more color mondays – balmy blue, old olive and basic beige

more color mondays – balmy blue, old olive and basic beige

Today’s another color challenge to inspire you to more creativity in your card design work!

The palette today is soft and neutral – perfect for a soft, subtle thank you card for someone special. The card features a gorgeous product that was introduced with the new annual catalog and I have totally ignored until now! I purchased it in the pre-order and then got busy with the new stamps and dies and forgot I had it! The Irresistible Designs contains 2 one-sided sheets of 3 different designs of white tone on tone embossed images in a leaf, floral and criss-cross pattern – used as is or colored to create stunning effects – this paper is amazing!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic Beige CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Balmy Blue CS: scrap for die

Using blending brushes in a soft circular motion – starting off the paper – I colored in a diagonal pattern Old Olive ink at the bottom right-hand corner, Basic Beige ink in the middle and Balmy Blue in the top left-hand corner.
Because the specialty paper in embossed the image does not take the ink and pops off the page in a spectacular fashion!
Adhere the specialty paper to the Basic Beige card base and add a small piece of the Basic Beige Classic ribbon folded in a loop to the card.
I stamped the thanks and the leaf image from the Spotlight on Nature stamp set in Old Olive ink on a Balmy Blue die cut from the Spotlight on Nature die set. I popped up the sentiment die on Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhered it over the ribbon loop.
I added three gold flecked embellishments from the Strawberry Slush and Pretty in Pink Gems – these actually have a section of clear gems as well as the two pink colors and are perfect for this wonderful card!

Have you played with this type of Specialty paper before? It is super fun and produces easy, amazing results – try your hand at it soon!
Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – real red, timid tiger and old olive sketch #103

more color mondays – real red, timid tiger and old olive sketch #103

Time really does pass by so quickly! Today I am on the road celebrating my baby’s 21st birthday and settling him into the New England area for a summer internship – it seems like just yesterday I was in labor with my last child!! Today’s More Color Monday’s color challenge features the new 6″ x 6″ Regals Designer Series Paper in Real Red and Old Olive and Timid Tiger.

This is a simple sketch combining colors that are on opposite ends of the color wheel close to a triadic combo using the Celebratory Sips Suite of products from the last Online Exclusives release.

Measurements:
Old Olive CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
DSP: 3/4″ x 5 1/2″and scraps for fussy cutting
Timid Tiger CS: 3 1/2″ x 5 1/2″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ and scrap for
sentiment

The Celebratory Sips Suite comes with a very cool mini embossing folder combo pack
GLASS & GARDENS EMBOSSING FOLDER
– 2 embossing folders
– 3-3/8″ x 6-1/4″ (8.6 x 15.9 cm)
– Use with a Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine (sold separately)
– Compatible with the Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine (sold separately)

I used the Glass embossing folder image on the Timid Tiger cardstock.

I adhered the Regals 6″ x 6″ designer series paper in Real Red striped pattern on the edges of the card front leaving about 1/8″ from the edges.
I adhered the Timid Tiger embossed layer to the middle on top of the Designer Series paper.
I stamped the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer in Timid Tiger ink the Let’s Celebrate image in triplicate down the center of the layer and added a orange slice in the bottom corner.
Adhere this layer to the inside of the card.
I fussy cut a couple of cocktail images from the Celebratory Sips DSP and added the taller one directly to the Timid Tiger embossed layer and popped up the smaller cocktail glass to one side of the taller glass.
Cut about 6 inches off the Timid Tiger ribbon and fold in half and adhere to the left hand side of the fussy cut cocktail glasses images.
Stamp the sentiment Cheers in Timid Tiger ink and cut an angle at the end of the word, pop the sentiment piece up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhere over the ribbon.

Then I added 2025-2027 In Color Flat Pearls to finish off the coordinated look!

Try this card layout with your stash and see what you can create – one stamp at a time!
Enjoy your time as it goes fast – hug your little ones they grow up and tower over you quickly!!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

scrapbooking workshops

scrapbooking workshops

I had the opportunity recently to attend the first of three virtual scrapbooking workshop training seminars.
To say that I am delighted for Stampin’ Up! to be expanding their scrapbooking line is an understatement – I am so excited with the offerings that are coming out and super excited to see the line that will be debuting in the future!
The first session met to discuss and put together the double scrapbooking pages of the new Meant To Bee scrapbooking workshop.
The workshop is a totally self contained packet that includes all of the product to make three gorgeous double page scrapbooking spreads with a lot of product left over to create more matching pages of your own!
The kit comes with a full color instructions booklet with step by step details on how to cut and put together these pre-designed scrapbooking pages.
The first page of the first double page spread features little 2″ x 2″ square of the patterned paper – one of which is exclusive to this workshop and coordinates with a stamp bundle and two toned scrapbooking paper that color coordinates with this suite of products.
The words and bumble bees are stickers for easy adhesion and coordination!
The second page of this spread carries the squares of DSP theme to the matching page and allows for a seamless spread to highlight your scrapbooking photos!
I used some recent photos of a family vacation to set off this stunning and easy to do scrapbooking spread!
I used a coordinating marker to draw dotted lines for the bee’s trail across the pages – such a cute detail!
The second spread used Designer Series paper as the background with the exclusive bee designed DSP to make the photos pop. Easy coordination with pop out die cut stars and flowers to decorate as you like along with the stick words with mixed fonts and coordinating colors!
The last page is set on Old Olive cardstock and carries the coordinating DSP papers along for a coordinated set of pages or use them separately – these photos were from an adult only Napa wine country tour we took last year and featured just a few of the many happy pictures we took! The third page was made from scraps and left overs from the kit and I still have many more scraps of DSP, stickers, punch out shapes and cardstock to use to create a bunch more pages!

I loved the ease of this coordinated kit and cannot wait for the next one to show you!

Interested in getting a group together for a scrapbooking night? Let me know and we can make your next ladies night out a scrapbooking fun night!

Below I have included the codes and linked photos of ALL the coordinating products,
I only used the Meant to Bee Scrapbooking Workshop to create these pages! You could do a whole themed scrapbook with just these products though – would “bee” super cute!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – old olive, pool party and daffodil delight

more color mondays – old olive, pool party and daffodil delight

I do love flowers as some of you already know! So it is a dilemma when you are attracted to all of the pretty floral stamp sets – so what is a girl to do? Well I cannot buy it all SO I bought just the pretty papers from this beautiful Floral Delight Suite Collection and paired it with a sentiment I already owned from then Mixed Labels bundle.

This gorgeous suite comes with two packages of beautiful paper: a vellum specialty pack with three designs of blue gingham, and blue, yellow and white flowers with old olive leaf accents, and a 12 sheet pack of lovely 12″ x 12″ DSP full of floral and patterned papers.

This is a very simple card using the paper to make this card pop! I choose the colors from the suite as the inspiration for today’s color challenge!

Measurements:
BASE: Daffodil Delight CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Timeless Plaid DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Floral Delight DSP: scrap for flower cut out
3″ x 5 1/4″
Pool Party CS: scrap for die cut
Basic White CS: scraps for 2 die cuts
Floral and Gingham Vellum: scraps for 2 dies

I choose coordinating patterns and cut different circle dies from the Spotlight on Nature dies and die cut different sized circles from two different patterns of the Floral and Gingham vellum pack. I cut the same circle die from the gingham patterned die cut in Basic White so I could layer them together to make that die more vibrant with the white paper backing.
I cut Pool Party CS with a Stylish Shapes circle die and I fussy cut a flower from the Floral Delight DSP pack.

I layered the 3″ DSP vellum over the Timeless Plaid 4″ layer and added adhesive only in the middle where I knew the circle dies would cover the adhesive.
After all of the pieces are cut play around with the arrangement of the circles and the fussy cut flower until the arrangement is pleasing to the eye. Then adhere the pieces over the Timeless plaid and vellum layer. I trimmed off the vellum circle that went over the side of that layer but allowed the white circle die to hang over the edge to give the layer some depth and dimension and interest!
I then adhered the layer to the card base.
I stamped the sentiment from the Mixed labels stamp set in Tuxedo Black Memento ink.
I popped up the sentiment piece with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
I added Rhinestone Basic Jewels around the sentiment and fussy cut flower and the card was complete!
Try using some of the random pretty Designer Series Paper that you have lying around to create some artwork of your very own. Die cut or chop it and use it on your next card creation!
Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – berry burst, old olive and fresh freesia

more color mondays – berry burst, old olive and fresh freesia

Today’s More Color Mondays color challenge is layers of glimmer and trees of Berry Burst, Old Olive and Fresh Freesia in a non-traditional Christmas card for this installment of More Color Mondays.

Measurements:
BASE: Berry Burst CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scrap for Christmas die cut
Basic White CS: 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″
scrap for Christmas die cut
4″ x 5 1/4″ for background layer
Fresh Freesia CS: scrap for circle die
Glimmer paper: 2″ strips for tree die cuts

Using a blending brush, color the Basic White CS 4″ x 5 1/4″ with Berry Burst ink.
Spray the layer with a Stampin’ Spritzer and coat with a fine layer of water spritz.
Sprinkle the layer with the Wink of Stella pen.
Emboss the layer with the Distressed Tile 3D embossing folder.
Adhere the layer onto the 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″ Basic White layer.
Adhere both layers to the card base.
Stamp the “in your heart” sentiment onto the Basic White circle die cut from the Stylish Shapes die set with Berry Burst ink.
(I eventually changed this layer to Fresh Freesia CS)
Die cut the Glimmer Paper with the Peaceful Evegreens die set.
Adhere to the left side of the card base.
Pop up the circle with Stampin’ Dimensionals onto the right-hand side of the card base.
I die cut the Christmas word die from the Peaceful Seasons dies from Berry Burst CS.
Adhere to the top half of the circle die.
Die cut the Christmas word matte in Basic White CS.
Emboss it in the Distressed Tile 3D embossing folder.
I decided I needed the white matte under the Berry Burst CS for the Christmas word die.
I added some Natural Linen Thread in green around the White and brushed layer.
I had added pink Pastel Adhesive-Based Sequins.
I replaced the Basic White circle with a Fresh Freesia circle.

This unusual winter scene is bright and beautiful! Try this layered technique and create a non-traditional Christmas card.

Now go and create some artwork of your own – one stamp at a time.

Happy Stampin’
Natalie