, coastal cabana and gorgeous grape prairie grass stamp set - new online exclusive release for july →

happy 4th – thank a veteran with a card

by nataliegramleystamps | Jul 4, 2025 | card samples, embossing folders, masculine cards, my favorites, stamps ink paper, techniques

The Fourth of July is probably my second favorite holiday after Christmas. I am so very grateful to have been born in this great country! I am also very thankful for the freedoms we so often take for granted.

So I am challenging all of my friends and customers to send a thank you card to a friend or family member that you know that served or is serving in the military – we often do not take the opportunity to let people know how much they are appreciated and this is a perfect example. Do you have someone you know that has sacrificed in service of this special country of ours? Will you rise to my challenge and make and send a thank you card? I hope I inspire you! I didn’t necessarily have a 4rth of July stamp set but if you color the card in red, white and blue and place a thank you sentiment on it that conveys the point!

Measurements:
BASE: Real Red CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
Basic White CS: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″

This is a simple and sweet thank you card.

Brush the top third of the Basic White layer with Real Red ink using a blending brush.

Brush the bottom third of the layer with Blueberry Bushel ink and a different blending brush. Leave the middle white uninked.

Stamp the Spring Corners thank you sentiment on diagonal corners and then stamp the small heart image in between the two sentiments using Tuxedo Black Memento ink.

Emboss the Basic White stamped layer in your Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine using the Dotted Circles 3D Embossing folder.

Because you blended the ink first and this is a deep 3D embossing folder you may get some white paper crackling through the color – I love this effect! If you do not want this effect color the embossed layer after running through the machine.

Adhere the embossed layer onto the Real Red CS base.

I adhered some white sequins (these are retired sorry but you could use our Iridescent Pearls for the same effect!) on the card front and you can send this patriotic thank you note on it’s way to your favorite veteran – mine is on it’s way to my marine brother-in-law!

Have a wonderful Fourth of July celebration! We are so blessed to be free and able to live in this wonderful Democracy – even though we may not all agree politically – we all have the right to live as we choose and that I am so very thankful for.

Hope that this inspires you to make your own thank you card for someone that you care about! Now go and create some beautiful red,white and blue artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Fourth of July and Happy Stampin’
Natalie