splatter backgrounds with ink - nataliegramleystamps

april stampin’ up! creative challenge

by nataliegramleystamps | Apr 8, 2026 | card samples, masculine cards, sneak peak, stamps ink paper, techniques

Do you know that Stampin’ Up! sponsors a creative challenge every month?

April features a challenge to use two different coloring tools! Will you rise to the challenge? If you create a card or project using this challenge post it on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #SUCREATIVECHALLENGE see Stampin’ Up’s video announcing the new challenge by going to this link

Here’s my card for the challenge using water painters and blending brushes two of my favorites!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ , scrap for
the die
Granny Apple Green CS: 1/4″ x 4″ strip scrap for
leaf die
Vellum CS: scrap for Spotlight on Nature circle
die

I combined some OLD AND NEW PRODUCTS – some LAST CHANCE items – Petals of Beauty dies and some sneak peak Phrases and Frames bundle…

I die cut the middle die from the Phrases and Frames bundle and used the frame and the inside piece. I blended the lower right-hand corner of the inside piece.

I added a drop of ink refill to my glass mat and added water to the drop from my Water Painter. I diluted the drop so it was very watery and tapped the edge of the water painter over the blending brush handle over the blended rectangular piece to add a splatter effect! Such an easy effect with HUGE impact!

I blended the Granny Apple Green onto the card front.

Adhere the rectangle to the card base off to the right-hand side of center.

Die cut the open leaf die from the Petals of Beauty die set in Granny Apple Green CS – cut into two sections and add glue to the frame and add the leaf sections under the frame on bottom and top corners. Adhere over the rectangle.

Die cut one of the circles from the Spotlight in Nature die set in Vellum CS and stamp the Thinking of You sentiment from the Phrases and Frames stamp set in Granny Apple Green ink and blend the edges.

Adhere the Granny Apple Green strip over the bottom of the vellum circle. Add glue under the vellum where the strip is to adhere to the card without the glue being visible.

Add the vellum circle onto the card.

Add a black accent from the Floral Flight Accents upcoming in the new catalog from the Beautiful Ordinary Life suite of products.
Add an extra Petals of Beauty leaf die.

Add embellishments to finish the card.

Coloring tools can add a lot to a card do not discount the little details can make a BIG difference!

Here is the same card design using a different Floral Flight accent!

Such fun! Try this #SUCREATIVECHALLENGE today and see what you can create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

REMINDER: All of the SNEAK PEAK products will not be in the photo links below until they are available!

Product List

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146990]

$14.00

Vellum 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper

[167099]

$10.00

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad

[147095]

$9.00

Granny Apple Green Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[147163]

$5.50

Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial)

[163987]

$60.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$12.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[138995]

$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Mini Glue Dots

[103683]

$7.25

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

$4.25

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Paper Snips

[103579]

$12.00

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$15.00

Blending Brushes Storage

[160519]

$16.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[154031]

$7.00

Water Painters

[168253]

$13.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Petals Of Beauty Dies

[167095]

$35.00

← more color mondays - pool party, flirty flamingo and lemon lolly sneak peak more color mondays - petal pink, balmy blue and soft sea foam →

more color mondays – gray granite, petal pink and balmy blue

by nataliegramleystamps | Aug 26, 2024 | card samples, color challenge, Designer Series Paper, die cutting, embossing folders, more color mondays, my favorites, online exclusives

I’m glad to be back in my stamp studio and creating cards for you! Today’s More Color Monday combines soft subtle colors with one of my favorite neutrals Gray Granite. Petal Pink and Balmy Blue both from our Subtles collection are the other two colors today and I chose the Changing Leaves Hybrid bundle.

Measurements:
BASE: Gray Granite: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Basic White: 3 1/2″ x 4″ & scrap for sentiment
Subtles DSP: 1″ x 4″
Balmy Blue scraps for die leaves
Petal Pink Scraps for die leaves

Emboss the Basic White 3 1/2″ x 4″ layer in the Changing leaves embossing folder. I love this folder it can die cut and emboss at the same time if you choose to but this time I wanted the image uncut and whole.

Using a blending brush I added Petal Pink ink in a circular motion to the edges of the embossed layer. Petal Pink has a brownish pink hue and reminds me of old paper when applied like this.

I die cut Balmy Blue and Petal Pink leaf dies from the Changing Leaves die set.
I stamped the sentiment with Balmy Blue ink onto the small Stylish Shapes banner (I always cut some out of my Basic White scraps and have them on the edge of my creating station on my desk)
I pressed extra ink onto the lid of my Balmy Blue stamp pad to create an ink palette and using a water painter I added water to the lid and the extra ink and dipped the water painter into the inky water. Using the handle of my blending brush I smacked the waterpainter onto the handle while over the embossed layer flicking ink splatters over the entire surface of that layer this is a fun way to add a bit of colored depth and dimension to the layer.

I adhered the Balmy Blue DSP striped pattern to the edge of the embossed layer and adhered both to the right side of the card front.

I popped up the sentiment piece onto mini Stampin’ Dimensionals and added the die cut leaves around the sentiment and placed it on the center left hand side of the card front.

I added Adhesive-Backed Pastel Sequins to the card front to finish it off with some matching sparkle. Simple and sweet I love the way this card turned out. Remember little additions like coloring the edges with a blending brush and ink splatter can take your card to the next level.

Try to level up your creation today – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie