masking with negative die spaces - nataliegramleystamps

building a reflection with light and wonder set

by nataliegramleystamps | Oct 24, 2025 | card samples, die cutting, my favorites, new catalog, techniques

Have you ever wondered how to create a water reflection scene on a card? Well today I will describe my process that I used to create these cards for this reflection post!

Measurements:
BASE: Gorgeous Grape CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic Black CS: 2: x 5 1/2″

Die cut the Basic Black layer with the smaller tree die from the Light & Wonder bundle.

Take the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer and create a mirror image of the colors you choose for the sunset. I used Gorgeous Grape, Poppy Parade and Pumpkin Pie.

I started with the deepest color (Gorgeous Grape) on top and less on the bottom I used a circular motion for the color on the top but a back and forth motion on the bottom.

I continued with the second deepest color (Poppy Parade) below the Gorgeous Grape and less on the bottom just above the grape – I used a circular motion for the color on the top but a back and forth motion on the bottom.

I colored the middle of the layer with the Pumpkin Pie color and blending brush.

I positioned the die cut and the negative die cut above and below one another to get an idea of the placement.

Using a blending brush and Gray Granite ink I brushed in an upward stroke over the negative die space. Darker on the bottom and lighter as I stroked upward.

I colored over the bottom of the Basic White layer below the tree shadow reflections with a blending brush and Azure Afternoon ink for the water – because there is already color there the blue will color over but not completely mask the color so it looks like the water is reflecting the color in the sky! I placed more blue color closer to the tree line and less at the bottom of the layer.

Using a water painter and a drop of Craft White ink refill I lightly brushed side to side with the brush to streak the water with white lines and then went over the center area with a Wink of Stella glitter pen for a little sparkle!

I stamped the sentiments in Gorgeous Grape ink at the top of the layer.

Adhere the tree die just above the reflection shadow and cut off the overhang.

Adhere the colored layer onto the Gorgeous Grape card base.

I added three of the purple hued Frosted Iridescent Dots from the Lights of Aurora Suite Collection around the sentiment to finish off this stunning card with coordinating sparkle!

The first card that I did with this technique I tried Crushed Curry at the bottom inside of mirroring the colors and it took on a brighter tone like it captured the moments before the sun goes down! Two different looks just by experimenting with the colors used on the background! Try this technique and let me know what you create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Lights Of Aurora Suite Collection (English)

[165768]

$81.25

Light & Wonder Bundle (English)

[165763]

$51.25

Light & Wonder Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[165756]

$19.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

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

[121045]

$14.00

Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146987]

$14.00

Azure Afternoon Classic Stampin' Pad

[161663]

$9.00

Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad

[147087]

$9.00

Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad

[147099]

$9.00

Gray Granite Classic Stampin' Pad

[147118]

$9.00

Poppy Parade Classic Stampin' Pad

[147050]

$9.00

Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad

[147086]

$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

Water Painters

[168253]

$13.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Light & Wonder Dies

[165762]

$38.00

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

[141897]

$9.00

Frosted Iridescent Dots

[165766]

$9.00

← new packaging tips and tricks more color mondays - real red, old olive and pool party - swing door fun fold →

pressed flowers color mask card

by nataliegramleystamps | Jul 30, 2025 | card samples, die cutting, embossing folders, In Colors, masks, online exclusives, techniques

Sometimes you just need a pretty and simple birthday card and the summer is prime birthday season for my BIG family – so I need lots of cards! This card fits the bill all around – fast and easy but stunning in it’s simplicity!

Welcome to the new Pressed Flowers embossing folder (#165614) is part of the new Online Exclusives Floral Impressions Suite. It is a regular embossing folder and so sweet and simple.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″, 4 1/4″ x 51/2″ piece,
4″ x 5 1/4″ and 2 scraps for die cuts

That’s it! I told you this one was simple!

Take the Basic White layer and run it through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine using the base plate #1 and sandwich the folder between two cutting plates #3’s and run through!

Take a Basic White scrap and cut one small butterfly die from the Beautiful Butterflies die set and the long thin banner die from the Stylish Shapes die set.

Color the butterfly using Petunia Pop ink and a blending brush.

Take the 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ quarter sheet of cardstock and die cut the fourth from the smallest rectangular die from the Textured Notes die set (save the die for another use).
We will be using the negative space created by the die cut.

Place the negative die cut directly on the embossed layer and color with a blending brush and Coastal Cabana ink on the top right hand corner inside the negative space.

Color the lower half diagonally from the top left corner to the bottom two corners with Petunia Pop ink and a blending brush slightly overlapping the Petunia Pop over the previously colored Coastal Cabana.

Remove the negative die space mask from the embossed layer.

Tie and knot a length of Petunia Pop ribbon around the embossed layer.

Adhere the ribbon embossed layer onto the card front with even borders.

Pop up the small butterfly die onto the upper right edge of the colored area.

Stamp the Happy Birthday sentiment image in Petunia Pop ink onto the Stylish Shapes banner die.

Lightly color the banner with the Petunia Pop blending brush without re-inking it so you get a subtler color on the sentiment piece.

Pop up on Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals and place on the lower portion of the card slightly above the ribbon.

Place three coordinating 2024-2026 In Color Flat Pearls to the card to finish this easy birthday card! Now time to mail it off!

It’s your turn to make a cute and easy birthday card – try your hand at this negative space masking technique with things you have in your stash! Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Beautiful Butterflies Bundle (English)

[164615]

$59.25

Beautiful Butterflies Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[164608]

$24.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad

[147097]

$9.00

Petunia Pop Classic Stampin Pad

[163811]

$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

Beautiful Butterflies Hybrid Embossing Folder

[164614]

$42.00

Stylish Shapes Dies

[159183]

$30.00

Textured Notes Dies

[165555]

$31.00

Petunia Pop 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Iridescent Ribbon

[166203]

$9.50

← more color mondays - berry burst, lemon lime twist and gorgeous grape beautiful gallery dsp frame card →

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 →

nests of winter suite card – new mini catalog products

by nataliegramleystamps | Sep 6, 2024 | card samples, Christmas card ideas, die cutting, techniques

Today’s blog features the Nests of Winter Suite of products – one of the coolest things in this suite in my opinion is the frame die of foliage. Today I am using the negative space of that frame die to create a background for the card!

Measurements:
BASE: Pecan Pie 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Mossy Meadow layer 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White layer. 3 3/4″ x 5″
scrap for sentiment piece
Basic Beige scrap for birds stamp

Stamp the double birds in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on Basic Beige cardstock.

Using the Cherry Cobbler watercolor pencils – color the berries.

Color the bird with Balmy Blue watercolor pencil.

Color the bird’s belly with the Crushed Curry watercolor pencil.

Color the branches with Pecan Pie watercolor pencil.

Using a water painter color each colored section starting with the lightest color and then brush the water painter until it paints clear and paint the next darkest color until all colors are watercolored.

Die cut the frame from the Nest of Winter and use the negative die space for the mask, place the mask in the center of the Basic White layer and with a blending brush color the outside edges of the Basic White layer over the mask with Mossy Meadow ink.

Turn the mask 180 degrees and without reinking the blending brush brush the remaining color over the edges of the mask which will result in a lighter color bledning over the mask.

Adhere the Mossy Meadow layer onto the Pecan Pie card base.

Adhere the Basic White layer onto the card base slightly tilted.

Die cut the largest circle from the Stylish Shapes die set and stamp the sentiment in Mossy Meadow ink and drag the blending brush across the edges to just give the edges a little color.
Adhere to the lower left hand corner of the card.

Pop the double bird image up onto Stampin’ Dimensionals and layer in the upper right hand corner of the card.

I added two cork embellishments around the sentiment and the card is complete.

Sometimes using the negative space that might easily just get tossed in the trash produces a beautiful unexpected background! Try using those negative die spaces and see what you can create – one die, one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie