changing leaves water color paper negative and left over cards

changing leaves water color paper negative and left over cards

Did you love that watercolor paper we made last week for Friday’s water-colored Friends for Life card? I had lots of extra as I only cut one die from each colored sheet so I cut out as many leaves as i could fit on that paper and saved the negative space and the leaves for another day! Well I loved the extras and just couldn’t wait to create some cards with the dies and negative spaces left so today’s blog post is all about the cards created from the left-overs!

Since the colors of the watercolor paper created were Poppy Parade, Gorgeous Grape, Crushed Curry, Azure Afternoon and Lemon Lime Twist – I cut multiple pieces of those colors of card stock in 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ lengths scored at 4 1/4″ and was ready to start creating!

The first card I used a Lemon Lime Twist case with a Basic White 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer embossed with the Painted Texture 3D embossing folder. Then I adhered one of each of the colored die cuts to the card front and added a sentiment strip with the happy birthday sentiment from the Country Birdhouse stamp set. I added Adhesive-backed Shiny Sequins in matching green to finish it off with a lot of sparkle!
I took the five Basic White water-colored layers and created cards with each of them.
The next card I grabbed the Lemon Lime Twist negative space layer added Lemon Lime Twist 6″ x 6″ DSP behind the negative openings and adhered that to a Lemon Lime Twist card base.
I stamped a sentiment in Lemon Lime Twist ink on a Stylish Shapes circle die from the Unbounded love stamp set and added a leaf die cut from that Unbounded love die set. I mounted that circle die onto a Nested Essentials Lemon Lime Twist die and adhered it to the card front and then added the Shiny sequins to finish off this card.
The Poppy Parade negative layer was next and I essentially designed it exactly the same as the last card but added a different sentiment from the Unbounded Love set in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and added Iridescent Discs to match the card color scheme.
For my Crushed Curry version of the negative layer card I used the edge of the water-colored paper as the sentiment scrap for the Country Birdhouse happy birthday sentiment and the shiny sequins.
For the last two negative layer cards I mixed up the background paper and added two colors of DSP in 2″ sections.
The Gorgeous Grape card I changed to a vertical orientation and added a Lemon Lime Twist leaf on the Grape side and the Gorgeous Grape leaf on the Lime side for contrast. A round circle sentiment piece from Unbounded Love stamp set and Stylish Shapes dies sets off the sparkle from the Shiny sequins in green!
For the Azure AFternoon negative layer I added Gorgeous Grape and Azure DSP under the negative openings and did the leaves alternating colors like the last card. I also added alternating shading to the sentiment circle and Iridescent Adhesive-Backed Discs for the sparkle!
I had a bunch of die cut leaves to use up so I took some 6″ x 6″ matching DSP in Regals for the Crushed Curry and Gorgeous Grape.
I cut one piece at 2″ x 5 1/2″ and used the 1/2″ leftover for the banner. I cut the opposite side at 2 1/4″ x 4 1/2″. Layered it to the left of the striped DSP and popped up a sentiment in the middle. I added a Crushed Curry watercolored leaf die under the sentiment circle die and added shiny sequins on the sentiment piece and the banner.
I did a similar Poppy Parade layout with a 1 3/8″ x 5 1/2″ strip of floral DSP down the card and 2 12/” x 4 1/4″ piece of Striped DSP across the card front. I popped up another Stylish Shapes circle die and added a Poppy Parade leaves die and Iridescent discs for the sparkle!
The last two left over cards I literally used the bits and pieces of the DSP and made cards with the remaining leaves.
The first card is on a Lemon Lime Base and features all the scraps from the Poppy Parade, Gorgeous Grape and Lemon Lime DSP. Since there are alot of colors to this card I kept the patterns of the DSP the same and the more neutral stripes as opposed to the busier floral pattern. I added three colors of leaves in Azure Afternoon, Crushed Curry and Lemon Lime Twist and added two smallest circle dies from the Stylish Shapes set. I used the omitting technique and only inked up part of the “little one” stamp inking “little’ first and stamping higher on the small circle and then cleaning the stamp very well and inking just the word “one” and stamping in below. This allows you to stamp a longer horizontal line of words into a smaller space! I added shiny sequins and this card is complete!
The last card in this leftover series LOL is adhered to a Gorgeous Grape base card. I took three strips of Gorgeous Grape, Azure Afternoon and Lemon Lime Twist and adhered them across the card front. I added contrasting leaves and stamped the sentiments Faith, Hope and Love in the remaining circles dies I had left from the Stylish Shapes dies set. I added “makes the world a better place” along the bottom of the card front and added iridescent discs to finish off the card!
It is amazing the lovely cards you can make with extras from other projects and the negative spaces of your die cuts – try this sometime and let me know what treasures you can create!
Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

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Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
bokeh background with golden greenery

bokeh background with golden greenery

Besides stamping, I love photography! The Bokeh effect has always reminded me of those pictures people take of Christmas lights where the lights are out of focus and there are loads of white circles covering the page – like the photo below!
For today’s blog post I am going to teach you an easy method for recreating this effect! All you need is a circle mask made from punches or dies and white ink!

Measurements:
BASE: Pretty Peacock: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Basic White: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ for masks
4″ x 5 1/4″ for the outside layer
scraps for die cut and sentiment piece.

I did a watercolor wash on an acrylic block. I used the Stampin’ Up! E acrylic block and applied ink direct to the block from the lemon Lime Twist ink pad directly onto the E block in the center.

I added Lost Lagoon to the left side of the block and Pretty Peacock to the right side.
I misted the surface of the acrylic block with water.
Spray enough water so that the ink starts to run together and dose not have a lot of beading on the surface.
Place the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer over the acrylic block and rub gently so that the water and ink absorb into the paper. Pick up and place another paper on the ink – you usually can get two impressions from one ink application – the second will be lighter but still pretty!
Allow to air dry or if in a hurry dry with the Heat Tool.
Every paper turns out with slight variations – I simply LOVE this technique for creating awesome watercolored backgrounds!

Here are some of the papers I created.

Create a mask with multiple different sized circle openings – I used the four smallest circles from the Stylish Shapes die set!
Place over the dried watercolor paper.
Using a Blending brush and the Craft White ink – I squeezed a few drops of re-inker in the ink lid and brushed the ink onto the blending brush.
Using a circular motion I applied the ink over the mask – in a variety of sizes and depths of color.
Remove the mask – reposition and repeat the blending brush ink application until the desired Bokeh effect is achieved.
Stamp a sentiment I chose a sentiment from the new Online Exclusives Greetings of the Season in Pretty Peacock. I fussy cut the sentiment and blended Pretty Peacock ink over the cut surface of the sentiment! I also cut a die from the Golden Greenery die set in Basic White scrap.
I adhered the watercolored layer to the Pretty Peacock base. I popped up the fussy cut sentiment piece onto the lower left hand corcer of the card front.
I popped up the die on mini Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhered it to the top right corner.
I added some white pearlescent sequins from the Adhesive-Backed Sequins Trio to finish off the card.

This effect has always reminded me of Christmas lights so I thought it perfect for this first Christmas card of the season!

Try this Bokeh effect soon and let me know what

using blending brushes to create the background

using blending brushes to create the background

I try to show a wide variety of techniques and card ideas for beginners to advanced stampers and today’s card is one that is simple enough for the beginner and has so many possibilities for the advanced stamper!

Creating your own backgrounds on cards can be so much fun and they are never the same!

This card features Changing Leaves – one of the new Online Exclusive bundles and this one is amazing with a hybrid embossing folder and beautifully intricate leaves and sentiments!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scrap Basic White for the die cut leaves

Pick out a number of green inks – I am using Garden Green, Granny Apple Green, Lemon Lime Twist, Old Olive and Shaded Spruce.

Using Blending Brushes, pull the head of the Blending brush through the ink pad and in a circular motion run the blending brush down the left side of the card base creating a column of color. I used the inks in the order I listed them. This first column is Garden Green.

Next I inked a different Blending brush with Granny Apple Green ink and created the next column just to the right of the first column.
Continue adding color columns the entire way across the card base.
To make this card more advanced you could also take a flick speckles of color over the columns to add some depth and dimension – I chose to leave mine plain.
Die cut five leaf die images from the Changing Leaves die set and one sentiment piece.

Adhere the leaves over each color column.

Stamp the sentiment in Old Olive ink and use the blending brush to add color around the outside edge by holding the sentiment die and running the brush in an up and down motion over the edge.
Pop up the sentiment piece with Stampin’ Dimensionals and add over the die cut leaves.
I added iridescent Pearls to finish off my Changing Leaves card and I love how it turned out and how easy and fun it was to make!

Try this technique with any of the stamp pads you have and see what color combinations you can come up with!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – lost lagoon, melon mambo and lemon lime twist

more color mondays – lost lagoon, melon mambo and lemon lime twist

So the end of March and beginning of April are always a very busy time for Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators as we prepare for the Last Chance Lists and the upcoming New Annual Catalog.
Every year around this time I clean out my stamping stash of everything that is on the Last Chance List and prepare to sell them at my New Catalog Open House and after my customers have first chance at them I sell them on-line! I also clean out all my samples that I have made and acquired over the last year that was made with any of the retiring products – I collect them into sets of 10 and place them into great acrylic boxes to sell as well!

Below is a photo of some of the new boxes I put together – they make great gifts or just to have a stash of cards at home so you do not have to run to the store for a last minute card!

I sell them for $20 for 10 cards or 2 boxes of 10 for $30 (you cannot get cards of this quality for $1.50-2.00 anymore!)
I also will customize the boxes for you for $25/box you can choose 5 birthday and 5 thank yous or whatever mix you choose!

Today’s More Color Monday features Lost Lagoon, Melon Mambo and Lemon Lime Twist, I made a simple card and a stepped up version for this color challenge!

I chose one of my favorite retiring stamps and die sets Artistically Inked and Artistic Dies!
There is a background stamp that when I first saw this set I thought looked like a gerbil and I thought I would never use it then I played with it and it makes the coolest backgrounds!

Measurements
BASE: Basic White CS 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
1″ x 3 1/4″ strips (3 of them)
scrap for the sentiment piece, and roses
flower dies
Melon Mambo 1 1/4″ x 3 1/2″
Lost Lagoon 1 1/4″ x 3 1/2″
Lemon Lime Twist 1 1/4″ x 3 1/2″

Stamp the long background stamp in the three different colors on the 1″ x 3 1/4″ strips of Basic White CS. Stamp the smaller rose flower in each of the ink colors and die cut.
Adhere each of the 1″ strips to the matte of the corresponding cardstock color. Stamp the Happy Birthday sentiment in Melon Mambo and add the background stamp in the other two ink colors off the edges to add depth and dimension to the sentiment piece. Cut on a diagonal on both ends.
Adhere the matted stamped 1″ strips to the center of the card front.
I popped up the roses in alternating colors diagonally on the matted background pieces.
Adhere the sentiment piece to the top right hand corner of the card.
I added In Color Pearls to the card but I decided to step it up even further!
I stamped the larger flower in Lemon Lime Twist and them added Lost Lagoon ink to the edges with a Blending Brush. I pulled up the center Melon Mambo rose and added the larger flower underneath.
Using extra Basic White scraps to die cut the leaves from the Artistic dies and separate them into smaller clusters, I tucked them under the roses.
For the simpler card I used the same colored cardstock scraps and added them to a Basic White card front in a geometric pattern.
I die cut my favorite die from the Artistic dies in Basic White and adhered it over the colored cardstock. I added Melon Mambo ink with a Blending Brush to the hello sentiment piece and added some In Color Pearls to finish off this SIP – stamps, ink , paper card!
Try your hand at this color combination and go create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

what can you do with just one stamp set?

what can you do with just one stamp set?

If you fall in love with paper crafting – in the beginning it can be overwhelming! There is so much to choose from and many of us WANT it all!! LOL! But you can do so many things with one versatile stamp set!
Recently I had a new member of my team over to stamp and she wanted to stamp with one of the stamp sets she had purchased in her starter kit so she could have samples to show at her first workshop!
So I picked out every color from the Brights Collection – you can purchase an assortment pack of cardstock in each collection and receive 20 sheets – 2 of each of the 10 colors in that collection for $10. Cut the cardstock in half to make a standard card and that pack will give you 40 cards!
Here are the cards we stamped the other day together with her set Inked and Tiled!
We used the coordinating ink pad but just as easily have used just the Versamark ink pad to create the same tone on tone color coordination!
The first color in the collection is Poppy Parade and we stamped the line stamp along the right edge of the card and stamped the long stemmed flowers a few times across the left hand side of the card. I used the spotlight technique to add a little interest to this version. I stamped the flower heads onto the bottom of a small circle punch and adhered it over the middle flower group. I stamped the just a note sentiment on the top and trimmed the edge of the circle that hung over the card.
I colored the vanilla and gold ribbon with a Stampin’ Blends to match to step this card up but it is not necessary for the beginner stamper!
For the Mambo Melon card we stamped the single flower across the card front and then cut from the score line at 1″ from each edge. Adhere the small panels to the card base and leave the middle panel as the card opening.
We stamped a 2 1/2″ x 4″ Basic White layer in Mambo Melon Ink with the single matching flower and the “hello Friend” sentiment, adhered it across horizontally and added embellishments to finish this card!
For the Flirty Flamingo card, I stamped the same single flower but only on the right edge of the card. Stamped “lots of love” sentiment on 1/4″ strips and adhered them at different lengths to add visual appeal to the card! I added ribbon and embellishments to step it up a notch!
For the Pumpkin Pie card I used three of the flower stamps from this set to make this “happy birthday” card. I stamped the small double flowers down each edge. Stamped the long stemmed flowers on a 2″ x 5 1/2″ strip of Basic White and used a Blending brush for the edging. I took a 1″ strip of Basic White for the happy birthday sentiment and added the small single flower on one side. I added blending to the sentiment piece, popped it up for some depth and dimension and added some embellishments to finish off the card!
The next card in the collection is Daffodil Delight! Bright and Cheery I stamped the long stemmed flowers across the bottom of the card. Stamped the flower tops on the sentiment strip and happy birthday sentiment in the same ink! I popped up the sentiment for a little dimension and added Lemon Lolly embellishments for some yellow accents. I stepped this one up with a little White ink flicked on the card surface with a water painter.
I used the leaf stamp for the next two colored cards – this one in Lemon Lime Twist! I punched the sentiment piece from the Lasting Labels punch and stamped the leaf image on the left side and the Thank you on the lower right. I added Iridescent rhinestones for some sparkle and popped it up over the Natural Wavy Trim for some added texture and interest!
This card is a great example of a beginner card using a Basic White card stock strip instead of ribbon to add the visual interest without using another product! I stamped the little stamen like image on the top of the card and the leaves on the bottom and added the “lots of love” sentiment across the strip that separated the two images.
If you wanted to step up this card try adding Wink of Stella to the leaves for a little sparkle!
The coastal Cabana card is a stepped up card using an acrylic block and both a Granny Apple Green stamp pad and the Coastal Cabana one applied directly to half of the block. I sprayed the block with water and “stamped” it onto the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer. After it dried I added the long stemmed flower image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I added the Black and Vanilla gingham ribbon and Adhesive-backed Sparkle Gems for a little bling!
The Azure Afternoon card uses the small double flower bud image stamped in a round circular pattern and then again in the opposite direction around the outside of the card edge.
I stamped the bud image once on a circle punch and the “hello Friend” sentiment on the lower opposite side of the bud image. I bledned the edges with a Blending Brush and to step this up I embossed the circle punch and popped it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The last color in the Bright Collection is Berry Burst and this card used the line image as a background diagonally on the base card. I stamped the single flower image on a 2″ x 5 1/2″ piece of Basic White cardstock and then embossed it with the Basics 3D embossing folder to step it up! I stamped the happy birthday sentiment full strength on a small circle punch and stamped the same flower image stamped off once around the edges and Blended the circle with Berry Burst ink and a Blending Brush! I added embellishments for a little sparkle.
Ten different and interesting cards – one pack of paper, one stamp set and one set of ink pads or a single Versamark pad. Add a few embellishments and a Blending brush and the possibilities are endless!
Try using a single stamp set in different colors and see what you can create! Now go and make some artwork of your very own – one stamp set at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Paper Snips
[103579]
$11.00