Ink Blended Background with Peaceful View by Stampin' Up!®

 I love when the sky changes colors and transitions from day to night or night to day. It shows us such beautiful colors. Ink blending can give use that feel on our card layers. You'll need some blending brushes and your favorite color ink pads. 

The sky can show vibrant oranges, pinks or purples and many different combos. I'd love to hear what colors you see as your sky changes. Leave me your thoughts in the comments.

I found a photo I took of a sunset and that was my inspiration for my first set of blended background cards. 

When I saw this photo, I felt the warmth and beauty of the oranges dancing across the sky as night was coming on. So it became my inspiration. Stampin' Up!'s Peaceful View background stamp was perfect to add in silhouette images for my scene. 

I love the vibrant orange colors with the dark blues. This would be a beautiful view and peaceful as the stamp name suggests. I used Peach Pie, Timid Tiger, Misty Moonlight and Secret Sea classic inks. 

Blending Process:

I started with a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of Basic White cardstock. With a blending brush, I applied Peach Pie classic ink. Start with your brush off the cardstock and with a very light, gentle touch bring the brush onto the cardstock. I use a circle motion to apply the ink. The color will be light at first. Build up your ink color to the desired darkness. Take your time  to apply the ink with a light touch so you don't get harsh blobs of ink.  You can go to about the middle of the layer or as high as you like from the bottom.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Next, apply Timid Tiger ink the same way. I wanted the dark pop of orange toward the bottom or ground of my scene. Build up the darker orange color to the desired darkness.   

Next, create the dark blue part of the sky. Apply Misty Moonlight ink. Start off with a light, gentle touch to avoid ink blobs in the shape of your blending brush. Blend down toward the orange. You can blend right up to the lighter orange or leave a little bit of white space. Build up the color to your desired darkness. Misty Moonlight is a great blue for blended skies. 

The last color to apply is Secret Sea ink. I started off the edge and brought the ink onto the cardstock. I wanted this color to stay close to the top edge of my layer. Build the color up to your desired darkness. Secret Sea is a rich, dark blue gray. It's going to be perfect for night and winter skies. Now your layer is ready to be stamped with whatever images you choose. I stamped in Secret Sea classic ink to create a silhouette look.

 You can see all the products I used here.

More cards I created with this color scheme:

Products used: Same ink colors as above, Secret Sea Stampin' Blends markers and Weekend Adventures stamp set. Tip: when you have a line stamp, color it in with a blend marker to create a solid silhouette.

Be Bold and don't put a greeting on the front of your card. I used Scenic Adventure for this card. The cloud stamp was stamped in Secret Sea class ink several times (*I only inked the top portion of the stamp to look like a mountain.) and colored it in with a light Secret Sea Stampin' Blend marker. To create a dark greenery area, I used the glass die from Scenic Adventure and made a stencil. The trees are stamped in Secret Sea classic ink. 

On this card, I wanted a greeting in the bottom right corner. So I stamped my greeting and heat embossed it in white on Secret Sea cardstock. Then I used a dark Timid Tiger Stampin' blend marker to color the white letters. The cardstock wasn't as dark as my stamped area so I used a light Secret Sea Stampin' blend marker to go around my letters. 

I love how all these orange backgrounds turned out. They are all a little different and turned out beautifully. Make sure you save this color combo to your Pinterest boards. 

I decided to try a few more color combos for my sunsets. I absolutely love how they all turned out. 

Secret Sea with purples is amazing. Berry Burst is a vibrant pinkish purple color and it works so well with the dark blues. I used Peaceful Evergreens stamp set by Stampin' Up!® (retired) and the greeting is from Charming Day stamp set. The images and greeting are stamped in Secret Sea classic ink. 

On this card, I used Petal Pink and Calypso Coral classic inks with the dark blues. These colors are a peachy, orange pinks and work very well with the blues to create my chaning sky. I stamped the ground from Grassy Grove stamp set by Stampin' Up!® (retired) in Secret Sea classic ink. I layered it a few times. The Calypso Coral was still peeking through so I used a light Secret Sea Stampin' blend marker to color in the areas. I love how the Calypso Coral still comes through. The child with an airplane and greeting are from Silhouette Scenes stamp set (retired). 

I hosted a free class called Coffee and a Card on my Stamp and Create with Beth Facebook page. I showed how to make a blended background with classic inks and blending brushes. During this class I discuss the creative process a bit and participants make choices and help build the card. We made this card during the class. You can watch the video replay.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you give this technique a try and create some beautiful cards. You can use any inks and stamp sets you have in your stash. 

Shop for current available products in my online store.

Happy Creatin'! 

~ Beth 

Simple Stamping with Pretty Florals by Stampin' Up!®

 Sometimes it is nice to get back to basics. That's just what I did with this card. Simple stamping is just using stamps, inks and paper (cardstock or patterned). 

The Pretty Florals stamp set by Stampin' Up!® is a great option for simple stamping. There are a variety of flower images. I paired this set with the Simply Said stamp set by Stampin' Up!® because it has a variety of greetings. Strawberry Slush really pops with Secret Sea and Cloud Cover. You can get more out of your ink pads with generation stamping. That is simply stamping off on scrap paper before you stamp your project. So first generation is inking and stamping. Second generation is inking, stamping off and then stamping your project, and there is even third generation where you stamp off twice and then onto your project. This really stretches your supplies. On my card, I did first and second generation stamping with all the colors. You can see it in the close-up photos.

Recreate this card with items you have in your stash. You can browse my online store for this stamp set and more here.

Measurements/Instructions:

1. Cut all cardstock needed. Card base: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" scored at 4 1/4"; Basic White layer for inside and card front 5" x 3 3/4"
2. Decide which ink colors, papers and stamp sets you want to use.
3. Decide the orientation of your card- portrait or landscape.
4. Stamp card front layer with a variety of flowers or images. Use generation stamping to stretch your ink colors. 
5. Stamp a greeting
6. Stamp inside layer
7. Adhere layers.

Want to see the process? Watch the video replay. This was my Facebook live Coffee and a Card. We work through the creative process and choices while completing the card. 

Thank you for stopping by today and checking out my card. If you have any questions leave a comment. 

Enjoy the card making process! FYI- I used 3 of the 5 2025-27 In-colors on this card. Items that use the 2025-27 In-colors are on sale until 8/31/25. Shop in my online store to see what's available. 

~ Beth 

Cheers & Sips by Stampin' Up!®

 This bundle drew my attention as I love a good summery drink with all the fun garnishes. Cheers & Sips offers a couple of different glasses and garnishes. What's your favorite drink? I love a good limeade especially black cherry limeade as well as a good bloody mary. Recently I have been doing a mocktail bloody mary and it's fabulous. So I decided to have a little go with this set and create some fun drink cards. My first attempt, I kept pretty simple. 

It's hard to see in the photo- I added some clear heat embossing to add shine to my glasses. To do this, I colored my drinks as I wanted. I used Stampin' Blends markers. Then I used a small paint brush to put versamark ink onto my glass. Next, sprinkle the area with clear embossing powder and heat. It gives a clear shine to your drink glasses. Neat-right?! You can also use wink of stella to add some shine. 

During my coffee and a card facebook live video, I made this card. We explore the creative process during the video and talk about choices. For this card, I overlapped the two drinks. Then I colored them in with Stampin' blends markers. To add some fun, I added an umbrella in Strawberry Slush. 

Measurements:

• Card base 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" scored at 4 1/4"
• Pool Party layer 5 1/4" x 4"
• Basic White layer 5" x 3 3/4" 

Instructions:

1. Cut cardstock needed with measurements above
2. Stamp glass outlines in Smoky Slate stamped off (stamp on scrap paper first and then the card layer)
3. Stamp garnishes with Smoky Slate ink. 
4. Color drinks and garnishes with Stampin' Blends markers.
5. Use a small paint brush and Versamark ink. Paint the ink onto the glasses. I covered the entire glass area. 
6. Add clear embossing powder to the are with Versamark ink. Use a heat tool to set the embossing powder. 
7. Stamp the textured lines from Sunrise Sailing in Smoky Slate. 
8. Use blending brushes to add background color. I used Smoky Slate for the table and Pool Party for around the glasses. ** classic ink will wipe off the embossed area. Wipe the ink carefully with a paper towel or scrap cloth. 
9. Stamp greeting in Smoky Slate. I used "Cheers" from Cheers & Sips stamp set and "enjoy" and "relax" from Weekend Adventures. 
10. Adhere stamped layer to Pool Party layer.
11. Adhere Pool Party layer to card base.
12. Stamp and decorate the inside of your card as you like

Watch the video replay to see the process and the other choices we worked through:

Thank you for stopping by. You can see the products I used here.

Happy creating!

~ Beth

Postage stamp card with Perennial Postage dies and Charming Day stamp set by Stampin' Up!®

 

The perennial dies are the perfect starting point for the postage stamp cards. I love the look of the layers and you can use any images you have for any occasion. I used the Charming Day stamp set. I love the floral images. The images are a line stamp so I colored them in with Stampin' Blends markers.

Supplies Used:

• Perennial Postage dies 
• Charming Day stamp set (*available as a bundle with dies)
• Stampin' Blends markers: Cloud Cover, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Secret Sea and color lifter
• Classic inks: Secret Sea and Basic Gray
• Cardstocks: Basic White and Smoky Slate
• Two Tone cardstock: Secret Sea
• Mini Corrugated 3D embossing folder (retired)

You can quickly add the available items to your cart here.

Instructions:

1. Card base 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" scored at 4 1/4" - I used Smoky Slate cardstock
2. Embossed layer 5 1/4" x 4" - I used Secret Sea two tone cardstock and embossed with the mini corrugated 3D embossing folder (retired)
3. Die cut the second largest Perennial Postage die from Basic White cardstock
4. Draw lines with a pencil and ruler on each edge about 1/4" in. I used my grid paper as a guide.
5. Use post-it notes or tape to mask off outside the lines so you don't stamp in that area.
6. Pick your images, ink up and stamp inside the rectangle area. I used 2 floral images from Charming day stamped in Basic Gray classic ink. Then colored with Stampin' Blends markers- Cloud Cover, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Secret Sea and color lifter.
7. Allow layer to dry a bit. Pull off post-it notes (you can do this before you color if you prefer).
8. Use a ruler and Stampin' Write marker or fine tip sharpie to trace lines. Stop where lines intersect. This creates the rectangle line frame. 
9. Use the emboss die from Perennial Postage to add the wavy mail lines. (hard to see in the photo- it's on the small pretty in pink flower).
10. Stamp greeting with Secret Sea classic ink. Use a stamp positioner to help get a good image.
11. Cut Basic White cardstock for inside 5 1/4" x 4". Stamp words or images. Adhere to inside card base.
12. Adhere embossed layer with strong adhesive like liquid glue or seal + to card base.
13. Adhere postage stamp layer to embossed layer with strong adhesive.

Love this color combo. The pinks really pop with Secret Sea. 

You can watch my Facebook live replay on the Stamp and Create with Beth YouTube channel. We explore the creative process and go over choices and everyone has a little say in how the card comes out. 

Here are some more samples with the Charming Day stamp set and Perennial Postage dies by Stampin' Up!®

I used the light Secret Sea two tone cardstock for my layer

I've enjoyed making the postage stamp cards again. I love this look and it can be a simple layer but that edge ups the wow factor. Change up the edge by coloring the white space around your rectangle or leave space in the line and add in dots. Have fun with it! 

I hope you've been inspired and enjoyed this card idea. Give it a try and let me know in the comments what stamp sets you used. 

You can browse all the great colors Stampin' Up! offers as well as many other wonderful card making supplies over in my online store. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Happy stampin'

~ Beth