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Saturday, July 31, 2021

My Favorite Cards from July

 I've taken to choosing personal favorites each month - here are those from July.

Thanks for visiting - wishing you a lovely day!

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Silhouette Sentiments

 I have 2 cards today made with the newly released Simon Says Stamp clear set called Silhouette Sentiment.


supplies: white cardstock, some retired (dated 2000) Hero Arts Shadow woodblock stamps, oxide inks in Blueprint Sketch, Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, and Lucky Clover, Simon Silhouette Sentiments clear stamps, MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangle die

I started by stamping the rectangle shadows, then overstamped the silhouette before trimming out my panel.  I stamped one of the small sentiments and  2 of the butterflies in the set, then added the panel to a white card base.


supplies: yellow, black, and white cardstock, vellum, Silhouette Sentiments clear stamps and (retired) Butterfly Shimmer dies, oxide inks in Shaded Lilac, Kitsch Flamingo, and Squeezed Lemonade

I first blended a panel of oxide inks, then overstamped and clear embossed the silhouette image.  That was then matted in black and attached to a yellow card base.  I added my sentiment with a strip of vellum, and popped some tiny butterflies up here and there.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you have a great day!

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Simon Says.......Anything Goes


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



 It's Anything Goes week, with the added option of making a slimline card, and the team is featuring Whimsy Stamps products.  I chose a really lovely pad of floral papers and made 2 mini slimline cards.


supplies: white and a pink cardstock from Memory Box Berry Red collection, Whimsy Stamps Fabulous Florals patterned paper, MFT Sending You Hugs die, Heffy Doodle Bold Banner Sentiment stamps and matching die, pink ink, irridescent sequins 

Most of the florals in the paper pack have a bold striped pattern on the reverse that will coordinate with it, so this pack is very versatile.  Here's a 2nd card using both those elements; I've always loved a combo of florals and stripes.


supplies: white and Lavender cardstock, Fabulous Florals paper pack, Pretty Pink Posh Scallop Borders 2 die, PinkFresh Studio Perfect Sentiments stamp and die, heart sprinkles

Now it's your turn!  We have a $25.00 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!

Monday, July 26, 2021

Sweet Birds

 I fell in love with Vicky's birds months ago when they were released, and I finally got some to play with!  I made a mini slimline card.


supplies: white, cream, Audrey Blue, Surf Blue, Green Apple, Green Leaf, Schoolhouse Red, Lipstick Red, Cornflower, Soft Navy, Burnt Orange, Smoke Grey, Slate, and kraft cardstock, Spellbinders Sweet Birds on a Branch dies, Paper Smooches (retired) birdhouses, Simon Build a Pond stencil (for clouds), tumbled glass distress oxide ink, sentiment from MFT Winter Songbirds, heart sprinkles

I had a fun afternoon making these darling little birds.  Today I used colors for them that you'd find in nature, but I can see them in pinks and greens, too!  The dies all have built-in details for the wings, leaves, and branch, so using colored cardstock for everything made this project go pretty quickly.  

I used a retired set of birdhouses for this design, but there are many options out there that would also work. Vicky designed 4 seasonal sets that coordinate with these birds, and Simon's Bitty Birdhouse would work nicely, too!

Many thanks, Vicky, for designing these cuties!

Saturday, July 24, 2021

Washi and Gold

 Playing again today with some pretty washi tape that is highlighted in gold, so I followed suit and used gold sentiments.  These washi tapes come with a large focal point, like a wreath or a bouquet, plus 6 or so smaller images that can be used alone or layered over the focal point.  I chose those smaller images for my cards today, and mixed them with a variety of supplies from lots of companies.

 

supplies: white, Doll Pink, and Metallic Gold cardstock, Pink Fresh Studio English Garden washi, PTI (retired) mix & mat Scallops dies, Simon Happy Birthday dies, adhesive squares to lift up focal panel

I hadn't played with this pretty mix & mat scallops set for a long time.  It has a lovely floral lace center, plus stitching and a scalloped border.  Then I proceeded to cover up most of it with the little rose bouquets!  As I said, because the washi highlights the designs with gold, I added a metallic gold sentiment die, then lifted that whole panel above the card base.  

My next cards brings in my favorite gingham motif, using a peachy color that matches these florals from the Joyful Bouquet washi.


supplies: white and peach cardstock, Doodlebug peach Buffalo Check dp, Pink Fresh Studio Joyful Bouquet washi and Perfect Sentiments stamps and dies, Simon Ultrafine detail gold embossing powder, Penny Black Stitched Stacker dies in 2 sizes, adhesive foam to lift florals

I just stacked up my gingham and stitched backgrounds, added my gold-embossed sentiment, then popped up the washi florals.

When I use something gold, I'm finding that I can get better pictures when I take my cards outside and photograph them.  Taken in the usual place inside, the gold shows up pretty dull.

Thanks for your visit today - hope your weekend is a fun one!

Friday, July 23, 2021

Christmas in July!

Spellbinders is launching some new Christmas products this week, and kindly sent me some stamps to play with from their new Be Merry Collection.  I have 2 cards today using the Friendly Snowmen clear stamp set.


supplies: white, Audrey Blue, and Lipstick Red card, a snowflake patterned paper, Friendly Snowmen image and sentiment, alcohol markers

I pulled my colors from the snowflake background paper.


supplies: white and Lipstick Red cardstock, snowflake patterned paper, snowflake embossing folder, Friendly Snowmen images and sentiment

For this one I fussy-cut the snowmen and glued them to a rectangle, then to my embossed card front.

This set has another snowman which I didn't show you, various small stars and flakes, and 2 other sentiments, so it is a great value.  Many thanks to Spellbinders for allowing me to play with these new stamps!

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Simon Says Stamp New Release Make Magic!


Simon's newest release, called Make Magic, is live and available now!

As always, there will be blog hops on Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24, a Facebook Live on Friday at noon (with a surprise guest!), and an Instagram Hop on Tuesday, August 3!  And for more ideas, don't forget to check our Make Magic Gallery HERE.  Enjoy! 

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Simon Says.......Out with the Old and In with the New!


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



This week we want you to use something old AND something new on your creations!  The team is playing with our own Simon Says Stamp exclusives!  


supplies: white, black, and Audrey Blue cardstock, Simon Bouquet of Roses stencil, Sending Smiles die, and a Stitching Butterfly die, Oxide inks: salvaged patina, peacock feathers, cracked pistachio, and lucky clover, Rainbow Blender Brushes, MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangle die, aqua pearls

The butterly die is my "old" - it's from 2018.  I stencilled a die-cut panel of white cardstock with oxide inks, then kept the stencil attached while I passed it through my cutting machine with an embossing pad and plate to raise the inked areas for more dimension.  Then I simply glued on my sentiment and butterfly, with some pearls in the flower centers.

Now it's your turn!  We have a $25.00 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!

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Simon's August Card Kit - TOADally UnFROGettable!

 My card kit came yesterday and I "hopped" right in - the supplies in this kit are so fun!


supplies: Surf Blue and Green Leaf cardstock,solid and patterned papers from August Card Kit, Toadally Unfrogettable stamp set, googly eyes

I stamped the frog and the lily pads onto green cardstock and cut them out, adding a bowtie and googly eyes to the frog.  The cattails were stamped, colored, and also cut out.  Then I added them to my pond scene, popping up the frog a bit and leaving the cattails unattached at the top.

Since the first card features a "he" frog, here's one that is more feminine.


supplies: white cardstock, Toadally Unfrogettable stamps, stencilled clouds from Build a Frog Pond stencil, tumbled glass distress oxide ink, adhesive googly eyes from kit

I started by masking off a border and stencilling my clouds 3/4 of the way down from the top, then sponging in the same ink for water at the bottom.  I overstamped the sentiment and butterflies, then added my fussy-cut frog and lily pads.

I smiled all the way through the process of making these!  Check out the kit if you haven't already - the punny sentiments and variety of frogs will make some adorable creations!  Be sure to visit our Card Kit gallery for lots more ideas!

Thanks for stopping by - hope your day is unfrogettable!

Monday, July 19, 2021

My Favorite Things, PinkFresh Studio, and Lawn Fawn

 I recently grabbed the Small Butterflies stamps and stencils that I've been wanting, and used them to  make some birthday cards.  When I use this Big Birthday Wishes die, I always get a two-fer!  You can never have too many birthday cards, right?  


supplies: white cardstock, (retired) Lawn Fawn Spring Fling and Knock on Wood paper pads, MFT Big Birthday Wishes and Wonky Stitched Rectangle dies,  PinkFresh Studio Small Butterflies stamps and matching stencils, gold embossed, Altenew Cherry Blossom and Sweet Dreams mini inks,  black marker to outline, gold sequins

This one uses the letters from the die.  I cut it a 2nd time (giving me a 3-fer!) from yellow woodgrain patterned paper and paper-pieced the floral letters back in.  They just didn't stand out well, so I went back and outlined them with a fine-tip marker - that solved the problem nicely.  Then I added my butterflies, gluing them only in their centers and pulling up their wings for dimension, and adding gold sequins to help bring out their gold embossing.

Here's a closer pic to show the gold embossing on the butterflies a bit better:


Next is the card that uses the negative cut of the big sentiment cut from the floral paper.   I simply added dotty papers from the same pad behind the letters this time, then attached my butterflies.


supplies: white cardstock, (retired) Lawn Fawn Spring Fling patterned papers, MFT Big Birthday Wishes die, PinkFresh Studio Small Butterflies stamps and matching stencils, gold embossed and colored with Altenew Cherry Blossom and Sweet Dreams mini inks

Thanks for stopping by - have a great week!

Friday, July 16, 2021

A Summer Wreath

The colors on today's card are pleasing to me;  I don't use enough of either of these colors of lavender or yellow.


supplies: white cardstock, patterned papers from Doodlebug Buffalo Check/Woodgrain and Gingham/Linen Rainbow paper pads, PinkFresh Studio Lemons and Blueberries washi tape, Take Care die, and bow die, enamel heart

 I'm becoming quite enamored of these wide washi tapes, especially those like this one that include a ready-made wreath, one of my favorite motifs!  This one is pure summer, don't you think?  I added a sweet gingham bow and set it against a woodgrain background.

Hope your weekend is off to a great start!  Enjoy!

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Simon Says.......Emboss It!


It's Wednesday - welcome to our challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!



 Our theme this week is  "Emboss It!", and the team is showcasing WOW products.  I chose a pretty embossing glitter and used it to add details to my flowers and butterflies.


supplies: white and Surf Blue cardstock, vellum, Altenew Painted Flowers multi-step stamps, 2 lightest shades from Sweet Dreams and Spring Bouquet green mini ink cubes, smallest of the Simon Beautiful Butterflies and sentiment from Spring Bouquets, WOW Calypso embossing glitter, VersaMark ink, Stitched Circle die

I stamped 2 different flowers twice, using clear ink and Calypso glitter to add the 2nd layer details to them.  I also stamped the butterflies on vellum with clear ink and sprinkled on the same glitter.  These were then cut out and arranged around the negative circle panel, adding a tiny stamped flower sprig to the mix.  I stamped my sentiment before lifting the panel above the card base.

Here's another picture to show some of the glitz from the glitter embossing, quite a nice touch without being too overpowering!


Now it's your turn!  We have a $25.00 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!


I'd also like to point out to you that Simon Says Stamp has just launched a fund-raiser for Huntington's Disease.  They have a choice of 2 crafty parcels from which to choose when you make a donation.  $50 donations receive a box of crafty goodness valued at over $100, and $150 donations get a box valued at over $300! Can you help?  All details are HERE, if you'd like to. Many thanks!  If you prefer, you can also make a donation direct to the charity HERE.

Sunday, July 11, 2021

Zinnia Hello

 Our zinnias are blooming!  Their bright summery colors inspired me to make a mini slimline card.


supplies: white and various bright cardstocks, My Favorite Things Black and White Stripes patterned paper, The Greetery Sunflower Botanicuts, My Favorite Things leaf die (probably retired), PinkFresh Studio Perfect Sentiments stamp and matching die, bright enamel dots to match flowers

I used 3 shades of cardstock for each flower, and turned up the petals as I placed them on my card base.  The sentiment is the perfect size for a mini slimline card.

Thanks for stopping by today - hope you're having a great day!

Friday, July 9, 2021

Some Birthday Birdhouses

 Once again, Jennifer McGuire "enabled" me with one of her videos to buy this Birdhouse Pop Up die set.  Today I used it to make some birthday cards.


supplies: white, purple, Audrey Blue, Surf Blue, Green Apple, Green Leaf, and kraft card, mauves from Memory Box Vibrant Violet pad, Scrappy Tails Birdouse Pop Up dies, Impression Obsession sentiment die from Greetings Top Edger set, My Favorite Things (retired) Birds of a Feather dies (birds, leaves, flowers), white pearls

My youngest sister loved purple growing up, so that's where I started for the trim of the house.  Then I added birds in aqua and flowers in mauves.  

These dies are so versatile.  Above I used the birdhouse die in all it's length as a slimline, but it can easily be chopped off  as I did below to make cards to fit any size envelope.  


supplies: 2 yellows, cream, and the greens and mauves cardstock I used above, (retired) Lawn Fawn Knock on Wood paper pad, Scrappy Tails Birdhouse Pop Up dies, PTI Feathered Friends 2 dies, same flowers and leaves as above, Tammy Tutterow (retired) Tiny Sentiments cling stamp, Doodlebug heart and dots

I inserted my sentiment inside this time, using the same heart die that I used to cut the hole out in the front.

Finally, another slimline for my Mom, using her favorite fuschias and purples.


supplies: white and slate grey card, colored cardstock in purples, mauves, green, and yellow, Scrappy Tails Birdhouse Pop Up dies, PTI Feathered Friends 2 bird die, same flower dies as above, Hero Arts and Tim Holtz leaf dies, yellow enamel dots

Because of all the flowers and leaves, I'll add a sentiment to the back of this one.

This set has spacers to make a panel into a free-standing house that folds flat for mailing and pops up when out of the envelope, and that's how I made all of these cards.  Now I have a little village of birdhouses in various sizes and colors to enjoy until I send them out next month!

These dies are on the pricey side, in my opinion, but if you get lots of use from them, then the price takes on lesser importance.  I already have lots of different birds that will pair nicely with these, so I know it will be worth it for me.

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you have a great weekend!

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Simon Says........Hello Sunshine!



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


Our theme this week is "Hello Sunshine!", and the team is featuring Sunny Studio products.  


supplies: white and Audrey Blue cardstock, Doodlebug Buffalo Check patterned paper, Sunny Studio Sunflower Fields multi-step stamp set, Altenew mini ink cubes, Simon Detail Bohemian cover plate and (retired) Hello Sunshine Frame dies, a Doodlebug heart sprinkle

Now it's your turn!  We have a $25.00 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!

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Simon's Annual Kids' Summer Vacation Challenge!

 


I wanted to make sure that you knew that Simon Says Stamp is having a month-long Kid's Challenge!  We do this every year to give our young designers out there the spotlight.

The theme is Anything Goes with SPARKLE and/or Shine.  It's open to all children between the ages of 2 and 16.  You are allowed to help them a little bit, if necessary, but we really want them to create something all by themselves.


We have THREE grab bags of craftiness as prizes for 3 random winners.  The challenge will remain open until 6 P.M. EST August 1st, and the random winners will be announced soon after the challenge closes. 

This challenge is open for CHILDREN ONLY, and any entry from anyone over the age of 16 will be deleted.  Please make sure to add the child's age along with his/her name when you post your entry.

Have fun!