more color mondays – pretty peacock, blackberry bliss and crumb cake

more color mondays – pretty peacock, blackberry bliss and crumb cake

I wanted to create some fun background papers for this card so I took each of the challenge colors and did the same technique with each (I only have pictures of the Pretty Peacock version)

The first thing I did was blend color onto a 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer of Basic White CS with a Blending Brush.

Next I placed a drop of Ink refill in the lid of the ink pad and dipped the wide Water Painter into the ink and liquified it with extra water.

I splattered the ink onto the layer that was set on my glass mat.

Do not disturb the over splatter it will be used in the next step of the technique!

I then moved the layer and sprayed the over splatter with a Stampin’ Spritzer filled with water.

I turned the layer blended color side down on the glass matte surface over the water and patted the layer down to absorb the water – I moved the layer around to wet different portions of the layer in the over splattered water.

Allow the layer to dry.

I repeated this step with the other two colors of ink – Blackberry Bliss and Crumb Cake.

I cut the Crumb Cake layer into 1 1/2″ x 4″ strips and added it to the Crumb Cake card front.

I forgot to take pictures of the next steps – so sorry! I stamped the large leaf image from the Nature’s Symphony stamp set in Pretty Peacock ink and then cut them out with the corresponding die.

I cut the large leaf die from the Blackberry Bliss colored layer.

I cut a circle die from the Spotlight on Nature dies in Crumb Cake CS and stamped the “you make me smile” sentiment in Pretty Peacock ink.

I arranged the Blackberry bliss dies and the stamped Pretty Peacock leaves under the sentiment circle. I popped the circle up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and finished arranging the leaves in a loose cluster around the card!

I added 5 Faceted Snowflakes in the pretty Peacock hue to finish the card with a sweet color coordination – I think the snowflakes look like stars and loved the faceted look it gave this card!

I hope this inspires you to try this fun background technique and see what you can create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – pretty peacock, copper, and smoky slate

more color mondays – pretty peacock, copper, and smoky slate

Today’s fun fold card is sometimes called a spanner card or a modified bridge card. Whatever you call this easy fun fold card it is a WOW card!

Measurements:
BASE: Pretty Peacock CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″, 1″ x 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″, 3/4″ x 4″, 2″ x 5 1/4″
Textured Metallic Specialty Paper:
(2) 3/4″ x 5 1/4″
Card 2 uses the retired Oxidized Copper
Specialty Paper: (2) 3/4″ x 5 1/4″

Score the 4 1/4″ x 11″ at 5 1/2″.

Cut from the short side 1″ from both sides to the score line.

Adhere the 3/4″ x 5 1/4″ strips of Specialty Paper to the left and right front panels.
Stamp the large base leaf in Smoky Slate ink twice on the 2″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer.

Stamp the Top Layer large leaf image in Pretty Peacock ink over the base image.

Burnish the edges with Pretty Peacock ink with a blending brush.

Adhere the 2″ x 5 1/4″ to the center front panel.
Stamp the small base leaves down both sides of the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer with Smoky Slate ink – three down each side.

Stamp the top layer of the small leaf in Pretty Peacock ink over all of the Smoky Slate images.

Burnish the edges with the Pretty Peacock ink and a blending brush.

Adhere the layer to the inside of the card.

The 2″ panel is separate from the card front because of the cuts and can be laid down over the inside of the card.
Stamp the “Grateful for you” sentiment in Pretty Peacock ink on the 3/4″ x 4″ layer.

Stamp the smaller leaves in Smoky Slate base and Pretty Peacock ink as the top layer.

Adhere the Basic White layer onto the
1″ x 4 1/4″ Pretty Peacock layer.

Adhere the two edges to the left and right panels.
Finish the card with two Pressed Flower Motif embellishments around the sentiment spanner piece.

Try this fun fold card with your supplies and make some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – pretty peacock, crumb cake and gorgeous grape

more color mondays – pretty peacock, crumb cake and gorgeous grape

Today’s More Color Mondays color challenge features some of the soft colors from the Perennial Lavender Designer Series Paper – Pretty Peacock, Crumb Cake and Gorgeous Grape and a freestanding fun fold card!

Measurements:
Gorgeous Grape CS: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″,
4 1/4″ x 11 scored at 2″, 3 3/4″, 7 1/4″, and 9″
Crumb Cake CS: 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″,
(2) 1 7/8″ x 4 1/8″, (2) 1 5/8″ x 5 3/8″
DSP: (2) 1 1/2″ x 4 “, (2) 1 3/4″ x 4″,
(2) 1 14/” x 4″
Basic White CS: 3 3/4″ x 4″

Adhere the DSP pieces to the Crumb Cake mattes – the 1 3/4″ DSP to the 1 7/8″ matte, and the 1 1/2″ DSP to the 1 5/8″ matte.

Score the 4 1/4″ x 11″ Gorgeous Grape CS at 2″, 3 3/4″, 7 1/4″ and 9″
Adhere the 4 1/8″ Crumb Cake CS layer to the Gorgeous Grape 4 1/4″ layer.
Adhere the two small pieces of DSP on the edges of the Crumb Cake layer leaving an even border.
Adhere the 4 1/4″ x 11″ scored layer onto the center of the card base.
Die cut a Gorgeous Grape scrap with the Spotlight on Nature die set.
Die cut a Basic White scrap with the Stylish Shape and stamp the butterfly and the thanks of Gorgeous Grape ink.
Die cut the large banner from the Stylish Shapes die set and cut it in half.
Stamp the 3 1/4″ Basic White layer and stamp images in the three More Color Mondays color challenge colors.
Adhere the banner die on either side of the circle dies and adhere to the front flap of the card!
This free standing fun fold card is so fun and perfect for displaying beautiful Designer Series Paper!

Try this fun fold with your own supplies and go create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

florals in bloom sketch #102 card

florals in bloom sketch #102 card

Sketches are one great way to stretch that creative bone in your body that either needs some motivation or inspiration. When you are feeling like you need a little assist there are so many ways to get help!

Many demonstrators and groups post card sketch challenges or online databases of sketches, Pinterest is another great resource and I will be posting occasional card sketches to give my customers inspiration as well!

This card sketch is a SUPER simple one but is awesome for maximizing your 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper you can make 9 of these cards out of one 12″ x 12″ piece of paper!

And just by changing out the DSP the cards look totally refreshed and new!

Measurements:
BASE: Pretty Peacock 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
DSP: 4″ square piece cut in half to make
(2) 2″ x 4″ pieces
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ and 1/4″ x 4 1/4″

I usually place a Basic White layer on the inside of the cards I make that use darker colored cardstock to make it easier to write on the inside of the card.
Cut the DSP in half paying attention to the DSP pattern and keeping the design together so the pattern flows once you adhere the DSP to the card front.

Take the top patterned piece and adhere it to the top of the card front leaving an 1/8″ border on the sides and top of the card stock.

Adhere the bottom DSP piece to the bottom of the card front leaving an 1/8″ border on the bottom and sides of the card front.
I stamped the horizontal sentiment stamp from the Blooming Phrases Online Exclusive stamp set that debuted this month in Pretty Peacock ink. I stamped the leaves at the end of the word line in Granny Apple Green ink on the Basic White strip.
Pop up the strip and adhere to the center of the card spacing it evenly in between the top and bottom DSP panels.
I added some two-toned sparkle gems to the card to finish this easy and lovely card!
This is another version with another DSP design from the Florals in Bloom collection.
Just changing the paper can make an entirely different card look!
Try this simple design with your stash of papers and see what you can design – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

experimenting in water, ink and stripes with textured notes bundle

experimenting in water, ink and stripes with textured notes bundle

The other day I was playing around with the Painted Stripes background stamp. I wanted to experiment with water and ink and see what the difference would be between applying ink directly to the stamp and spritzing with water or applying the ink directly to the glass mat studio and spraying it down and then dipping the stamp into the inky water?

I got a bunch of 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White sheets and started to play with the ink and water!
First I applied Pool Party onto the Glass Matt and then applied Pretty Peacock ink directly above the Pool Party ink. I sprayed water from a Stampin’ Spritzer until the colors were fluid and started to blend in the middle.

I placed the Painted Stripes background stamp into the inky water and then placed it onto the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer and held it in place while the ink and water soaked into the card stock.
Next I placed the Pool Party ink pad over the cleaned Painted Stripes stamp set and inked about half of the stripes.
Then I inked the top half of the Painted Stripes stamp set with the Pretty Peacock ink pad.
I sprayed water from a spray bottle or Stampin’ Spritzer over the entire surface of the Painted Stripes stamp.
I placed a 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White Cardstock layer over the Painted Stripes stamp that is on the table facing upwards (this way the water does not run but stays in place) and rub the back side of the cardstock holding the paper in place so it does not shift.
I resprayed the stamp surface and placed a second piece of cardstock over the surface this will produce a lighter softer version of the first but still pretty as there is enough ink to do this at least twice!

Allow to dry before using.

I found that the first version turned out lighter than the full strength second version! But the second spraying of the second ink direct to stamp version looked a lot like the first ink on glass version without a lot less mess!
Answer achieved! I liked the second version better but the first one was messy fun!

I cut a few dies from the Textured Notes die set from the prepared watercolor sheets. This die set is a series of concentric rectangles with all different types of embossed edging – so very cool – perfect for cards as well as scrapbooking!
I cut a 4 1/4″ x 11″ piece of Basic White cardstock and scored it at 5 1/2″.
I stamped the smaller leaved foliage in Pool Party ink on opposite diagonal ends of the card base and flicked some inked water from a Water Painter over the card base surface.

I stamped the larger leaved foliage on the larger Basic White die in Pretty Peacock ink.

I cut a smaller die with the stripes in the opposite direction from one of the watercolored layers. I stamped the sentiment in Pretty Peacock ink and die cut one die up in Pool Party card stock. I popped the sentiment piece up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhered it to the Pool Party die and added it to the middle of the card above the other stamped die piece.
I colored some Iridescent Pearls with the Dark Pretty Peacock Stampin’ Blends marker.
I added the pearls to the card front.
I added some more splatters with a Water Painter and the left over inky water on the glass matte surface.
I thought the card needed a little more color and a die cut one up from the larger Basic White die on the card as it was blending into the card and you could not see the lovely Textured Notes die edging – so I cut the larger die in Pretty Peacock card stock and mounted it under the original rectangle.
This made the first die cut pop and looks so much better I think.

I keep the card in the order I designed it to show you all sometimes you go back at the end and add one thing to make the card even better! Do not hesitate to add and play if you feel the card is missing something – usually your gut is right!

Hope you get a chance to have a play with stamps, ink and paper this week! Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie