happy 4th – thank a veteran with a card

happy 4th – thank a veteran with a card

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

so swirly multi-panel fun fold card

so swirly multi-panel fun fold card

This is a easy and simple fun fold.
I haven’t played with the Magnolia Mood Bundle for a while and this card allows the gorgeous flower die cuts to shine!

Measurements:
BASE: Berry Burst CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 1 1/4″ and 4 1/4″
(2) 1″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White CS: 3″ x 5 1/4″
(2) 2 3/4″ x 5 1/4″
4″ x 5 1/4″
scrap for die cut
Mossy Meadow CS: scrap for die cut

Emboss the (3) 1″ x 5 1/2″ and (2) 2 3/4″ x 5 1/4″ in the So Swirly embossing folder.
Adhere the 1″ strip to the left hand inside panel.
Adhere the middle panel with the Basic White embossed layer.
Close the card base and adhere the Basic White embossed layer to the panel to the right of the score line.
Adhere the Berry Burst embossed layer to the smaller panel.
Stamp the inside sentiment to the 3″ Basic Whit layer and adhere to the right side of the inside score line.
Adhere the Berry Burst embossed layer to the outside of the 3″ Basic White layer.
Stamp the Happy Birthday sentiment in Berry Burst ink on the medium Stylish Shapes square die diagonally.
Color the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer with Blending Brush and Berry Burst ink. Spray the layer with water from a Stampin’ Spritzer.
Die cut the large Magnolia flower die from the Magnolia Mood die set. Die cut the same flower in Mossy Meadow CS. Adhere the flowers only on top of the Mossy Meadow CS die.
Adhere the flower to the Stylish Shapes square and adhere the focal point to the outside smaller panel.
I love the So Swirly embossing folder as the backdrop for the beautiful Magnolia image and this fun fold!

Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

peaceful evergreens ink blended card

peaceful evergreens ink blended card

I love creating ink blended backgrounds such an easy way to create a totally unique background from a plain piece of Basic White cardstock!

Measurements:
BASE: Night of Navy CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″ layers
2 1/2″ x 5 1/2″
scraps for die cut sentiments

Because of the darkness of the base cardstock I always layer a 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White piece of cardstock on the inside of the card to write the message. I adhered the first Basic White layer on the inside of the card.
Using a Blending Brush I colored the top 2/3’s of the other Basic White layer with Night of Navy ink.
I colored the bottom 1/3 of the blended layer with a new Blending Brush dragged through Pecan Pie ink.
I opened up my Basic White Craft ink pad and added a few drops of Craft ink refill tot he ink lid. I squeezed some water from a medium water painter and with the brush water with water and craft ink I knocked the side of the water painter onto the side of my bone folder to create a splatter background on the night of navy section of the blended layer. This makes the blended background look like a starry sky!
This is a close up picture of the splattered background.
Take the 2 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ piece of Basic White cardstock and place in the Painted Trees 3D embossing folder and emboss with the largest tree image.
Brush the embossed tree image with a Blending brush and Granny Apple Green ink. Adhere to the center of the blended layer.
Adhere a 5 1/4″ piece of Night of Navy and Gold 1/2″ Glittered Ribbon to the back of the blended layer and adhere the layer onto the card base.
Stamp the Christmas word stamp from the Peaceful Season stamp set in Night of Navy ink and die cut with the coordinated die set.
Adhere to the top of the blended layer on the card base.
Stamp the words “in the air” from the Peaceful Seasons stamp set and die cut with the coordinating dies. Pop up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and place on the card front right below the ribbon offset to the right side of the card.
Add Drusy Adhesive-Backed Embellishments to the card front around the sentiment and my August Christmas card swap is complete! What do you think?
Try this blended background technique with some stamps from your collection and let me. know how it turns out! Now go and create some art work of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – calypso coral, mambo melon and gorgeous grape

more color mondays – calypso coral, mambo melon and gorgeous grape

Today’s More Color Monday’s is bright and cheery for this New Year and new catalog season and I might just have some tropical sunsets on my mind!

I love creating scenic backgrounds and this card is all about ink blending in today’s color challenge colors: Calypso Coral, Mambo melon and Gorgeous Grape!

