ink blending - nataliegramleystamps

card sketch #123 water mask card

by nataliegramleystamps | Jun 10, 2026 | card samples, card sketches, die cutting, masks, stamps ink paper, techniques

I love a good masking technique and when I was at OnStage in March, Stampin’ Up! debuted the Water and Dotted Lines 12″ x 12″ masks.

They are so cool and great for not only card making but because of the size they are also great for scrapbooking backgrounds!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″, 1/2″ x 5 1/2″
scraps for die cuts
Hydrangea Hue CS: scrap for sunglasses die

Place the card base in the middle of the Glass Matte Studio and place the Water Mask over the card.

You can hold the card and mask in place with tape or just with your hand (which is what I do)

Using Balmy Blue ink and a Blending Brush in circular motion color the surface of the card through the mask. YOU can lift up one side to look and see how deep the color is and whether you are getting adequate coverage.

Continue coloring the card surface until the entire card is filled with the mask design and is the color desired.

Take the Basic White CS strip and stamp the sentiment on it in Hydrangea Hue ink.

Adhere to the card placing the words on the right-hand side of the card. Cut off the overhang.

The beach ball and inner tube from the Splash and Relax Bundle are a two-step stamping process – I stamp the detailed stamp in full strength Hydrangea hue ink first and then stamp the background stamp in Hydrangea Hue ink and stamp off onto the grid or scrap paper and then stamp over the detailed image. I think it is easier to place the stamps correctly over the darker colored detailed images then the other way around – BUT it can be done either way!
Die cut out the beach ball and the inner tube with the Splash and Relax dies and die cut the sunglass outer image in Hydrangea Hue CS.

Cut the sunglass lenses out of Silver or Irredescent Foil and glue onto the sunglasses base Hydrangea Hue CS.

Adhere the sunglasses directly over the left-hand side of the sentiment strip and pop up the inner tube and beach ball above and below the sentiment strip!

Stamp the inside sentiment and the beach ball on the inside of the card!

Place three Rhinestones around the sentiment strip and this easy card sketch card is complete! I love the simple masking background – this makes the card don’t you think?

Try this masking background technique soon and go create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Splash & Relax Bundle

[167903]

$44.00

Splash & Relax Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[167901]

$21.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Hydrangea Hue 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[167687]

$14.00

Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad

[147105]

$9.00

Hydrangea Hue Classic Stampin' Pad

[167677]

$14.00

Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial)

[163987]

$60.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$9.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$13.00

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

Water & Dotted Lines 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Decorative Masks

[167760]

$21.00

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$17.00

Water Painters

[168253]

$13.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[154031]

$7.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Splash & Relax Dies

[167902]

$28.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$6.00

← february demonstrator swap cards demonstrators choice onstage swap →

more color mondays – golden glow, hydrangea hue and crisp cantaloupe

by nataliegramleystamps | Jun 8, 2026 | card samples, card sketches, color challenge, Designer Series Paper, die cutting, In Colors, product reviews, stamps ink paper, techniques

Today’s color challenge features three of the five NEW 2026-2028 In Color collection – Golden Glow, Hydrangea Hue and Crisp Cantaloupe.

This easy card uses a blended water splatter technique background.

Measurements:
BASE: Hydrangea Hue CS 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ scrap for banner die
DSP: 3″ x 3″, (2) 2″ x 2″

Take the Basic White layer and a blending brush and color the top third with Golden Glow ink.

Color the middle third with a new blending brush and the Hydrangea Hue ink pad.

Color the bottom third with a new blending brush and the Crisp Cantaloupe ink pad.

Take the large water painter brush and squeeze out a large puddle of water onto the glass matte studio surface – tap the end of the brush to drop water sprinkles over the surface of the blended background layer. The water sprinkled on the surface will lift the ink and create a splattered background technique. This distresses the paper layer in a unique way – different every time you do it!

Adhere the splattered blended layer to the Hydrangea hue card base.

Die cut the banner dies in three sizes with each of the colors – Golden Glow, Hydrangea Hue and Crsip Cantaloupe from the 2026-2028 In Color 12″ x 12″ DSP pack. Pick different patterns in the three different colors and die cut.

Adhere them with the largest banner in the upper center of the card base. Then adhere the two other smaller banners to the left and the right side overlapping and matching up the top edge to be even with the center banner.

Punch out two of the butterfly images from the NEW Floral Flight Accents embellishments and adhere them over the banners.

Die cut the shorter, thicker banner from the Stylish Shapes die set and stamp the “fluttering by to say hi” sentiment from the All Aflutter stamp set in Hydrangea Hue ink. Blend the edges with a blending brush.
Pop up the sentiment piece on Stampin’ Dimensionals and place in the bottom center of the card front.

Add three 2026-2028 In Color Dots around the sentiment to complete this easy and fun card.

Try using this technique to make a background and create some artwork of your very own using this background and the stamps you have at home – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

All Aflutter Bundle (English)

[167570]

$41.25

All Aflutter Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[167564]

$20.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Hydrangea Hue 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[167687]

$14.00

2026–2028 In Color™ Painted Patterns 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[167755]

$19.00

Floral Flight Accents

[167558]

$6.50

Hydrangea Hue Classic Stampin' Pad

[167677]

$14.00

Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial)

[163987]

$60.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$9.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$13.00

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]

$17.00

Water Painters

[168253]

$13.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[154031]

$7.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

2026–2028 In Color™ Dots

[167546]

$9.00

← in color strip card february demonstrator swap cards →

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.