using blending brushes to create the background

using blending brushes to create the background

I try to show a wide variety of techniques and card ideas for beginners to advanced stampers and today’s card is one that is simple enough for the beginner and has so many possibilities for the advanced stamper!

Creating your own backgrounds on cards can be so much fun and they are never the same!

This card features Changing Leaves – one of the new Online Exclusive bundles and this one is amazing with a hybrid embossing folder and beautifully intricate leaves and sentiments!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scrap Basic White for the die cut leaves

Pick out a number of green inks – I am using Garden Green, Granny Apple Green, Lemon Lime Twist, Old Olive and Shaded Spruce.

Using Blending Brushes, pull the head of the Blending brush through the ink pad and in a circular motion run the blending brush down the left side of the card base creating a column of color. I used the inks in the order I listed them. This first column is Garden Green.

Next I inked a different Blending brush with Granny Apple Green ink and created the next column just to the right of the first column.
Continue adding color columns the entire way across the card base.
To make this card more advanced you could also take a flick speckles of color over the columns to add some depth and dimension – I chose to leave mine plain.
Die cut five leaf die images from the Changing Leaves die set and one sentiment piece.

Adhere the leaves over each color column.

Stamp the sentiment in Old Olive ink and use the blending brush to add color around the outside edge by holding the sentiment die and running the brush in an up and down motion over the edge.
Pop up the sentiment piece with Stampin’ Dimensionals and add over the die cut leaves.
I added iridescent Pearls to finish off my Changing Leaves card and I love how it turned out and how easy and fun it was to make!

Try this technique with any of the stamp pads you have and see what color combinations you can come up with!

Now go and create some art work of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

layers of beauty masks

layers of beauty masks

The new Layers of Beauty bundle with it’s dies and masks create some lovely cards and today’s post is all about this wonderful set.

Measurements:
BASE: Flirty Flamingo 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: (1) 4″ x 5 1/4″ (1) 4″ x 5 1/2″
strip: 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
scraps: for leaf dies

Stamp the large flower in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on one of the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White CS.

Line up the first mask with the flowers and using a pen follow the notch on the grid paper.
Using a Blending Brush and Bubble Bath ink on all the open spaces on mask 1.
Place the second mask on the flower image and using another blending brush and Flirty Flamingo ink and color through the open spaces.
Using a third blending brush and Berry Burst ink through the third mask.
Using a fourth mask, color the openings with a fourth mask with Green Apple Green ink.
Using the last mask and Old Olive ink color the last highlights of the leaves.
Stamp the sentiment on a 1/4″ strip in Flirty Flamingo ink and add color to the strip with a blending brush.
Take the Basic White 4″ x 5 1/2″ layer and emboss it with the new So Swirly embossing folder.
Cut into (4) 1″ strips.
Adhere two consecutive strips to the right side of the card using even separation.
Die cut the large flower image.
Adhere the stamped image over the card front.
Die cut four leaf images from Basic White scrap and color using the Granny Apple Green and Old Olive Blending brushes.
Adhere with Mini Glue Dots and tuck behind the large flower die cut.

Cut a diagonal on the right hand edge of the sentiment piece and pop up the sentiment on the top third of the flower die.

Add five adhesive backed Pearl Trios in the Berry Burst color around the card front to finish it off with a little sparkle.

This mask is so unbelievably beautiful. Try this mask and this gorgeous set. Now go and create some art work of your own one stamp at a time.

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

new catalog sneak peek – layers of beauty bundle

new catalog sneak peek – layers of beauty bundle

I am super excited today to be able to give you a sneak peek into the upcoming new 2024-2025 Annual Catalog. The demonstrators that attended OnStage Houston were able to get an advanced copy of the catalog before anyone else and we were able to participate in the Product Purchase Premier – were we could purchase some of the items in the catalog before customers and other demonstrators that did not attend the convention. One of the items I saw demonstrated at OnStage was the Layers of Beauty bundle which includes a coordinating stamp set and dies but also a decorative mask set that helps color the flowers and leaves of the large stamp quickly and expertly!
Measurements for the main card:
BASE: Mossy Meadow 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Mossy Meadow layer: 4″ x 5 1/4:
Basic White layer 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scrap for the sentiment die
Old Olive scraps for the leaves dies

Stamp the large flower and leaf stamp in Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto the 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″.

Place the first mask marked with a 1 in the top left hand corner and rotate the mask until the stamped image aligns with the mask openings. Take a pencil and mark the notch with a pencil onto the paper. This notch will help to guide where to place the other masks.
Using a small Blending brush, color the areas open with Fresh Freesia ink.
Without removing mask #1 color the open daisy areas with another light color I chose Daffodil Delight.
Remove the mask and this is what the Basic White layer will look like after mask#1.
Place mask #2 on the Basic White layer and rotate until the openings align with the stamped image. Using a blending brush and Berry Burst ink color through the opening. This is what it will look like after the 2nd template.
Place mask #3 on the Basic White layer – line up the notch and color through the openings with Blackberry Bliss.
Place mask#4 over the stamped area and rotate until the notch is lined up and using a blending brush color the leaves in Old Olive.
This is what the stamped image will look like after the Old Olive is rubbed into the openings.
Line up #5 mask with the notch mark on the Basic White layer and color the openings with Mossy Meadow ink and a Blending Brush.
This is what the Basic White layer will look like when you are done with the mask coloring portion! It is stunning!
Fold the 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ card base of Mossy Meadow in half at 4 1/4″ and adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer to the front after you emboss the layer with the DIstressed Tile 3D embossing folder.
Die cut the flower image in the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine and place Stampin’ Dimensionals on the back. Attach the large die cut of flowers to the embossed layer.
Die cut 3 large and 3 small leaf dies from the Layers of Beauty die set. Adhere them under the flower die sticking out in all directions!
Stamp the sentiment in Mossy Meadow and die cut with the second smallest circle die from the Everyday Details die set.
Adhere to the embossed layer.
attach three Ombre decorative dots to the sentiment piece and the card is gorgeous and complete!

Try a decorative mask today to elevate your card and this bundle will be available May1st or better yet come to my Open House May 1st 1-3pm and see it for yourself!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

P.S. Remember because this is a sneak peek the bundle is not available until the new catalog goes live on May 1st! So it will not be listed in the photo menu below.

Here are some other card samples made with this bundle.
This next card is also made with the masks but not die cut out.
This next card uses the same large flower stamp in the set but I colored this one in with the Stampin’ Blends to get the shading just right!
This last example is one of my favorites – I saw this card demonstrated at OnStage in Houston and it is a partial die cut!! Love this one!
more color mondays – old olive, melon mambo and bubble bath – fancy ruffle fold card

more color mondays – old olive, melon mambo and bubble bath – fancy ruffle fold card

Well this is what you call a happy surprise! I designed this card as a blog post to teach you all a fun fold technique called fancy ruffle fold or curtain fold, and I liked the color combination so much I decided to premiere this on Mondays and combine it with my More Color Mondays! Happy Accident! or a two-fer as some would call it!

Measurement:
BASE: Old Olive CS 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White layer: inside 4″ x 5 1/4″
outside bottom 3″ x 4 1/4″
scrap for leaves and flower dies
DSP: 3″ x 7 1/2″
scored at 2 1/2″, 3 1/2″ 5″ and 6″
Melon Mambo: 1″ x 4 1/4″

Stamp two leaf clusters and two single flowers from the Simply Zinnias stamp set in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on scrap Basic White CS. Using Stampin’ Blends color the black highlight lines with the Dark Lost Lagoon Blend.

Color the whole leaf images in Light Lost Lagoon and go back over highlights with the Dark marker. Color the flowers with Flirty Flamingo, and Bubble bath as the bases and color in with Dark Melon Mambo and go over with the other lighter colors to blend.
Die cut the images.
Mark the right hand side of the 3″ x 7 1/2″ DSP piece with a tik mark at 1 1/2″ on the 3″ side.
On the bottom side of the 7 1/2″ side from the left edge mark at 2 1/2″. (See arrows)
Place the tik marks in the cutting grove of the Stampin’ Trimmer and cut the diagonal line from one tik mark to the other.
Score at 2 1/2″, 3 1/2″, 5″ and 6″. (See arrows)
Fold all score lines – fold at the 2 1/2″ back towards the left edge and place a piece of adhesive in the upper edge to the left of the first score line and fold the paper back to the left.
At the 3 1/2″ score line fold toward the right edge of the paper and just to the left of the third score line at 5 1/2″ place another piece of adhesive and bend back towards the left hand edge.
Place a piece of adhesive on the backside of the DSP as shown in the picture for the last fold.
Place the 3″ x 4 1/4″ Basic White layer in the Zinnias 3D embossing folder and run through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine.
Adhere to the bottom of the card front.
Place a line of adhesive along the backside top and side that will be against the left hand edge of the card when adhered.
Adhere the ruffle to the left hand side of the white embossed layer.
Place adhesive on the bottom of the 1″ x 4 1/4″ piece of Melon mambo cardstock leaving the top un-adhered so you can slip the flower under it.
Stamp the sentiment on the left hand side in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Adhere one flower under the Melon mambo band and add one leaf cluster above it tucked under the upper petals.
Pop up the other flower on Stampin’ Dimensionals and tuck the other leaf cluster under the petals.
Color three Iridescent Pearls with the Melon Mambo Stampin’ Blends and adhere around the sentiment for the final touch of coordinating bling!

What an unexpected treat to love this color combination – see what unexpected pairings you can put together or try this one out! Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Tomorrow this bundle as well as lots of other fabulous things become available in the latest Online Exclusives release – my shop-able click-able pictures below will not contain the Zinnias Collection until they become available tomorrow! But you can check out all the latest on my website tomorrow at https:nataliestamps.stampinup.net

more color mondays – old olive, boho blue and copper clay

more color mondays – old olive, boho blue and copper clay

Happy New Year!! 2024 is going to be an awesome yearand the first two catalogs of the year are SPECTACULAR!!! Have you received them in the mail – if not let me know I ordered extras in case yours has not arrived or you are new to me! Wednesday from 1-3pm I will be having an Open House at my home in Conneaut Lake if you would like to join me for snacks, projects, prizes and looks of new samples from the 2024 Sale-a-bration catalog and the 2024 January to April Mini Catalogs that go live on Thursday January 4th stop in anytime between those hours!

Today’s More Color Monday card features a circle of Designer Series Paper called Flight and Airy and is one of the items you can EARN for FREE during January and February’s Sale-a-bration specials! Just order $50 in supplies and earn any of the Level One Sale-a-bration items or $100 order earns you a Level Two item of your choosing or 2 Level One items! Who doesn’t like FREE stuff!

Measurements:
Basic White: 4 1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5 1/2″
Old Olive: 4″ x 5 1/4″ die cut in center
Boho Blue scrap for circle die
Flight and Airy DSP scrap for circle die
Copper Clay scraps for stippled rose leaf die

Using the large abstract stamp from Artistically Inked and Old Olive ink stamp in the center of the Basic White card front, in multiple directions to cover the center of the card.
Die cut the Old Olive piece with the smaller leaf die from the Stippled Rose die set. Cut in a diagonal pattern with the stem towards the inside and the leaves facing opposite corners. Save these for another project!
Stamp the straight sentiment You are loved beyond measure in Copper Clay ink on the left hand side bottom of this Old Olive layer.
Adhere the die cut Old olive layer over the stamped card front and the Old Olive ink will show through the leaf “window” openings with a lovely verigated look!
Die cut the larger stippled leaves in Copper Clay cardstock scraps and adhere in the opposite diagonal as the die cut windows.
Cut a small length of Copper Clay ribbon and fold in half with the loop at the top end. Place a strip of adhesive in the middle of the two Copper Clay die cuts and adhere the ribbon diagonally over the window die cut images.
Die cut a small circle die from the Stylish Shapes dies in Boho Blue cardstock and position the circle over a bird from the Flight and Airy Sale-a-bration DSP adhere them on a diagonal and pop up on Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Adhere diagonally in the opposite direction as the ribbon as shown in the photo.
Adhere three of the very cool new Adhesive-backed Cork Rounds to the card for a very masculine cool vibe! LOVE these new embellishments they are so different!

Reminder some of these items will not be available until January 4th so they will not appear below in the photo shopping links!

Hope you can join us for the Open House on Wednesday! Now go create some art of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie