using waterpainters - nataliegramleystamps

more color mondays – golden glow, hydrangea hue and crisp cantaloupe

by nataliegramleystamps | Jun 8, 2026 | card samples, card sketches, color challenge, Designer Series Paper, die cutting, In Colors, product reviews, stamps ink paper, techniques

Today’s color challenge features three of the five NEW 2026-2028 In Color collection – Golden Glow, Hydrangea Hue and Crisp Cantaloupe.

This easy card uses a blended water splatter technique background.

Measurements:
BASE: Hydrangea Hue CS 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ scrap for banner die
DSP: 3″ x 3″, (2) 2″ x 2″

Take the Basic White layer and a blending brush and color the top third with Golden Glow ink.

Color the middle third with a new blending brush and the Hydrangea Hue ink pad.

Color the bottom third with a new blending brush and the Crisp Cantaloupe ink pad.

Take the large water painter brush and squeeze out a large puddle of water onto the glass matte studio surface – tap the end of the brush to drop water sprinkles over the surface of the blended background layer. The water sprinkled on the surface will lift the ink and create a splattered background technique. This distresses the paper layer in a unique way – different every time you do it!

Adhere the splattered blended layer to the Hydrangea hue card base.

Die cut the banner dies in three sizes with each of the colors – Golden Glow, Hydrangea Hue and Crsip Cantaloupe from the 2026-2028 In Color 12″ x 12″ DSP pack. Pick different patterns in the three different colors and die cut.

Adhere them with the largest banner in the upper center of the card base. Then adhere the two other smaller banners to the left and the right side overlapping and matching up the top edge to be even with the center banner.

Punch out two of the butterfly images from the NEW Floral Flight Accents embellishments and adhere them over the banners.

Die cut the shorter, thicker banner from the Stylish Shapes die set and stamp the “fluttering by to say hi” sentiment from the All Aflutter stamp set in Hydrangea Hue ink. Blend the edges with a blending brush.
Pop up the sentiment piece on Stampin’ Dimensionals and place in the bottom center of the card front.

Add three 2026-2028 In Color Dots around the sentiment to complete this easy and fun card.

Try using this technique to make a background and create some artwork of your very own using this background and the stamps you have at home – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

All Aflutter Bundle (English)

[167570]

$41.25

All Aflutter Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[167564]

$20.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Hydrangea Hue 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[167687]

$14.00

2026–2028 In Color™ Painted Patterns 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[167755]

$19.00

Floral Flight Accents

[167558]

$6.50

Hydrangea Hue Classic Stampin' Pad

[167677]

$14.00

Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial)

[163987]

$60.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$9.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$13.00

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]

$17.00

Water Painters

[168253]

$13.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[154031]

$7.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

2026–2028 In Color™ Dots

[167546]

$9.00

← in color strip card february demonstrator swap cards →

gallery blooms su creative coloring challenge

by nataliegramleystamps | Apr 17, 2026 | card samples, die cutting, embossing folders, my favorites, retiring products, techniques

One of my favorite LAST CHANCE LIST items is the Gallery Blooms Bundle! I am so sad this is leaving and I did not use it enough for sure!

This card actually qualifies for the April SU Creative Challenge as well as being a gorgeous card! This month the challenge is to use two different coloring tools on a single card design.
I used the Water Painters and blender pens to color in the Gallery Blooms flower image!

Measurements:
BASE: Granny Apple Green CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″, scraps for dies
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″, scraps for floral die

Emboss the Basic White CS layer with the Damask Designs embossing folder and using the Water Painter and the Poppy Parade ink refill make a very wet ink slurry and splatter the embossed layer for added texture and color.

Stamp the flower image from the Gallery Blooms stamp set on a scrap of Basic White with Tuxedo Black memento ink which is on the LAST CHANCE LIST as well as the ink refills for these stamp pads.

Die cut out the flower image. Using the glass matte use a drop of the Poppy Parade ink from the ink refill bottle and mix with water from the Water Painter and paint the bloom petals.

