One Die, Two Ways

I have 2 cards today, using the same cover die.

I had the idea to stamp various sizes of circles behind each flower and leaf before raising the die above the card front.  

supplies: white and black cardstock, Hero Arts Flower Garden fancy die, Simon Lots of Dots clear stamp set, Altenew mini inks, sentiment from Simon  Sketched Flowers, sequins to match circles, adhesive foam strips to lift panel

Using my die-cut garden to help me with the placement, I stamped various sizes of circles/dots.   Then I carefully popped the white die-cut above the card and added some sequins to match the dots behind each flower. The placement isn't perfect, but I'm really pleased with how this one came out, and I plan to try this technique with some of my other cover dies.

Below is a simpler version, using the same ink colors in the same positions as above, but just simply coloring the flowers, butterflies, and leaves using the inks diluted with water, and then gluing the diecut down to a white card base.  I added some dewdrops to the centers this time for a subtle sparkle, and an old favorite sentiment from Hero Arts.

supplies: white card, Bristol Paper, Hero Arts Flower Garden fancy die, painted in Altenew mini inks and water, Hero Arts Flowers Say Hello, from 2002, Simon Stitched Circle die, dew drops for centers of flowers

Thanks for stopping by - wishing you a GREAT weekend!

Jane Davenport Artomology goodies!

Spellbinders asked me to play with some of Jane Davenport's newest release, and though it's way out of my comfort zone, I thought it would be fun to stretch a bit.  They generously sent 2 of her new stamp sets, and a Palette Pastel set of 18 colors.  Here's what I made.

supplies: manila tag, white Gesso, Jane Davenport's Life Sparkle (sentiment) and Colour is Happiness (flower) clear stamp sets, Chilled Palette Pastel set, applied with Baton Blenders, Tim Holtz Flourish stencil, and Buttons Galore Lucky Charms embellishments, hand-dyed seam binding

I've never used pastels before, and having them in cake form in this pretty palette made them easy to play with.  I used them to color the flowers and to add the stencilled details.  The colors mix nicely, and you use so little that this palette will last forever!!  For this tag, I hand-drew a couple of leaves for the flowers.

Next I used the flowers and another of the sentiments to make a card,  I paired them with another stencil and used alcohol markers and distress inks this time for my coloring.

supplies: white cardstock, Jane Davenport Life Sparkle and Colour is Happiness stamp sets, Tonic Nuvo markers to color flowers, mini harlequin stencil and distress inks to match flowers

I love the sentiments, what fun fonts!  Hope you'll give these new products a try!

Simon Says ............ Anything Goes

Happy Wednesday - welcome to our challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

It's the last Wednesday of the month, so that means our challenge is Anything Goes!  The team are playing with Gina K. Designs products!

I've got lots to show you this week, starting with 2 cards using Gina's Wreath Builder sets.

supplies: white, yellow, and Green Apple cardstock, various motifs from Gina's Wreath Builder and Autumn Wreath Builder clear stamps, 3 3/4" Wreath Builder stencil, Altenew mini ink cubes, blended sentiments from Sugar Pea Funky Wreath Spring, and Simon's My Sunshine stamps, Sunshine die, black enamel dots

supplies: white, Green Apple, Surf Blue card, various elements from Gina's Wreath Builder, Autumn Wreath Builder, and Mini Wreath Builder clear stamps, 3 3/4" Wreath Builder stencil, Altenew mini cube inks, tiny green pearls 

I truly played with these sets, choosing 2 colors of inks, 2 shades each for each card, and then simply chose elements from the stamp sets that I wanted to put together.  Lastly I stamped my sentiments and added some kind of little embellishment to each card.  

Next, I used some foil and one of Gina's Foil-Mates background sheets.

supplies: Peacock Teal card base, aqua foiled cardstock, Gina K Foil-Mates Vibrant Vines, Emerald Watercolor foil, laminator, Simon's Large Heart Doily die (retired) and foilable Sentiment Strip, adhesive foam squares to pop up heart

The watercolor foil is just gorgeous, but just about impossible to photograph!  I probably took 20 pictures, and this is the best I could get to show you the blues, greens, and gold in it.  I just added a die-cut heart and one of the little sentiment strips, which I foiled in the same.

Now it's your turn!  We have a $50.00 gift certificate 

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!  I can't wait to see what you all make this week!

Delicate Flowers

Finally getting around to playing with the lovely Delicate Flowers stamp set.

supplies: black and white cardstock, Bristol paper,  MFT Striped dp, Delicate Flowers clear stamps, colored with a combination of Zig and Spectrum Aqua markers and water, Penny Black Stitched Stackers die, peach sequins

I was going for a peachy color, so I mixed pink, gold, and orange to get these colors.  I placed my flowers on this stitched die-cut panel; I think it provides a nice subtle interest without overpowering the design.

Hope you're enjoying your holiday here in the States, and to the rest of you, hope you're off to a good start for the week!

Happy Anniversary, Hero Arts!!

For probably the millionth time, I'm CASEing Shari Carroll.  I've been wanting to make a card to celebrate Hero Art's 45th Anniversary, and Shari's card on Friday gave me just the push I needed.

I pulled out some of my old favorites from when I started stamping and here's my result:

All woodblock stamps, I used G2991 Friends Background, from 2004, F2621 A Real Violet and F2623 A Real Flower Drooping, both from 2002.

No bells or whistles, dies or sequins, just stamping in it's purest form.  I used mini ink cubes (another thing that I believe Hero Arts pioneered back then with their little shadow ink cubes) to ink up these stamps, "huffing" on them before stamping.  I've always loved the look of text on cards, and this one is just right, in memory of the friends we all made through the Hero Arts Flickr group.

I have so much gratitude for Hero Arts for starting me on this journey!  Here's to at LEAST 45 years more!

I LOVE this die!

There's just something about scribble roses, I've loved them since they first appeared.  So when I saw this Paper Smooches Rad Roses die, I tripped over myself getting it home.  I have 3 cards to show you today!

supplies: white, pink, and Green Leaf cardstock, plaid dp from Echo Park Dots & Stripes Gingham pad, Rad Roses die, Winnie & Walter Noelle scalloped rectangle die, sentiment from Simon Leafy Frames set

This is the perfect size, not too small, not too large! Next I pulled out my Doodlebug 6" paper pads and brought in some tiny patterns for the flowers, and added another Paper Smooches new die to frame everything.  This one has a summer feel with these colors, I think.

suppplies: white cardstock, tiny florals from Floral-Graph paper pad and stripe from Dot-Stripe pad, Rad Roses and Fab Frames dies, Winnie & Walter Big Bold Friends "hugs" die

And finally I added some stripes and a scalloped thanks die to the mix:

supplies: white and black card, Doodlebug Floral-Graph and (retired) Dot-Grid-Daisy-Stripe and MFT  Black and White Stripes paper pads, Rad Roses and Thanks Scalloped Border dies

Hope your weekend is off to a great start!  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Just a Note

I am loving my Fleur Impressions stamp set - here's another card that I sent to a dear friend.

supplies: white cardstock, mint heart print from Lawn Fawn Polka, Mon Amie paper pad, Fleur Impressions stamps, Altenew Cherry Blossom and Sweet Leaf mini inks, PTI sentiment, Impression Obsession Ornate Oval Frame die, rainbow heart sprinkle

Thanks for stopping by.

Simon Says........Bright Color Mood Board

Happy Wednesday - welcome to our challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

Our Karin has made a Bright Color mood board to inspire us!

The team is showcasing Doodlebug Design goodies this week - I adore their 6" paper pads.  The patterns are scaled down perfectly for our cards.  So this week I paired a variety of these patterned papers with some of their sprinkles (enamel dots) and some flower dies.

supplies: white and a tiny strip of black card, patterned papers from Doodlebug Floral-Graph, Dot-Stripe and Gingham-Linen Rainbow Petite Prints, MFT black and white striped dp and Stitched Blooms dies, various Doodlebug sprinkles, sentiment from Simon Summer Garden

In my opinion, these patterned papers are a perfect pairing with the Stitched Blooms dies!

Now it's your turn!  We have a $50.00 gift certificate 

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!  I can't wait to see what you all make this week!

Happily Ever After

Tammy Tutterow has a set of stamps and dies in the newest Pink & Main release!  I was tickled to receive them, and here are some cards I made, just in time for June weddings!

supplies: white and Surf Blue card, Bristol paper for my bouquet, Happily Ever After bouquet and sentiment, Zig markers and water to color, matching bouquet die, Sunny Studio Quilted Hearts embossing folder, foam adhesive to pop up bouquet, Doodlebug tiny white heart sprinkles

I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this sweet heart.

supplies: white and Cotton Candy cardstock, Bristol paper, Happily Ever After heart and sentiments, heart die, Zig markers and water, Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangle dies

And another very similar design, just changing out the sentiment and the framing. 

supplies: white cardstock, Bristol paper to stamp and cut heart, Happily Ever After heart and sentiment, heart die, Zig markers and water to color, Paper Smooches Fab Frame die

The matching die set has dies to cut out all of the images - and in the stamp set, there's also a wedding cake, 2 bubbling champagne glasses, and 2 other smaller floral designs, along with 3 other sentiments that I didn't use.  Everything you'll need to make lots of fun wedding cards!

Welcome Neighbor!

We have 2 new families moving into our neighborhood.  Here are the cards I made to welcome them, one busy and one simple.

supplies: white, yellow, and Green Apple cardstock, Altenew Ditsy Print, stamped in Altenew green and yellow inks, Simon's Stitched Circle and Tammy Tutterow Bitty Posies dies, stamped sentiment pieced from The Craft's Meow and Winnie & Walter sets, Limeade enamel dots

supplies: white cardstock, a Doodlebug plaid, various Doodlebug enamel dots, Winnie & Walter In a Word Cutaway Hello and stamped words from their Big, Bold sets

Leafy Frames Card Kit for June

I received my beautiful Simon Says Stamp June Card Kit yesterday, and dove right in today!  It is a beautiful mix of stamps and design papers, and I used both on my cards.

supplies: off-white, Desert Storm, and Green Leaf cardstock, dps from Carta Bella Botanical Garden paper pad, leaf sprig, wreath, and sentiment from Leafy Frames clear stamp set, retired Hero Arts Raindrop Background wood block, Tonic Nuvo markers: Woodland Greens, Irish Clover, Fair Skin Tones, and Cookies & Cream

There are several colorways in this gorgeous paper pad - I chose to use the green/kraft/cream/black ones for this card, and a sketch that I've used before to show them off.  Two of the panels are from this paper pad, and I stamped the green one, using a leaf sprig from the stamp set, and a dotty woodblock to carry through on the dots in the other 2 panels.  "Just Because" is a sentiment I use quite often, and so I'm glad to see this pretty one included in the stamp set.

Here's another, using the rose colorway in the paper pack - this uses just 2 of the papers in the pad, plus a strip of Green Leaf cardstock, and a stamped sentiment.

The floral and the stripe are the front and reverse of one of the design papers.  I fussy-cut out a bouquet of flowers from the floral side.  Isn't the font of the stamped sentiment perfect?

If you're a paper fanatic like me, I'd recommend you pick up an extra pad of this gorgeous Botanical Garden - the papers are lovely!  It's sold out right now, but I'm sure it will be restocked. 

Here's the Kit:

Just Because

Here's my entry into Altenew's May Inspiration challenge.

supplies: Simon's Fog and Smoke greys, Green Leaf, and 4 pink cardstocks, Altenew Rose Flurries layering dies and Painted Greetings sentiment, the middle 2 shades of Rock Collection mini inks, Impression Obsession Wooden Plank cling, adhesive foam strips to pop up layers of largest flower

Thanks for stopping by!

Floral Birthday

Here's a birthday card full of flowers for a special young woman.

supplies: white cardstock, The Greetery Fleur Impressions, Altenew Tea Party and Just Green mini inks, Simon's Big Scripty Greetings, Taylored Expressions Garden Party embossing folder, adhesive foam squares

The day before I made this card we were at a nursery and I saw the most beautiful peachy foxgloves.....couldn't get the color out of my head even the next day, and so I chose these Tea Party inks - aren't they lovely?!

I was also influenced by Donna Oates use of these flowers mixed with a lacey cover die, so I pulled out  this pretty embossing folder for my background.  It's just another layer of richness!

I'd love to enter this into the current The Flower Challenge.

Simon Says............Stitches

Happy Wednesday - welcome to our challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

This week our theme is Stitches - Real or Faux, and the team is playing with Art Impressions goodies.  You don't have to use them to play, but if you have any, we'd love to see them!  I have one of their sweet Windows to the World clings to show you today.

supplies: white and Cotton Candy card, Art Impressions First Bloom Window cling, colored with Zig markers and water, Simon's Butterfly Shimmer, Stitched Rectangle, and MFT Stitched Mini Scallop Square dies

The script around the image reads "The first bloom of Spring makes my heart Sing!"

My stitching is faux, found in the scallop rectangle die, the Stitched Rectangle, and also the butterfly die behind the watercolored panel.  I used the butterflies, painted with Zig markers and water, from that die to add some pastel accents to my card.

Now it's your turn!  We have a $50.00 gift certificate 

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!  I can't wait to see what you all make this week!

Simon's Celebrate You release!!

Simon Says Stamp is unveiling a new release today - it's called Celebrate You!

Here's a card made with the Big Birthday Greetings clear set that I was sent.

supplies: white and black cardstock, Sunny Studio striped dp from Rainbow Bright pad, Big Birthday Greetings, balloon strings from (retired) Love and Friendship,  stamped in rainbow colors, sequins to match

This set contains mostly sentiments revolving around birthdays, in all kinds of fonts.  I liked the Happy banner - each letter is a different stamp, which makes it easy to use different colors as I did this time, jumping on the rainbow bandwagon.  The balloons are also in the set, as are a slice of cake, and a large candle.

I did an A2 panel as you see it, but my husband came by and said it was boring, and I agree, there was waaaaay too much white space for me, so I sliced it down, fussy-cut around the balloons, matted it in black, and added it to this colorful striped dp.  Much better!

Be sure to visit THIS PAGE to see the rest of the new release.  This group covers birthdays, Mother's Day,  Father's  Day, and Patriotic.  As always, there's a little of everything: clear and cling stamps, dies, stencils, coloring prints, sentiment strips, and sequins.  My favorites are: Filigree Border die,  Gerbera Daisy Background cling, and Daisy Bouquet stamps.  

I hope to see you again later this morning for my card for the new Simon Wednesday challenge!

Inspired by Lilacs

I made this card after cutting our first lilacs to bring inside last week.

supplies: white and Mint cardstock, The Greetery Fleur Impressions, Shades of Purple and Green Meadow mini ink cubes, sentiment from Technique Tuesday (retired) Simply You, Altenew Watercolor Stripes stencil, Tiny Hearts sprinkles

I'd seen someone else use a striped background with these flowers, and decided on the lightest green in the mini ink set for some continuity.  It plays nicely with the mint cardstock.  The sentiment is one I love, probably 10 years old or more.  

Here's my inspiration......I used the portrait feature on my phone to take this picture in my kitchen where there isn't as much natural light as where I took my picture above, so the colors look a bit different, more intense.

These smell heavenly!  They are a transplant from my Dad's lilacs years and years ago, so very special to me. 

Happy Mother's Day

Here are 2 cards for Mother's Day.

supplies: white cardstock, dp from Echo Park Spring Dots & Stripes pad, The Greetery Fleur Impressions, Altenew Rose Petal and Just Green mini ink cubes, Hero Arts sentiment, Sunny Studio Fancy Circle and Winnie & Walter Audrey die, Rainbow Hearts sprinkles

supplies: white, 3 shades of pink, Mint and a green card, Altenew Fantasy Floral flower and Rose Flurries leaves dies, MFT Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle die, Simon Best Mom Ever sentiment, Doodlebug Tiny Heart sprinkles, adhesive foam strips to separate flower layers

Wishing a beautiful weekend to all the Moms out there!