to color or not to color that is the question

to color or not to color that is the question

Do you like to color? Some people, like me, find it very relaxing! As a little girl I was the one you could plop at a table with a box of crayons and a coloring book and I would color the edges dark and the insides lighter and spend hours happily making great drawings. For me it is fun to color, for others not so much and today I thought I would show you two ways to go about “coloring” an image for each type of artist!

Measurements:
BASE: Calypso Coral CS 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″ for all samples
Basic White CS 1/4″ larger than your focal
image for cards 2 and 3
DSP large enough for your image to be stamped
on for card 1
3 1/4″ x 5″ for card 2
2 1/2″ x 5 1/4″ for card 1

For those that do not find coloring in the details of a stamp like the Stippled Roses fun – there are a number of options. First and easiest is to just stamp it in one color and make a monochromatic card.

If you do not like to color but still want to step it up a notch then a technique I love is embossing on the B side of our DSP – most of our Designer Series Papers are double sided. Most of the DSP that is two sided has a complimentary colored more plain B side that works well with the more elaborate A side. Many times the B sides are perfect for embossing on pretty enough to be a great background but not too busy to distract from the beautiful stamped images!
Stamp the Stippled Rose large rose image in Versamark ink onto the Calypso Coral B side of the Softly Stippled FREE Sale-a-bration DSP, then sprinkle with the white embossing powder from the Basic Embossing powder pack!
Heat set with the Heat Tool and once cool cut to the desired size – you could also die cut the Roses but I love this watercolor washed look on the B side and wanted more of it to show so I cut a rectangle around the embossed image!
I then mounted it onto a Basic White cardstock matte.
Pop up the Rose embossed image with Stampin’ Dimensionals and mount onto the Calypso Coral card base.
I stamped the birthday greeting from the Stippled Rose stamp set in Calypso Coral using the Stampin’ Write marker brush tip side and punched one end with the Banners Pick-a-punch and mounted it onto the card front.
I added Ombre Matte Dots to the card and what a WOW and easy card without having to color!
For the coloring example, I started with the black and white Stippled Rose images from the FREE Softly Stippled Sale-a-bration paper!

I used the Stampin’ Blends Alcohol combo packs in Calypso Coral and Granny Apple Green.
I start and color the entire image with the Light marker.

Once all the flowers are colored in the Light marker I go back over the flowers with the Dark marker highlighting the edges and the dark shading marks made by the original artist!
Then I go back over the entire petal images with the Light marker to blend the two colors. I love the way these markers work – no streaking and blending is so easy!
Next I colored all the leaves with the Light Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blends marker.
Highlighted the leaves with the Dark Marker.
Blended the leaves by going over the entire leaf surface with the Light marker again to blend the colors.
I mounted the colored DSP onto a Basic White cardstock matte.
I wrapped and knotted the Black & White Gingham ribbon around the card and mounted it onto the card base.
I stamped the thank you sentiment from the Stippled Rose set in Calypso Coral and added some leaves in Granny Apple Green ink and mounted onto the card.
I added adhesive Backed Sparkle Gems to finish off the card.

Try your hand at one of these versions – are you team color or no color – would love to know!

Now go and create some art of your own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – misty moonlight, pebbled path and gray granite

more color mondays – misty moonlight, pebbled path and gray granite

Well I just wasn’t done with this Pebbled Path color so i added it to my More Color Monday Color Challenge! I paired it with Gray Granite and Misty Moonlight which also has that gray dusky tone so they all work really well together!

Were you a coloring book girl when you were little – I was but it is tedious for many people and this card is a great way to use a stamp set without having to color the flowers – who knew that flowers look stunning in neutral shades of gray!!!

Measurements:
BASE: Pebbled Path 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Gray Granite layer 4″ x 5 1/4″
scraps of Misty Moonlight and basic White
for the sentiment

I stamped the long sentiment from Wonderful Thoughts in Misty moonlight on a scrap strip of Basic White and punched it using the Banners Pick a Punch on both ends.
Adhere it to a wider strip of Misty Moonlight and cut the edges in the Banners Pick a Punch as well to match the Basic White layer.
Stamp the large roses in Pebbled Path ink onto the Gray Granite layer.
Adhere the Misty Moonlight Inner Braided ribbon around the Gray Granite layer and pop up the sentiment piece on Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhere to the layer.
Adhere the Gray Granite layer to the Pebbled Path card base.
I added Iridescent Pearls to finish off the card but decided I wanted a butterfly! It is ok to redesign a card in the middle if it doesn’t look finished to you – feel free to experiment!
I moved the Pearls and added a butterfly that I colored with Misty Moonlight ink and a Blending Brush to finish the card!

Try a tone on tone look for your next creation – no go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

most adored square explosion fun fold

most adored square explosion fun fold

Do you love interactive cards – if so you are going to LOVE today’s post!

Today’s card is a square explosion card – pull on these tabs and the square opens up like a flower and reveals a message on the inside – what a cool surprise!

Measurements:
BASE: Flirty Flamingo 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
Basic White layer 4″ x 5 1/4″
Flirty Flamingo layer 3 1/4″ square
DSP layer 6″ x 6″ folded and cut
inside white layer 2 3/4″ square

Score the 6″ x 6″ DSP at 1 1/2″ on all sides.
Cut the 4 corners out.
Fold the outside point of the edges cut inward towards the score line to create a triangle, do this on each side.
Starting with the bottom edge fold upwards towards the middle and proceeding clockwaise fold at each score line inward until you get to the last and fourth fold and tuck inside the first fold, creating the explosion square.
Stamp on the inside Basic White square piece in Flirty Flamingo for th Stippled Rose and Sweet Sorbet for the sentiment for a little contrast!
Open up the explosion square and adhere the inside layer to the center square.
Emboss the Basic White 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer in the Layered Florals 3D embossing folder and adhere to the Flirty Flamingo outer layer.
Adhere the explosion square to the Flirty Flamingo layer and adhere with Tear & Tape to the upper center of the card front.
Add Rainbow Adhesive-backed dots to the card. This is what the card looks like closed…
…and opened!

That is fun! try this easy card with some of your papers and show me what you have created – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

stippled roses double faux step card

stippled roses double faux step card

This double faux step card was inspired by fellow demonstrator Susan C. – and I thought I would make one of my own and share my version!

Measurements:
BASE: Calypso Coral CS: 5 1/2″ square
scored at 3/4″, 1 1/2″, and 3 1/2″
Layer: 3″ x 8 1/2″ scored at 4 1/4″ and 8″
2″ x 7″ scored at 3 1/2″ and 6 1/2″
Basic White layers: 2 3/4″ x 4″ and
1 3/4″ x 3 1/4″
scraps for die cuts
DSP layers: 2 1/2″ x 3 3/4″ and
1 1/2″ x 3″
Old Olive scraps for die cut leaves

Die cut a small square die from the Stylish Shapes die set.
Stamp in Smoky Slate ink the smaller rose from the Stippled Roses stamp set.
Using the Stampin’ Blends first color in the leaves with the Old Olive light marker.
Using the shading marks drawn on the stamped image highlight the darker areas with the dark Old Olive Stampin’ Blends marker.
Go over the entire leaf image with the light marker once more to blend the colors.
Using the Light Calypso Coral Stampin’ Blends marker color the rose.
Highlight the dark shaded areas with the dark Calypso Coral marker.
Blend the rose with the light marker over the whole rose area and stamp the Hapy Mother’s Day sentiment from the Stippled Roses stamp set in Calypso Coral ink onto the square die.
Score the 5 1/2″ square piece of Calyspo Coral cardstock at 3/4″, 1 1/2″ and 3 1/2″ and bend into mountain fold at the 3/4″, valley fold at the 1 1/2″ fold and mountain fold again at the 3 1/2″ fold. Score the 3″ 8 1/2″ piece at 4 1/4″ and 8″ and fold 4 1/4″ into a mountain fold and the 8″ score line to a valley fold. Adhere the 2 1/2″ piece of DSP to the 2 3/4″ basic White piece and adhere to the larger panel of the 3″ x 8 1/2″ piece of cardstock.
Score the 2″ x 7″ piece at 3 1/2″ and 6 1/2″ and fold 3 1/2″ into a mountain fold and the 6 1/2″ score line to a valley fold. Adhere the 1 1/2″ piece of DSP to the 1 3/4″ basic White piece and adhere to the larger panel of the 2″ x 7″ piece of cardstock.
Place a strip of adhesive on the backside edges of both pieces of cardstock and adhere to the outside edges of the scored 5 1/2″ square.
Die cut the small rose and pop up on STampin’ Dimensionals and add to the lower portion of the smaller step.
Die cut two leaf sprigs from the Stippled Roses dies.
Pop up the sentiment onto Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhere the leaf dies to the upper and lower sides diagonally and adhere to the larger step panel.
I added both Brushed Brass butterflies and Iridescent Pearls to this Mother’s Day card to make it extra special for that extra Special person in everyone’s life!

Just a reminder that this is a sneak peak – this gorgeous DSP will be available as a FREE item in the upcoming Sale-a-bration catalogs which my customers are receiving if you are new to stamping and do not have a demonstrator and would like new catalogs message me and I will get you the Sale-a-bration 2024 and the 2024 January to April mini catalog in the mail! That being said some of the products are not available until January 4th and will not appear below in the photo links as the links will not be live until the release of the catalogs and products!

Now go try this fun Double Faux step card today and make some art of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’