watercoloring using blender pens - nataliegramleystamps

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 →

triadic color theory charming day fun fold card

by nataliegramleystamps | Jul 21, 2025 | card samples, color challenge, color theory, Designer Series Paper, die cutting, embossing folders, fun fold, In Colors, my favorites, online exclusives, techniques

All this month we explored color theory in my posts and in my classes – this is a triadic color combination taking inspiration from our new Online Exclusive suite Floral Charm and our awesome Color Coach!

This easy Book Bind fun fold uses three colors that are positioned in a triangular pattern on the Color Wheel – Night of Navy, Timid Tiger and Mossy Meadow.

Measurements:
BASE: Night of Navy CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2 and 6 3/4″
scraps for leaf dies
Basic White CS: (2) 4″ squares (1) 3″ x 4″
Floral Charm DSP: 1″ x 4″

Place glue in between the two score lines and adhere the panels together to make a book bind fun fold.

Adhere the 1″ x 4″ DSP strip to the outside left-hand panel.

Stamp the “Hey” sentiment from the Charming Day stamp set in Night of Navy ink on the upper left-hand corner of one of the 4″ square layers add an ellipsis (those three dots after a word that is used to indicate a pause) with the Night of Navy Stampin’ Write marker.

Place this Basic White 4″ square in the Distressed Tile 3D embossing folder and emboss that layer.

Adhere to the right-hand panel of the card front.

I stamped the branch and the inside sentiment from the Charming Day stamp set in Night of Navy ink on the other 4″ square layer and adhere to the inside of the card.

Stamp the floral image from the stamp set in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on the 3″ x 4″ Basic White layer.

Using the Blender Pen, color the flower with Timid Tiger ink and the leaves with the Mossy Meadow ink. Die cut the flower, and pop it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals in the opposite corner as the “Hey” sentiment.

Cut the longer leaf die cut in half and tuck all three foliage pieces under the popped up floral image.

Adhere the Navy Opal Rounds Assortment embellishments for a perfectly coordinated finishing touch! I love triadic color combinations the colors are very balanced and pleasing.
Search the color coach page in our current catalog if you do not have one it is a worthwhile investment! Choose a triadic color combination and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp, one color at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie