techniques - nataliegramleystamps

acrylic block watercoloring with soft seedlings

by nataliegramleystamps | Nov 4, 2022 | card samples, stamps ink paper, techniques

Creating a cool colored background can be so easy, grab one of your acrylic blocks and let’s watercolor the easy block painting way!

Using three coordinating colors, I used Real Red, Poppy Parade and Crushed Curry direct to the acrylic block. Lay the ink pad directly onto the acrylic block and color one-third of the block by tapping the ink pad to transfer color to the block. I used Real Red on one side of the acrylic block then Crushed Curry onto the other 2/3’s of the block and then add the Poppy Parade color to the 1/3 of the block opposite the Real Red color. Re-wet the color with a Water Painter (#151298) and then transfer the color to a 2″ x 5 1/4″ piece of Basic White cardstock by turning the wetted colored side down onto the cardstock.

Using a Water Painter brush and some Real Red ink, tap the brush onto the side of an acrylic block and release speckles onto the watercolored paper.

Stamp the Soft Seedlings leaf stamp in Real Red onto the lighter colored blocks of the watercolored paper.

Using a Crumb Cake base cardstock, I embossed a 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece of Crumb Cake with the Leaf Fall 3D embossing folder (#159847) Lastly I added Red Rhinestones to the card to add a little bling!

Hopefully this will inspire you to make some fun Fall and Thanksgiving cards soon. Go out and create some beautiful art of your own – one stamp at a time.

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

← product early release - fitting florets collection and limited time products the art of shading - using blending brushes part one →

perfectly penciled 1 inch dsp strip card

by nataliegramleystamps | Oct 28, 2022 | card samples, Designer Series Paper, techniques

Do you have an abundance of gorgeous paper? I know I do! The next couple of posts will give you some great ideas of how to make fast and easy beautiful cards with your beautiful Designer Series paper! So dig out all that paper and start having some fun!

Measurements:
Base: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ scored at 4 1/4″
Layer: 4″ x 5 1/4″
DSP 1″ strips

Start off with the layer of Basic Black 4″ x 5 1/4″

Adhere a long 1″ strip of the Perfectly Penciled DSP to the center of the Basic Black layer diagonally.

Flip the DSP over for the geometric design and leaving a small border as desired adhere another strip next to the first.

Adhere 1″ strips perpendicularly to the first two strips on either side leaving the same width of space as the first two strips.

Turn the layer over and cut the excess off at the edge of the layer.

As you near the edge and there is a small triangle it helps to cut it longer than the edge of the paper and fold it over the layer this will give the smaller pieces more stability. (see photo below)

Finish all the edges by cutting them to the edge of the Basic Black layer.

Then adhere this layer to the Base cardstock.
I used Basic Black for the base and layered a 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer on the inside of the base card.

Stamp a sentiment – this one is from the Artistically Inked stamp set and I punched it into a banner format with the Banners Pick a Punch and then layered it onto the Basic Black Cardstock and punched this layer as well to match the Basic White layer.

Pop up the sentiment onto the card and add some Matte Black dots to finish this easy and simple card off!

Have lots of great designer series paper this is a fun card to make with all those beautiful designs! Go out and create some gorgeous DSP art of your own – one page, one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$10.25

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[121045]

$9.25

Perfectly Penciled 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[159244]

$12.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$6.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$12.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[138995]

$7.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$25.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$7.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Matte Black Dots

[154284]

$7.00

← birthday card organizer kit - perfect for a hard to buy christmas gift upcoming class information 3 - 2 - 1 dsp cards →

right angle fold over fun fold with gingerbread and peppermint suite

by nataliegramleystamps | Oct 26, 2021 | card samples, fun fold, specialty papers, techniques

I first saw this fold several years ago on Rachel T.’s website Stamp your Art Out and made some design edits using a different stamp bundle and Designer Series Paper. Thank you Rachel for the constant inspiration! This is what she called a Right Angle Fold Over card.

Measurements:
8 1/2″ X 11″ Colored cardstock
Cinnamon Cider (#153078)
5″ x 3 3/4″ cut diagonally corner to corner use
both pieces Real Red (#102482)
4 3/4″ x 3 1/2″ cut diagonally corner to corner
use both pieces Gingerbread and
Peppermint DSP (#156313)
scraps of DSP and coordinating colored
cardstock for circle die cuts
4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White (#159276) for the inside
of the card
Score the Cinnamon Cider cardstock at 4 1/4″ on the 8 1/2″ side and score at 5 1/2″ on the 11″ side of the cardstock.

Cut diagonally corner to corner.

Cut the Reral Red cardstock to 5″ x 3 3/4″ and cut in half diagonally corner to corner. We will be using both of these pieces.
Cut the DSP to 4 3/4″ x 3 1/2″ use two different coordinating patterns or cut another complimentary colored cardstock in the same size (Old Olive would work well in this example)

Using a bone folder place the diagonal cuts together over the base of the card and crease the side and top score lines. Cut a sheet of Basic White cardstock to 4″ x 5 1/4″ and decorate for the inside of the card and mount to the inside of the card.

Mount the Real Red triangles and then the DSP triangles on top of those.
Using concentric circles make three focal points about 1 1/2″, 2″ and 2 1/2″ in diameter using coordinating colored cardstock and DSP (I added a sentiment to one of the inside circles)
Adhere the circles two to the topside triangle close to the edge and then tuck the last circle under these two upper circles and adhere to the bottom triangle (tucking this circle underneath the top two circles will keep the card flaps closed)

Product List

Gingerbread & Peppermint Suite Collection (English)

[156275]

$143.50

Frosted Gingerbread Bundle (English)

[156807]

$48.50

Frosted Gingerbread Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[156314]

$21.00

Gingerbread & Peppermint 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[156313]

$11.50

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$9.75

Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[102482]

$8.75

Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[100702]

$8.75

Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

[147084]

$7.50

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$25.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$7.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$120.00

Gingerbread Dies

[156320]

$33.00

Layering Circles Dies

[151770]

$35.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$5.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.00

← specialty papers - so many choices! corner pop up gift card holder →

cardstock meets alcohol and Stampin Blends

by nataliegramleystamps | Mar 15, 2021 | techniques

What do you get when you cross a window sheet, different types of cardstock, Stampin’ Blends Alcohol Ink Markers and a Stampin’ Spritzer filled with 99% Alcohol? Well gorgeous backgrounds of course!

I started with multiple sheets of Glossy, Basic White, Shimmery White and Vellum cardstock cut to 4″ x 5 1/4″ ( and just a tip cut a bunch – because every one looks different and once you start making these you WILL find it difficult to stop!!

A window sheet is a clear plastic sheet we sell ours as 2 sheets of 12″ x 12″ for $5.00. And you can use it for this purpose over and over again!
I used Night of Navy Dark and Light and Dark Bermuda Bay Stampin’ Blends.

Scribble ink onto the Window Sheet.

Place your choice of cardstock face down onto the ink and alcohol surface of the window sheet surface.

Allow to dry if you like the pattern of ink on the glossy surface – if there are white spots showing through or an area you do not like dip into the alcohol and ink again until desired look is achieved!

I stamped on the glossy cardstock with Staz-on ink and let dry. I used the Seaside Notions for this example. You can use Momento Black ink for the other cardstock choices, although be careful stamping on vellum as it takes a little longer to dry and not smear!

I finished the card off with a ribbon and Blue Adhesive Backed Gems. and mounted it onto a balmy Blue cardstock base.

Yesterday on my Sunday evening Facebook Live I demonstrated the technique above with a different color scheme and showed off all of the cards I had made from the previous batch as well!

Here is a photo gallery of the completed cards using this background technique!

ButterflyWings3

SilhouetteScenes1

BeautifulMoments3

ButterflyBrillance1

WinterWoods2

ButterflyBrillance2

ButterflyWings2

ButterflyWings1

ToAWildRose1

DandelionWishes1

PaintedPoppies1

FriendsAreLikeSeashells1

BeautifulMoments1

PaintedPoppies2

DragonflyGarden1

PrettyPerennials1

SailingHome1

RootedInNature2

WinterWoods3

ToAWildRose2

WinterWoods4

The coolest part about this technique is that no two backgrounds are the same and that each one is unique and creates an incredible background for gorgeous cards! I will warn you it is a little addicting! Good Luck and have fun trying this technique!

Now go create some art one stamp at a time!
Natalie

Product List

Seaside Notions Cling Stamp Set

[149278]

$23.00

Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[101910]

$10.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$9.75

Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[101856]

$10.00

Balmy Blue 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146982]

$8.75

Jet Black Stāzon Ink Pad

[101406]

$10.00

Bermuda Bay Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154878]

$9.00

Night Of Navy Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154891]

$9.00

Stampin' Spritzer

[126185]

$3.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$25.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$7.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$8.00

Glossy White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

[102599]

$5.95

Blue Adhesive-Backed Gems

[153547]

$8.00

← gate fold card - just a simple change can make a big difference! butterfly bijou vertical easel card →

butterfly bouquet sneak peek with alcohol, ink and vellum

by nataliegramleystamps | Feb 26, 2021 | techniques

This gorgeous new set is a Sneak Peek from the upcoming Annual Catalog available in May! Butterfly Bouquet will be available as one large background stamp with 6 beautifully detailed line drawings of various species of butterflies, a coordinating die set and two matching papers – Natural Touch Specialty paper and 6×6 DSP Butterfly Bijou with a wild mix of 11 Stampin’ Up! colors. This technique uses 90% alcohol in a Stampin’ Mist Sprayer, Alcohol Blends markers and Vellum!

Measurements:

Basic White Cardstock 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ scored at 4 1/4″ (#159229)

Vellum 2 pieces 4″ x 5 1/4″ (#101856)

Butterfly Bijou 6×6 DSP 1/2″ strip

Start with two pieces of Vellum Cardstock – and three complimentary colors of Stampin’ Blends – I used Light Highland Heather Stampin’ Blend Marker (#154887), Light Pool Party Stampin’ Blend Marker (#154894), Light Night of Navy Stampin’ Blend Marker (#154891).

Color one side of the vellum with alternating patches of blends colors.

Continue adding swatches of alternating color until you cover the entire cardstock piece.

Fill a Stampin’ Spritzer (#126185) with 90% to 99% alcohol and lightly spritz the colored side of the vellum. allow to dry and turn over to use. I used Tuxedo Black Memento ink (#132708) with the sentiments from the Pretty Perennials stamp set (#154435) from the January to June mini catalog. Looks messy and will not look even remotely like this at the end! Spritz and watch the magic unfold!

I added die cut butterflies from the upcoming release of the new annual catalog set Butterfly Bouquet adhering them with Mini Glue Dots (#103683) and finished the card off with Pastel Pearls (#154571)