mask - nataliegramleystamps

sunrise sailing mask card

by nataliegramleystamps | Jun 4, 2025 | card samples, die cutting, masks, online exclusives, stamps ink paper, techniques

We are busy! So please forgive the lateness of this post, I was building some IKEA furniture for my new studio late into the night and this morning and totally forgot to post this!

For those of you that do not know me well., I moved a a small lake town in Pennsylvania three years ago and we gutted a lake front property and designed and build our forever home. We had plans to do it in phases and we finally are almost done with the second phase!
We added on some space to the back of the house to include my dream stamping studio – and we are probably a month out from moving day! I am super excited and will share the project at it’s completion sometime in June/July!

Today’s card is a fun masking technique that I have done before taking a negative space from a die cut and creating a mask from it.

Measurements:
BASE: Cloud Cover CS: 5 1/2″ x 11″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
scrap for additional masking at least 4 1/2″
wide
Secret Sea CS: scraps for the boat dies

Cut a large circle die – I used my favorite die set the Stylish Shapes dies and cut a circle in the top center of a 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ piece of Basic White cardstock.
Place over the 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece.

Using Blending brushes and 3 inks: I used Strawberry Slush, Flirty Flamingo and Gorgeous Grape, blend through the mask creating a sunset circle.

Die cut the larger boat from the Sunrise Sailing die set in Secret Sea CS.
Place the boat where you will be adhering it on the card and stamp the water ripple image in Azure Afternoon ink below the boat.

Using a scrap piece of cardstock that is wider than the Basic White layer, plav=ce it across the paper directly above the ripple stamped image.

Blend with Azure Afternoon ink below the scrap mask or use masking paper!

Adhere the boat to the card above the ripple image.

Stamp the bird images around the sunset in Azure Afternoon ink.

Stamp congratulations from the Sunrise Sailing stamp set on the top of the card layer in Azure Afternoon ink.

Adhere the Basic White layer to the Cloud Cover card base.

Stamp a sentiment on the inside of the card!

Add Basic Rhinestones around the sentiment for the final sparkly touch and you are complete!

Try this simple masking technique today and see what you can create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Sunrise Sailing Bundle (English)

[165497]

$50.25

Sunrise Sailing Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[165491]

$20.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Cloud Cover 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[165621]

$14.00

Azure Afternoon Classic Stampin' Pad

[161663]

$9.00

Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad

[147052]

$9.00

Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad

[147099]

$9.00

Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Pad

[165286]

$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

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$15.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Stylish Shapes Dies

[159183]

$30.00

Sunrise Sailing Hybrid Embossing Folder

[165496]

$36.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$6.00

← more color mondays - petunia pop, azure afternoon and gorgeous grape florals in bloom anniversary card →

creating a scene inside a mask

by nataliegramleystamps | Sep 23, 2023 | card samples, stamps ink paper, techniques

Today we are creating a scene inside negative die space with strip scraps torn across the width to represent mountains and sky scenery.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic Gray 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White: layer 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ for die cut
4″ x 5 1/4″ for card front layer
and strip scraps for blending

you will notice in the picture I have two ink pads and blending brushes I switched out the Gray Granite for Smoky Slate ink to make the sky lighter.

Die cut a shape out of the 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ layer in the upper center space of the layer. Place the die cut layer over the 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer for blending.

Tear strip scraps in mountainous shapes and lay each one down over the die space. Blending the mountainous strips with lightly colored Night of Navy ink in a circular motion. Remove the first strip and add another above the first and repeat the blending. Do the same with a different third strip scrap.

Add straighter torn strips for the sky portion. I added strips with Smoky Slate blending then added a little setting sun colors in Crushed Curry and Cameo Coral.

Remove the die layer and add a silhouette stamp from the Magical Meadows stamp set from the new September to December catalog and a sentiment – this one is from the Charming Sentiments stamp set. Wrap the Black and white Gingham ribbon around the bottom of the layer and tie a knot.

Adhere that layer to the Basic Gray base.

I added some Irridescent Pearls to the berries section of the silhouette stamp and the card is complete!

See what dies and scenes you can make with this technique – and go create some art of your own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Charming Sentiments Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[159985]

$23.00

Winter Meadow Suite Collection (English)

[162150]

$96.50

Magical Meadow Cling Stamp Set (English)

[162134]

$27.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$10.50

Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[121044]

$10.00

Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad

[149165]

$9.00

Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad

[147110]

$9.00

Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad

[147113]

$9.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$26.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$7.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$12.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[138995]

$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$5.50

Paper Snips

[103579]

$11.00

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$13.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$128.00

Nested Essentials Dies

[161597]

$34.00

Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels

[158987]

$7.50

Black & White 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Gingham Ribbon

[156485]

$7.00

← new mini catalog swap cards more color mondays - cajun craze, wild wheat and pecan pie →

two step stencil technique

by nataliegramleystamps | Jun 23, 2023 | card samples, my favorites, stamps ink paper, techniques

I have used Masks in several posts previously but this technique uses a two step method.

BASE: Berry Burst CS 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ and a scrap for the
sentiment piece
Lemon Lime Twist scrap 1″ x 4 3/16″
Basic Black CS: 4″ square

Die cut the large flower die from the Artistic Dies in black CS.
Place the black CS negative piece on the Basic White CS piece.
Using a Blending Brush and Lemon Lime Twist, ink the edges where the negative space is for the leaves.

Ink the negative space in the center where the flowers would be with Highland Heather and Berry Burst ink and Blending Brushes.

Remove the Black CS negative die and place the mask from the Four Square Decorative Masks set and add another layer of ink with the same colors. Go over the Lemon Lime Twist over the mask where the areas underneath are Lemon Lime Twist.

Ink a blending brush with Highland Heather and Berry Burst over the areas where the same colors are.

Remove the mask.

Cut the Basic White CS and adhere to the card base.

Adhere the black die cut over the two step technique area.

Emboss the Lemon Lime strip and adhere to the right side of the card.

Stamp the sentiment from Wonderful Thoughts in Berry Burst. Die cut the sentiment with the large banner from the Stylish Shapes.
Cut the banner in half and pop up the sentiment on Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Add 2023-2025 In Color Dots to the card front.

Love the way this two step stencil technique turned out! Hope you try this technique soon – and create your own art one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Wonderful Thoughts Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[161899]

$25.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$10.50

Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[144243]

$10.00

Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[144245]

$10.00

Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad

[147143]

$9.00

Highland Heather Classic Stampin' Pad

[147103]

$9.00

Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad

[147145]

$9.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$26.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$7.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$12.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[138995]

$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$5.50

Paper Snips

[103579]

$11.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$128.00

Artistic Dies

[155371]

$35.00

Basics 3 D Embossing Folders

[161598]

$30.00

Foursquare Decorative Masks

[161285]

$10.00

2022 2024 In Color Matte Decorative Dots

[159186]

$8.00

← dsp four corner card more color mondays - fresh freesia, berry burst and lemon lime twist →

product review dots and spots die

by nataliegramleystamps | Sep 9, 2022 | card samples, product reviews

The Dots and Spots Die (#159164) is a versatile addition to your stamping supplies arsenal!

You can use the die to make a mask and using a blending brush through the mask make a polka dotted pattern on the card base as done in the first example.

I used Gorgeous Grape ink (#147099) and holding the paper mask in place with my left hand using circular motion with a blending brush (#153611) added ink to the mask to create the polka dot effect on the base for a fun, whimsical background. I added ink in a diagonal swath using the same blending brush and then fussy cut some of the irridescent snowflakes from the Snowflake Specialty Vellum paper. (#159832)

The sentiment is from the Perched in a Tree stamp set (#159791) in Gorgeous Grape ink.

This second card I die cut the Dots and Spots Die into the front of the card base directly and then mounted a Basic White 4 1/4 x 5 3/8″ piece of CS to the backside of the cardfront. I added a 3″ square piece of the Snowflake vellum to the front of the card with mini glue dots (#103683), added Festive Pearls and popped up the sentiment from Through it Together stamp set (#155796) with Mini Dimensionals (#144108)

This card below uses a layer of Mint Macaron cardstock (#138337) die cut and adhered to a Mint Macaron card base, I then added Basic White cardstock dots from another die cut and adhered then randomly within the negative spaces with MultiPurpose liquid glue (#110755)
I added a sentiment from the Simply Succulents stamp set (#154480) onto a Stylish Shapes die (#159183) piece with Mint Macaron ink (#147106). Finished off with Basic White cardstock dies from the Potted Succulents dies (#154330) and Festive Pearls (#159963)

It has been a while since I have broke out the Simply Succulents stamp set and I love to color these with the Stampin’ Blends markers! I used the Fresh Freesia Stampin’ Blends combo pack (#155518), Mint Macaron Stampin’ Blends combo pack (#147283) and the Mossy Meadow Stampin; Blends combo pack (#154890), die cut the image out using the Potted Succulents dies (#154330), I adhered the Dots and SApots Basic white layer onto the base cardstock with mini Stampin’ Dimensional (#144108) and added a sentiment from this stamp set and Festive Pearls to finish off the card!

I die cut another Basic White layer and this time layered it over a colored Mint Macaron base cardstock. I added a 3″ x 4″ piece of Mint Macaron cardstock embossed with the Wintry 3D embossing Folder (#155433), added Basic White die cuts from the Decorated Pines dies (#159710) and a red ornament from the same die set. I popped up a die and sentiment from the Brightest Glow Bundle (and finished with the red Festive Pearls (#159963)

I used some Blending Brushes and Real Red (#147084), Poppy Parade (#147050), Fresh Freesia (#155611) and Crushed Curry (#147087) ink to color a scrap piece of Basic White cardstock and die cut some Brilliant Wings butterfly dies (#155523) from that colored paper. Adhered it onto a Basic White cardstock died with the Dots and Spots die (#159164) and adhered with Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals (#144108) to the Basic Black Cardstock layer (#121045) (4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″) and then adhered that layer to the Basic White Cardstock base (#159276). Added a sentiment and die from the Brightest Glow bundle (#159552) and the red Festive Pearls (#159963) for the final sparkle!

This little single die adds so much to your stamping backgrounds as a mask or a layer! Try your hand at a card with it soon and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’

Natalie

Product List