masculine cards - nataliegramleystamps

may online exclusives debut tomorrow

by nataliegramleystamps | Apr 30, 2025 | card samples, die cutting, embossing folders, masculine cards, my favorites, online exclusives, stamps ink paper

Tomorrow the May Online Exclusives debut and there are so many great new items becoming available.

One of my favorites is the Sunrise Sailing hybrid bundle. Today’s card is an easy retirement card.

Measurements:
BASE: Coastal Cabana CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
score at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″, scrap for the
sentiment piece and the sailboat image.

Emboss the Basic White cardstock layer with the Sunrise Sailing hybrid embossing folder.

Stamp the sailboat image in Tuxedo Black Memento ink.

Stamp sailing stripes in Coastal Cabana across the sail boat.

Stamp the “HAPPY retirement” in Coastal Cabana ink on the Basic White strip.

Cut a banner edge on the sentiment strip and color the strip with a blending brush.

Adhere the embossing folder on the Coastal Cabana base.

Die cut the sailboat, curve the sails with a bone folder and pop it up over the sailboat on the embossed layer.

Pop up the sentiment piece under the sailboat.

Place three Rainbow Adhesive-backed Dots around the sailboat.

Check out this new bundle as well as others that debut tomorrow! The click-able photos will not contain the new products until they are available tomorrow!

Hope you create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131297]

$11.50

Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad

[147097]

$9.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$8.00

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

Water Painters

[151298]

$13.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00

Rainbow Adhesive Backed Dots

[162758]

$9.00

← more color mondays - cloud cover, pretty in pink, and blackberry bliss faux linen technique card →

experimenting in water, ink and stripes with textured notes bundle

by nataliegramleystamps | Apr 18, 2025 | card samples, die cutting, masculine cards, stamps ink paper, techniques

The other day I was playing around with the Painted Stripes background stamp. I wanted to experiment with water and ink and see what the difference would be between applying ink directly to the stamp and spritzing with water or applying the ink directly to the glass mat studio and spraying it down and then dipping the stamp into the inky water?

I got a bunch of 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White sheets and started to play with the ink and water!
First I applied Pool Party onto the Glass Matt and then applied Pretty Peacock ink directly above the Pool Party ink. I sprayed water from a Stampin’ Spritzer until the colors were fluid and started to blend in the middle.

I placed the Painted Stripes background stamp into the inky water and then placed it onto the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer and held it in place while the ink and water soaked into the card stock.

Next I placed the Pool Party ink pad over the cleaned Painted Stripes stamp set and inked about half of the stripes.

Then I inked the top half of the Painted Stripes stamp set with the Pretty Peacock ink pad.

I sprayed water from a spray bottle or Stampin’ Spritzer over the entire surface of the Painted Stripes stamp.

I placed a 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White Cardstock layer over the Painted Stripes stamp that is on the table facing upwards (this way the water does not run but stays in place) and rub the back side of the cardstock holding the paper in place so it does not shift.

I resprayed the stamp surface and placed a second piece of cardstock over the surface this will produce a lighter softer version of the first but still pretty as there is enough ink to do this at least twice!

Allow to dry before using.

I found that the first version turned out lighter than the full strength second version! But the second spraying of the second ink direct to stamp version looked a lot like the first ink on glass version without a lot less mess!
Answer achieved! I liked the second version better but the first one was messy fun!

I cut a few dies from the Textured Notes die set from the prepared watercolor sheets. This die set is a series of concentric rectangles with all different types of embossed edging – so very cool – perfect for cards as well as scrapbooking!

I cut a 4 1/4″ x 11″ piece of Basic White cardstock and scored it at 5 1/2″.
I stamped the smaller leaved foliage in Pool Party ink on opposite diagonal ends of the card base and flicked some inked water from a Water Painter over the card base surface.

I stamped the larger leaved foliage on the larger Basic White die in Pretty Peacock ink.

I cut a smaller die with the stripes in the opposite direction from one of the watercolored layers. I stamped the sentiment in Pretty Peacock ink and die cut one die up in Pool Party card stock. I popped the sentiment piece up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhered it to the Pool Party die and added it to the middle of the card above the other stamped die piece.

I colored some Iridescent Pearls with the Dark Pretty Peacock Stampin’ Blends marker.

I added the pearls to the card front.

I added some more splatters with a Water Painter and the left over inky water on the glass matte surface.

I thought the card needed a little more color and a die cut one up from the larger Basic White die on the card as it was blending into the card and you could not see the lovely Textured Notes die edging – so I cut the larger die in Pretty Peacock card stock and mounted it under the original rectangle.
This made the first die cut pop and looks so much better I think.

I keep the card in the order I designed it to show you all sometimes you go back at the end and add one thing to make the card even better! Do not hesitate to add and play if you feel the card is missing something – usually your gut is right!

Hope you get a chance to have a play with stamps, ink and paper this week! Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Painted Stripes Cling Stamp Set

[165437]

$20.00

Textured Notes Bundle (English)

[165556]

$48.50

Textured Notes Cling Stamp Set (English)

[165548]

$23.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[122924]

$11.50

Pretty Peacock 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[150880]

$11.50

Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

[147107]

$9.00

Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad

[150083]

$9.00

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

Water Painters

[151298]

$13.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00

Textured Notes Dies

[165555]

$31.00

Pretty Peacock Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[161676]

$11.00

Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels

[158987]

$7.50

← 2025 OnStage fun fold swap cards bonus post - hoppy easter treat box →

for the guys swap

by nataliegramleystamps | May 19, 2023 | card samples, card swap, stamps ink paper, techniques

I love card swaps! This past month was “For the Guys”, a masculine card swap. Most crafter’s find it difficult to design more masculine cards. I am always grateful for new ideas for guy cards!

The first swap card is from Lyn L and contains stamping and die cuts Grassy Grove bundle (retired). The Pool Party cardstock diagonally cut is embossed with the Metal plate 3D embossing folder. The sentiment is stamped in Early Espresso ink with the stamp set Biggest Wish.

Denise W’s swap card features the (retired) Let’s Set Sail punch bundle in Crumb Cake cardstock, Pool Party ink and Cardstock and Basic White and Black – i striking masculine color combination!

Judy M’s guy swap card uses the Lattice card technique. “many templates are available to download off the web. I like to attach/cut on the back so the large open space ends up on the bottom of the fold,” she writes in her swap recipe card. She used the Wildlife Wonder (#157923), Rays of Light background stamp (#158925) Mossy Meadow cardstock and ink, Daffodil Delight ink, Early Espresso ink, and Very Vanilla Cardstock. Great male vibes!

The new Zoo Crew whimsical Suite collection is the highlight of Lori V’s guy swap card. The Designer Series Paper in this suite, Zoo Crew 12″ x12″ DSP is colorful and zany with all the Zoo Crew animals on one side and gorgeous black and white geometric patterns on the other – so so versatile! She uses the alligator image colored with Stampin’ Blends and coordinates it with matching cardstock and black and white DSP highlights! A guy card that proves you don’t need to stick to neutral colors to be masculine!

BV’s guy swap card features the He’s the Man (retired) suite and the He’s the Man DSP great card in traditional colors!

This guy swap card from Marcy W. uses the Brewed for You (#159087) set which carried over into the new Annual Catalog on the bottom of page 92! Granny Apple Green makes a bold and colorful background for the beer mug and jug that are expertly colored with Soft Suede (retired) and Smoky Slate Blends and Crushed Curry and Mango Melody (retired) Stampin’ Write markers!

This swap card contains a clever use of the background stamp from the Artistically Inked stamp set that also carried over into the new catalog on page 114 with Pecan Pie ink and Old Olive a great color combination from Carol S. She also uses Nature’s Prints stamps and dies and the Basics 3D Embossing folder for the small strip of Mossy Meadow cardstock in the card’s middle!

I love the delightful use of color by LeAnne P’s swap card Tahitian Tide and Parakeet party will brighten any Dad’s day with this cute and cheerful card. Charming Sentiments (#159985) is stamped in Parakeet party on the inside of this fancy fold card and Best Family Ever (#160720) garners the spot in the circle die at the top and both sentiment sets carried over on pages 18 and 36 respectively! I will highlight this fun fold in a future blog post so keep watch for it!

Marie W’s creative use of masking on this masculine card is awesome creating a look of layering without the extra paper – I love the look. She uses Crumb Cake card base and Very Vanilla cardstock as the layer, sticky notes as the masking paper and Blending Brushes with Calypso Coral and (retired) Mango Melody ink! The Memento Tuxedo Black ink makes the perfect silhouetter stamping for the grassy grove stamps and deer die which also carried over to the new catalog on page 84.

Rachelle M’s Guy swap card features Taco Fiesta and Something Fancy stamp set. The card uses Stitched With Whimsy dies and the Alphabet A’ la mode dies. The Taco Fiesta stamp set is a fun whimsical set and this happy birthday card is perfect for the guy swap.

I hope these creative examples will give you some great masculine ideas for card for all those special guys in your life! Now go out and create some art of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List