Stamptember 2026 Blog Party!

 Hello and happy Stamptember everyone!   Today there is a big blog party, not a blog hop, going on with Simon Says Stamp offering different codes for deals all day long!   You can find the entire blog party list on the Simon Says Stamp blog.   Simon Says Stamp was so kind and sent me several products from the release.  I'm going to share a couple of cards that I made with those products.  But first up I will be sharing the special code that I have for an exclusive product.  You can get a set of SSS nesting star dies with a purchase of $30 and the code found in the graphic.  See the entire release right here.

Now on to what I created!

This first card features the fun Wavy Rainbow die set, as well as the gorgeous Opulent Happy die set.  I think this card may be going to my pink loving great niece who has a birthday this month.  I used Simon Says Stamp pink and white glitter cardstock for the die cutting of the Wavy Rainbow.  I then alternated the pink and the white and adhered it to a cardstock base.  I die cut the happy from glossy black cardstock and the shadow from heavy weight vellum.  The birthday sentiment is from a CZ Designs/Simon Says Stamp birthday sentiments set.   Very simple, but I think rather impactful.

This next card uses the super fun Layering Christmas Trees stamp set and the A7 Notched Rectangle dies set.  I don't often make A7 sized cards, but I think these dies will come in handy for other sizes of cards.  And maybe this will spur me to make a few A7 sized cards.   There are a whopping 15 dies in this set!  I used three to make this card.  One for the base and then two for the layers.   The Layering Trees can be used with two shades of ink, but for my card I actually just used one.  The first layer was very light and then I stamped the top layer several times to get the darker shade.   The little circles or ornaments come as a single stamp.  I simply cut them apart so I could stamp them randomly around the tree.  I did use a rather dark ink, but for some reason the glossy accents changed the color when it was applied.   I finished with the split sentiment. 

Well, that's it for me.  Enjoy the Stamptember blog party and happy shopping at Simon Says Stamp!  

hello...

 Hello!  Popping in on this second to last day of August (how did it get to the second to last day of August so fast?!) with a card for a few challenges:  PTI monthly inspiration challenge, Freshly Made Sketches, Paper Players (I used the diagonal row of layers, free and bright colors.) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.   Let's look at what I made.

The PTI leaf stamps and dies I used are called Lovely Leaves and I think this is the first time I have used them despite having them for a very long time! (I just checked and it appears the stamps and dies are no longer available.)  The sentiment is from the Just Sentiments Summer stamp set.  I used the three required colors (Pure Poppy, Tropical Teal and Green Parakeet).   I stamped the leaves using the three colors and yes, some of them did end up a little muddy in color.  But, I wasn't too upset as that is what happens when leaves start to change colors... things get a little muddy, lol!  To get the colors blended I initially stamped the leaves in the bright green and then added in the other colors using finger daubers. Once that was done I stamped the outline and veining with black ink.  Prior to doing all the stamping I did die cut the leaves, left them in place in the cardstock and then did the stamping.  I think I got a good result.

Using the PTI Rounded Rectangles Pierced dies I die cut rectangles from cardstock in the three colors and layered the red and teal on an off white cardstock panel that was die cut with the largest Rounded Rectangles Pierced dies.  I then adhered the teal and red rectangles to the main panel per the FMS sketch.  The leaves were then layered on top and I finished with the sentiment stamped on the smallest Rounded Rectangles Pierced dies.

I'm glad that PTI brought back their monthly challenge.  Most of my PTI products are old and no longer available on their website, but that doesn't mean I can't use them!  

Well, that's it for me!  Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Birch Press Design August Post #2

 Hello!  Popping in to share that I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.  Here is a little look at what I created. 

Hope you will head over to the blog to see what I created.  Fall is coming!!!  Have a wonderful day.

fall is coming...

 Hello!  Yes, fall is coming.  In fact, it is just over a month away.  I love fall!  It is my absolute most favorite time of the year.  The weather can still be a little warm, but not too hot.  Just the way I like it.  So, I have a fall inspired card to share today.  I will be adding it to the following challenges:  Color Hues (yellow and orange), Paper Players (fall themed CAS) and Freshly Made Sketches.  Let's see what I made.

I used the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Leaf Fragments dies and several different distress sprays (Flickering Candle and Jack-o-Lantern mica spray and Fossilized Amber distress spritz).   I sprayed sheets of cream heavy stock with the sprays and then let them dry.  I also sprayed the left over sprays in my splatter box with water and then dragged more heavy stock through that.  I actually used that sheet for my leaf.  Unfortunately, there is more yellow than orange in my leaf.   So I added the orange sequins.  I did add score lines to the kraft cardstock, but they don't show up in the photo so you will have to take my word for it.   Finished with the sentiment.   I feel like this card is a bit of a fail, but let me know what you think.

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

Birch Press Design Blog Post #1

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

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

A Tale of Two Cards

 Hello, hello!  I'm back with more to share.   And as my post title indicates it is two cards.  Both made using the same sketch from Freshly Made Sketch.  Both are Christmas cards, but one is more traditional while the other is quite quirky and moody.  The more traditional card will be heading off to Freshly Made Sketches, the Paper Players (colors), and CAS Christmas challenge.   I will add the moody card to Just Us Girls (second entry)  Let's have a look.

This card isn't super simple, but it is rather clean in the design and elements.  So, I hope it passes muster with the CAS Christmas challenge.   As you can see I did use the Paper Players colors of aqua, teal, red and tan (I used kraft cardstock).   All the dies are Tim Holtz/Sizzix dies.  Specifically, Dash Away All (a Diecember 2021 exclusive) and Christmas Cutouts.   The sentiment is a Memory Box foiled sentiment tab.  I didn't exactly follow the FMS sketch as I was working from memory, but I think I'm still pretty close.   

Now for the quirky card.  Again, the take on the FMS sketch isn't exactly spot on, but still pretty close, I think.  I decided to add this one to Just Us Girls as it is die week and it is anything goes.   The idea for this card came about when I was looking through my patterned paper stash and saw 49 and Market's Starlight Dreams paper pack.   I thumbed through the pack and came across the piece I ended up using.  A nighttime sky with moody clouds and a scattering of stars.  I found coordinating papers in that sort of yellow for the moon and light blue.  When I did all the die cutting I originally die cut the peace sentiment out of the yellowish paper and Santa from the light blue.  I put everything together and didn't like, at all.  Not one bit!  So, I decided to die cut Santa and sleigh from black glitter cardstock and the peace sentiment from the same patterned paper as the background.  Liked it much better but still wasn't super happy with the card.  Added the black glitter stars and still wasn't happy, but the more I look at it the more I like it.  Because I wasn't wild about this card I decided to make the second card that you see above.  Let me know what you think.

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