I didn't mean to, but I found myself playing with the Natural Composition Specialty Paper again today!
This time I was trying a direct-to-paper technique. I basically just wanted to experiment with how different colors of ink would look on this paper, so I cut a bunch of 3/4" strips of the "ugliest" pattern (the one that looks like a notebook—how boring, right?). After playing around and adding some layers…
…I ended up with these Two Cool cards and I love how they turned out! One is more masculine and the other more feminine.
Direct-To-Paper Inking Tips: Although the new Firm-Foam Ink Pads are much too "juicy" to do a nice "sponging" direct-to-paper technique anymore, they are absolutely awesome for laying on overall color! I simply swiped the pad over the strips a few times for beautiful, even coverage! Wow!
If you do not have the Firm-Foam Ink Pads (you can get them at a discount with my Ink Pad Club), you can still get the same look, you'll just need to brayer on the color. That will work much better than direct-to-paper with a felt pad, plus you won't fray the edges of your pad with the rubbing action.
Ya know, I thought those striped patterns would be boring, but I have to say I'm digging the pinstripe effect! It's very masculine! I used a variety of colors from the Regals Collection: Always Artichoke, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Elegant Eggplant and Night of Navy. I thought the deep rich tones in the Regals collection would hold up well against the brown background of this paper, and they did!
The pinstripes actually match the Soft Suede color the best, so that was a natural choice for my card base. The new Chevron Texture Impressions Folder is also a very masculine pattern, and by adding fishtails to my strips with the 1" Square Punch, I thought everything was coordinating beautifully!
Did you see the shimmery flecks? I sprayed on my Shimmer Mist spray made from rubbing alcohol and Champagne Shimmer Mist and mixed in my brand new Stampin' Spritzer bottle. Love it!
New Impressions Folder Tips: The new Impressions Folders offered in the Annual Catalog are slightly larger than the ones you may have used in the past. The old patterns are still in the 4-1/2" x 5-3/4" size, and the new designs are now in a bigger 4-1/4" x 6-3/8" size. They also seem to be a little more durable than the older versions.
There are good and bad things about this new size. The good being that now you can emboss a sheet that is longer than a standard card front. No more weird grooves at the top and bottom where the pattern has stopped. The bad thing is that the folders are now only able to go through the Big Shot short-way first. They are too long to go through the wide-way.
For example, for the Chevron Folder I used here, I couldn't open my card and run the card base through sideways to get the pattern pointing down. I simply cut a second sheet of card stock at 5-3/8" x 4-1/8" and adhered that onto my plain card base. Not a big deal, just something to know about!
I was using a standard 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" card stock sheet for my base. If you cut your card base the skinny way, 4-1/4" x 11", then you can still emboss the actual card front without any problems.
The sentiment is from Word Play, and I colored it with markers to mimic the colors in the background. It's cut with the Apothecary Accents Framelits, then layered on two more Soft Suede die-cuts from the same Framelit.
The second photo is showing how I added my leftovers from my fishtail banners on the inside!
I kept experimenting with more colors. This card actually started with a combination of Brights like Daffodil Delight, Regal Rose, and Pumpkin Pie, but I quickly discovered that bright colors were not matching the underlying brown color of the Natural Composition Paper. They were looking a bit garish and weird (why didn't I take a photo to prove it?).
Instead, I pulled out some of the new In Colors. With their muted tones, they actually blended much better than any of the brights I tried. On this card, I used Primrose Petals, Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit and Tangerine Tango.
I added the colors to the paper with the fleur de lis pattern, which coordinates wonderfully with the new Fancy Fan Impressions Folder. So elegant!
The rounded corners of the strips were punched with the 1" Circle Punch. Simply weave the strip into the front of the punch and out of the bottom of the punch to only cut one end.
I love the sentiments from the new Blooming With Kindness set—such a pretty combination of fonts! I stamped in Soft Suede, then die cut with the Apothecary Accents Framelits and added Pearl Jewels.
Whoa! Look at that background! I love the way the light hits the glossy patterns—so stunning!
Complete Supplies List:
- Stamps—Word Play (card #1), Blooming With Kindness (card #2)
- Ink—Always Artichoke, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Elegant Eggplant and Night of Navy (card #1); Primrose Petals, Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit and Tangerine Tango (card #2) Classic Ink; Always Artichoke, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Elegant Eggplant and Night of Navy (card #1) Markers;
- Paper—Natural Composition DSP; Soft Suede, Very Vanilla (card #2) card stock
- Accessories—Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint & rubbing alcohol (card #1), Pearl Jewels (card #2), Soft Suede Taffeta Ribbon (card #2)
- Tools—Apothecary Accents Framelits, Chevron Impressions Folder (card #1), Fancy Fan Impresssions Folder (card #2), Big Shot, 1" Square Punch (card #1), 1" Circle Punch (card #2), Stampin' Spritzer (card #1), SNAIL, Dimensionals
Are you ready to play with the new Natural Composition Designer Paper? Order it, and all of the supplies used on today's projects, at my Online Store!
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My HUGE 
Clearance Extravaganza Starts Friday, June 22, 5pm to 9pm and continues on Saturday, June 23, 8am to 2pm. Don't miss it!
See complete details.
Angie