Mix a drop of Granny Apple Green ink refill with water and paint the leaves on the die.

Adhere the embossed layer to the card base and place the floral die on the center of the card to see where to place it.

Die cut two small leaf images from Granny Apple Green scraps. Adhere the two Granny Apple Green leaf dies behind where the flower will be eventually adhered.

Die cut a small circle from the Spotlight on Nature dies from Granny Apple Green scraps and stamp the Happy Birthday from The Right Words (which is on the LAST CHANCE LIST also)
to the middle of the die in Tuxedo Black memento ink.

Pop up the floral image from the Gallery Blooms bundle and slide the sentiment circle under the floral die and adhere down to the card.

I added three embellishments to the card.

I wanted to add a little more texture and shading to the petals and grabbed a blender pen and added some darker Poppy Parade lines with the blender pen to create shadows on the petals.

Coloring the petals with two different tools adds a lot of depth and dimension to the petals – these are gorgeous flowers to begin with but add some detailed coloring to them and they are STUNNING!!

Try a coloring technique to two to your next coloring project and see what a difference multiple tools can make!

Now it’s your turn to create some artwork of your very own – one stamp and a couple of coloring tools at a time!!!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Gallery Blooms Bundle

[165213]

$53.00

Gallery Blooms Photopolymer Stamp Set

[165211]

$19.00

The Right Words Cling Stamp Set (English)

[165316]

$26.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146990]

$14.00

Granny Apple Green Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[147163]

$5.50

Poppy Parade Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill

[119791]

$5.50

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

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[154031]

$7.00

Water Painters

[168253]

$13.00

Blender Pens

[102845]

$14.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Damask Designs Embossing Folder

[165214]

$9.50

Gallery Blooms Dies

[165212]

$40.00

Spotlight On Nature Dies

[163580]

$35.00

← direct to paper technique - garden poetry suite more color mondays - blueberry bushel, strawberry slush and calypso coral card sketch #120 →

april stampin’ up! creative challenge

by nataliegramleystamps | Apr 8, 2026 | card samples, masculine cards, sneak peak, stamps ink paper, techniques

Do you know that Stampin’ Up! sponsors a creative challenge every month?

April features a challenge to use two different coloring tools! Will you rise to the challenge? If you create a card or project using this challenge post it on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #SUCREATIVECHALLENGE see Stampin’ Up’s video announcing the new challenge by going to this link

Here’s my card for the challenge using water painters and blending brushes two of my favorites!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ , scrap for
the die
Granny Apple Green CS: 1/4″ x 4″ strip scrap for
leaf die
Vellum CS: scrap for Spotlight on Nature circle
die

I combined some OLD AND NEW PRODUCTS – some LAST CHANCE items – Petals of Beauty dies and some sneak peak Phrases and Frames bundle…

I die cut the middle die from the Phrases and Frames bundle and used the frame and the inside piece. I blended the lower right-hand corner of the inside piece.

I added a drop of ink refill to my glass mat and added water to the drop from my Water Painter. I diluted the drop so it was very watery and tapped the edge of the water painter over the blending brush handle over the blended rectangular piece to add a splatter effect! Such an easy effect with HUGE impact!

I blended the Granny Apple Green onto the card front.

Adhere the rectangle to the card base off to the right-hand side of center.

Die cut the open leaf die from the Petals of Beauty die set in Granny Apple Green CS – cut into two sections and add glue to the frame and add the leaf sections under the frame on bottom and top corners. Adhere over the rectangle.

Die cut one of the circles from the Spotlight in Nature die set in Vellum CS and stamp the Thinking of You sentiment from the Phrases and Frames stamp set in Granny Apple Green ink and blend the edges.

Adhere the Granny Apple Green strip over the bottom of the vellum circle. Add glue under the vellum where the strip is to adhere to the card without the glue being visible.

Add the vellum circle onto the card.

Add a black accent from the Floral Flight Accents upcoming in the new catalog from the Beautiful Ordinary Life suite of products.
Add an extra Petals of Beauty leaf die.