multiple layered background card

multiple layered background card

Sometimes card making is all about layering the background of the card…taking the colors and shapes and creating texture and dimension.

Measurements:
BASE: Berry Burst CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White CS: scraps for dies

Stamp the crab from the Ocean Friends 2 step stamping base with Berry Burst and stamp off so the background is lighter.
Stamp full strength of the detailed crab stamp over the lighter background.
Stamp off the background of the lobster with the Pumpkin Pie ink. Stamp the detailed lobster stamp in full strength over the background image.
Place the dies over the stamped images and secure with some 3M tape.
Stamp the DSP layer with the bubble image in Berry Burst ink.
Using Blending Brushes color three Stylish Shapes smallest square die with Berry Burst and Pumpkin Pie inks – I colored one with half Berry Burst, one with half Berry Burst and half Pumpkin Pie, and one with half Pumpkin Pie.
Adhere the white edging on either side of the DSP. Then adhere the Designer Series Paper on the card base.
Adhere the squares over the DSP layer.
Adhere the Basic White die cut of the sea grass on top of the die cut squares.
Adhere the crab and lobster die cuts on Stampin’ Dimensionals and place over the seagrass and squares.
Stamp the sentiment in Berry Burst on a Basic White strip, stamp the bubbles on either side of the sentiment.
Adhere a small strip of DSP below the sentiment space.
Adhere the sentiment piece below the sea creatures.
Add five Sunny Day Iridescent Dots embellishments to finish off the card.
Sometimes layering and building up a background can add interest, depth and dimension to a card – try building a scene with your next card design.
Go create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

shadow block technique

shadow block technique

What is a girl to do with all her Designer Series paper scraps? Well today’s card is an optical illusion card that checks all the boxes:
fun card – check
using paper scraps – check
easy card – check
wow technique – check!

Follow along and make a card using this technique and let me know how it turns out!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scrap for die cut
Basic Black CS: (20) 3/4″ square pieces
scrap for the word die cut
DSP: (20) 3/4″ square

Adhere the DSP squares to the Basic Black squares but offset them slightly off to the bottom and left hand side of the DSP square.
Adhere the first row of squares to the card base spacing evenly.
Adhere the remaining rows of Squares to the card front spacing evenly side to side and top to bottom.
Finish adhering the remaining matted squares to the card base, making sure that the black square is in the same position for all squares.
This gives the illusion that the DSP squares have a shadow radiating out behind them!
Such a cool optical illusion don’t you think!
Using the large banner die from the Stylish Shapes die set – stamp in Memento Tuxedo Black ink the BEST from the Friends for Life stamp set onto the die.
Adhere to the top middle of the card on an angle.
Die cut the word friend from the Friends for Life die set in scrap Basic Black cardstock and adhered below the banner die cut.
Add three Adhesive-Backed Sparkle Gems to the banner die cut on the card front to add a little bling and finish off this fun and super easy card!
Try this optical illusion card today and let me know how you like the results – now go and create some cool artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

out of the box stamping

out of the box stamping

Merry Christmas to all my family, friends and followers! By Christmas day after making loads of Christmas cards for customers and family and friends on my list I am ready for something different!
Today’s blog post is all about extending the stamps you have in your collection and using them in out of the box ways! The stamp bundle I picked today is an Online Exclusive suite called Seasons of Green and Gold that reminds me of the Christmas season with its boughs of Green and accents of gold foiled specialty paper. Instead of using the suite in a traditional manner to make a Christmas season card I used it in it’s golden hues only to make a card suitable for an anniversary or wedding.
I assembled the card based on one of the layouts featured in our 2024 Annual Catalog!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″ cut off 3/4″ off the left hand
side
scrap for large circle die
3 3/8″ x 4 1/2″ layer
Glimmer Paper: 3/4″ x 5 1/2″
DSP (3) 1: x 4 3/8″

Cut off 3/4″ off the edge of the left-hand side of the 5 1/2″ edge of the BASE.
Adhere the 3/4″ glimmer paper to the left-hand edge.
Adhere the 1″ strips to the gold-foiled Seasons of Green and Gold DSP to the layer of Basic White CS.
Adhere the layer on the base card overhanging the glimmer paper edge.
Stamp the foliage stamp in Wild Wheat.
Stamp the outline in Pebbled Path.
Stamp the large circle from the Stylish Shapes die set with the Friends for Life stamp set – stamp BEST in Wild Wheat on the upper portion of the circle, the wishes sentiment in Pebbled Path ink.
Adhere to the lower middle of the layer popping up with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Adhere the Petal Pink foiled gems onto the circle die.

An elegant card and out of the box stamping.
Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

full of life 4 piece puzzle slider card

full of life 4 piece puzzle slider card

Today’s blog post details a Puzzle Fun Fold using the Full of Life 6″ x 6″ DSP sometimes called a 4 Piece Puzzle Slider card.

I love the starburst pieces of this pack of DSP dividing them up in a puzzle creates a very fun card.

Measurements:
BASE: Pool Party CS: 4 1/4″ x 9 1/2″
scored at 1″, 2″ 7 1/2″ and 8 1/2″
Matte pieces (2) 2 1/8″ x 2 1/4″
(2) 2 1/8″ x 3 1/4″
DSP: 3 3/4″ x 5″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″

Cut the Base card 4 1/4″ x 9 1/2″ then score at 1″, 2″, 7 1/2″ and 8 1/2″.
Cut the DSP layer in half at 1 7/8″ on the 3 3/4″ side.
Put the paper back together and cut the top piece at 3″ from the left side.
cut the lower section at 2″ from the left hand side.
Fold the cardstock base in a mountain position at the 1″ score line and a valley position at the 2″ score line. Fold the score at the 7 1/2″ in a valley fold and a mountain fold at the 8 1/2″ score.
Adhere the DSP to the Matte pieces.
Adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White piece to the center panel on the base card.
Adhere the top matted DSP piece to the top of the left hand panel.
Adhere the lower left hand piece to the lower bottom of the left hand panel.
Adhere the lower right-hand matted piece to the lower portion of the right-hand panel.
Adhere the last matted piece to the top portion of the right-hand panel.
On the medium banner from the Stylish Shapes stamp in Pool Party ink the background stamp.
Stamp in Tuxedo Black Memento ink the “thinking of you” sentiment from the Friends for Life stamp set.
Adhere to the lower right-hand corner and cut off the right-hand edge that hangs over.
Color the Iridescent Pearls with a Dark Pool Party Stampin’ Blends Marker. Allow to dry.
Place five colored Iridescent Pearl embellishments onto the card front to finish off the card!
This card stands up on it’s own and such a fun way to display great looking Designer Series Papers! Try this fun fold with your stash and see what artwork you can create – one pattern and one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – summer splash, berry burst, lemon lime twist

more color mondays – summer splash, berry burst, lemon lime twist

Today’s More Color Monday Color Challenge is right in my wheel house. Summer Splash, Berry Burst, and Lemon Lime Twist are bright and cheery and perfect for this snowy week that we have been having! Dreaming of summer and warmer weather already this card has all the summer vibes! This fun fold is called a Bi-Fold Shutter Card and it is a great fun fold!

Measurements:
BASE: Summer Splash CS: 4 1/4″ x 9 3/4″
Berry Burst CS:
1) 2 5/8″ x 3 7/8″
2) 1 7/8″ x 2 3/8″
3) 1 7/8″ x 2 3/8″
4) 1 7/8″ x 3 7/8″
5) 1 1/8″ x 1 7/8″
6) 1 1/8″ x 1 7/8″
DSP:
1) 2 1/2″ x 3 3/4″
2) 1 3/4″ x 2 1/4″
3) 1 3/4″ x 2 1/4″
4) 1 3/4″ x 3 3/4″
5) 1″ x 1 3/4″
6) 1″ x 1 3/4″
Basic White CS: scraps for die cuts
Lemon Lime Twist CS: scrap for die cuts

Adhere the DSP layers to the corresponding DSP layers.
Place the 4 1/4″ side of the Summer Splash Base piece on the upper edge of the Stampin’ Trimmer and place the left edge at 1 1/2″ mark.
Cut from the 3″ mark to 7 1/2″.
Remove the paper and turn 180 degrees to the 9 3/4″ side with the cut side at the bottom.
Score at the 3″ mark from the top of the cardstock down to the cut line.
Score at the 5 1/4″ mark from the top of the card to the bottom.
Score at the 7 1/2″ from the cut line to the bottom of the card.
Adhere the DSP and a Colored Cardstock layers to the corresponding numbered panels, see the numbered panels on the photo below.
Adhere the panel to the number 1 area.
Adhere the panels to 5 and 6.
Finish adhering all of the DSP panels to their corresponding panels on the card.
Die cut one of the smaller circles and the seaweed in Lemon Lime Twist card stock.
Die cut the largest banner from the Stylish Shapes die set in Basic White CS.
Stamp the “hello friend” in Berry Burst ink.
Stamp the crab in Lemon Lime Twist ink, stamping off once for the base of the crab. Stamp the outline in full strength Lemon Lime Twist.
Stamp the bubbles in Summer Splash on the banner.
Stamp two crabs in Summer Splash, stamp off the base of the two step stamp and stamp the outline in Summer Splash full strength. Die cut them out.
Adhere the banner to the Lemon Lime Twist circle and adhere to the first panel.
Adhere the first crab to panel 5.
Adhere the Lemon Lime Twist seaweed to panel #3 and then adhere the second crab above the seaweed. Cut the seaweed and crab that hang below the cut line.
Place Iridescent Adhesive-Backed Discs on the card.
This 3D card stands on his own and is a WOW card – try this with DSP or colored cardstock that you have in your stock and let me know what you create!

Because this is a sneak peak from the upcoming January to April 2025 mini catalog none of the upcoming products will be displayed in the lower section because they are not available to purchase until January unless you would like to join my team and then you can pre-order any items from the upcoming catalog as well as qualify for Sale-a-bration benefits early! Let me know if you are interested in a starter kit and I can help you with that!

Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time.

Happy Stampin’,
Natalie