ink splatter background - nataliegramleystamps

april stampin’ up! creative challenge

by nataliegramleystamps | Apr 8, 2026 | card samples, masculine cards, sneak peak, stamps ink paper, techniques

Do you know that Stampin’ Up! sponsors a creative challenge every month?

April features a challenge to use two different coloring tools! Will you rise to the challenge? If you create a card or project using this challenge post it on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #SUCREATIVECHALLENGE see Stampin’ Up’s video announcing the new challenge by going to this link

Here’s my card for the challenge using water painters and blending brushes two of my favorites!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ , scrap for
the die
Granny Apple Green CS: 1/4″ x 4″ strip scrap for
leaf die
Vellum CS: scrap for Spotlight on Nature circle
die

I combined some OLD AND NEW PRODUCTS – some LAST CHANCE items – Petals of Beauty dies and some sneak peak Phrases and Frames bundle…

I die cut the middle die from the Phrases and Frames bundle and used the frame and the inside piece. I blended the lower right-hand corner of the inside piece.

I added a drop of ink refill to my glass mat and added water to the drop from my Water Painter. I diluted the drop so it was very watery and tapped the edge of the water painter over the blending brush handle over the blended rectangular piece to add a splatter effect! Such an easy effect with HUGE impact!

I blended the Granny Apple Green onto the card front.

Adhere the rectangle to the card base off to the right-hand side of center.

Die cut the open leaf die from the Petals of Beauty die set in Granny Apple Green CS – cut into two sections and add glue to the frame and add the leaf sections under the frame on bottom and top corners. Adhere over the rectangle.

Die cut one of the circles from the Spotlight in Nature die set in Vellum CS and stamp the Thinking of You sentiment from the Phrases and Frames stamp set in Granny Apple Green ink and blend the edges.

Adhere the Granny Apple Green strip over the bottom of the vellum circle. Add glue under the vellum where the strip is to adhere to the card without the glue being visible.

Add the vellum circle onto the card.

Add a black accent from the Floral Flight Accents upcoming in the new catalog from the Beautiful Ordinary Life suite of products.
Add an extra Petals of Beauty leaf die.

Add embellishments to finish the card.

Coloring tools can add a lot to a card do not discount the little details can make a BIG difference!

Here is the same card design using a different Floral Flight accent!

Such fun! Try this #SUCREATIVECHALLENGE today and see what you can create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

REMINDER: All of the SNEAK PEAK products will not be in the photo links below until they are available!

Product List

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146990]

$14.00

Vellum 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper

[167099]

$10.00

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad

[147095]

$9.00

Granny Apple Green Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[147163]

$5.50

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

Blending Brushes Storage

[160519]

$16.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[154031]

$7.00

Water Painters

[168253]

$13.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Petals Of Beauty Dies

[167095]

$35.00

← more color mondays - pool party, flirty flamingo and lemon lolly sneak peak more color mondays - petal pink, balmy blue and soft sea foam →

masculine textured notes card

by nataliegramleystamps | May 7, 2025 | card samples, die cutting, masculine cards, my favorites, stamps ink paper, techniques

I recently participated in a guy card swap and this is the card that I designed for the group that I swap with!

I absolutely love black and white paper I am drawn to it and this Botanical Textures paper from the Botanical Textures Suite is a great one!

This Suite features two Designer Series packages – one that is the black and white paper and one that is neutral colored woven textured paper. According to sales the Woven Textures is the more popular of the two!

The Botanical Textures Suite Collection #165563 includes:

TEXTURED NOTES BUNDLE #165556

TEXTURED NOTES CLING STAMP SET (10% off)
#165548
* 7 cling stamps
* Suggested clear blocks (sold separately): b, c, d, h

TEXTURED NOTES DIES (10% off) #165555
* 8 dies
* Largest die: 5-3/16″ x 3-3/16″ (13.2 x 8 cm)
* Use with a Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine

MINI CORRUGATED 3D EMBOSSING FOLDER
#165559
* 1 folder
* Size: 6″ x 6-1/4″ (15.2 x 15.9 cm)
* Use with a Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine

BOTANICAL TEXTURES 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER #165545
* 12 sheets of patterned paper: 2 each of 6 double-sided designs
* 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm)
* Acid free
* Lignin free

WOVEN TEXTURES 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER #165560
* 12 sheets of patterned paper: 3 each of 4 double-sided designs
* 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm)
* Acid free
* Lignin free

WHITE 1/4″ (6.4 MM) RIBBON #165562
* Width: 1/4″ (6.4 mm)
* Length: 10 yards (9.1 m)

NEUTRAL MATTE DOTS #165561
* 160 adhesive-backed pieces
* 4 mm, 5 mm
* Basic Beige, black, Pecan Pie, white

Product colors: Basic Beige, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Gray Granite, Pecan Pie, white

I stamped the leaf image in Smoky Slate on Basic White cardstock.

I used Post-it Labeling & Cover-up Tape to three consecutive Textured Notes dies – positioning them evenly.
Position it over the leaf image.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
scrap for sentiment die
4″ x 5 1/4″ for the 3 dies
Smoky Slate CS: 2″ x 5 1/2″
4″ x 5 1/4″ for the die (1 above the largest
three dies)
DSP: 2″ x 5 1/2″

Adhere the concentric three dies to the Smoky Slate Textured Notes dies.

Adhere the DSP layer to the left side of the card base.

Run the 2″ x 5 1/2″ Smoky Slate layer through the Mini Corrugated 3D embossing folder.
Adhere the 2″ Smoky Slate embossed layer to the right side of the base card.
Rub the corrugated side with a Blending Brush in Smoky Slate ink.

Place Stampin’ Dimensionals on the back of the Smoky Slate layer.

Place the die cut layers over the DSP and corrugated layer.

Stamp the sentiment in Smoky Slate ink and die cut with the smallest die in the Textured Notes die set.
Adhere the sentiment piece over the die cut layers.

Tap the Basic Black Stampin’ Write marker on a bone folder over the card to make splatter patterns on the card.

Adhere 5 Basic Gray and Smoky Slate pearls to finish the card!

This is a great masculine card! Try making a guy card with your supplies – now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Botanical Textures Suite Collection (English)

[165563]

$100.50

Textured Notes Bundle (English)

[165556]

$48.50

Textured Notes Cling Stamp Set (English)

[165548]

$23.00

Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad

[147113]

$9.00

Botanical Textures 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[165545]

$12.50

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131202]

$11.50

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]

$130.00

Textured Notes Dies

[165555]

$31.00

Basic Black Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154843]

$11.00

Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker

[162481]

$3.50

Basic Gray & Smoky Slate Pearls

[163416]

$7.50

← more color mondays - strawberry slush, timid tiger and darling duckling mixed media pop out fun fold →

peaceful evergreens ink blended card

by nataliegramleystamps | Sep 27, 2024 | card samples, Christmas card ideas, die cutting, embossing folders, masculine cards, new catalog, techniques

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