friends are like seashells gate fold card

friends are like seashells gate fold card

by | Jun 7, 2021 | card samples, fun fold

Gate Fold cards come in many varieties – this is an easy version – it opens on the bottom only like a gate – hence the name!

Measurements:

Crumb Cake cardstock (#120953) 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White Cardstock (#159276) 4″ x 2 5/8″
Scraps of Basic White cardstock for the starfish

Using a bone folder crease the card at the 4 1/4″ score line and then open the card back up and place in the Seashells 3D Embossing Folder (#154309) and run the front of the card through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine (#149653).

Place the bottom of the card in the Stampin’ Trimmer at the 2 3/4″ mark and place the cutting blade right on the score line (there is a line where the cutting blade is on the top of the cutting blade – see the close up photo below) Line up the mark on the cutting blade right on the score line and cut through the front embossed side of the card.
Adhere the top half of the card to the back of the card as shown below
Using a die cut image from the Nested Labels dies (which I apologize is retired) you can substitute any other label die such as Stitched rectangle dies (#151820) or the Painted Labels dies (#151605) or the Stitched So Sweetly dies (#151690) and stamped the sentiment from the Friends Are Like Seashells stamp set (#158203)
Apply Stampin’ Seal tape to the bottom half of the die cut sentiment and adhere to the middle of the bottom flap of the card.
Cut a piece of Basic White cardstock to 4″ x 2 5/8″ and stamp a starfish image from Friends Are Like Seashells stamp set in Crumb Cake ink (#147116) and adhere to the inside bottom of the card as shown.
Using a scrap piece of Basic White I stamped and die cut three starfish – and using Crushed Curry Ink (#147087) and a thin Water Painter (#151298) I water colored the starfish and placed them on the cardfront popping two of them up with Stampin’ Dimensionals (#104430) – be careful not to impede the opening of the card by putting the starfish over the top half of the sentiment piece.
I added Bumblebee Gingham ribbon (#153658) to the top of the card and there you have an easy gate fold card!
Hope these instructions inspired you to create this easy fun fold card!
Now go and create some art of your own – one stamp at a time!

Happy’ Stampin’

Natalie

Product List
Friends Are Like Seashells Photopolymer Stamp Set
[154368]
$26.00
Basic White 8 1/2
[159276]
$9.75
Crumb Cake 8-1/2
[120953]
$8.75
Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad
[147116]
$7.50
Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad
[147087]
$7.50
Paper Trimmer
[152392]
$25.00
Bone Folder
[102300]
$7.00
Paper Snips
[103579]
$10.00
Stampin' Seal
[152813]
$8.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine
[149653]
$120.00
Seashells 3 D Embossing Folder
[154309]
$9.00
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.00
1/4
[153658]
$7.00
exquisite expressions in ink designer series paper

exquisite expressions in ink designer series paper

by | Jun 4, 2021 | card samples, Designer Series Paper

This new Designer Series Paper is just incredible! It is just stunning and this is a suite I had my eye on since the moment I got the sneak peek at the catalog as a demonstrator. The Expressions in Ink Suite was not available on the demonstrator pre-order so I had to wait until the catalog launch and it was the first thing on my list!! Here are card samples made with every side of the DSP in the package. The photo below is the Expressions in Ink Specialty Designer Series Paper (#155464) spread out to see all 12 designs!
The Expressions in Ink Suite (#155459) allows one number easy ordering for all the products in the suite and trust me you are going to want ALL the products in this suite! – Artistically Inked Bundle (#155456), the Expressions in Ink Specialty Designer Series paper (#155464), and the Expressions in Ink Ephemera Pack (#155465) the stamp set and ephemera pack shown below.

The first sheet in the picture above is a gorgeous paper of dark greens in an alcohol ink design with gold veining. I cut the paper into a 4″ x 12″ section and then cut at the 5 1/4″ mark. I then cut that section into 4 pieces of 4″ x 1 1/4″. and adhered them to the Shaded Spruce cardstock base (#146981). I used one of the gold pieces from the Ephemera pack and stamped a sentiment from the Inspired Thoughts stamp set (#155536) onto a scrap of Shaded Spruce and fussy cut around the Ephemera piece and popped it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals (#104430)

The second sheet shown in the first picture are flowers in Magenta Madness and Pale Papaya with greenery in Mint Macaron, Shaded Spruce and Pear Pizzazz. The card I designed is a simple one – a base cardstock of Pear Pizzazz (#131201), Shaded Spruce cardstock (#146981) punched with the Label Me Lovely punch (#151296) and stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink (#132708) a sentiment from Inspired Thoughts stamp set (#155536). The DSP is cut to 4″ x 5 1/4″ and the gold pieces and sequins are from the Ephemera pack.

This next card uses the left over scrap from the 4″ x 12″ sheet of paper after the two 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece were cut for the last two cards and used with a 2″ x 5 1/2″ piece of the striped paper the last one shown in the photo above. I used four pieces from the Gold Ephemera pack and a scrap piece of Basic White (#159276) for the sentiment from the Inspired Thoughts stamp set, all mounted on an Evening Evergreen cardstock base (#155574)
The next card uses a 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece of the third sheet in the first picture above and stamped directly on the DSP with Magenta Madness ink (#153117) and image and sentiment from Artistically Inked stamp set (#154542)

This next card uses the opposite side from the last card and the fourth side in the first photo both this paper and the last one as well as the 6th one in the first photo have most of the design concentrated in the center of the paper – I recommend cutting these papers a little differently to get maximum use out of them. I cut them at 4″ intervals then turn and cut them at 6″ in the middle – then I make the final cut on the outer edge of the paper where there is less or no color cutting the 6″ down to 5 1/4″
This card I mounted the striped paper on the outer edges and cut the pink DSP down to 4″ x 4″ square. I used a piece from the Ephemera pack and stamped the hello sentiment from the Artistically Inked stamp set!

Using the fifth designer series paper from the first picture above I cut a 4″ x 2″ strip and adhered it to the front of the card then cut about 1/4″ below that strip. I turned the cut piece in the opposite direction and cut a Basic White piece of cardstock 1/2″ less on two sides. I added another 1″ x 4″ piece of the same DSP to the inside bottom of the card and stamped the Basic White cardstock in Gorgeous Grape ink (#147099) in with sentiment and flower from the Artistically Inked stamp set. The sequins is from the Ephemera pack.
The opposite side of that DSP is the one I cut at 4″ x 6″ and then cut off the white edge to make it 4″ x 5 1/4″ – I stamped directly onto the DSP with the sentiment from the Inspired Thoughts stamp set and added two gold pieces from the Ephemera pack! Easy and the paper makes it stunning!
I used a 4″ x 3″ piece of the same DSP and mounted it to the top half of a Shaded Spruce cardstock base. Stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink directly onto the base card is the sentiment from the Flowers of Friendship stamp set (#155358) which I surrounded with the sequins and gold accent from the Ephemera pack.
The next DSP sheet is of Pale Papaya flowers with gold foil accents in the flower centers. I used a 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece and used scraps of the striped paper to mat the sentiment from the Flowers of Friendship stamp set. The llittle diamonds that highlight the word Friends are cut from the extra gold from the Ephemera pack. It is all mounted onto Pale Papaya cardstock (#155668).
The opposite design from the Pale Papaya flowers is a beautiful alcohol ink design in shades of Pear Pizzazz and Evening Evergreen! So lovely it needs little else! I used a 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece mounted on Pear Pizzazz cardstock base (#131201) and added a die cut from the Penned Flowers dies (#155557) and the sentiment from the Flowers of Friendship stamp set. The sequins is from the Ephemera pack.
This next card uses left over piece and paper piecing for the sentiment. When I stamped the sentiment onto the Gold foil stipes it rubbed off from where the gold foil was so I stamped again on some left over Magenta Madness alcohol ink design and pieced it over the original word. Sometimes really fun things come from being creative about mistakes!
This card uses both the front and back side of the last two designs in the DSP packet! I also used the Label Me Lovely punch in Basic whute and punched a small edge from the striped designer series paper to edge the top and bottom of the punch. The sentiment is from the Inspired Thoughts stamp set.
The last card in this series was made from scraps of the striped DSP and the Ephemera pack. Mounted on Mint Macaron cardstock base (#138337) and stamping the background stamp from the Artistically Inked stamp set in Just Jade ink (#153115). The hello is stamped on the left in first generation ink and then in second and third generation ink (it is also called stamping off – not reinking the stamp between stamping the image) The sequins is again from the Ephemera pack.
Product List
Expressions In Ink Suite Collection (English)
[155459]
$75.00
Artistically Inked Cling Stamp Set
[154542]
$24.00
Inspired Thoughts Cling Stamp Set
[155536]
$19.00
Flowers Of Friendship Cling Stamp Set
[155358]
$21.00
Expressions In Ink 12
[155464]
$15.00
Basic White 8 1/2
[159276]
$9.75
Pear Pizzazz 8-1/2
[131201]
$8.75
Pale Papaya 8 1/2
[155668]
$8.75
Mint Macaron 8-1/2
[138337]
$8.75
Shaded Spruce 8-1/2
[146981]
$8.75
Evening Evergreen 8 1/2
[155574]
$8.75
Magenta Madness 8-1/2
[153080]
$8.75
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
[132708]
$6.00
Just Jade Classic Stampin' Pad
[153115]
$7.50
Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad
[147099]
$7.50
Magenta Madness Classic Stampin' Pad
[153117]
$7.50
Paper Trimmer
[152392]
$25.00
Bone Folder
[102300]
$7.00
Paper Snips
[103579]
$10.00
Stampin' Seal
[152813]
$8.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine
[149653]
$120.00
Penned Flowers Dies
[155557]
$30.00
Expressions In Ink Ephemera Pack
[155465]
$7.00
Label Me Lovely Punch
[151296]
$18.00

It is so easy to create lovely cards with this suite and especially this Expressions in Ink Specialty Designer Series paper – I hope you have the chance to play with it and create some beautiful cards! If you would like this or any of the products featured in this blog and do not have a demonstrator – do not hesitate to message me from the website and I can answer any questions that you have and assist you with the ordering process if needed!  Hopefully I inspired you today to go out and create art one stamp at a time! Until next time!
Happy Stampin’

Natalie

criss-cross card – hand penned petals

criss-cross card – hand penned petals

by | Jun 2, 2021 | card samples, Designer Series Paper, fun fold, techniques

This is a criss-cross card inspired by fellow demonstrator, Rachel Tessman. This card uses Hand-Penned Petals stamp set and coordinating dies.

Measurements:

Blushing Bride (#131198) 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of cardstock scored in half at 5 1/2″ along the 11″ side before cutting – then cut in half at the 4 1/4″ mark along the 8 1/2″ side

Basic White (#159276) 3 3/4″ x 5 1/8″
and scraps for the die cutting

Hand-Penned Designer Series Paper 4″ x 5 1/4″

First take the Colored Cardstock and flip one over so that the score lines are opposite you will notice that when the paper is scored it makes an indentation (a valley) and an embossed line (a mountain) you want one valley face up and one mountain face up then cut the same way. I cut from the left side of the fold score line in the center of the paper to the bottom right corner. (see photo below)

Flip the one cut cardstock over so that the cuts are angled in opposite directions and adhere them together along the back panels as shown below.
Apply a thin strip of Tear&Tape (#154031) to the bottom of the back panel and adhere the left triangular panel to the adhesive strip.
Next cut the DSP in half diagonally by placing the corners of opposite sides of the DSP in the cutting channel of you Stampin’ Trimmer (#152392) and PAPER CUTTING TIP! – starting in the middle of the paper so you do not crumble the delicate points of the corners cut towards each edge from the middle of the paper!
Then adhere the coordinating non flower side to the left panel.
Placing Tear&Tape in the bottom triangular shape as shown in the above picture and adhere the right triangular panel to the bottom piece.
Adhere the flower side of the DSP to this section.
Next take your die cuts – for this sample I used the detailed large flower image of the Penned Flowers dies (#155557) and painted ink on the die by squishing ink onto the lid of my ink pad covers and adding water with the thin brushed water painter (#151298) and watercoloring the die. I used Just Jade (#153115), Crushed Curry (#147087) and Poppy Parade ink (#147050).
I adhered the colored die cut to the criss-cross center of the card.
Then I stamped a sentiment from the Hand-Penned Petals stamp set (#155070) onto the Basic White piece of cardstock and adhered the two basic white dies to the top of the card adjusted so they peek out of the top for added texture.
This is a fun and easy card fold – I hope you enjoyed the directions and try it soon!
Go out and create art one stamp at a time today if you can then give your creation to someone that needs it!

Happy Stampin’

Natalie

Product List
Hand Penned Petals Bundle (English)
[155492]
$46.75
Hand Penned Petals Photopolymer Stamp Set
[155070]
$22.00
Blushing Bride 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[131198]
$8.75
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[159276]
$9.75
Hand Penned 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper
[155499]
$11.50
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
[132708]
$6.00
Just Jade Classic Stampin' Pad
[153115]
$7.50
Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad
[147087]
$7.50
Poppy Parade Classic Stampin' Pad
[147050]
$7.50
Paper Trimmer
[152392]
$25.00
Bone Folder
[102300]
$7.00
Paper Snips
[103579]
$10.00
Stampin' Seal
[152813]
$8.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine
[149653]
$120.00
Penned Flowers Dies
[155557]
$30.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive
[138995]
$7.00
Water Painters
[151298]
$12.00
book binding card

book binding card

by | May 28, 2021 | card samples, techniques

Looking for a different card to spice up your card making – this is a great fold for SO MANY reasons!!
1. it’s simple!
2. It is the same size as a regular card but has an interesting twist – so it fits into a regular sized envelope!
3. with just a simple modification you can change any regularly cut cardstock into a Book Binding card!

Measurements:
Daffodil Delight Cardstock – cut at 4 1/4″ x 11
scored at 4 1/4″ and 5 1/2″
Designer Series Paper
1″ x 4″
1/2″ x 4″
4″ x 4″
Basic White Cardstock
4″ x 4″
scraps for die cutting and stamping

Cut your cardstock to 4 1/4″ x 11″
Score at 4 1/4″ and 5 1/2″.
As pictured above!

Crease the score lines with your bone folder and then place some multipurpose glue in between the two scored lines and close the card at the 5 1/2″ middle score line. Burnish the glued section to help distribute the glue and adhere the two sides of the cardstock together.

After the section adheres it will look like the picture below…
Adhere the 1″ x 4″ piece to the top section of the card.
Adhere the 4″ x 4″ to the bottom panel of the front of the card.
Adhere the 4″ x 4″ Basic White section to the card inside section and adhere the 1/2″ x 4″ piece to the bottom portion of the Basic White piece as shown in the photos below.
Die cut one of the flower images from the hand Penned Petals stamp set and adhere to the card front with your choice of sentiments.
Add some genial gems for sparkle and you are done!
Product List
Hand Penned Petals Bundle (English)
[155492]
$46.75
Hand Penned Petals Photopolymer Stamp Set
[155070]
$22.00
Color & Contour Photopolymer Stamp Set
[154994]
$21.00
Basic White 8 1/2
[159276]
$9.75
Hand Penned 12
[155499]
$11.50
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
[132708]
$6.00
Just Jade Classic Stampin' Pad
[153115]
$7.50
Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad
[147087]
$7.50
Paper Trimmer
[152392]
$25.00
Bone Folder
[102300]
$7.00
Paper Snips
[103579]
$10.00
Stampin' Seal
[152813]
$8.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine
[149653]
$120.00
Penned Flowers Dies
[155557]
$30.00
Genial Gems
[155500]
$8.00
Linen Thread
[104199]
$5.00
I hope you will try this fun and easy card fold soon and create your art one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

soft pastel assortment samples and ways to use them

soft pastel assortment samples and ways to use them

by | May 26, 2021 | card samples, techniques

Stampin’ Up! has reintroduced Pastels into their coloring line-up! We have had pastels before – these however are reinvented – in a hard pressed stick form they are more compressed than the former squares of soft, crumbly pastels and stay together better.

If you have ever played with pastels before you know how much fun they can be – albeit a little messy – because of the hard packed form they are now in they are slightly less messy but the color still gets on your fingers!

The smaller sampler contains 8 sticks of chalk pastels in: Daffodil Delight, Mango Melody, Poppy Parade, Gorgeous Grape, Mossy Meadow, Coastal Cabana, Granny Apple Green and Night of Navy

Ways to use the pastels: Rubbing direct to paper – this sample I used the Night of Navy, Granny Apple Green and Coastal Cabana direct to the paper in a striped pattern.

This next sample I used the small circle image from the new Watercolor Shapes Stamp Set (#156968) in Versamark Ink (#102283) and rubbed the pastels in (you can experiment with the application device – depending on what you apply the color with will give you different looks and depths of color. I made a polka dotted background using this technique!
Using a sponge dauber and a mask made from the Basic Borders die set (#155558) I created the sentiment focal point background.
I wrote a single line of color down the center of each star fish arm and them blended the color with the small water painter.
adding color direct to paper I combined that technique with the Blender pen to create a soft sun set sky background for this card.
Product List
Soft Pastels Assortment
[154585]
$9.00
After The Storm Cling Stamp Set (English)
[155038]
$21.00
Watercolor Shapes Photopolymer Stamp Set
[156968]
$21.00
Pretty Perennials Photopolymer Stamp Set
[154435]
$18.00
Friends Are Like Seashells Bundle
[156205]
$54.00
Basic White 8 1/2
[159276]
$9.75
Sand & Sea Designer Series Paper
[154288]
$11.50
Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2
[146987]
$8.75
Flirty Flamingo 8-1/2
[141416]
$8.75
Misty Moonlight 8-1/2
[153081]
$8.75
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
[132708]
$6.00
Versamark Pad
[102283]
$9.50
Paper Trimmer
[152392]
$25.00
Bone Folder
[102300]
$7.00
Paper Snips
[103579]
$10.00
Stampin' Seal
[152813]
$8.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine
[149653]
$120.00
Seashells 3 D Embossing Folder
[154309]
$9.00
Seaside Seashells Dies
[156095]
$34.00
Stitched Rectangle Dies
[148551]
$35.00
Water Painters
[151298]
$12.00
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.00
Pastel Pearls
[154571]
$6.50
3/8
[154572]
$7.00
Try the new Soft Pastel Assortment it is a ton of fun with endless possibilities! These are just a few examples of ways to use these fantastic new coloring tools. I hope this inspired you to try something new and go out and create your own art – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’

Natalie