more color mondays – lost lagoon, summer splash and coastal cabana

more color mondays – lost lagoon, summer splash and coastal cabana

Today’s More Color Monday is all about cardstock colors no need for fancy Designer Series Paper, our colors are awesome and steal the show all by themselves! Lost Lagoon, Summer Splash and Coastal Cabana are a beautiful study in blues reminding me of Coastal waters and swaying palm trees!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scraps for wave die cuts
Lost Lagoon scraps for palms/shell die cuts
Summer Splash scraps for palms/shell die cuts
Coastal Cabana scraps for palms/shell die cuts
Pecan Pie scraps for palm trunk/grass die cuts

Score the Basic White cardstock base at 4 1/4″ and fold in half.
Die cut the Basic White scrap strips with the waves dies x 2.
Adhere the waves to the center of the card front.
Die cut both palm fronds and one shell in each of the “blues” – Lost Lagoon, Summer Splash and Coastal Cabana.
Die cut three palm trunks and 3 grass dies from Pecan Pie cardstock scraps – one for each palm tree.
Adhere the Palm fronds for each color together and add the trunk and grass. Adhere to the card over the waves dies and pop up the shell at the grassy base with a mini Stampin’ Dimensional.
Repeat the assembly of the palm trees with the other two colors and adhere to the card front.
Stamp the sentiment from Beach Day in Coastal Cabana ink at the top of the card base.
I added the Adhesive-Backed Iridescent Discs in the blue hues for the final step to add just the right touch of sparkle!
This is an easy card with a fun summer vibe. Now it’s your turn – go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – pretty peacock, wild wheat and pebbled path

more color mondays – pretty peacock, wild wheat and pebbled path

Not only is this a More Color Monday color challenge but I am using the Translucent Florals that demonstrators were able to pre-order from the upcoming mini catalog for our demonstrator only virtual craft day Creativity Now – It was a fun day with Demonstrators from around the globe that could be accessed live or on demand!

I really liked Pretty Peacock and Wild Wheat when I saw them paired together in a Designer Paper series design from the Fresh As a Daisy DSP and I wanted to pair it with a neutral so I picked Pebbled Path and really like the way this card turned out.

Measurements:
BASE: Wild Wheat 4 1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5 1/2″
Layer: Basic White 4″ x 5 1/4″
scrap: Basic White for die cuts

I started by brushing the edges of the Basic White layer with the Pebbled path ink and a Blending Brush. (you will see in the final finished photo that I decided to add a ring of Pretty Peacock to the inside of the Pebbled Path outside edge at the last minute because I wanted a little more Pretty Peacock on the base – you could add this now if desired!)
Then I added the twig sprig in Wild Wheat ink around the inside in a circular pattern.

On a scrap piece of Basic White I stamped one large flower in Pretty Peacock and then stamped a second image without re-inking the stamp – this will give you a lighter image in the same color in a lighter tone – this is called stamping off or second generation stamping.
Then I stamped the leaves in Wild Wheat and stamped two images both full strength. I added flower centers to both flowers in Wild Wheat.

Die cut the flowers and leaves.
Adhere the lighter flower directly to the card and slip the leaves under that flower above and below tipped at an angle.
Add Stampin’ Dimensionals to the darker flower and add to the upper left corner of the lighter flower image. Make sure that the stamped images cover the empty space in the center of the sprig circle on the base layer.
Die cut the smaller banner die from the Stylish Shapes die set and stamp the Happy Birthday in Pebbled Path ink from the Something Fancy stamp set and brush the edges in Pebbled Path ink with a blending brush. Add Stampin’ Dimensionals and add to the lower left hand edge of the flower images.
Cut a section of Wild Whaet ribbon and pull the end threads to create a fringe on both sides and adhere to the lower side of the sentiment piece.
Add the 2023-2025 In Color Dots embellishments and two Wild Wheat cardstock die cuts around the sentiment piece and the card base for added interest.
At this point I thought the card needed a little more Pretty Peacock so I removed the images and brushed the background with Pretty Peacock ink and added them all back! LOL I too get to the end of the design process and change my mind!
Try this or any of my past color challenges and post your efforts on the Monday Facebook post in the comments section! I am looking forward to seeing your creations! Now go and create some art of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

library card class – a success

library card class – a success

One of the things I like best about being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator is not the discount or being first to see and play with new product but the joy of watching people find their creative spirit in the art of creating something beautiful. That is what happened on Wednesday for my first card class in Western PA. The last year has been consumed with packing, moving, demolition and remodeling and I missed stamping with others. I was still stamping and creating (which I love) posting cards and tutorials on line, doing videos and hostessing classes on line but I missed the interaction between myself and other stampers. I missed teaching – and although I was rusty it was a success.
How could I tell it was a success – I left with VERY inky fingers and a lot of smiling faces of strangers that became friends and started to believe in their creative abilities!

Here are some pictures from the event and we have already scheduled the next two card classes!

January 25th 1-3 pm – we will begin the year with a Valentine’s card and 3 birthday cards for your friends and family’s upcoming special occasions. 2 cards for $5 all 4 cards for $10

February 22nd 1-3pm we will continue to learn new techniques and make some thank you and birthday cards 2 cards for $5 all 4 cards for $10

Here are the four card samples that we made together – all participants left with current catalogs, a four page tutorial for the cards we made, cards with envelopes and very big smiles!

Hope to see you all at the card classes in the new year!

It’s amazing the art you can create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

beautifully penned sale-a-bration level one designer series paper makes creating a card so easy

beautifully penned sale-a-bration level one designer series paper makes creating a card so easy

One thing I love about beautiful paper is how easy they make creating pretty cards! It is simple with a stunning starting point and what is better than beautiful paper how about FREE beautiful paper! The Beautifully Penned Designer Series paper pack is one of the Level One choices for this season’s sale-a-bration offerings! It coordinates with one of my favorite sets in the Annual Catalog Hand Penned Petals (#155070 – for just the photopolymer stamp set) and the Hand-Penned Petals Bundle (#155492 – which includes the coordinating dies set) or the Suite (#155503 – if you love it all which includes the bundle and the Hand-Penned DSP and a pack of Genial Gems!) These sample use nothing but the FREE DSP and a few stables Basic White cardstock (#159276), Basic Black cardstock (#121045), Tuxedo Black memento ink (#132708), some White Glittered Organdy Ribbon (#156408) and the Black Glittered Organdy Ribbon (#147897) and the Basic Rhinestone Jewels (#144220)!
I cut a 12 x 12 piece of the Beautifully Penned Sale-a-bration paper into 6 sections measuring 4″ x 6″. and then I flipped one piece over and placed them one on top of the other!
Next I placed the double layer into my Stampin’ Trimmer at an angle of your choice and cut creating four pieces (two equal tops and two equal bottom sections).
Then I swapped the top and bottom sections so each had two different patterns. Since the sections are 6 inches in length you will have some overlap so you will need to decide which pattern to layer on the top and which to be covered up slightly (this is totally your choice – play around with the sections before adhering down to the 4 1/4″ x 11″ piece of cardstock that is scored and folded at 5 1/2″!
Adhere to the card base.
Using the Layering Circle Dies (#151770), I die cut a larger Scalloped circle out of Basic Black Cardstock and then a smaller plain circle that nests comfortably into the scalloped die from the flowered side of the DSP. I used the smallest rectangular die from the Stitched Rectangle die set (#151820) for the sentiment which is from the Strong of Heart set from the 2021 July to December mini catalog (#156376) This also happens to be a MAKE A DIFFERENCE STAMP SET – join us in making a difference! For each Strong of Heart stamp set purchased, we will donate $3 to support heart health!
Mount the flower circle into the middle of the black scalloped circle die cut and place on the card front as shown.
Pop up the sentiment piece on mini dimensionals (#144108) and place on the lower portion of the circle with a slight overlap or wherever you desire.
Add Glittered organdy ribbon in White (#156408) or Black (#1147897).
Add Basic Rhinestone Jewels (#(144220) and easy, stunning Black and White card!
Use the other two pieces to create another card in the opposite patterns!
Hope this easy card inspired you to go out and create your own stunning artwork – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’

Natalie

gate fold card – just a simple change can make a big difference!

gate fold card – just a simple change can make a big difference!

A traditional Gate Fold card is a card that has a split in the center and swings open like a gate. This is a gate fold card with a twist – the scores are shifted so that the card opens up on the side! This is one of the cards we will be making in class next Thursday, March 18th and Friday, March 19th! Interested in attending in person by appointment or virtually on ZOOM – I have very limited spots open! Message me soon to get signed up!

Measurements:

Colored Cardstock 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ scored at 2 3/4″ ( I actually hand fold the second score line so that the seem buts up to the other side as close as possible)
1 1/4″ piece of DSP
2″ x 3″ piece of Basic White cardstock or appropriate length and width to accommodate your sentiment and chosen punch or die cut
embellishments and stamps to decorate the card

I score a 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ piece of Real Red cardstock (#102482) at 2 3/4″ with my Stampin’ Trimmer (#152392) so that you have a left front panel that measures 2 3/4″ x 5 1/2″. Then I rolled the other end of the card to butt up against the left flap and once the edges are aligned I creased the right side of the card with my bone folder (#102300) (it will be approximately scored at 1 1/2″ – but if you score it there first, the edges might not line up correctly and this makes the card!

Cut a 1 1/4″ piece of coordinating Designer Series Paper and adhered it to the center of the right flap.

Using the small flower images from the Sweet Strawberry Stamp set (#154394) (outline and fill image) I stamped a tone on tone background for the left flap.

I die cut from the Painted Labels die set (#151605) and stamped it in Real Red ink (#147084) to match the Cardstock,  and used a sentiment from the Sweet Strawberries stamp set. .

I stamped in Tuxedo Black Momento Ink (#132708) the Strawberry outline on the Berry Delightful DSP from Sale-a-bration (So sorry to see that go away!) and using the Strawberry Builder Punch(#154239), I punched out 2 strawberries. From a piece of Granny Apple Green cardstock (#146990) and coordinating Granny Apple Green ink (#147095) I stamped and punched out two strawberry toppers.

Optional: Cut a 4″ x 5 1/4 ” piece of Basic white cardstock or die cut the largest rectangle from the Rectangular Stitched Dies (#148551) for the inside of the card and stamp/decorate if desired!

Adhere the Sentiment label ONLY to the left side flap and allow the right half of the label to hang over the right flap.  Decorate the card with the strawberries and stems and your card is ready!

If you would like to purchase any of the supplies used on this card the links below will take you to my Demonstrator Shop website and to the specific item pictured! Enjoy today and as always…

Happy Stampin’
Natalie