using negative die cuts - nataliegramleystamps

more color mondays – real red, pumpkin pie and crushed curry

by nataliegramleystamps | Dec 1, 2025 | card samples, color challenge, die cutting, embossing folders, masks, more color mondays, my favorites, online exclusives, stamps ink paper, techniques

Today’s More Color Mondays color challenge card contains a technique I have shown before with a little twist!

I love white on white cards with a slash of color – and up north we are receiving a lot of the white stuff so I was in need of a SLASH of color!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″, (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″ layers,
1/2″ strip scrap

Yep that is it supplies are minimal but the results are a WOW!

Take the two Basic White CS layers and die cut one with the Textured Notes rectangular dies – I used the fourth largest rectangle.

Save the die cut for another use as we will be using the negative die as a mask.

Take the other layer and emboss using the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine with Base Plate #1 and Embossing Plate #4 and the Sunflower 3D embossing folder.

I used my glass mat and taped the mask over the embossed layer – securing them down so they don’t move.

I burnished Crushed Curry ink with a blending brush in a strip down the right side of the inside of the masked portion of the layers.

I burnished Pumpkin Pie ink with a blending brush in a strip down the middle of the inside of the masked portion of the layers.

I burnished Real Red ink with a blending brush in a strip down the left side of the inside of the masked portion of the layers.

Normally when I do a White Wash technique I drag the Craft White ink pad over cardstock to create the Whitewashed look but I did not want to drag my white pad over bright ink colors and corrupt the white pad. The craft ink would have re-wet the colored ink and destroyed the ink pad so I took my palette knife and made an ink slurry with Craft White re-inker and water (you can use a Stampin’ Spritzer to wet the ink) then mixed and spread it on an acrylic block with the flat bottom of the palette knife.
I then dragged the palette knife over the Sunflower embossed surface to give the tips of the petals a white washed effect!

Remove the mask and reveal your lovely layer!

I used a Basic White 1/2″ strip scrap and stamped the “just because” sentiment from the Blooming Phrases stamp set and colored it with the residual ink left on the blending brushes in the same order as done on the card!

Adhere the layer to the card base and adhere the sentiment piece on Stampin’ Dimensionals for some added depth and dimension!

Add some Basic Rhinestone Jewels to the card to finish it off with a little sparkle and this simple but stunning card is complete!

Imagine the possibilities – use any shape and make a mask and color inside the negative space!

Now go and try this technique and make some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Textured Notes Bundle (English)

[165556]

$48.50

Blooming Phrases Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[165523]

$20.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad

[147087]

$9.00

Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

[147084]

$9.00

Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad

[147086]

$9.00

Whisper White Craft Stampin' Ink Refill

[101780]

$7.00

Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial)

[163987]

$60.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$12.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[138995]

$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Mini Glue Dots

[103683]

$7.25

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

$4.25

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Paper Snips

[103579]

$12.00

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$15.00

Palette Knives

[142808]

$5.00

Clear Block D

[118485]

$9.50

Stampin' Spritzer

[126185]

$6.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Sunflower 3 D Embossing Folder

[166145]

$12.00

Textured Notes Dies

[165555]

$31.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$6.00

← holiday pocket card snowflake kisses die cut out card →

making a watercolor template – friendly seagulls watercolor card

by nataliegramleystamps | Feb 21, 2025 | card samples, my favorites, new catalog, Sale-a-bration, stamps ink paper, techniques

Today’s blog post is about creating a template with dies to use to watercolor through the negative space to create a unique background.
Today I wanted to create a segmented background of equal squares so i used the smallest square die from the Stylish Shapes die set and ran a 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer of Basic White through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine creating two rows of three die cuts resembling window panes.

Measurements:
BASE: Coastal Cabana CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Pool Party CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper: 1/2 sheet
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ for mask/template
scraps for stamping

Using 3M Post-it Labeling and cover up tape I secured down one side of the template over the watercolor paper – because the Fluid 100 1/2 sheet is smaller than the template make sure that the template is evenly spaced on the watercolor paper.

Squeeze the lid of the Coastal Cabana ink pad and get some ink on the lid.
With a Water Painter place a few drops of water onto the lid and mix the ink and water with the brush. I used the medium brush size from the three piece set that comes with when you order the Water Painters #151298 3 painters in a set $13.00.
Brush the inside of each die opening with the watercolor wash.

Allow to dry before removing the template.

Remove the template and make sure the surface is totally dry before stamping.

I stamped in Tuxedo Black Momento ink the flying birds image in the top two boxes.

I stamped the fish image in the middle left-hand box and the shells image in the lower right-hand box.

On scraps of Basic White CS I stamped two of the birds from the Friendly Seagulls FREE Level One Sale-a-bration Rewards stamp set that you can earn with a $60 order. I think this is such a fun set!

I used Stampin’ Blends to color the birds: Pool Party Light and Dark to color the wings and Smoky Slate to shade the bellies and wings of the seagulls, Lemon Lolly for their beaks and webbed feet and crumb cake dark for the french fries.

I fussy cut the birds using the Stampin’ Up! Paper Snips which are the best knife edged scissors to fussy cut with as you can cut all the way to the tip!

I adhered the birds onto the remaining two boxes.

I stamped “hey friend” sentiment in the upper left-hand box to finish the stamping on the card!

I popped up the watercolored layer on Stampin’ Dimensionals and added it to the 4″ x 5 1/4″
Pool Party layer.

Opening the Paper Snips scissors and running one of the blades across the edges of the Pool Party layer I distressed the edges of this layer and then adhered it to the Coastal Cabana base card.

I finished off the card with the new Sparkle Gems but just as easily could have used the Riverside Irregular Pearls on this project as well
Which do you like better?

Try this water coloring template technique and show me what you create!
Which embellishment do you like better?

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Friendly Seagulls Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[164961]

$17.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$13.00

Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131297]

$11.50

Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[122924]

$11.50

Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad

[147097]

$9.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$8.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$12.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[138995]

$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

$4.25

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Paper Snips

[103579]

$12.00

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$15.00

Water Painters

[151298]

$13.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00

Stylish Shapes Dies

[159183]

$30.00

Riverside Irregular Pearls

[164937]

$9.00

Two Tone Sparkle Gems

[164633]

$9.50

← january swap cards more color mondays - melon mambo, peach pie and flirty flamingo →

nests of winter suite card – new mini catalog products

by nataliegramleystamps | Sep 6, 2024 | card samples, Christmas card ideas, die cutting, techniques

Today’s blog features the Nests of Winter Suite of products – one of the coolest things in this suite in my opinion is the frame die of foliage. Today I am using the negative space of that frame die to create a background for the card!

Measurements:
BASE: Pecan Pie 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Mossy Meadow layer 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White layer. 3 3/4″ x 5″
scrap for sentiment piece
Basic Beige scrap for birds stamp

Stamp the double birds in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on Basic Beige cardstock.

Using the Cherry Cobbler watercolor pencils – color the berries.

Color the bird with Balmy Blue watercolor pencil.

Color the bird’s belly with the Crushed Curry watercolor pencil.

Color the branches with Pecan Pie watercolor pencil.

Using a water painter color each colored section starting with the lightest color and then brush the water painter until it paints clear and paint the next darkest color until all colors are watercolored.

Die cut the frame from the Nest of Winter and use the negative die space for the mask, place the mask in the center of the Basic White layer and with a blending brush color the outside edges of the Basic White layer over the mask with Mossy Meadow ink.

Turn the mask 180 degrees and without reinking the blending brush brush the remaining color over the edges of the mask which will result in a lighter color bledning over the mask.

Adhere the Mossy Meadow layer onto the Pecan Pie card base.

Adhere the Basic White layer onto the card base slightly tilted.

Die cut the largest circle from the Stylish Shapes die set and stamp the sentiment in Mossy Meadow ink and drag the blending brush across the edges to just give the edges a little color.
Adhere to the lower left hand corner of the card.

Pop the double bird image up onto Stampin’ Dimensionals and layer in the upper right hand corner of the card.

I added two cork embellishments around the sentiment and the card is complete.

Sometimes using the negative space that might easily just get tossed in the trash produces a beautiful unexpected background! Try using those negative die spaces and see what you can create – one die, one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Nests Of Winter Suite Collection (English)

[164072]

$97.75

Winterly Tree Tops Bundle (English)

[164066]

$55.75

Winterly Tree Tops Cling Stamp Set (English)

[164184]

$26.00

Basic Beige 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[164511]

$11.50

Mossy Meadow 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[133676]

$11.50

Pecan Pie 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[161717]

$11.50

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$13.00

Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad

[147111]

$9.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$12.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[138995]

$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

$4.25

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Paper Snips

[103579]

$12.00

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$15.00

Small Blending Brushes

[160518]

$14.00

Watercolor Pencils Assortment 1

[161700]

$18.00

Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2

[149014]

$14.00

Water Painters

[151298]

$13.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00

Winterly Tree Tops Dies

[164065]

$36.00

Adhesive Backed Cork Rounds

[162643]

$6.50

← peaceful seasons card - new mini catalog goes live more color monday - cherry cobbler, old olive and mossy meadow →

sketched butterfly bundle in black and red

by nataliegramleystamps | Aug 21, 2024 | card samples, die cutting, new catalog

Last week when I was designing cards in anticipation of move in week I did not realize how significant the butterfly theme would be! I have always loved butterflies and today’s card uses the left over negative space from yesterday’s More Color Challenge card.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic Black: 4″ x 5 1/4″ negative space from
previous project
Real Red: scraps for die cuts

Adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic Black layer that has the negative friend sentiment die cut and heart outline cut into it onto the Basic White card base.

Using glue adhere the Real Red friend die cut sentiment into the negative space on the card front.

Adhere the Real Red butterfly trio over the Heart outline on the card front.

I adhered the Iridescent Adhesive Backed Discs to the card front but decided i needed a few more details – sometimes card making is a fluid process!

I added a single butterfly die cut below the word friend for a little balance.

I stamped the thank you sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto a Stylish Shapes banner die and cutting off the left hand edge to match up with the edge of the black cardstock I adhered the sentiment strip over the heart outline to finish off this simply stamped card!

I love being able to make hand made cards – this week there are so many wonderful people doing so many kind things for our family and the way I will thank them all is with a little piece of my heart and a little piece of my art!

Hope you are able to stamp this week in the midst of your life and pass along something beautiful to someone you love – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Sketched Butterflies Bundle (English)

[163492]

$49.50

Sketched Butterflies Cling Stamp Set (English)

[163490]

$26.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$13.00

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

[121045]

$11.50

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

[102482]

$11.50

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$12.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[138995]

$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

$4.25

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Paper Snips

[103579]

$12.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00

Sketched Butterflies Dies

[163491]

$29.00

Stylish Shapes Dies

[159183]

$30.00

Iridescent Adhesive Backed Discs

[161954]

$7.00

← more color mondays - gorgeous grape, coastal cabana and blueberry bushel rainbow sketched butterflies card and shadowbox →

sweet pea is so stinking cute

by nataliegramleystamps | Aug 9, 2024 | card samples, Designer Series Paper, die cutting, embossing folders, stamps ink paper

I borrowed this set from one of my downline the other day and can I just tell you it is SO STINKIN’ CUTE that I could not stop creating cards with it!

I have so many samples to share with you today – if you are looking for a fun stamp set that crosses generational lines this stamp set check all the boxes. Stinkin’ cute enough for kids cards but “Pun”ny enough for the adults – I seriously could not get enough of it! The images are so sweet!

This first card I combined the Sweet Pea set with the Full of Life 6″ x 6″ DSP. I stamped the two peas in a pod – literally LOL on a Nested Essentials die and colored with Real Red, Lemon Lime Twist and Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blends.
I cut a 2 3/4″ x 5 1/2” piece of Full of Life DSP adhered it to the center of an Azure Afternoon card base and popped up the Nested Essentials stamped and colored die over the center of the DSP. I added Adhesive-Backed Shiny Sequins to cap it all off!

I have a picture of the same card with the Crushed Curry card stock!

On a Poppy Parade card base I stamped the leaf tendril in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on the base. Stamped the same stamp on scrap Basic White paper, colored in with Lemon Lime Twist Light and Dark Stampin’ Blends and fussy cut four stems. I stamped the four peas in a pod and colored with Stampin’ Blends on a small Nested Essentials die. I popped up the die onto Stampin’ Dimensionsla in the middle of the sprigs. I stamped the You make me HaPEA on the bottom right-hand side of the card and added Iridescent Adhesive-Backed Discs to finish the card.

The next card uses a Basic White cardstock base and a Basic White layer that is embossed with the Distressed Tiles 3D embossing folder. I colored the card center with Lemon Lime Twist and a Blending Brush. I stamped the two peas in a pod and the You make me HaPEA sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on the largest circle of the Stylish Shapes die set. I colored them with Stampin’ Blends and popped it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals in the card center. Shiny Sequins finish off the card with coordinated sparkle.

This card uses a Crushed Curry cardstock base, a Basic White layer embossed with the Dotted Circle 3D embossing folder, a 2″ x 4″ piece of Full of Life DSP, and two scraps of Basic White for the two die cuts from Perennial Postage dies and Nested Essentials. The Adhesive-backed Shiny Sequins finishes this card.

This next card embossed the base Azure Afternoon card with the Dotted Circles 3D embossing folder. The stamped focal piece is a Deckled Rectangle die set, same Stampin’ Blends and Iridescent Discs.

This card starts with a Basic White Cardstock base and a Basic White layer embossed with the Dotted Circle 3D embossing folder that is colored with Lemon Lime Twist ink from a Blending Brush. Love this image Hello GrumPEA – too stinkin’ cute.

The Lemon Lime Twist card is the base for the next card. The smallest die from the Stylish Shapes is the focal point for the GrumPEA image.

This Sweet Pea card uses Gorgeous Grape card base, a 3 1/4″ x 4 3/4″ piece of Basic White negative die from the Nested Essentials die, a Brights 6″ x 6″ DSP cut to fit behind the negative space. The sweet pea image was colored with Stampin’ Blends and die cut with the Perennial Postage dies.

This card uses a 2 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ piece of Full of Life DSP on a Crushed Curry card base combined with two die cuts from Nested Essentials and Stylish Shapes die brushed with a blending brush and Shiny Sequins.

White on White is the base for this card. The frame is made from the Deckled Rectangle dies. Circle dies from Stylish Shapes and Spotlight on Nature make the focal points for the sweet pea image and sentiment. The Shiny Sequins finishes off this card.

The last card uses a Gorgeous Grape cardstock base, Brights 6″ x 6″ DSP pieces, and a circle die from Stylish Shapes with the sweet pea image finishes the card with Iridescent discs to accent!

Don’t you agree this is a STINKIN’ CUTE stamp set? It’s your turn to find a cute stamp set and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp set at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$13.00