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

Take the outside Basic White layer and starting at the bottom layer Calypso Coral ink about one-third of the way up the card with a blending brush.
with the same outside Basic White layer and starting just above the Calypso Coral ink layer the Mambo Melon ink about one-third of the way up the card with a blending brush above the coral layer.
Using a new blending brush layer Gorgeous Grape ink in the top third of the Basic White layer.
Cut a scrap piece of Basic White thick cardstock with the Basic Borders cloud edge die and place at the top of the ink blended layer. Using the same Gorgeous Grape ink brush over the die mask and create cloud shadowing with the mask and the ink.
Move the die mask down to the Mambo melon layer and brush over the mask creating clouds in this section as well.
Move the mask to the Coral section and do the same with the Mask and Blending brush in Calypso Coral ink.
Stamp the sentiment in Gorgeous Grape ink to the lower middle left hand side of the colored layer.
Stamp the “hill” stamp on the lower layer in Gorgeous grape ink multiple times to create a ground silhouette.
Stamp a single floral image to the left side of the card layer in Gorgeous Grape ink.
Wrap the Black and White Gingham ribbon around this layer and tie a knot.
Adhere onto the Mambo melon card base.
Add five Basic Rhinestone Jewels to the card front to finish off with a little bling.
Here is another sample using an added layer of Daffodil Delight ink. Giving a different look just by adding an additional color of ink!
Try this technique and this color combination and let me know what you created – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

abundant beauty decorative masks

abundant beauty decorative masks

I love the affordability and versatility of the decorative masks and the new one in the current September to December 2023 mini catalog is a winner! It combines and four step layered sunflower mask, a background, a snowflake scene and a fall leaves mask. The possibilities are endless.

I have several cards made with this mask set to share with you today.

The first card uses the snowflake die and our Shimmery White Embossing Paste to create 3D snowflakes on the card front layer!

Measurements:
BASE: Smoky Slate 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White layer 4″ x 5 1/4″

Place the snowflake decorative mask over the Basic White layer. Using the Paste tools smooth on a layer of the Shimmery White Embossing Paste onto the Basic White layer. Peel off the decorative mask and clean the embossing paste off the mask before it dries. Allow the embossing paste on the Basic White layer to dry thoroughly.

The paste creates a 3 dimensional pattern on the paper – it is so cool!
I wrapped the Silver and White Sheer ribbon around the Basic White layer and popped it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals. I added a stamped banner from the Stylish Shapes die set for the sentiment piece and added Iridescent rhinestones to finish off this stunning shimmery card!
The second card is a fun fold peek-a-boo card!

Measurements:
Base: Basic White 2 sheets of 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″

Score the first sheet at 4 1/4″ and die cut a circle from the Stylish shapes in the upper center of the card front.

Using a Blending Brush ink blend the snowflake images on the card front with the circle die in place.

Score the second sheet at 2 1/8″ and 4 1/4″
Adhere the largest panel to the inside of the first card so that the Z fold is on the right side.

Put glue on the z fold that shows through the circle die space and adhere the circle to the part of the z fold that shows through the negative circle space.

I added “let it snow” sentiments all over the card front and circle die.
I added Iridescent Rhinestones to the card front.
I finished the card off with the Silver and White Sheer ribbon down the left hand side of the card front.
The third card uses the four step sunflower masks. Each masks has a notch in the upper right hand corner to help you line up the images. I used grid paper and marked the Basic White layer corners and then the notch in pen on the grid paper to realign the paper and the masks each time!
I started with the flower petals and ink blended Crushed Curry over the mask onto the paper.
I added the next mask for the flower centers and inked with Pumpkin Pie ink.
I removed that mask and added the third one with the detailed flower centers and used Cajun Craze ink on this mask.
Using the last mask and Granny Apple Green ink I added leaves in two different positions.
Lining up the images allows you to create a flawless flower image! I love the results!
I mounted the Basic White masked layer onto a Crushed Curry base and added a small banner die for the sentiment and 2021-2023 In Color Opal rounds as the embellishment!

Three totally different looks from one decorative mask set – so economical and versatile!

Try your hand at a mask today or a card of your very own! Go create some art work – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie