shadow block technique painted illusions card

shadow block technique painted illusions card

I love this simple technique not only does it efficiently use up scraps of paper but it looks so cool! And you can create this card with minimal supplies – BONUS!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″, 1″ x 3″
Misty Moonlight CS: (12) 1″ x 1″ squares, 1″ x 3″
DSP: (12) 1″ x 1″ squares

Place a small amount of glue or tape on one of the Misty Moonlight squares and attach one of the DSP squares on top of it with the bottom and right hand side of the Misty Moonlight square peeking out evenly as shown in the photo.
Do 11 more squares varying the pattern making sure to put the “shadow” in the same place each time.
Stamp the Hello Sunshine sentiment from the Exploring Nature stamp set in Misty Moonlight ink on the 1″ x 3″ Basic White CS layer.
Mount this layer onto the 1″ x 3″ Misty Moonlight CS layer with the same pattern of offset as a “shadow”
Start to place the double shadow squares on the card front – 3 across and four down.

TIP: When I adhere something across the span of the card I place the outside images first and then center the middle in between the two outside images – it is easier to space them this way!

Next I place the four down so I can match the rows and columns evenly.

Adhere all the shadow squares to the card front.

Finish adhering the squares lining them up in even rows.
Pop up the sentiment piece on Stampin’ Dimensionals and place on the card over the shadow squares.
Place the sentiment piece in the middle of the four rows.
I added three Pearlized Faceted Circles to finish off this fun card!

Try this simple technique with your paper scraps and see what fun art work you can create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – lost lagoon, flirty flamingo and darling duckling

more color mondays – lost lagoon, flirty flamingo and darling duckling

Well this third Product of the Month release is a hit! This Designer Series Paper is beautiful and the inspiration fort todays’ More Color Mondays color challenge card! Painted Illusions is the February release in the Product of the Month category and this DSP is fabulous if I could buy it more than once I would. the first few photos are the different sides of the paper included in the packet.

Measurement:
BASE: Lost Lagoon CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″, scraps for dies
DSP: 4″ square and 2″scrap strip for dies
Vellum CS: 4″ square

Emboss the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer with the Soft Waves 3D embossing folder and adhere to the Lost Lagoon card base.
Take the empty circle die from the Springtime Scenes awesome die set collection die cut the Painted Illusions Product of the Month DSP and save both the inner circle and the outer ring – we will be using both!

Die cut the vellum layer with the leaf circle.

Glue the DSP outer circle to the outer portion of the vellum leaf circle die.

Glue the inner DSP circle die to the upper middle of the card front onto the embossed Basic White layer.
Add glue to the vellum layer only under where the DSP ring is. Attach over the circle ont he card front.
Take two blending brushes and Flirty Flamingo and Darling Duckling ink and color a scrap piece of Basic White CS.
Stamp the lady bug image from the Springtime Scenes stamp set and die cut them out.
Blend another Basic White scrap and die cut the sentiment image and stamp the sentiment “Sweet springtime” in Tuxedo Black memento ink on the die cut.

Pop up the three lady bugs around the vellum circle.

Adhere the sentiment on the lower right hand side of the card front.
I added the new embellishments Pearlized Faceted circles – I love these new sparkles!

I wanted to add a little more Lost Lagoon so I die cut some leaf dies!

I added the leaf die images to the card for more color balance!

Don’t be afraid to add to a card that you had planned out if it seems out of balance – you will grow better at design elements of a card and if you are thinking something is missing or off sometimes it is. Try adding something with out gluing it down you can always remove it then if you decide it was better in the original format.
Experiment that is how you get better at designing!

Now it’s your turn to go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

PS: remember that the Springtime Scenes is an Online Exclusive March Release so it will not appear in the photo links below because it is only available as a pre-order for demonstrators or new recruits in the starter kit!

card sketch #118 challenge

card sketch #118 challenge

Anyone that hoards paper (and OK all papercrafters do it!) knows that IF AND WHEN you actually get the courage up to cut your gorgeous Designer Series Paper – YOU ABSOLUTELY WANT to get the MOST out of it!

And this sketch is the right one for this task!

Cut in 4″and 3″ squares this will stretch your paper to the MAX with NO WASTE!!

Measurements:
BASE: Flirty Flamingo CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″, scrap for word die
DSP: 3″ and 4″ squares
Basic White CS: 3 1/4″ square, scraps for dies

Adhere the 4″ square of DSP to the card front.
Mount the 3″ DSP square onto the Basic White CS 3 1/4″ square and mount it off center below the edge of the 4″ square on the card front.

Adhere the Flirty Flamingo “because” die cut from the Words of Beauty die set at the top of the 3″ square.

Stamp the sentiment from the Words of Beauty stamp set in Flirty Flamingo ink on the sentiment die from the same set. Pop that up on Stampin’ Dimensionals below the “because.”

I placed three Sparkle Dot Essentials around the words and sentiments and realized I wanted a little something below the sentiments to balance the whole thing so I grabbed the upcoming Springtime Scenes and there is an adorable little leaf die image and cut two of them to adhere below!

Sometimes you look at a card and know it needs just a little something more! This card needed that! It looked complete after that die addition, don’t you think?

Now it’s your turn – go create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – pretty peacock, granny apple green and misty moonlight sneak peak

more color mondays – pretty peacock, granny apple green and misty moonlight sneak peak

Today’s More Color Mondays color challenge features the new $5 Product of the Month called Painted Illusions! (look at the artistic designs below) This paper is gorgeous and I selected the colors based on the DSP!

This is a super simple, fun fold that is fun to make called the Split Front card.

Measurements:
BASE: Pretty Peacock CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2, cut at 1 1/2″ then again at
2 1/2″
DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White CS: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″

Cut 1 1/2″ off the bottom of the card front.

Then cut another 2 1/2″ off the same side.

You will end up with 1 1/2″ on the top of the card front below the score line and two cut pieces.

Cut 1 1/4″ off each side of the DSP.
Attach the Top piece of the design to the cardstock still attached to the card front.
Adhere the bottom 1 1/4″ piece to the first piece cut off the card.
I cut 1/4″ piece off the middle piece of DSP and added that to the bottom of the inside Basic White 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer.

Then I adhered the middle piece of of DSP to the second piece cut off the card front.

Place the bottom matted piece aligned to the bottom of the card base and twist the middle piece and add Stampin’ Seal or Tear & Tape to only the top and the bottom and attach the middle piece vertically between the top and bottom matted pieces.
I took the second piece of Basic White layer and cut three dies from the upcoming March Online Exclusive bundle Springtime Scenes! This is a SNEAK PEAK and will not be available for a couple more weeks therefore it will not be listed below in the photo click-ables at the end.
Using Granny Apple Green and Pretty Peacock ink and blending brushes I colored the dies and stamped the sentiment from this upcoming set in Pretty Peacock ink.
I adhered the left side only of the die cut circle and placed it on the middle DSP piece hanging over the open edge.

I popped up the leaf and adhered the sentiment piece under it careful to not adhere the part that would hang over the open edge on the left.

I added three Sparkle Dot Essentials in the green color to add some bling and this simple card is complete!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie