Stampin' Blends - The Maine Stamper

Bright Baubles In Pale Papaya

November 24, 2021

In Color: Pale Papaya Part II

I was hoping that the Bright Baubles Stamp Set would come to the rescue. I struggled with great difficulty to create a card with this color combo: Pale Papaya, Merry Merlot, and So Saffron. On the color swatch book, these colors seem to blend quite nicely.

But, as I pulled out the papers and began to design, I just didn’t feel these colors clicking. Merry Merlot is a deep red-wine color, lending itself to Christmas. I wanted Pale Papaya and So Saffron to be gleaming, glowing bright baubles. In the end, I may have come up with the “ugly sweater” of Christmas cards! Let’s see how I got there…

Slimline Card

While I was creating an unusual color-combo Christmas card, I decided to also start with an unusual size card base, the slimline card. To see another slimline card in an unusual Christmas In Color, click here.

To begin, I cut my Basic White Thick Cardstock Base to measure 7 x 8-1/2″ with my Paper Trimmer. If your trimmer doesn’t have an extended arm for measurements, just cut 4″ off the 11″ length of an 8-1/2 x 11″ sheet of cardstock.

Cutting a slimline card base with the Paper Trimmer

After your cardbase is cut to slimline size, score the 7″ width in half, at 3-1/2″. The Paper Trimmer has both a cutting blade (the darker gray color) and a scoring blade (the lighter gray color). Be sure not to confuse the two!

Scoring the slimline card base with the Paper Trimmer

Bright Baubles Stamp Set

The Bright Baubles Stamp Set is an over the top larger than life Christmas ornament set, with 2 different shaped baubles. With a slimline card in mind, I wanted to use both images of the bright baubles. Because I intended to color my baubles in with Stampin’ Blends, I needed a dark Memento Black Ink outline.

Stamparatus to the rescue! Did you know that this amazing tool comes with a foam mat that is needed for photopolymer stamp sets, but removable for cling (red rubber) stamp sets? This is based on the thickness or height of the stamps themselves.

Bright Baubles Stamps on the Stamparatus

After 3-4 ink-ups and stamps using Memento Black Ink, I was able to get the dark outlines I wanted. I love using the Stamparatus when I know I will need to re-stamp an image. This tool makes it effortless to repeat stamp and not worry about lining up my stamp each time, exactly.

Bright Bauble stamped images using the Stamparatus — *** Use extreme caution keeping the 2 included magnets far away from each other. They may shatter if the strong magnetic pull attracts them together. Replacement magnets are sold separately.

Colorful Bright Baubles

Coloring the round bright bauble image with Stampin' Blends

These Bright Baubles are big images, which makes them fun to color. I say this as someone who doesn’t necessarily enjoy coloring. In keeping with my color theme of Pale Papaya, So Saffron and Merry Merlot, I pulled my Stampin’ Blends and got to work. To temper my color palette, I also added a touch of Pool Party and Soft Seafoam.

Coloring the fancy bright bauble image with Stampin' Blends

After I finished coloring in my bright bauble images with my Stampin’ Blends, I used the coordinating die set, Delicate Baubles Dies and my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine to die cut them. Notice that the white surrounding edge of my die cut bauble is larger on one side? My die shifted during the cutting process, so I simply trimmed it a bit with my Paper Snips.

Die cutting the bright bauble images with the Delicate Baubles Dies

Merry & Bright

In order to make my card more merry & bright, I relied on the sentiment stamp from the Bright Baubles Stamp Set. I love to create background paper by stamping a fully inked word image, followed by a stamped off image. And then I continued the process with Merry Merlot Ink… repeatedly!

Creating a background paper with a sentiment stamp from the Bright Baubles Stamp Set

After filling my paper with merry & bright wishes, I added some soft color with my Blending Brushes. I started with So Saffron Ink at the top. As I moved to the bottom, I switched brushes and color, to Pale Papaya Ink.

Colorful Cardstock

With my Basic White Thick Cardstock base, I don’t have to worry about adding an insert to the inside of my card. This also gives me more freedom to add layers to the card front without the worry of additional bulk. I began with a layer of Merry Merlot Cardstock, then added my Merry & Bright stamped and shaded paper over that.

Remember the dies I used to cut my bauble images? I die cut two more in Merry Merlot Cardstock to place behind each bauble. By placing them slightly offset, this creates a shadow for my baubles. I also added a piece of So Saffron Cardstock and Pale Papaya Cardstock behind each bauble as I assembled my card.

Beautiful Bright Baubles

Just like Christmas ornaments, ribbon and embellishments make them incredibly beautiful. I added a bow to the top of each bright bauble, using Pale Papaya Open Weave Ribbon and some Mini Glue Dots to adhere.

Adding ribbon bows to the bright bauble stamped images

There are certainly lots of embellishments to chose from! After careful consideration, I chose the Artistry Blooms Adhesive Backed Sequins. These sequins come in a variety of colors, and the shiny faceted gleam of Calypso Coral, Coastal Cabana and Rich Razzleberry blended perfectly. I used my Take Your Pick Tool for easy application.

Adding Atristry Blooms Adhesive Backed Sequins uisng the Take Your Pick Tool.

Ugly Christmas Card?

This card sat on my desk for almost a week, while I pondered its fate. I just wasn’t confident that I had used the color combo to the best of my ability. I worried that I had created…an “ugly sweater” Christmas card! Then, I decided that even if it wasn’t the most glamorous of cards, maybe someone would love it. Or at least laugh with me, as I determine that if there is a place for ugly Christmas sweaters, why not ugly Christmas cards?

During my 2021-2023 In Color tour, I have created many cards. To see another unusual Christmas card color combo, click here. And if I have inspired you to try your hand at a Bright Bauble Christmas card (ugly or pretty), be sure to pick up the Bright Baubles Bundle so that you save 10% automatically. My online store has everything you will need!

My In Color tour will come to a close with just one more card, so stop back in soon to see how this chapter ends…

Feels Like Home, In Evening Evergreen

September 30, 2021

In Color: Evening Evergreen Part III

Our time to explore Evening Evergreen has come to an end, and what better way to bring it home than to use the Feels Like Home Stamp Set. Evening Evergreen is such a rich, deep green color. It fits well with the comfortable home theme of this card.

With our last color tour of Evening Evergreen, we are pairing in Blackberry Bliss and Sahara Sand. These three colors work seamlessly together. As you can see, by adding a pop of white to the mix, each color used on this Feels Like Home Card becomes more beautifully vibrant.

Feels Like Home Stamp Set

The Feels Like Home Stamp Set, available for a limited time, is a Sale-A-Bration freebie during the August-September Sale-A-Bration promotion. With a qualifying purchase of $50, you may choose this stamp set for free. If you already have the Feels Like Home Stamp Set in your collection, here is a great way to use it!

Sahara Sand Beginnings

I started by stamping the door frame and yard stamp from the Feels Like Home Stamp Set using Memento Black Ink on Sahara Sand Cardstock. This great neutral color is easy to work into your project instead of the traditional white or vanilla.

Using the front door stamp from the Feels Like Home Stamp Set.

Of course, this image is wide open for lots of coloring. I typically choose my Stampin’ Blends for a job like this. I chose my color palette to reflect the tones in Evening Evergreen, Blackberry Bliss and Sahara Sand. When I added color to the tree to the left of the door, I pounced or “dotted” the color on using the fine tip of my Light Blackberry Bliss Stampin’ Blend.

Coloring the stamped image with Stampin' Blends.

Just Add Color

Next, I started to color with more purples and greens to fill in all the flowers and plants. I used browns for the basket and door, and colored in my terracotta pots. Because I wanted to keep the coloring light and fresh, I chose to use my Stampin’ Chalk Marker on the bricks of the home. The effect is quite subtle.

Adding color with the Stampin' Chalk Marker. — I love the look of shading or sponging. So, I turned to my Blender Brush and some Sahara Sand Ink to deepen the edges of my cardstock. I think it helps to draw the eye in toward the colored imagery.

Using the Blending Brush to sponge on ink color.

Ever Elegant Evening Evergreen

Since Evening Evergreen is our starring color, I wanted much of my card front dedicated to it. I began by stamping the hanging fronds stamp in Evening Evergreen Ink on my Evening Evergreen Cardstock layer along the top edge. I varied the length of each stamping by starting higher or lower on my cardstock.

Creating a stamped top border using the frond stamp from the Feels Like Home Stamp Set.

Next, I ran my stamped cardstock thru my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine using the Timeworn Type 3D Embossing Folder. This is a 3D style embossing folder and needs the Specialty Plate to create the perfect sandwich in your die-cutting machine.

PRO TIP: There is a solid black line built into the embossing folder near the bottom, to help you line up your cardstock straight before you run it thru your die-cutting machine.

Embossing cardstock with the Timeworn Type Embossing Folder.

And lastly, I added some sponging to the edges of my Evening Evergreen Cardstock using another Blender Brush and Evening Evergreen Ink.

Accent Your Home

What home would be gorgeous without some cute tchotchkes? To start my home decor project, I stamped the flower pot image from the Feels Like Home Stamp Set with Memento Black Ink on a scrap of Sahara Sand Cardstock. Then, I colored it with Stampin’ Blends before fussy cutting with my Paper Snips.

Preparing to fussy cut the potted plant stamped and colored image from the Feels Like Home Stamp Set.

I stamped the sentiment “Your friendship feels like home to me” from the Feels Like Home Stamp Set in Blackberry Bliss Ink on Sahara Sand Cardstock. Using my Paper Snips, I flagged one end. Next, I applied some Sahara Sand Ink with my Blender Brush to soften the outer edges.

Flagging the stamped sentiment from the Feels Like Home Stamp Set.

Just Add Punch

I took advantage of my assorted collection of retired circle punches. I chose the 1-1/4″ circle punch for the Blackberry Bliss Cardstock and the 1″ circle punch for White Cardstock. These two circles layered together were perfect for a backdrop for my flower pot.

The Sprig Punch is my go-to punch when I need some decorative leaves poking from behind a card layer in an artistic fashion. Punching paper can be such a time saver from die cutting, and I love the quick results. For this card, I used the 2021-2023 In Color Shimmer Vellum in Evening Evergreen. Check out the lovely sheen of this vellum!

The Sprig Punch and Evening Evergreen Shimmer Velum along with a die from the Sunflowers Dies.

To mix things up, I also chose to die cut some White Cardstock using a floral die from the Sunflowers Dies. By combing punched and die cut pieces, my card has a great variety of fresh garden goodness.

Putting Your Home In Order

My Feels Like Home Card has lots of layers. I started by adding a layer of Blackberry Bliss Cardstock to my Sahara Sand Cardbase. Next, I adhered my Evening Evergreen embossed layer. I chose the Blackberry Bliss Designer Series Paper from the Regals Collection, using the plaid design. But before I attached it to my cardbase, I backed it with a piece of White Cardstock.

My next step was to dry-fit my punched sprigs and die cut flowers to make sure they would peek nicely from the additional layers for my card. Once I had them where I wanted them, I secured them with some Tear & Tape Adhesive. The tape will be covered up with the last bit of layering on my card front.

The beginning layer assembly of the card front.

From here it was time to add my stamped focal piece, the front door and more. I placed the sentiment below that, and lastly added my layered punched circles with the potted plant, using Stampin’ Dimensionals. My Feels Like Home Card is complete!

There’s No Place Like Home

Home evokes so many good thoughts and memories. It is where we are most happy. I hope you agree that this Feels Like Home Card has captured some happiness, using Evening Evergreen along with Blackberry Bliss and Sahara Sand. If you need any of the products that were used to create this card, shop my online store at your convenience.

Just because our Evening Evergreen color tour is at its end, doesn’t mean there isn’t more colorful fun to come! If you missed any of this great green color, click here to see another post with Evening Evergreen. And just ahead is our next In Color, Soft Succulent, so be sure to come back soon.

Card made with the Feels Like Home Stamp Set and Stampin' Blends.

Pretty Pumpkins In Evening Evergreen

September 24, 2021

Card featuring Evening Evergreen, Cajun Craze and Petal Pink.

In Color: Evening Evergreen Part II

When we think of pretty pumpkins, we usually don’t think of green. But, don’t let the title fool you. What we are doing is continuing our exploration of the In Color, Evening Evergreen. The featured stamp set for my card is called “Pretty Pumpkins“.

Now that we have that sorted out, let’s take into account the pumpkins on this card. For this color combination, I am pairing Evening Evergreen with Cajun Craze and Petal Pink. Again, these are not the typical orange pumpkins you may expect. Yet, I find that these colors work very well together to represent pretty pumpkins just the same.

Pretty Pumpkins Stamp Set

If you are looking for a fantastic stamp set to cover elegant pumpkins, look no further. The Pretty Pumpkin Stamp Set, and coordinating Detailed Pumpkins Dies, are classically beautiful. You can save 10% when you bundle and buy the stamp set and dies together, as the Pretty Pumpkins Bundle.

I started with the pumpkin trio stamp and Memento Black Ink on White Cardstock. After my outline was stamped, I colored in the image with an assortment of Stampin’ Blends.

I began coloring the pumpkins with a combination of my Dark Petal Pink Stampin’ Blend and my Dark Cajun Craze Stampin’ Blend. For the leaves, I used my Light Evening Evergreen Stampin’ Blend. My pumpkin stems are a combination of the Light and Dark Soft Suede Stampin’ Blends.

***TIP: Use a Stampin’ Write Marker to color in the vines. The vine images are very thin. The marker will give you detailed coverage without spilling ink over the intended coloring area.

Grapevine Dies

Did you notice the beautiful Petal Pink vine, with leaves in Petal Pink and Cajun Craze? They sure do look like they came out of a pretty pumpkin patch! And yet, they are from another bundle altogether. The Forever Grapevine Stamp Set and Grapevine Dies make up the Forever Grapevine Bundle, for a savings of 10%.

I took advantage of the vine (no need to stamp any grapes!) for my card. I used my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine to die cut the large corner vine in Petal Pink. And to add in some contrasting leaves, I die cut additional leaves in Cajun Craze. One die yields 8 individual leaves!

Cajun Craze leaves die cut with the Grapevine Dies.

You’re So Sweet

Besides the grapevine dies, I took advantage of the sentiment die from the Grapevine Dies. After die-cutting this with White Cardstock, I stamped my sentiment in Evening Evergreen Ink, using “You’re so sweet” from the Forever Grapevine Stamp Set. Next, I sponged the edges in Petal Pink Ink, and dabbed some color on my Petal Pink grapevine too.

Pretty Bitty Pumpkin

Once I determined that my sentiment was going to cover up most of my small pumpkin, I decided I needed another one to layer on my card front. I stamped the pumpkin image again, and colored just the smallest pumpkin in with my Stampin’ Blends. Next, I fussy cut it out with my Paper Snips. This was an easy image to hand cut.

A fussy cut mini pumpkin from the Pretty Pumpkins Stamp Set using Paper Snips.

Pretty Pumpkin Layers

In order to keep my focus on Evening Evergreen, I used this color cardstock for my card base. I also used a piece of coordinating Evening Evergreen Designer Series Paper from the 2021-2023 In Color Collection. There are four designs to choose from, and I chose the vertical lines with dots.

My stamped and colorful pumpkins are not die cut, even though they could be. I chose to leave them on their white cardstock background to showcase them against the Petal Pink Designer Series Paper and Cajun Craze Cardstock mat.

Before I added my pretty pumpkins to the card front, I adhered the Petal Pink grapevine. In this way, I could layer my matted pumpkin assembly slightly over the grapevine design. Lastly, I added in the Cajun Craze leaves sporadically.

Finishing Touches

When I was ready to add on my sentiment piece, I reached for my Stampin’ Dimensionals. Two of the large ones provided perfect coverage for me. Next, I chose a Mini Stampin’ Dimensional for my little pumpkin, and placed that next to my raised sentiment piece, in the pumpkin patch.

Adding a sentiment with dimensionals to the card front.

The very last thing I added to my Pretty Pumpkin Card was some sweet bling. The Elegant Faceted Gems are adhesive backed and come in three colors…one of them is Petal Pink. So perfect for this card! I love how easy it is to use the Take Your Pick Tool to transfer adhesive backed items onto the card front.

Adding Elegant Faceted Dots to the card front with the Take Your Pick Tool.

Evening Evergreen and Pumpkins

Completed Evening Evergreen card using the Pretty Pumpkins Stamp Set.

This trio of colors featuring Evening Evergreen was a fun combination to use. Petal Pink and Cajun Craze compliment each other very nicely, and contrast well against this deep, dark green. My card went together effortlessly and with much less thought than my first color combo with Evening Evergreen did. To see my struggle with Evening Evergreen, Part I, click here.

We have one more color combo to explore with Evening Evergreen before we turn to the next 2021-2023 In Color on this journey. Please take advantage of my online store at any time to purchase the supplies featured here for your upcoming inspired project! As for the inspiration…come back soon to see what color combos and designs I will create next!