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

more color mondays – misty moonlight, night of navy and smoky slate

more color mondays – misty moonlight, night of navy and smoky slate

I figured we would just be settling down from the high of the wedding weekend so in honor of the Navy and Champagne theme of the wedding I did a color challenge with Navy!
Today’s More Color Monday challenge features Night of Navy, Misty Moonlight and Smoky Slate!

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

It’s a simple card with lots of ink blending! I started with a simple strip scrap to mask the middle of the card and ink blended with the Misty Moonlight ink, blending towards the outside edges of the card.

I moved the strip to form a triangular opening for the shaft of starlight I wanted to create, and blended the Misty Moonlight towards the edge of the card stock on the opposite side of the card layer.
Moving outside the Misty Moonlight layer I blended the Night of Navy from the middle of the Misty Moonlight to the edge of the layer on both sides. This simulates the night growing darker.
Next I stamped in Smoky Slate in the upper right hand corner the starlight spray. Then I applied Versamark ink and stamped the larger grouping of stars in the middle of that starlight spray stamp. I added versamark and smaller stars around the sentiment also stamped in Versamark. I then sprinkled silver powder over the Versamark and heat embossed with the Heat Tool.
I added Smoky Slate with a Blending Brush to the center shaft of starlight.
I added a little more blending of Night of Navy above the star so that the Smoky slate shaft of starlight began at the larger star.
I added Silver and White Sheer ribbon to the bottom of the Basic White layer and adhered it to the Smoky Slate card base. I added Iridescent Pastel Gems in Blue around the sentiment. Love the sparkle this has!

Try your hand at a card with blue and silver and see what artwork of your very own you come up with – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

woven gate strip card

woven gate strip card

I love finding new ways to use my strips! Today is a strip weaving example.

Measurements:
BASE: Lemon Lime Twist 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scrap for sentiment piece and branch die
Basic White strips (14) 1/2″ x 11″
Lemon Lolly scrap for daisy dies

Lay 6 strips side by side on a flat surface.

Weave the first strip through the six alternating above and below the strips laying horizontally.
Weave the second vertical strip in the opposite way than the first strip (my first strip starting on the left hand side starts above then below and alternates from there then the second strip starts below the first horizontal strip on the left and alternates above, below, above etc.)
Continue this alternating pattern until you have eight strips criss-crossing the six original strips!
Turn the weaving over to the back side and using Tear & Tape make a rectangle around the outer strips.
Cut the strips on the small sides (6 strip sides) down to about 1/2-3/4 of an inch.
Take off the Taer & Tape release paper on one side and bend the tabs inward and adhere to the Tear & Tape.
Place another piece of Tear & Tape over the folded tabs and peel off the release paper.
Bend the outside bottom strip up over the side tabs to help hold them securely in place.
Finish the other short side following those same steps – release the Tear & Tape, bend the tabs in to adhere and then add more Tear & Tape and secure the bottom strip over the tabs.
Cut the middle bottom strips to about 1/2″ in length hang over and remove the release paper and adhere inward. (cover any exposed tape with a spare strip if you are planning on embossing as I did so that you do not get Tape on the inside of your embossing folder. Leave the last Tear & Tape strip sealed until after the embossing)
Cut the top strips into points that resemble the tops of garden gate wood.
Using Crumb Cake ink and a blending brush add ink to the gate.
I embossed my finished gate in the 3D Exposed Brick embossing folder.
Remove the top Tear & Tape release paper add more Stampin’ Seal to the back of the gate and add to the Lemon Lime Twist card base.
Add a sentiment in shaded spruce to the Nested Essentials die and add Cheerful Daisies dies to embellish the front of the gate.
I added the green Adhesive-backed Glitter Sequins from the new September to December mini catalog for the finishing touch of sparkle!
What ideas and ways to use your 1/2″ strip scraps do you come up with – let me know!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie