Simon Says Stamp Always There Release!

 Hello!  It has been a while since the last Simon Says Stamp release, but they are back and better than ever with the Always There release!  I have two cards to share today that I made using products from this release that SSS generously sent to me to create with.  Let's have a look at what I made.

First up is this cutie patootie giraffe die set called Fable Giraffe.  I think this card will be going to my pink loving great niece when she turns five this fall.   I also used another new product from the release: Sparkler Scallop Frames die set.  I LOVE this die set and you will be seeing me use it alot in the future!  I die cut the giraffe from pink cardstock and then inked up pieces with Spun Sugar distress ink.  I adhered the pieces and then added Nuvo drops in black to the eyes.  I found some pretty pink gingham paper and die cut that with one of the Sparkler Scallop Frames.  White cardstock was die cut with a larger Sparkler Scallop Frames die and layered together.  I used the smallest die from the set, die cut it from white cardstock and then stamped it with the happy birthday sentiment that fit perfectly inside.  The balloon cluster is from the new Pawfect Together stamp set and was stamped on pink cardstock, some Spun Sugar was added to the balloons and then I covered that up with Nuvo drops in White Blizzard, lol!  I layered everything on a pink cardstock base.  Going to add this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes.

This card ended up being my favorite of the four cards that I made.  This card uses the Timeless Thanks die set and the CZ Design Mod Composition background stamp.  I hadn't done emboss/resist in a very long time and thought the Mod Composition stamp would be perfect for that technique.   I stamped the background on white cardstock with watermark ink, applied white embossing powder and then heat set it.  I used Altenew's Soft Lilac ink to bring out the white embossing.  I love the soft subtle color that was achieved.  For the Timeless Thanks I used a fairly new Simon Says Stamp cardstock called Moonflower.  I love this cardstock.  It is absolutely gorgeous.  I die cut the shadow layer from white and adhered them together.  The sentiment is from the CZ Design Thanks, Mom stamp and die set.  I stamped the sentiment on the Moonflower cardstock with VersaFine Clare Morning Mist ink, die cut it plus a couple other layers and adhered both to the background.  The background was die cut with the SSS A2 Frame dies set.  

That's it for now.  I will be back to share the other two cards that I made with products from the release.  Click here to see the full release or use the link on my sidebar.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Birch Press Design Blog Post #2

Hello, hello!  I'm popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.  Here is a little peek of what I made:

Hope you will head over to the BPD blog to see what I made.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

best day ever...

 Hello!  Popping in with a quick share of a card that I made for a couple of challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches and Card Concept.  I haven't participated in either of these challenges in a while.  Just haven't had the motivation to make cards (except for obligations) lately.   Trying to change that state of mind, lol!  Let's look at what I made. 

The FMS sketch is a simple one so that made things a bit easier for me.  Using chipboard and patterned paper helped speed things along, as well.  The theme at Card Concept is seaside/nautical and since I had recently made a couple of nautical theme cards, the 49 and Market Summer Porch products were still fresh in my mind.  Card is pretty straight forward:  Clean and simple with a few layers.  Die cut patterned paper to feature the sailboats, added the chipboard lighthouse and sentiment, a couple of pieces of cello tape and the butterfly.  Added that piece to more patterned paper, a cardstock base and boom... I was done!

Well, that is it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Birch Press Design May Blog Post #1

Hello, hello!  Popping in to let you know that I have a blog post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.  Here is a little peek of what I created. 

I hope you will head over to the blog to check out what I created.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

literally the best...

 Hello!  Got another card made so I'm popping into share it.  Haven't had the motivation lately to make anything other than the two cards I made for my niece's boyfriend.  She absolutely loves the cards and can't wait to give them to him!  Today's card is for Color Hues and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.  I just couldn't resist the fun color combo of yellow and blue.  Let's look at what I made.

I kept things very simple by creating flowers using the Birch Press Design Block Print Daisy Flowers die set.  There are two sizes of daisies in the die set. I cut each die from blue and yellow cardstock and then layered a small daisy over the larger one, alternating the colors.   I die cut the centers from white cardstock, adhered them and then added Nuvo drops in Morning Dew to the centers.  When the centers were dry I created the layout on a white cardstock base, adhered everything and then finished with the sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Thanks, Mom stamp and die set.  Like I said, very simple. 

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Go Navy!

 Hello!  Can't believe it is already May!  Time is just flying by and honestly, I don't like it!  But what can I do?  Not much.  I'm popping in today to share two cards that I made for someone who is graduating from the United States Naval Academy on May 16th of this year.   I have a niece who is currently finishing up her junior year at the Naval Academy, and it is her boyfriend, Frank, who is graduating.   My sister (my niece's mom) asked if I could make a card for him from the family and I said, yes!  Then she told her daughter and suddenly I was making two!   It was a little nerve wracking to come up with an idea for the second card, but I accomplished the task.  So, let's see what I created.

First up is the card that I made that is from the family.  A couple of summers ago I purchased some 49 and Market products called Summer Porch.  They have a nautical theme and I thought for sure I could find something to use on the card and I was in luck!  I knew that Frank rowed for one of the Naval Academy crew teams so I was excited to see the set of oars in a pack of chipboard images.  There was also the anchor!   I die cut some of the more nautical themed patterned paper using the postage edge dies from Pinkfresh Studio as a background.  I used dark blue patterned paper to die cut the USNA and 2026.   The little blue rope was from a pack of ephemera.  I adhered the USNA and 2026 to one of the postage background pieces and then stamped the "class of:" in between.  I then layered on all of the various pieces.  I finished with the Naval Academy motto Ex Scientia Tridens (which in Latin means From Knowledge, Sea Power) and Semper Fidelis.  I included Semper Fidelis because Frank will be commissioned as a Marine Corp officer instead of a Naval officer when he graduates.  I will be adding this one to the current Die Cut Diva's challenge of celebrations. 

This is the card that I made for my niece to give to Frank.  I hope that she likes it.  My sister did so that is a good sign!  I'm going to put this card into the current JUGs challenge because it does have a big die cut sentiment.  I used the Naval Academy colors of navy and gold for the letters and numbers.   I die cut both and then adhered them together offsetting so that the gold showed.  I was very careful when positioning everything using my T-square ruler to keep everything straight.   I used the computer to generate the word "ACADEMY" printing it in dark blue and then trimming it down and backing it with the same gold cardstock used for the lettering.   I added the Naval Academy motto (also computer generated) as well as the "class of:".  The finishing touch was the anchor charm and the little gold heart.  The charm was a bright shiny silver, but I was able to tone it down by adding some distress foundry wax in the color Gilded.  I heat set it and then wiped most off it off.  Love how it turned out.   I really hope that Frank likes the cards.  

Well, that is it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!