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

mixed floral bokeh blended card

mixed floral bokeh blended card

Today is Monday and that means the latest color challenge has arrived and you all know that I love the bright colors so this trio is right in my wheel house! Pool Party, Berry Burst and Lemon Lime Twist Stampin’ Blends bring the Mixed Florals stamp image to life and are the perfect foreground for the Beautiful Bokeh 6″ x 6″ DSP!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
scrap for dies
DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″

This simple card still packs a punch due to all the gorgeous pigmented colors from the Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers!

Coloring with the Stampin’ Blends is so easy and fun. The alcohol markers are streak free and seamless. They make blending a breeze!
I always start with the Light color in the Combo pack and then highlight with the Dark blend and then redraw over the entire image with the Light again to help blend the dark highlights in to the image.

I colored the background with the Pool Party to eliminate the white space between the flower images mimicking sky in the background.

I stamped a sentiment from the Mixed Labels bundle and die cut around the imaged words. I used a blending brush in Pool Party ink to highlight the edges of the die.

I die cut the flowers.

I adhered the DSP layer to the card front.
I adhered the flowers to the right-hand side of the card front over the DSP layer.
I popped up the sentiment piece over the flower stems on the lower left-hand corner of the image.

I added Basic Rhinestone Jewels to the card around the sentiment piece and above the flowers on the upper right-hand side of the card.
I tied the Silver and White Sheer ribbon around the top score line of the card to finish off this lovely card and coordinate the silver in the ribbon and rhinestone embellishments.

Go you have any Stampin’ Blends? They really are the coolest coloring tools! Try some out today or order some soon!

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

Happy Stampin’,
Natalie

making a watercolor template – friendly seagulls watercolor card

making a watercolor template – friendly seagulls watercolor card

Today’s blog post is about creating a template with dies to use to watercolor through the negative space to create a unique background.
Today I wanted to create a segmented background of equal squares so i used the smallest square die from the Stylish Shapes die set and ran a 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer of Basic White through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine creating two rows of three die cuts resembling window panes.

Measurements:
BASE: Coastal Cabana CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Pool Party CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper: 1/2 sheet
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ for mask/template
scraps for stamping

Using 3M Post-it Labeling and cover up tape I secured down one side of the template over the watercolor paper – because the Fluid 100 1/2 sheet is smaller than the template make sure that the template is evenly spaced on the watercolor paper.
Squeeze the lid of the Coastal Cabana ink pad and get some ink on the lid.
With a Water Painter place a few drops of water onto the lid and mix the ink and water with the brush. I used the medium brush size from the three piece set that comes with when you order the Water Painters #151298 3 painters in a set $13.00.
Brush the inside of each die opening with the watercolor wash.
Allow to dry before removing the template.
Remove the template and make sure the surface is totally dry before stamping.
I stamped in Tuxedo Black Momento ink the flying birds image in the top two boxes.
I stamped the fish image in the middle left-hand box and the shells image in the lower right-hand box.
On scraps of Basic White CS I stamped two of the birds from the Friendly Seagulls FREE Level One Sale-a-bration Rewards stamp set that you can earn with a $60 order. I think this is such a fun set!
I used Stampin’ Blends to color the birds: Pool Party Light and Dark to color the wings and Smoky Slate to shade the bellies and wings of the seagulls, Lemon Lolly for their beaks and webbed feet and crumb cake dark for the french fries.
I fussy cut the birds using the Stampin’ Up! Paper Snips which are the best knife edged scissors to fussy cut with as you can cut all the way to the tip!
I adhered the birds onto the remaining two boxes.
I stamped “hey friend” sentiment in the upper left-hand box to finish the stamping on the card!
I popped up the watercolored layer on Stampin’ Dimensionals and added it to the 4″ x 5 1/4″
Pool Party layer.
Opening the Paper Snips scissors and running one of the blades across the edges of the Pool Party layer I distressed the edges of this layer and then adhered it to the Coastal Cabana base card.
I finished off the card with the new Sparkle Gems but just as easily could have used the Riverside Irregular Pearls on this project as well
Which do you like better?
Try this water coloring template technique and show me what you create!
Which embellishment do you like better?

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

full of life 4 piece puzzle slider card

full of life 4 piece puzzle slider card

Today’s blog post details a Puzzle Fun Fold using the Full of Life 6″ x 6″ DSP sometimes called a 4 Piece Puzzle Slider card.

I love the starburst pieces of this pack of DSP dividing them up in a puzzle creates a very fun card.

Measurements:
BASE: Pool Party CS: 4 1/4″ x 9 1/2″
scored at 1″, 2″ 7 1/2″ and 8 1/2″
Matte pieces (2) 2 1/8″ x 2 1/4″
(2) 2 1/8″ x 3 1/4″
DSP: 3 3/4″ x 5″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″

Cut the Base card 4 1/4″ x 9 1/2″ then score at 1″, 2″, 7 1/2″ and 8 1/2″.
Cut the DSP layer in half at 1 7/8″ on the 3 3/4″ side.
Put the paper back together and cut the top piece at 3″ from the left side.
cut the lower section at 2″ from the left hand side.
Fold the cardstock base in a mountain position at the 1″ score line and a valley position at the 2″ score line. Fold the score at the 7 1/2″ in a valley fold and a mountain fold at the 8 1/2″ score.
Adhere the DSP to the Matte pieces.
Adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White piece to the center panel on the base card.
Adhere the top matted DSP piece to the top of the left hand panel.
Adhere the lower left hand piece to the lower bottom of the left hand panel.
Adhere the lower right-hand matted piece to the lower portion of the right-hand panel.
Adhere the last matted piece to the top portion of the right-hand panel.
On the medium banner from the Stylish Shapes stamp in Pool Party ink the background stamp.
Stamp in Tuxedo Black Memento ink the “thinking of you” sentiment from the Friends for Life stamp set.
Adhere to the lower right-hand corner and cut off the right-hand edge that hangs over.
Color the Iridescent Pearls with a Dark Pool Party Stampin’ Blends Marker. Allow to dry.
Place five colored Iridescent Pearl embellishments onto the card front to finish off the card!
This card stands up on it’s own and such a fun way to display great looking Designer Series Papers! Try this fun fold with your stash and see what artwork you can create – one pattern and one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

decorative trees glimmer paper slimline card

decorative trees glimmer paper slimline card

This sparkly slimline card is a great Christmas card full of fun and lots of glimmer!

Slimline Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 7″ x 8 .5″
scored at 3.5″
2.5″ strips for Decorative Trees dies
scrap for the sentiment
In Color Glimmer Specialty Paper 2.5″ strips of
each color
Pool Party Two-Toned cardstock 8 1/2″ x 11″
scored at 2 1/2″, 6 1/2″ on the 8.5″ side
scored at 1 1/2″, 10 1/2″ on the 11″ side

Take the 2.5″ strips of the In Color Glimmer Specialty Paper and die cut the solid large tree.
Take 2.5″ strips of Basic White CS with each different tree designs.
Cut two glimmer trees a little smaller for the swirly smaller tree and one smaller holly leaf tree.

Score the 7″ x 8.5″ card base at 3.5″.
Use a water painter in Summer Splash ink and splatter the card base.
Splatter the card base with the Summer Splash marker, creating diffuse and more marked splatters on the card base.
Blend with a blending brush of each In Color and glue the matching color onto each In Color Glimmer Tree.
Adhere onto the slimline card.
Blend some of the corresponding colors under the trees.
Stamp the “O Christmas Tree” in Summer Splash ink and blend the ends. Pop up the sentiment onto the card front.
Adhere Iridescent Adhesive-Backed Discs onto the card base.
Cut the 12″ x 12″ Pool Party Two-Toned cardstock into 8.5″ x 11″.
Score the 2 1/2″ and 6 1/2″ onto the 8 1/2″ side.
Score the 1 1/2″ and 10 1/2″ onto the 11″ side.
Cut flaps in both sides.
Fold all score lines.
Glue the smaller, long panel over onto the larger panel on the 11″ side.
Glue the smaller flap onto the bottom of the hand-made envelope.
This slim line card and hand-made envelopeis a fun and glimmery Christmas card full of awesome Decorative Trees!
I love these Glimmer Specialty Paper and the sweet sparkly trees, you need some of this paper!
Go out and create some sparkly artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie