Some Anniversary Cards

June is the month for anniversaries, and we have an abundance in our family!  Here are 2 anniversary cards I made earlier this month.

supplies: white cardstock, Doodlebug patterned papers, MFT Stitched Blooms dies, Simon Happy sentiment, yellow enamel dots for flower centers

A simple design, I just chose some pretty colors of patterned papers, cut my flowers and leaves and arranged them around my sentiment.  

I used the same sentiment set for my 2nd card.

supplies: kraft, white, and Lipstick Red cardstock, Ribbon Heart Sidekick Frame and Stencil set, sentiment Simon Happy clear stamps, heart die from (retired) Simon Heart Flowers, adhesive foam strips

This die and stencil set is one of a few Sidekick Frame sets that Poppy Stamps has introduced this year, and I was lucky to win this one!  There is a stencil included so that you can easily add some color to the die.  And the skinny foam strips are perfect for lifting the die above my card base!

We celebrated our 48th anniversary this month with a trip to see our Grands and a stopover in one of our favorite places - Asheville, NC and it's gorgeous environs. After the heat of Texas, the Smokies were literally "a breath of fresh air"!

Betsy's Birds

I received my order from The Greetery and had a play with the new Robin and Wren and Blooming Branch stamps.

supplies: white cardstock, The Greetery Robin and Wren and Blooming Branch multi-step stamps, Altenew mini ink cubes, sentiment from a retired Wplus9 set, adhesive foam squares

These sets get an A+ from me!  Here I made my birds into bluebirds; next time I may try a robin.......looking forward to playing lots more with these!

Some Foiling......

One of the supplies inside this month's Simon Card Kit was a pack of 5 Shattered Glass foils.  I couldn't wait to play with them, and once I had my laminator heated up, I made it worthwhile and did a couple more foiled cards at the same time.  This foil is gorgeous!

supplies: white, several ivories, pale yellow, green, and black cardstock, Altenew Watercolor Stripes stencil, Deco Foil Rainbow Shattered Glass foil, transfer gel and stencil pal, Altnew Fantasy Floral dies, sentiment from Simon's Beautiful Flowers, adhesive foam strips to separate flower layers

I love foiling with a stencil and transfer gel!  And now with the new stencil pal, spreading the gel smoothly is a piece of cake!  It's a nice large 5 1/2" long, SO much better than a credit card!  

Here I used a striped stencil and tried to get a rainbow effect with the foil, then just added my flower and a sentiment.  With all the color in the stripes, I opted for a simple cream/off-white flower and a small black sentiment.

The next card is REALLY simple, and lets the stencil and the gorgeous foil shine.  This one has blues, golds, and greens in it.

supplies: white and green cardstock, gold foil cardstock, Newton's Nook Tropical Leaves stencil, transfer gel, stencil pal, and Emerald Watercolor foil, lucky clover distress ink, IO Greeting Top Edgers sentiment die

As I did above, I spread the gel through the stencil, let it dry, then added a sheet of Watercolor foil to it before heating it in my laminator.  I didn't like the foiling against white, so I sponged on some lucky clover distress ink.  Next I sliced my foiled panel into 2 pieces, and added my gold foil sentiment die at the top of one, and edged the other panel with more of the gold foiled cardstock.  

My final card is all Tim Holtz - this Scribbles stencil is one of my favorites of his!

supplies: white, black, and Cotton Candy cardstock, Tim Holtz Scribbles stencil, Gina K Bubblegum foil, transfer gel, stencil pal, Detailed Butterflies dies, Big Chat stickers, Tiny Heart sprinkle

Since Tim's stencils don't cover an entire card width-wise, after I'd foiled it, I trimmed it down and framed it with white cardstock before adding it to the Cotton Candy base.  And I added a little Tiny Heart sprinkle to the butterfly.

And one final card, using the same stencil as above, and the same foil as my first card.

supplies: white cardstock, Scribbles stencil, Rainbow Shattered foil, transfer gel, stencil pal, sentiment from Simon's (retired) Birthday Flowers, Pretty Pink Posh Scallop Borders 2 die

Thanks for sticking with me on this long post.  Foiling stencils is a great easy way to add some oomph to a card!

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

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

Our theme this week is the ever-popular Anything Goes, and my teamies and I are showcasing Stampendous products!  I chose this fun Laurel Burch heart full of flowers and butterflies.

supplies: white and Audrey Blue cardstock, Stampendous Laurel Burch Butterfly Heart cling, Tonic Nuvo markers to color, Simon's Beautiful Day sentiment, MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangle die, irridescent sequins

I stamped the butterfly a 2nd time, fussy-cut it, and lifted it above the main panel.

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!

Lime Time!

I lied again........said I would put this stamp away, but it's too pretty to do that.  Besides, with all the rain we've been having, I have to get my flower fix somewhere, right?  I planted some lime zinnia seeds back in May, but they're taking their time producing flowers, so I made my own with this card.

supplies: black, white, and Green Apple cardstock, The Greetery Fleur Impressions, Simon Sketched Flowers sentiment, Altenew Limeade, Lime, and Fresh Leaf mini inks, PTI Mix & Mat dies, black pearls

Aren't these inks yummy?!

Tammy's Posies

It's the time of year when I normally have jars of flowers in the house, fresh-picked from my garden.  This year, between the rain and nibbling deer, I haven't been able to do that so much.  So I thought I'd make a paper version!

supplies: white cardstock, Doodlebug papers, old PTI jar,stems, and sentiment, Tammy Tutterow Posey Flowers from sets 1 - 4, Paper Smooches Fab Frames die, natural twine, enamel dots

We have a sunny day today, a little on the cool side, so I think I'll go outside and forage to see if I can find anything blooming!  Enjoy your weekend!

Just BEE-cause!

Here's a card using the supplies in Simon's adorable July Card Kit.

supplies: white, black, and Sunshine cardstock, dps from Honey Bee Stamp The Bee's Knees paper pad, Simon's Bee Yourself clear stamp set, black sequins from kit, Stitched Rectangles dies

Everything except the Stitched Rectangle dies is from the kit.  I chose 2 coordinating pieces of the patterned papers, trimmed them with a stitched rectangle die, then stamped my sentiment in the smaller one, framing it in black.  Then I simply stamped the bees and a sentiment on sunshine cardstock, cut out the letters to paper-piece, used markers to color the bees' stripes and gave them rosy cheeks, and popped the bees above the card.  And I added some of the black sequins to the flower centers.  Easy-peasy!

I hear this kit is in high demand, so don't wait too long!  

Hello, my Friend, Take 2

Here's another play with my Hello with a Bouquet die.  The first time I used it, I paper-pieced it in yellow and black; this time I used a technique I saw on the Memory Box blog to watercolor the flowers.

supplies: white and Audrey Blue cardstock, watercolor paper, PinkFresh Studio Hello with a Bouquet die, Zig watercolor markers and a bit of water, sentiment from Avery Elle (retired) Simply Said Hello, adhesive foam strips

Dave Brethauer's technique works this way: use a heavy watercolor paper to die-cut the image.  Before I remove the die, I use single-sided tape (in this case, package tape) to hold the pieces together on the back.  Turn it over, remove the die, and watercolor the flowers and leaves.  After everything is dry, cut another image from heavy white cardstock.  Discard the negative, punch out all the letters and flower/leaf parts, then glue the outline carefully over your watercolored panel.  

I then framed the panel with a colored cardstock to match, popped up the letters, and added my sentiment strip.

This is a big die, as you see it takes up almost the whole card, and needs nothing else.  The fun is coloring these lovely rosebuds in your favorite method!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'm looking forward to a date with DH tonight to see the new drum corps shows for 2019!  

Simon Says..........Travel/Vacation

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

Our theme this week is Travel/Vacation, and we're playing with Lawn Fawn goodies!  Like so many others, my idea of getting away is a beach.  So I chose these Lawn Fawn Palm Trees dies and built a little scene around them.

supplies: white, Desert Storm, Green Leaf, yellow, red, and kraft cardstock, Doodlebug red/white striped dp, Lawn Fawn Palm Trees dies, Simon's Sailboat and sun (from retired Hello Sunshine Frames) dies, MFT Snow Drifts die, sentiment from Sea You Soon, distress oxide inks tumbled glass, broken china, mermaid lagoon, and salty ocean, adhesive strips to pop up trees

My blue panel is a sponging of 4 distress oxides to simulate water and sky.  Our chosen beach is along the Gulf Coast of southwest Florida - the colors of the water and sky there are what dreams are made of!

Now it's your turn!  I'm looking forward to your entries this week!  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!

Just a share........

Since this is Hero Arts 45th anniversary this year, I have a couple of cards using their products, old and new.

This first one features the beautiful Flower Garden fancy die, colored in citrus colors.  I've used this die a few times earlier this year, and it's a keeper!

supplies: white and black cardstock, Hero Arts Flower Garden fancy die, Tonic Nuvo Creative Pens markers in Fragrant Oranges, Coral Reef, and Irish Clover, sentiment from Simon (retired) Happy Every Day clear set, Doodlebug Tiny Heart sprinkles

I just made a cut, then used my markers to color the flowers, butterflies, and leaves and added some little hearts to the centers of the largest flowers.  

I hope you'll pardon a little nostalgia for my second card.  I chose 2 of my favorite retired Hero Arts stamps to make it: Wallpaper Flowers woodblock and a sentiment from Made with Love, a clear stamp set.

supplies: white, Blue Violet, and Green Apple cardstock, vellum, retired 2009 Hero Arts Wallpaper Flower woodblock and sentiment from 2011 Made with Love clear stamps, Tonic Nuvo Parma Violets and Irish Clover markers, Doodlebug Tiny Hearts sprinkles

I've made innumerable cards with both of these stamps, but I don't think I've ever paired them.....Hero Arts designs are timeless!

Thanks for stopping by - hope your week is a productive one!

Make a Wish!

I recently saw a lovely card by Viv (veesea_creations) on Instagram that reminded me of another Hero Arts stamp that I wanted to play with again......their woodlblock Dandelion, from 2007.  Here's a CASE of Viv's card using my own supplies.

supplies: white cardstock, salty ocean, broken china, and mowed lawn distress oxide inks, Hero Arts G4917 Dandelion, sentiment from The Crafts Meow Butterfly Kisses, VersaMark ink and white embossing powder, Paper Smooches Fab Frames die, adhesive foam squares to lift center panel

It was a bit difficult stamping just the little seeds flying away from the flowers with a woodblock stamp, but I think you get the picture of blowing that dandelion puff and making a wish!

Viv did a gorgeous job blending her background inks - in hindsight I wish I'd taken a little longer to do the same, but I was in a hurry to play with this old favorite!

Thanks for stopping by!

Simon Says..........Wedding/Anniversary

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

Our theme this week is Wedding/Anniversary, and we're using Simon Says Stamp exclusives for our cards this week. 

Here's my card.

supplies: Tonic White Pearlescent and silver pearl cardstock, vellum, Modern Flower Card Wrap, Love Is background cling, Congratulations clear stamp sentiments, Ranger Liquid Platinum embossing powder and VersaMark ink

Here's a little photo journey to show you the way this card was put together.  I cut 2 4" wide rectangles of white pearlescent card and die-cut the Modern Flower Wrap from each end.  Starting with a 4" X 8" silver pearlescent card, I scored it to make a 4" square card, stamped the Love Is background on the front, and embossed it in Liquid Platinum.  Inside, my sentiment is "Wishing You Lots of Happily Ever After", from the Congratulations clear stamp set.  I also made a vellum band using another of the sentiments from the same set.

The stamped card was glued to one of the die-cut panels, and then that panel was attached to the 2nd die-cut panel, turned 90 degrees from the first.  

Then I used the vellum band to wrap the entire card.  It was mid-May when I made my card, and we just happened to have some Lilies of the Valley in our gardens to use for a pretty prop!

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!

Flower Garden Thanks

I love this Hero Arts Flower Garden fancy die!  This time I colored the individual flowers and butterflies with markers in cool colors.

supplies: white and Audrey Blue cardstock, Hero Arts Flower Garden fancy die, Tonic Nuvo Creative Markers in cool colors, Simon Script Thanks die, MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangle die, Hero Arts gems from Pool Mixed Accents

This pretty die is so delicate and it's a great price compared to other cover dies - doesn't take long to color, either!

Thanks for stopping by; hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Rest and Refresh Release

There's a new release at Simon Says Stamp today, entitled Rest and Refresh!

I was sent a die called Hexagon Element.  The first thought I had when I saw it was a quilt pattern called Grandmother's Flower Garden, which is made of hexagons with "paths" in between.  Here's my card:

supplies: white, Cotton Candy, and Surf Blue cardstock, floral print from BoBunny Early Bird collection pad, Simon's NEW Hexagon Elements and Butterfly Shimmer dies, sentiment from Sketched Flowers, Stitched Rectangle die, adhesive foam squares to pop up white panel

After cutting my hexagon panel, I glued the inner cut to a lovely floral paper, then popped the negative panel up above it for dimension.  If this is a flower garden, then there will surely be some butterflies.  These sweet little ones were the perfect size for my garden!

Be sure to visit THIS PAGE to see the rest of the new release.  As always, there's a little of everything: clear and cling stamps, dies, stencils, coloring prints, sentiment strips, and sequins. 

Simon Says.......... Masculine

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

Our theme this week is "Masculine" and my team-mates and I are playing with fabulous Tim Holtz goodies!

supplies: kraft card, and colored card from a Kraft-Core paper pad, Funky Foliage dies, Small Talk stickers, and Gradiant Square stencil, vintage photo distress ink, Hero Arts Rectangle dies to make frames

I LOVE Tim's Funky dies!  And I've only begun to use all the dies in this Foliage set!

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!

Blue Fleurs

Do you think I may be just a little in love with this new Fleur Impressions set?  Here it is in my favorite blues, paired with gingham.

supplies: white cardstock, Sunny Studio Classic Gingham design paper, The Greetery Fleur Impressions, Altenew Lapis Lazuli and Just Green mini ink cubes, MFT Stitched Rectangle Scallop die, sentiment from Simon Sketched Flowers

I'll try really hard now to give this stamp set a little break, but only for awhile!

May Favorites

I want to start a monthly post where I choose my favorite cards from the previous month.  Here are mine from May.

As always, thanks for your visit.