swap cards ideas galore

swap cards ideas galore

It is swap time again and I have loads of ideas for you thanks to our great group of demonstrators that I swap with every month!

The first card from Michelle L features a whimsical stamp set that is just too cute called Bird’s Eye View and the little bird is peeking out from the back page through a die cut oval window and frame.

This card from Judith P uses the Taco Fiesta stamp set. All of the little cut outs on the bottom of the card are cut out and popped up on Dimensionals! Too Cute!
Legendary Ride is the stamp set that Jennie T uses for this great masculine card featuring the awesome Metal Plate 3D Embossing Folder on the right side of this card!

Lyn L’s card uses the Countryside Inn DSP which is one of the great Designer Series paper’s on sale all this month order your favorites at a 15% discount using the current hostess code HGE4RYHW or order a paper share from me over 80 pieces of 6″ x 6″ samples of every sale DSP for $25 plus $5 shipping if you are not local! Let me know!

Bright and Beautiful Suite collection is the product suite used by Vickie G for this great center flap fun fold card with a sweet balloon stamped inside!
This sweet Taco Fiesta card by Denise W uses easy shading with a Blending Brush to color the card front and the Alphabet a la mode dies for the Happy on the front. The inside is just as cute as the front!
Kathi D sent two cards from last month and this month’s swaps! Double bonus! The first uses Circle Sayings and Countryside Inn DSP in hues of Boho Blue, one of our popular new In Colors!
Her second card was for last month’s For the Guys swap and features the Beside Me stamp set.
Lori V never disappoints and this lovely Zany Zoo card is a fun fold card with lots of pizzazz!
The Zoo Crew paper is also on sale this month and included in my paper share!
Night of Flight is our Hostess stamp set and is the set Susan K used in this elegant and simple SIP card! SIP = stamps, ink,paper simple stamping does not need to be plain and boring!
Marie W’s card uses the Cane Weaving 3D Embossing folder as a background and the Layering Leaves bundle for a lovely card.
Softly Sketched stamp set sets the stage for Susan K’s swap card and just a hint of Masterfully Made DSP at the bottom which is also a DSP featured in this month’s sale and my paper share!
Robin G’s card arrived yesterday in time to post it on this blog entry and it is one of my favorites using all the current In Colors and the new Vellum Basics in a die cut circle behind the Timeless Arrangements dies! Nice Job all set in Boho Blue!
Denise W’s swap card for May features Just My Type stamp set and the Zoo Crew DSP which is also included in the June DSP sale with 15% I absolutely love black and white paper and this DSp offers a wacky and zany zoo crew on one side that matches the Zany Zoo bundle but it also goes with ANYTHING on the reverse side for those of us that do not have the stamp set we can use the black and white side for everything! This paper is also included in my paper share! E-mail me if you would like to participate!
Hope these ideas inspired you to grab one of these stamp sets and create some artwork of your very own – go out and create one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Paper Snips
[103579]
$11.00
Bough Punch
[157711]
$22.00
irresistible blooms double sided vellum card

irresistible blooms double sided vellum card

Vellum is such a cool paper to work with, translucent and lovely it can transform a project like no other paper in my opinion!

With this technique we will be stamping on both sides of the vellum to bring depth and dimension to the project.

Measurements:
Base: Basic White 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White Die Layer: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
Vellum Layer 3 3/8″ x 4 3/4″
and another piece 1 3/4″ x 3 3/8″

Using post it notes or post it tape secure the largest two Deckle Rectangle Dies to the Basic White layer and die cut a frame for the card.
This is a great way to secure vellum – since it is translucent one of the downfalls or issues with vellum is how to secure it without seeing the adhesive through the vellum and hiding the adhesive “stains” under the frame is a great way to do it!

On one side of the vellum stamp the leaves from the Irresistible Blooms stamp set in Shaded Spruce ink. Vellum takes longer to dry than regular cardstock so extra drying time is necessary in order to not smear the stamped images. USE CAUTION when handling the stamped side until dry – this usually takes a few minutes.
When dry flip the vellum over and stamp in Gorgeous Grape ink the flower from the Irresistible Blooms stamp set in between the stamped leaf images. Allow drying time.
Place adhesive on the backside of the frame and adhere the vellum to the frame.
Add Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals to the backside of the frame. Remove the release paper and fold the card base in half to prepare to adhere the frame to the card base.
Stamp the smaller vellum piece with a sentiment and leaf image. Allow to dry and add adhesive to the left edge only and add to the left side of the frame. Add 3 Glossy Dots to the card to finish with a little bling!

Stamping on both sides of the vellum creates muted leaves and brighter flowers creating depth and dimension to the stamped scene.

Try this technique and go create some art of your own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – azure afternoon, crushed curry and basic white

more color mondays – azure afternoon, crushed curry and basic white

Back in June 2021, I posted a card that featured the floating elements technique. Today i am using a few techniques and that is one of them!

More Color Monday’s is back with a bright and cheery combination of blue, yellow and white. The look is crisp and clear and I really like this card!

The Current Hostess code is HGE4RYHW.

Measurements:
BASE: Azure Afternoon CS 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Basic White layer: 4″ x 2 5/8″
CS Strips: 1/2″ wide of varying lengths (must be
wider than the die you will be using)
Window Sheet: (must be larger than the die cut you will be using)

Using a window sheet, adhere CS strips equally spaced to the window sheet and die cut with a shape die. (There are two layers so run the die through several times to ensure that the cuts run all the way through both layers)

Place the Basic White layer under one of the Foursquare Decorative mask background plastic layers. Using Azure Afternoon ink and a Blending Brush, apply color with ink and brush until the entire surface is inked with the design.
Fold the Base card in half and adhere the Basic White layer offset on the right side center of the card front.
Place Stampin’ Dimensionals strategically under the CS strips to pop up the Floating Element on the card and place partially over the Basic White layer on the card front.
The Die will appear to “float” on the card, hence the Floating element technique. It is a very cool effect!
I added ribbon to the card for a finishing touch and this More color Monday is in the books. I hope you play along with me and push your creativity to the next level by trying a few new color challenges. Now go out and create some art of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

colored halo technique

colored halo technique

This Colored Halo technique is an easy way to create a colorful fun geometric background using masking techniques.
I cut several circle die cut sizes and straight edges.
I selected several colors to create the background.

BASE: Basic Gray CS 5 1/2″x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS layer: 4 ” x 5 1/4″
Inks: Smoky Slate, Misty Moonlight, Lemon
Lolly, and Gorgeous Grape.

Place the Basic White layer on a grid paper.

Place a large circle die on the Basic White layer.
Brush outward from the circle mask with the Smoky Slate ink.
Remove the circle.
Place the straight edge on the paper and brush the ink off the mask.
Place a straight edge and ink with a Blending Brush and Misty Moonlight.
Place the straight edge in another section and ink with Misty Moonlight.
Place the straight edge in a new spot and choose a new color – Lemon Lolly.
Place the straight edge in another spot and pick another Blending Brush with Gorgeous Grape ink.
Place the large circle die in another place and ink with Gorgeous Grape ink with the Blending Brush.
This is the finished background of the layer.
In Basic Gray ink, I stamped the sentiment from the Wonderful Thoughts stamp set and the large leaf image from Nature’s Prints.
Adhere the Basic White layer on the Basic Gray base.
I add the Pebble Path 2023-2025 In Color Dots in a triangular pattern around the sentiments.
Here is another sample with different colors.
Try this technique with your own colors and stamps. Go and create your own art – one stamp at a time.

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

patchwork pieces die set

patchwork pieces die set

There are lots of hidden gems in the new catalog – so much great new stuff that some of it is easy to overlook. I am constantly scouring the catalogs for new ideas and overlooked products and this die set can be one of those items! I noticed it on my first go around but many have commented on the fact that they overlooked it so i decided to highlight this product in my blog post today!
Patchwork Pieces (#161592) can be located on page 165 of the new Annual May 2023- April 2024 catalog! A die set of two 3 3/16″ x 4 11/16″ background dies – these cute dies can create background possibilities that are seemingly endless. Combine them with cardstock or DSP or both and watch the ideas flow!
For the first two cards I used the Bright and Beautiful 6″ x 6″ DSP (#161449) and two colors of cardstock – Azure Afternoon (#161719) and Lemon Lime Twist (#144245).
I cut one die image from each color and cut a few Basic White pieces of cardstock at 3 1/2″ x 5″ to glue the patchwork pieces onto.
I alternated three sets of background images and came up with three different backgrounds.
I mounted them onto Basic White Cardstock and cut the white cardstock to an even border.
I stamped the thank you sentiment from the Something Fancy stamp set and die cut with the smallest circle from the Stylish Shapes die set. Then I die cut the next circle up for a mat out of a scrap piece of Azure Afternoon cardstock. I mounted the sentiment piece to the Azure Afternoon circle die cut.
I cut a 4 1/2″ x 11″ of Azure Afternoon cardstock scored it at 5 1/2″, folded in half for the card base.
I adhered the patchwork background to the card base on an angle, placed Stampin’ Dimensionals onto the Circle die and mounted the sentiment to the patchwork background center.
I colored Basic Rhinestone gems with the Dark Azure Afternoon Stampin’ Blends marker.
I added the colored Rhinestones to the card front.
For the second example I adhered the patchwork pieces background onto the Lemon Lime Twist cardstock.
I die cut the smallest square from the Stylish Shapes die set with Basic White card stock and stamped the Oh Happy Day sentiment from the Playing in the Rain stamp set. I adhered this square to the next die square up cut out of Lemon Lime Twist card stock and popped it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and mounted it to the patchwork pieces center on a diagonal. I added three Iridescent Rhinestones to the card front.
I mounted this patchwork piece to another Azure Afternoon card stock base.
I love how bright and easy these backgrounds were to create!
The second die in the set cuts a curvy pattern across the page and I created a Berry Burst card to showcase this die.
I cut a striped Berry burst piece of Bright and Beautiful DSP with this Patchwork Piece die and adhered it to a Basic White piece of Cardstock. Cut an even border and mounted it to a Berry Burst cardstock base, added a sentiment inked in Berry Burst and die cut from the backside of the same DSP and added a Berry Burst die from the Artistic Die set.
Check out this die set and make some fun backgrounds. Go out and create some art of your own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie