creativity now alternate cards and pages

creativity now alternate cards and pages

During Covid, Stampin’ Up! like most companies pivoted to online events for demonstrator education instead of in person…

Creativity Now was born from that necessity and has been a well attended online seminar for the last few years…now that the world is relatively back to normal they announced that this year’s Creativity Now would be the last one.

We were sad to hear that but with the introduction of Online card classes and Virtual card and Album Retreats the event has become redundant…So join me today to see the creative inspiration from our last Creativity Now event and the alternative projects I created!

Creativity Now used a pre-order upcoming Online Exclusive Suite that was definitely a different style for me called the Painted Collage Suite with the Notes of Collage bundle and Painted Collage DSP. But like most times I start to play with the products and fall in love with the designs!

These first projects are two of the projects I did from the instructions for projects A and B.

A is a card using water coloring techniques on our watercolor paper and a matching envelope made from our Designer Series Paper!

Project B is a card on card design for a gift card holder – the blank center portion of the smaller Cajun Craze tri-fold card on card is where the gift card would be attached and this uses the smaller vingnettes from one of the DSP pages.
It also uses the cross hatch die pattern as a cool background under the tri-fold card!
Project C was a two page scrapbooking spread for an 8 X 10 album and since I scrapbook in 8.5 x 11 or 12 x 12 I converted the layout elements into 8.5 x 11 scrapbooking pages.

The first three photos are from the elements of the 8″ x 10″ scrapbooking spread converted to 8.5″ x 11″.

Project D was a very cool banner which I had no immediate use for so I also took the elements and created more scrapbooking pages!

These next photos are using the banner elements for scrapbooking background elements instead of the banner!

I created a single page spread with the last banner image shown below.
and one last page using more scraps and elements from the unused projects!
When I was preparing and pre-cutting all of the elements for the Creativity Now virtual retreat projects I saved all the negative die cuts and extra Designer Series paper and created some alternate projects and wanted to show you these as well.

This first alternate used the larger leaf die image negative. I backed it with a watercolor Lost Lagoon and Secret Sea DSP pattern.
I blended Secret Sea ink on a 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer and splattered it with a Secret Sea Stampin’ Blends marker. I adhered the negative die to the right-hand side of the blended layer and adhered both to a Lost Lagoon base.
Added a banner sentiment piece and Dewdrop embellishments to finish off the card with a coordinated look!

This next alternate I used a Golden Glow card base, a 3″ x 5 1/2″ piece of DSP and several left over dies to create this card. I blended the sentiment piece like the last card with Secret Sea ink on a blending brush and splatters with the Secret Sea Stampin’ Blends marker.
This Cajun Craze alternate card uses a blended background with Cajun Craze and Petal Pink inks. Then I stamped the circle image from the Notes of Collage set (SNEAK PEAK this will be available to customers in the next Online Exclusive release) in Petal Pink ink and the rain or teardrop image in Cajun Craze ink in collaged pattern as a background and then splattered the surface with the Cajun Craze Stampin’ Blends marker. I stamped the finer leaf stem on the right-hand side of the layer in Cajun Craze ink and popped up the negative die layer over it on Stampin’ Dimensionals. I adhered this to the Cajun Craze base and added Metallic Gems and a sentiment to finish off this card!
For this next alternate, I blended the background with Secret Sea and Petal Pink inks and blending brushes. Stamped the larger leaf image from the Notes of Collage stamp set in Secret Sea ink on the right-hand side. Added splatter from the Secret Sea Stampin’ Blends marker and the added the negative die over the image. I added an extra die cut that I had and a sentiment and adhered that layer to a Cajun Craze base card and finished it off with Copper Metallic Gems!
My last alternate card I blended a background of Lost Lagoon, Golden Glow and Petal Pink with Splatters and added the last negative die I created. I concentrated the Golden Glow where the negative die openings would be – it looks like a hot mess but when it is covered by the negative die it works! I splattered the entire card with Secret Sea marker and added Secret Sea stamped circles from the Notes of Collage to the negative Golden Glow die piece prior to adhering it to the blended layer. I finished by adhering it to the Golden Glow base and adding gold metallic gems to finish off this lovely alternate card!
Hope these inspired you with some fun and easy techniques.

You can use all of the bits and pieces!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

PS: Reminder as always ALL SNEAK PEAK items are not available yet so I cannot add then to the photo links below.

torn dsp card inspiration

torn dsp card inspiration

I wanted to show you all a copy of the card that inspired Wednesday’s torn DSP card. Unfortunately like I said in the post the other day I cannot give proper credit because when I tried to go back to find the inspiration card post I could not find it.

This is the same technique I used for Wednesday’s card only using the Nature’s Walk Suite of Products and it makes a gorgeous Masculine card!

Measurements:
BASE:Early Espresso CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″, scrap for die
cutting
DSP: different 4″ strips of coordinating DSP
does not need to be from the same package

Die cut the larger leaf die from the Nature’s Symphony die set out of the lower right-hand corner of one of the 4″ Basic White layers.

Cut a smaller square from the Stylish Shapes dies set from a Basic White scrap for the sentiment piece. I stamped the You Make Me Smile in Early Espresso on the square die and blended the edges with a Blending Brush.

Tear strips from the 4″ DSP pieces about 1/2″-3/4″ wide.
Adhere to the other 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer as done in Wednesday’s post.
Cut a 1″ strip off gthe left-hand side of the torn DSP layer.
Adhere the 1″ strip to the left-hand side of the die cut Basic White layer.
Since this die is more intricate, turn over the layer and glue all around the leaf cut out and the right hand side of the die cut layer to adhere the other DSP piece to that side. Place the DSP layer DSP facing what will be the front and make sure that the DSP is the same pattern direction as the 1″ strip before securing it down. This creates the illusion of the DSP flowing through the paper!
Adhere the layer onto the Early Espresso card front and then pop up the sentiment square.
I added some retired cork embellishments to finish off the card with a masculine vibe!
Love this look! Try this technique soon and let me know what you create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

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

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

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

building a reflection with light and wonder set

building a reflection with light and wonder set

Have you ever wondered how to create a water reflection scene on a card? Well today I will describe my process that I used to create these cards for this reflection post!

Measurements:
BASE: Gorgeous Grape CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic Black CS: 2: x 5 1/2″

Die cut the Basic Black layer with the smaller tree die from the Light & Wonder bundle.

Take the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer and create a mirror image of the colors you choose for the sunset. I used Gorgeous Grape, Poppy Parade and Pumpkin Pie.

I started with the deepest color (Gorgeous Grape) on top and less on the bottom I used a circular motion for the color on the top but a back and forth motion on the bottom.

I continued with the second deepest color (Poppy Parade) below the Gorgeous Grape and less on the bottom just above the grape – I used a circular motion for the color on the top but a back and forth motion on the bottom.
I colored the middle of the layer with the Pumpkin Pie color and blending brush.
I positioned the die cut and the negative die cut above and below one another to get an idea of the placement.
Using a blending brush and Gray Granite ink I brushed in an upward stroke over the negative die space. Darker on the bottom and lighter as I stroked upward.
I colored over the bottom of the Basic White layer below the tree shadow reflections with a blending brush and Azure Afternoon ink for the water – because there is already color there the blue will color over but not completely mask the color so it looks like the water is reflecting the color in the sky! I placed more blue color closer to the tree line and less at the bottom of the layer.
Using a water painter and a drop of Craft White ink refill I lightly brushed side to side with the brush to streak the water with white lines and then went over the center area with a Wink of Stella glitter pen for a little sparkle!
I stamped the sentiments in Gorgeous Grape ink at the top of the layer.
Adhere the tree die just above the reflection shadow and cut off the overhang.
Adhere the colored layer onto the Gorgeous Grape card base.
I added three of the purple hued Frosted Iridescent Dots from the Lights of Aurora Suite Collection around the sentiment to finish off this stunning card with coordinating sparkle!

The first card that I did with this technique I tried Crushed Curry at the bottom inside of mirroring the colors and it took on a brighter tone like it captured the moments before the sun goes down! Two different looks just by experimenting with the colors used on the background! Try this technique and let me know what you create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie