adding color to die cuts

adding color to die cuts

Sometimes a white on white card can be simple and stunning – but sometimes adding a pop of gradient color to the white card can make all the difference!

Here is a fun way to blend color onto die cuts to make your cards pop with an unexpected WOW factor!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ (2)
1 scored at 4 1/4″
1 left whole for coloring/die cutting
Basic White layer 4″ x 5 1/4″ embossed

Emboss the Basic White layer with the Fern 3D embossing folder.
Lightly blend Granny Apple Green ink with a blending brush over a half sheet of Basic White cardstock
Die cut holly leaves out of the ink blended paper.
Using a darker color ink (I used Old Olive) highlight the die cuts
Stamp and die cut the holly berries and the sentiment piece.
Layer the Fern 3D embossed piece on Stampin’ Dimensionals onto the base card.
Adhere the sentiment piece onto Dimensionals as well and adhere to the holly leaf die cut.
Add two holly die cuts and the holly berry die cut to the top of the sentiment piece.
Add three Rhinestone Basic Jewels below the sentiment piece to finish with a flair!

The holly leaves pop on the card – try this color blending technique on die cuts today and go out and make some art of your own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

3 – 2 – 1 dsp cards

3 – 2 – 1 dsp cards

For those of us paper hoarders or paper stashers – this post is for you!

I promised a few posts with ideas to use up some of that gorgeous DSP that we all love and it certainly makes beautiful cards and scrapbooking pages.

This post will make 13 cards from 6 6″ x 6″ DSP squares!

Measurements:
13 coordinating CS colors – 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
6 DSP sheets 6″ x 6″
additional embellishments

Here is the template for cutting your Designer Series Paper – I used the Boughs of Holly DSP and used each of the designs in the package.

Take your 6″ x 6″ DSP and cut at 1″, 2″ and 3″ vertically. Leave the 1″ strip whole, turn the 2″ piece , 90 degrees and cut at 4″ to make a 2″ x 4″ piece and a 2″ square piece, rotate the 3″ strip 90 degrees and cut in half at 3″ to make a 3″ square piece and the rotate back and cut the lower square in three 1 inch segments making 1″ x 3″ strips. (See photo below)
Layout #1 Take (15) of the 1″ x 3″ strips and adhere them to coordinating cardstock and embellish.
Lay the strips on the cardstock and arrange to the patterns and position of your choosing.
I embellished these cards with the red rhinestones and a sentiment piece.

Make 3 of this layout – samples are provided below.

You can adhere the strips vertically or horizontally!
Layout #2 uses one 2″ x 4″ strip and one 3″ x 3″ square and one 1″ x 3″ strip. Arrange to your liking and embellish!
here are the samples for Layout #2.
Here are all the Layout #2 samples I made.
Layout #3 uses one 2″ x 4″ strip (B – in initial diagram) and one 3″ square (D).
Here are Layout #3 samples.
Here are all the Layout #3 samples.
Layout #4 uses 2 of the 2″ squares (C) and one of the 1″ strips (A).
Positioned to your choosing horizontally or vertically! Then add embellishments and a sentiment.
For the next two samples I decided to use the backsides of the 2″ squares when I finally put the card together.
Here are all the Layout #4 samples.
Layout #5 uses the remaining 1″ strips.
This makes card making a snap and Christmas cards super easy!

Go and create some art of your own with your paper and stamps – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

boughs of holly suite collection product review and samples

boughs of holly suite collection product review and samples

There is something about Holly Leaves that just screams Christmas time – don’t you think? This new Suite Collection from the current July to December mini catalog is just stunning. The Designer Series Paper called Boughs of Holly is brightly colored with holly and poinsettias in rich shades of Cherry Cobbler, Real Red, Poppy Parade, Mossy Meadow, Evening Evergreen and Shaded Spruce. This DSP makes it super easy to make gorgeous Christmas cards in a snap!

My first sample uses a Cherry Cobbler base cardstock, the Boughs of Holly DSP (#159600) cut to 2″ x 5 1/2″ with a Crumb cake tone on tone piece Stamped with the large holly leaf from the Leaves of Holly stamp set (#159601) adhered atop the DSP. I colored the Textural Elements (#159966) in Cherry Cobbler Dark and Soft Suede Dark Stampin’ Blends markers directly to the wooden holly berry element and adhered it to the card with mini glue dots. I finished the card with a few silver pearls from the red and green adhesive backed pearls accessory (#159963)

This card sample starts with a Real Red cardstock base, a 2″ x 5 1/2″ piece of the Boughs of Holly DSP (#159600), bough die cuts in two sizes in Evening Evergreen, Basic White and Distressed Gold Specialty paper (#159237) arranged in a spray behind the “joy” sentiment piece. The ribbon is Pale Papaya Open Weave ribbon (#155672) colored with Real Red Dark Stampin’ Blends marker (#154899) to corrdinate with the cardstock perfectly!
The layered holly dies make this simple card! In a base layer of Soft Succulent cardstock layered with Evening Evergreen accen t overlay and the berries in a base color of Real Red cardstock overlaid with Cherry Cobbler accents makes a stunning popped up focal piece. Layered on the Silver foiled dotted DSP from the Snowflake Specialty paper (#159832) makes a gorgeous Christmas card to send to anyone special!
On an Evening Evergreen cardstock base, I layered two pieces of contrasting DSP the red polka dotted paper in a 3″ square and the Holly Berry and leaves paper in a 4″ x 5 1/4″ DSP piece. Accented with the Threaded Twine (#159662), the distressed Gold Specialty paper die cut holly berries from the Holly Berry dies set (#159607), stamped Crumb cake tone on tone holly berries and the Soft Succulent pearls from the Red and Green Adhesive Backed Pearls collection (#159963) to finish the card off!
The large poinsettia DSP is so pretty on both sides I decided to do a DSP flap card which I detailed in a recent blog post, so that you can see both sides of the paper when opening up the card! I added the Gold Satin Edged Ribbon (#159555) to the left edge and Gold pearls to the sentiment focal piece die cut from the Stylish Shapes die set and the Gold distressed Specialty paper die cut holly leaf popped up over the sentiment piece.
This card starts with Evening Evergreen CS with a 4″ x 5 1/4″ DSP that looks like birch tree bark to me. I fussy cut the poinsettias from the opposite side of the DSP and layered them around the sentiment piece, added a colored Textural Element and some red pearls to add some bling!
I think this tree background DSP makes an awesome masculine Christmas card, with the Distressed Gold Specialty paper die cut with the holly sentiment piece and lahyered above with Evening Evergreen and Crumb Cake cardstock.
My feature card begins my coloring the Textural Element with Cherry Cobbler Dark and Soft Suede Dark Stampin’ Blends markers.
Cut a 3″ wide piece of the silver foiled dotted Snowflake Specialty paper (#159832) and then cut it to 4 1/2″ x 3″ to layer on the Red DSP cut to 4″ x 5 1/4″. I stamped a holly leaf in Crumb Cake ink on Crumb Cake CS for a tone on tone effect and layered all of these on the card and added two die cut holly leaves in Old Olive and Mossy Meadow.
Here is the finished featured card with Red Pearls (#159963) on the popped up sentiment piece.
This Boughs of Holly Designer Series paper is gorgeous – check out all the rich, vibrant colors and patterns!
Never too soon to start crafting your Christmas cards – hope I inspired you to go out and create some beautiful art of your own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’

Natalie