monochromatic cards - nataliegramleystamps

introducing the new stampin’ positioner – available in starter kits now

by nataliegramleystamps | Feb 4, 2026 | card samples, color theory, masculine cards, new catalog, stampin' tools, stamps ink paper, techniques

Stampin’ Up! has introduced the NEW Stampin’ positioner and we are so excited about this new tool. It is currently available to demonstrators as a pre-order and in the starter kits as a FREE bonus item! It will be available to customers soon!

Truthfully I loved our former stamp positioner and was sad to see it go away but this one works very well and I am so ready to have a new tool to use!

The press and pop design is genius and it allows you to hover the stamp over the surface without it touching the paper until you press down on the upper platform piece allowing you one last chance to make sure that the stamp is in the correct position! I love this feature!

This card uses the smaller leaf cluster from the Textured Notes stamp set to make a repetitive stamped wreath!

Measurements:
BASE: Old Olive CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Basic White CS: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″

On the platform there is a etched paper corner that allows you to line up your paper and turn it and place it in the exact position!

The positioner comes with 5 pieces: 1 magnetic base plate, 2 magnets designed with plastic lift tabs (brilliant), 1 large stamp plate and one small alignment plate.

I aligned the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer in the corner marking shown in the first photo. I secured the paper with the 2 magnets.

Place the stamp sticky flat side up positioned on the paper where you want the image.

Place the large stamp plate in the four posts and press down on the plate to pick up the stamp.

Sometimes new stamps come with a residue and can stick to the paper to prevent this clean the new stamps before using.

Remove the large stamping plate and ink the stamp. Place the large stamping plate back in the four posts of the base.

It hovers over the surface without touching the paper so you can make sure the stamp is in perfect alignment!

Press down on the large stamping plate to stamp and then remove the stamping plate from the base to see if the stamp has transferred to your satisfaction.

If not, re-ink the stamp. place the plate back on the base and press again.

If it is stamped to your satisfaction remove the plate and reposition the paper to the next corner of the paper in the etched corner marking.

Secure the paper with the magnets, re-ink the stamp and place the large stamping plate on the base.

Press down to stamp the image.

Move the paper to the next corner in the etched corner marking.

Repeat the process – re-ink the stamp place the large stamping plate in the base and press down.

Move it to the last corner and then repeat.

Place the paper horizontally on the Stampin’ Positioner and place the stamp in the position you want to stamp it.

Stamp the leaf image to complete the wreath
I forgot to take the first horizontal stamp so this is the paper turned 180 degrees and stamped to close the wreath image!

I placed the layer on my glass mat and blended the edges with the Old Olive ink.

I placed the layer back on the Stampin’ Positioner and placed the sentiment flat side up on the layer where I wanted to stamp it.

I placed the large stamping plate over the sentiment stamp and pressed down to secure the photopolymer stamp on the plate.

I inked it in Old Olive ink and stamped it on the layer.

I wanted to stamp a sentiment from the Prayers and Promises stamp set from the January to April 2026 mini catalog on the inside – this set is photopolymer and I also wanted to stamp the leaf image from the Textured Notes which is red rubber.

These stamps are different widths so you should stamp them separately but I wanted to show you what happens when you mis-stamp something and how easy it is to fix a stamping project with this Stampin’ Positioner!

So I stamped both stamps at the same time and the photopolymer being thinner did not stamp completely. So I removed the leaf stamp and restamped the sentiment – I didn’t even need to re-ink just re-pressed the stamp to the paper!

I blended the edges with a blending brush and some Old Olive ink and adhered it to the inside of the card – crisis averted!

I added a brass butterfly to the inside around the inside sentiment.

I distressed the edges of the front layer and blended the turned down corners with a blending brush and ink.

I adhered the layer to the card front. I added brass butterflies to finish off this sympathy card for a sweet friend that lost her husband.

Cards can be a comfort to let you know that people are thinking about you in your grief – I have received many cards in the past week and they do make a difference – I love that I can make and teach people to make something that brings comfort to those in need of it!

Go and make a card today to send to a friend that needs to hear from you! Go and create your own artwork – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Prayers & Promises Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[167014]

$20.00

Textured Notes Cling Stamp Set (English)

[165548]

$23.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[100702]

$14.00

Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

[147090]

$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

Brushed Brass Butterflies

[158136]

$10.00

← more color mondays - petunia pop, peach pie and summer splash layers of beauty - lovely color combination →

sneak peak – nature walk suite card

by nataliegramleystamps | Dec 24, 2025 | card samples, color theory, Designer Series Paper, die cutting, my favorites, sneak peak, techniques

Today’s blog post is a gorgeous monochromatic SNEAK PEAK card from the Nature Walk Suite Collection of products and I didn’t even use half of the cool things in this Suite! This is a beautiful suite for Nature’s lovers and a great set for making masculine cards with ease!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Pretty Peacock CS: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″, 3 1/2″ x 4 1/2″
for the leaf die
Vellum CS: 2″ x 5 1/4″, scrap for circle die
DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″ 1 1/2″ x 4″

Using a Basic White BASE eliminates the need for an extra Basic White layer on the inside with darker colored cardstock colors.

I adhered the 4″ x 5 1/4″ DSP to the Pretty Peacock layer.

There is a very cool cross hatch patterned die in the Nature’s Symphony die set that cuts a pattern into the cardstock without totally cutting it off the cardstock layer. I die cut this patter into opposite corners of the 2″ x 51/4″ piece of vellum cardstock.

I adhered the 1 1/2″ piece of DSP to the front of the vellum and then I could add adhesive under the DSP to attach both pieces.

Attaching Vellum can be tricky because it is translucent. Because you can partially see through the material that means you usually can see the mode of adhesion too!

TIP: There are several ways around this!

1. Hiding the adhesive under non translucent paper attached to the vellum as I did in this example!
2. Hiding glue dots under wisely placed embellishments!
3. Adding Multipurpose liquid glue with a sponge or Q-tip to the entire back of the vellum
4. If you emboss vellum it creates a pattern and makes the vellum white and a little less translucent making it easier to hide adhesive as you will see I did to attach the sentiment piece!

Using a scrap of vellum stamp the sentiment from the Nature’s Symphony stamp set in Pretty Peacock ink.

I die cut the leaf die from the Nature’s Symphony die set in Pretty Peacock cardstock and mounted it with glue to the right-hand side of the card.

I die cut a circle around the sentiment from the Spotlight on Nature dies and using a silicone mat I squeezed a dollop of Multipurpose Liquid Glue onto the silicone matte and applied glue around the embossed edges of the circle die where it is less likely to show and attached the die to the center of the card above the leaf die and DSP layer.

I used the Balmy Blue gingham ribbon – did you know you can take any light colored ribbon and color it with darker Stampin’ Blends?
I love this technique! You can color coordinate ribbon to any project with the coordinating Stampin’ Blend!

Place Tear-n-Tape on the lower back edges of the Pretty Peacock and wrap the colored ribbon around the front of the layer attaching it on the tape on the back of the Pretty Peacock layer.

Then glue the layer onto the card front.

Using the Pretty Peacock Stampin’ Blends, color the Iridescent Pearls for a coordinated embellishment look!

I added five colored pearls to the card.

I added one larger and one small on either side of the sentiment piece and then added the last small one to the dot on the “i” in “smile”.

On this version I added the fifth pearl to the right of the sentiment end.

Which do you like better?

Try adding vellum to your cards for an elevated and elegant look – now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

REMINDER: the SNEAK PEAK items in the Nature Walk Suite Collection and the Balmy Blue Gingham ribbon are only available to demonstrators and in starter kits until January 6th so there will not be photo links below until they are released.

Product List

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

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

[150880]

$14.00

Vellum 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper

[167099]

$10.00

Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad

[150083]

$9.00

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

Pretty Peacock Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154895]

$9.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels

[158987]

$7.50

← more color mondays - pecan pie, mossy meadow and granny apple green card sketch #114 - hope, love & joy card →

masculine textured notes card

by nataliegramleystamps | May 7, 2025 | card samples, die cutting, masculine cards, my favorites, stamps ink paper, techniques

I recently participated in a guy card swap and this is the card that I designed for the group that I swap with!

I absolutely love black and white paper I am drawn to it and this Botanical Textures paper from the Botanical Textures Suite is a great one!

This Suite features two Designer Series packages – one that is the black and white paper and one that is neutral colored woven textured paper. According to sales the Woven Textures is the more popular of the two!

The Botanical Textures Suite Collection #165563 includes:

TEXTURED NOTES BUNDLE #165556

TEXTURED NOTES CLING STAMP SET (10% off)
#165548
* 7 cling stamps
* Suggested clear blocks (sold separately): b, c, d, h

TEXTURED NOTES DIES (10% off) #165555
* 8 dies
* Largest die: 5-3/16″ x 3-3/16″ (13.2 x 8 cm)
* Use with a Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine

MINI CORRUGATED 3D EMBOSSING FOLDER
#165559
* 1 folder
* Size: 6″ x 6-1/4″ (15.2 x 15.9 cm)
* Use with a Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine

BOTANICAL TEXTURES 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER #165545
* 12 sheets of patterned paper: 2 each of 6 double-sided designs
* 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm)
* Acid free
* Lignin free

WOVEN TEXTURES 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER #165560
* 12 sheets of patterned paper: 3 each of 4 double-sided designs
* 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm)
* Acid free
* Lignin free

WHITE 1/4″ (6.4 MM) RIBBON #165562
* Width: 1/4″ (6.4 mm)
* Length: 10 yards (9.1 m)

NEUTRAL MATTE DOTS #165561
* 160 adhesive-backed pieces
* 4 mm, 5 mm
* Basic Beige, black, Pecan Pie, white

Product colors: Basic Beige, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Gray Granite, Pecan Pie, white

I stamped the leaf image in Smoky Slate on Basic White cardstock.

I used Post-it Labeling & Cover-up Tape to three consecutive Textured Notes dies – positioning them evenly.
Position it over the leaf image.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
scrap for sentiment die
4″ x 5 1/4″ for the 3 dies
Smoky Slate CS: 2″ x 5 1/2″
4″ x 5 1/4″ for the die (1 above the largest
three dies)
DSP: 2″ x 5 1/2″

Adhere the concentric three dies to the Smoky Slate Textured Notes dies.

Adhere the DSP layer to the left side of the card base.

Run the 2″ x 5 1/2″ Smoky Slate layer through the Mini Corrugated 3D embossing folder.
Adhere the 2″ Smoky Slate embossed layer to the right side of the base card.
Rub the corrugated side with a Blending Brush in Smoky Slate ink.

Place Stampin’ Dimensionals on the back of the Smoky Slate layer.

Place the die cut layers over the DSP and corrugated layer.

Stamp the sentiment in Smoky Slate ink and die cut with the smallest die in the Textured Notes die set.
Adhere the sentiment piece over the die cut layers.