Simon Says Stamp Happy Camper Blog Hop - Day 2!

 Hello everyone!  I'm so excited to be taking part in the Simon Says Stamp day 2 blog hop celebrating the new Happy Camper release!  I have three cards that I will be sharing that I created with the super sweet Cute Campers stamp set.  For the release Simon Says Stamp has a promotion going on.   Purchase any item from the Happy Camper release and receive the brand new, never been release Sunflower Dance stamp set!  This promotion runs through August 3rd at 11:59 pm EST or while supplies last.  Also, one lucky commentor on this blog post will receive a $25 Simon Says Stamp gift certificate!  YAY! (Winners will be contacted via email by Simon Says Stamp.) You should have gotten here from Karin Akesdotter's blog.  Now, let's have a look at what I created. 

For this card I did several different techniques:  masking, ink blending and coloring.  I don't often do a lot of masking, but this fun little stamp set is made for masking!  I figured out where I wanted all the images and then created the masks.   Once I had all the images stamped I covered them with their respective masks and did some ink blending for the sky and ground.  I did create additional masks for the horizon line so there was a defined line between sky and ground.  Once the ink blending was done I colored the images with Copic markers.  I did remask the fire so that I could ink blend the glow from the fire.   I die cut the panel, stamped the sentiment and then added the "stars" with a white gel pen.

While I'm super pleased with how the first card turned out, this card is my favorite of the three I made.  The clean and simple scene that I created is more my style.  I started by stamping the main scene image across a panel of kraft cardstock using kraft ink for a tone on tone look.  I die cut the panel down using a Simon Says Stamp A2 frames rectangle die.  I did some selective inking of the large scene stamp so that I only had the two trees, bush and camper.  I stamped that on a white cardstock panel and then die cut it down with a tag die.  The little puppy and fire were stamped on a scrap of white cardstock.  I colored everything with Copic markers.  The puppy and fire were fussy cut and added to the tag along with a twine bow.  I adhered the background panel and tag to a card base and then added the fun sentiment that I die cut with a little banner die.  

My last card was made in a similar manner to the second card.  I inked up the portion of the largest image that featured the tent and stamped it.  I also stamped the little critter.  He looks like a little chipmunk to me.  I then water colored the images with my Jane Davenport watercolors.  Once dry I fussy cut them out.  I used a piece of left over water color cardstock to create the background.  I thought it would be fun to have him sitting beside a little lake or stream.  Once the panel was dry I die cut the panel with a smaller A2 frame die, stamped the sentiment and then adhered it to a kraft cardstock base.  I then added my little scene. 

Well, that's it for me.  I'm the last stop on the hop.  If you started with me, the entire blog hop link list is below.   Make sure you leave a comment for a chance to win the $25 gift certificate.   

Simon Says Stamp Blog 

Nina-Marie Trapani

Suzy Plantamura

Cathy Zielske

Laura Bassen

Debby Hughes

Lisa Addesa

Emily Midgett

Heather Ruwe

Sandi MacIver

Tina Smith

Hanh Nguyen

Barb Engler

Anna-Karin Evaldsson

Karin Åkesdotter

Rosemary Dennis

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Simon Says Stamp Friend Like You Release!

 Hello, hello!  I'm popping in to share two cards that I made with a background stamp from the Simon Says Stamp Friend Like You release.  Simon was so kind and sent me the Dahlia Background stamp to create with.  It is so beautiful!   You can check out the enter release here.  Let's look at what I made.

For the first card I went with a soft look using Copic markers.  I stamped the image multiple times because I my big MISTI stamping tool is wonky and I can never get a good, stamped image the first time around with large images.  Anyway, I finally did get it stamped and then colored the image very simply with a light pink and light green Copic.  I used my colorless blender to blend the colors out a little bit.  I die cut the image, adhered it to a white cardstock base and then added the sentiment that I stamped on vellum with VersaMark watermark ink.  Platinum embossing powder was applied and heat set.  The sentiment was then die cut with the matching die.  Adhered that with rolled up glue dots.

For the second card I went for a bolder look.

I stamped the image on watercolor cardstock and then colored it with my Jane Davenport watercolors.  I did use two different colors for the flowers, but the difference in the colors is pretty subtle.  I do like how it turned out.  I die cut the panel with a SSS A2 frame die.  The thin frame was glued to my cardstock base and then the interior panel was popped up for some dimension.  The A2 Frames die set comes with the hello sentiment and shadow layer so I die cut the word from glossy black cardstock and the shadow from vellum.  Adhered them together and then added it to the card front.   Going to add this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes.

Well, that's it for me.  Make sure you head over to Simon Says Stamp to see the full release.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

Simon Says Stamp Moments in Time Release!

 Hey friends!  Popping in to share four cards that I made with a stamp set from the new Simon Says Stamp release called Moments in Time.    Simon was so generous and sent me the super versatile Banner Greetings stamp set.  Let's have a look at what I made.

First up is a sympathy card.  The stamp set has two different banners and then sentiments that fit inside. I used the Simon Says Stamp Etched Eucalyptus Wreath and the Blossom Swag embossing folder.  After embossing my panel I splattered it with watered down Bundled Sage distress ink.  The wreath was die cut from a mint green cardstock and vellum, layered and then adhered to the card front.  I stamped the banner and sentiment and trimmed it out.  I wish I had placed the banner a little bit differently, but overall happy with the design. 

I went with a more monochromatic look for this card.  I think it is perfect for a guy or a gal.  I die cut the Etched Berry Branch from dark gray cardstock and adhered it to a panel of light gray cardstock that I embossed with the Simon Says Stamp Geometric Lattice embossing folder.  The sentiment and banner were stamped on the same light gray cardstock as the embossed panel, trimmed out and adhered.  

This card happened because I already had the two little buttercups diecut!  I just needed to put them together, add some patterned paper, the sentiment and I was done.  I did add a little bit of interest by embossing the patterned paper panel with another Simon Says Stamp embossing folder.  I like the subtle look

This final card didn't start out being my favorite, but once I had it all put together I love it!  I started by stenciling a panel of white cardstock with a poppy stencil from Simon Says Stamp.  I used Candied Apple distress oxide ink.  I then die cut the panel with the Simon Says Stamp A2 Nesting Frames die set.  I die cut a panel of white carstock and adhered the frame.  I then die cut additional panels to fit behind the inner panel so that it would be slightly popped up from the frame.  I adhered that to my white panel.  Then I die cut the flower (SSS Sunrise Stem) from white cardstock, inked up just the flower with Candied Apple and adhered the pieces to my card front.  I stamped the banner and sentiment, trimmed it out and then inked up the banner with the residual ink on my blending brush.  The banner was adhered and I was done.  I like the rather striking and unusual look of this card. 

Well, that's it for me.  Don't forget to check out the release.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Simon Says Stamp You Are My Favorite Release!

 Hello everyone!  I'm back to share three projects I made with the lovely Timeless Blossoms stamp set from the new Simon Says Stamp release called You Are My Favorite.  Simon was so kind and sent me this pretty stamp set to create with!  Let's have a look at what I made.

The Timeless Blossoms stamp set has lot of great sentiments including the Happy Mother's Day sentiment.  With Mother's Day just around the corner I thought it appropriate to make Mother's Day cards.  I used the color combo from Color Hues to stamp my floral heart.  I used two Pinkfresh Studio inks:  Soft Lilac and Ocean Breeze.  The floral heart is comprised of three separate stamps.  The first stamp are the leaves, the second has the lily like flower and roses and the final layer has more roses.  After stamping the first layer using the Ocean Breeze ink I stamped the second layer 6 times with the Soft Lilac in order to get the darker lilac color I wanted.  The third layer was stamped twice with the Soft Lilac.   I die cut the panel and then adhered it to another larger panel of light gray cardstock.  I adhered a twine bow and the sentiment over the top of it.  The tiny sequins are light aqua in color. 

The Timeless Blossoms stamp set also includes a small swag image, as well as one single rose with leaves.  I used those two sets of stamps for the second Mother's Day card.  This time I went with a peach and coral color combo and a pale green for the leaves.   To get the swags stamped equal distance apart I stamped the first layer and then rotated my cardstock 180 degrees and stamped the layer again.  Then I stamped the second layer, rotated the cardstock and stamped the second layer.  Did that one more time for the final layer.  Then I positioned and stamped the single rose and leaves in the same way.  I die cut the panel with a Simon Says Stamp A2 frames die to create the frame and then with a smaller die from the same set to create the interior panel.   I stamped the sentiment in light gray ink and then adhered the panel inside the frame using foam tape.  I finished with tiny clear sequins.

For my final project I decided to create a little decor piece.   I started by stamping the floral heart 

Using a yellow, lilac and olive green color scheme.  Since the image is heart shaped, I wanted to see if it would fit inside of this pretty scalloped edge heart die, I have from another Simon Says Stamp stamp and die set I have called Happy Hello.  I was so excited to see that it was a pretty perfect fit!   I painted a Tim Holtz frame with white paint and added polka dot patterned paper to the back before adhering it to the frame.  The heart was popped up in the center using foam squares.  I then stamped the two little roses and leaves and fussy cut them out.  The sentiment is a from a Simon Says Stamp set that is 10 years old!  I rediscovered it as I was going through my stash looking for the right sentiment.  I think the sentiment is just perfect for this piece!  I stamped it in gray ink, die cut it with the matching die and popped it up with foam squares.   The little corner flowers were also popped up.  I just love how this turned out.   I'm going to add this to the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge of blooming blooms.

Well, that is it for me.  Don't forget to check out the new Simon Says Stamp release.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

SSS Rain or Shine Release

 Hello friends!  Simon Says Stamp has a brand new release out today called Rain or Shine!  We definitely have the rain part going on here in the Pacific Northwest.  Hopefully the shine part will show up soon, lol!  Simon Says Stamp was so kind and sent me the sweet Farm Life stamp set to create with.  Let's have a look at what I made.

For this card I did a little masking something I don't often do even though it really isn't that hard.  I determined what I needed to stamp first, created my masks and got to work.  Once I was done, I colored the images with Copic markers.  After stamping the sentiment I used a very light blue Copic marker to add just a hint of blue sky behind my little scene.  I die cut the panel with a rectangle die, added the twine and bow and then adhered to my card base.

I couldn't resist making this card with the sweet momma duck and her little ducklings.  I arranged all the ducks on my kraft panel and then stamped them.  I then added in all the little tufts of grass around them, as well as the sentiment.  Then I colored them very simply with PrismaColor pencils.  I die cut the panel and then added the little twine bow at the top of the panel.    I'm going to add this to the current Color Hues challenge of lemon and lime.  

That's it for me.  Please check out the new release.  It is loaded with lots of fun new products!

Simon Says Stamp Favorite Things Release!

(To see my Birch Press Design post click here. Thanks!)

Hey friends!  I'm popping in to share two projects I made with the most adorable stamp set from the new Simon Says Stamp Favorite Things release.  Simon was so kind and sent me the Bunny Blessings stamp set to work with!  Let's have a look at what I created.

First up is this little decor piece that I made.   How cute is that little bunny and the carrot house?  I stamped the images using VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink on watercolor cardstock, let the images dry and then watercolored them with my Jane Davenport watercolors.   After they were dry I trimmed them out with my scissors.   While the images were drying I worked on the frame.  I painted the frame with some yellow acrylic paint and let it dry.  The yellow was a little too bright for me so I dry brushed on some white acrylic paint to knock the color back a bit.   I then grabbed another piece of watercolor cardstock and did a simple color wash of bright green and bright blue to create the grass and sky.  I placed the piece while it was still wet inside a paper towel and placed something on top so that the piece would dry relatively flat.   When I removed the panel from the paper towel some of the blue in the sky was removed.  I love how it sort of makes it look like there are clouds!  I adhered my background to the backing panel that comes with the frame using collage medium.  Once it was dry I adhered the frame also using collage medium.   I glued the carrot house in place and then added the bunny and eggs using foam square on the eggs and sticky board on the bunny.   I finished with the green bow in the corner.  Still haven't decided if I will put a sentiment on it or just leave it as is.  Going to add this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.

How cute are these little chicks?  I stamped the image in VersaFine Clair Nocturne and watercolored the chicks with Jane Davenport watercolors.  Once everything was dry, I added the simple wash of the bright green and bright blue.   I used the same drying technique on this panel that I used above to remove some of the blue from the sky.  I stamped the sentiment and then die cut down the panel using a Simon Says Stamp rectangle die.  Some yellow gingham paper was die cut with a large rectangle die from the same SSS set and adhered to a cardstock base.  I did add some hints of glitter to the bellies of the chicks and to the eggs.  I attached the panel to the card base using foam tape.  Simple, but I love how this turned out. 

If you want to see the entire Favorite Things release you can click here.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

It's DieCember!

 Hello!  Happy first day of December (what???!! where did the year go??!!) and the first day of Simon Says Stamp DieCember!  Today I have two cards to share that I created with the new Scripty Thinking of You die that Simon Says Stamp generously sent to me.  If you make it to the end of the blog post you will find information on how you can get a free Simon Says Stamp product (value $24.99) for a qualifying purchase.  Now, let's have a look at what I created.

This first card is super simple.  I die cut a piece of patterned paper and then embossed it with the super pretty Blossom Swag embossing folder.  I added this to a dark red cardstock base.  The Scripty Thinking of You die consists of the words (all one piece!) and a shadow die.  I die cut the words die from the same dark red cardstock I used for the base three times, adhered them together and then added it to my card front.  While the card is very simple I think the neutral embossed background allows the sentiment to really shine.

With Thanksgiving behind us we are now into the Christmas season.  I know that some people aren't necessarily in the mood for Christmas, but want to be remembered.  I thought that a "thinking of you" card with a Christmas theme would be perfect.  I used papers and ephemera from the 49 and Market Evergreen Season collection for my card.  I even used some of the paper to die cut out the words and shadow.  I layered a frame from one of the ephemera packs on die cut patterned paper.  I then popped up my sentiment in the center.  Some laser cuts were tucked into opposing corners and a sentiment from an older (but favorite) Simon Says Stamp set was added down below.  I kept the sentiment small to keep the emphasis on the "thinking of you".  I love how this turned out.  Going to add this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes.

Now for the information I mentioned at the start of my post.   This offer is good only on December 1, 2024 until 11:59 pm EST. 

If you want to see the entire DieCember release, please click the Simon Says Stamp affiliate link in my sidebar.  Any purchases made using my affiliate link are truly appreciated.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!