Candy Cane Christmas

 I got my Simon Says Stamp December Card Kit over the weekend and dove right in!  I have 3 cards for you today.

supplies: white and Lipstick Red cardstock, Candy Cane Heart die set, sentiment and mistletoe from Joyful Season stamp set

I couldn't wait to try the new Candy Cane Heart, and I love how easy it is to play with, and the perfect size, too!  I decided to run with the heart theme and added a sprig of mistletoe to it.  The sentiment ties it all together, I think, and isn't the handwriting beautiful?

The kit also includes a lovely selection of patterned papers, and among them are sheets of 3" x 4" panels.  This one is my favorite, so I simply framed it with 2 of the other papers in the pad, and then added my own little heart button and a tiny bow.  

supplies: white cardstock, green and striped dps from Simple Stories Vintage North Pole, my own heart button and ribbon

My country-style heart loves this card!  There are beautiful velvet ribbons in this kit also, but they are just a bit bulky for such a tiny bow, so I substituted one of my own ribbons.  I also think it would be fun to use the Candy Cane die and some pine sprigs to recreate this little vignette.  That's my next card.

supplies: white, Lipstick Red, Surf Blue, and red glitter cardstock, a patterned paper from Simple Stories Vintage North Pole, Candy Cane Heart die set, Tim Holtz Holiday Greens, sponged with Rustic Wilderness (pines) and Pine Needles (holly leaves), sentiments from Joyful Season and Tiny Words Christmas sets, my own bow die and aqua flower button, white thread, Doodlebug Heart Sprinkle

I die-cut the Candy Cane Heart, then rearranged it a bit.  I used the new mini Rustic Wilderness distress ink to sponge the pine branches and Pine Needles distress ink for the holly leaves.  After  stamping and die-cutting all the elements, I assembled them as best I could to mimic the printed version you saw above, using a bit of red glitter card for my bow.  

Here's the gorgeous kit.  The stamp set is packed with beautiful images and appropriate sentiments for this unique Christmas season, and there's a pack of ephemera which will be fun to play with when I need a fast card! 

Fall Thanks

 My Simon Says Stamp November Card Kit arrived yesterday, and I couldn't wait to play with the beautiful fall spray of leaves and sunflowers!

supplies: white and Burnt Orange cardstock, a patterned paper from P13 The Four Season Autumn pad, Big Thanks Autumn stamp set, copper embossing powder, sequins from kit

This month's kit is packed with gorgeousness - besides what I used today, there are a multi-pack of foils, 3 different acetate sheets to foil, a card of Gratitude sentiment strips, even some adhesive foam strips!

Here's the full kit.

As always, if you add up the individual prices for each element in this kit, the kit price is a steal!  I wouldn't wait too long if you want this one.  If you'd like to see more ideas for using the kit, please visit our Gallery for it.

Simon's October Card Kit

 I have a card today made with the supplies in this month's Simon Says Stamp Card Kit.  When I saw this big sentiment, I decided to use it first, to sent to our Grands in TX.  Thought I haven't heard them say "y'all" yet, their Momma does, so I thought they'd all get a kick out of this.  The bonus is that their grade school mascot is an owl!

supplies: white cardstock, dp from Simple Stories Cozy Days paper pad, leaves, sentiment, and owl from new Happy Fall, Y'all stamp set, Hero Arts Infinity Circle die, markers to color, doodlebug heart sprinkle

The kit is still available HERE.

I'm looking forward to stamping and coloring up that cute bear next!

Simon's August Card Kit: Picnic Parade

I have 2 cards today using supplies in the new August Card Kit from Simon Says Stamp.

For the first, I used just the papers and 1 of the stickers.

supplies: white cardstock, patterned papers from Doodlebug Bar-B-Cute pad, Bar-B-Cute sticker, Simon Stitched Circle die

I had a sketch in mind that uses 3 different patterned panels and some of the stripes on the reverse of 1 of the papers.  So I just chose a sticker (there are SO many fun ones!), placed it on a circle die-cut, then chose and trimmed my patterned panels and stripes and added the sticker circle. 

For my 2nd card, I used the large stamp set in the kit, plus a few of my own supplies.

supplies: white cardstock, Bar-B-Cute blue dotty dp, sun, rays, cloud, and sentiment from Hello Sunshine, mustard seed distress ink and oxide ink, a heart from Ant Picnic Parade sprinkle set, my own sunray stencil and a wonky rectangle die

I stamped the circle and sun rays, then the sentiment, and trimmed out my panel.  I clear embossed the smallest cloud on patterned paper, cut it out and added it to the panel, which had been centered on a stencilled sunray design.

Here's the whole kit, perfect for summer!  I'm especially loving the slimline envelopes!

Some Cards from Simon's Home Sweet Home Card Kit

Playing with Simon's current Card Kit, I have 2 cards for you today.

The new stamp set gives you a nice long stamp to make into one of those slim-line cards!

supplies: white cardstock, Waffle Flower Special Delivery cloud paper, Home Sweet Home clear stamps (row ofhouses, airplane, banner, and clouds)

There are lots of other little bits and pieces in this set, lots of sentiments, in particular!  The row of houses can easily be cut if you'd prefer to use it on an A2 size card.  

One of the other things in the set is a little jar of Cosmic Shimmer in the color Gilded Avocado. This stuff intrigued me, so I had a little play with it right out of the box.  WOW, what an impact this little jar has! (Please note, the embossing folder is NOT in this kit)

supplies: black and a pale green Metallic Confections cardstock, Tim Holtz Botanical embossing folder, Gilded Avocado Cosmic Shimmer, Impression Obsession Greeting die, Hero Arts Nested Rectangle dies

I started with an A2 panel of black cardstock, and die-cut a rectangle from the center.  The 2 pieces were put back together inside the embossing folder and run through my Big Shot.  After removing the panel from the folder,  I used my finger and spread the shimmer over the raised parts of the embossed design.  My results were not perfect - I got some of the shimmer on the background, but in this case, I don't think it matters much because of the gorgeous results!  The inner rectangle was then mounted on some foiled green cardstock, and I also used the same to cut out my sentiment and mount it on a black rectangle.

The shimmer is named very appropriately, because, when the card is tilted you get a 2nd and sometimes a 3rd color.  Here you can see more of the green coming through, and in different lights, there's an aqua that shows up, too.

Here's what else comes in the kit - I can't wait to play with the new Speckled Egg mini ink next, and I think the Postage Dies will come in handy for lots of things!!

Beautiful Butterflies

I have a card today that I made with the patterned papers and stamp set in Simon's June Card Kit.

supplies: white and Green Leaf cardstock, dps from Simple Stories Simple Vintage Garden District paper pad, Simon's Beautiful Butterflies stamp

This couldn't have been any easier - I simply trimmed out one of the 8 small panels from the paper pack, framed it in green cardstock, then framed that in this sweet gingham, also from the pack.  The butterfly was stamped onto a pale yellow dot from the same pack and colored quickly with a Zig marker in pale pink, then fussy-cut and attached with it's wings bent upward.

The stamp set this month is a beauty, full of 6 butterflies in all sizes and some lovely sentiments, too!  And this paper-addict loves the colors and botanicals in the paper pad, too!  I'm sure it will be another sell-out!

Enjoy your weekend!

Celebrating Mothers Card Kit

I couldn't resist the Mother's Day Card Kit from Simon Says Stamp!  Here are 2 cards using just a few of the supplies inside.

supplies: white cardstock, floral dp from Memory Box Cottage Meadow pack, new Mom's Meadow stamp set, Nuvo markers, tiny Roses are Red sprinkles, all included in kit, adhesive foam to lift flower spray and butterfly

Each of the patterned papers have 1 side full of flowers against various colored backgrounds, and their reverse is a solid background with just a spray of flowers in one corner.  

My next card uses the reverse of the same paper that I used above.  

Here I grouped together the separate flowers and leaves from the stamp set for my focal point.

As you can see, there's a ton of things in this kit that I haven't even touched yet! I'm excited to foil the acetate panels next!  For more card ideas, be sure to visit our Gallery HERE.  

Hello, Friend

I have another card today using the supplies from the March Simon Says Stamp Card Kit.  This one uses mostly the papers in the kit, with just one of the smaller floral stamps and a tiny sentiment.  Several of the patterned papers are in my favorite shade of blue, so I wanted to feature that color this time.

supplies: white and Cornflower cardstock, blue floral and stripe from Moda's Spring Flowers paper pack, image and sentiment from Stronger Together stamp set, Nuvo Marina Blues to color, Altenew Eastern Sky mini ink cube

I stamped and colored the floral image, then cut it out into a long narrow rectangle, and framed it with Cornflower cardstock and the strip and floral design papers before adding it to my card front.  The floral looks a bit like a modern toile from a distance.

Thanks for stopping by today - I appreciate your visit.

Simon's March Card Kit.......

......arrived, and I have 2 cards using the supplies inside.

supplies: white, Mint, and lavender Glitter paper, Stronger Together flower, Nuvo Creative Pens in Palma Violet and Emerald Seas, Bold Hello die, my own floral embossing folder, adhesive foam to lift center panel

The predominant colors in this kit are Mint and Lavender, and they are really lovely together, so I chose one of the floral stamps and colored it in just those colors.  That was framed in the glitter cardstock and then lifted above my embossed panel.  The little hello die is the perfect size!

Next, I used one of the 3 Suzy watercolor cards and the watercolor pencils in the kit.

supplies: white cardstock, watercolor-look patterned paper from Moda Scrap Spring Flowers, Suzy's Dogwood watercolor card, watercolor pencils from kit, leaves and sentiment from Stronger Together stamp set, cracked pistachio distress ink

I chose the dogwood watercolor card and colored it minimally with the watercolor pencils; after it was all dry, I cut out the dogwood branch.  Before attaching it to the patterned paper, I stamped some leaves with cracked pistachio ink, then colored them with the same ink, diluted with water.  That added a nice tone-on-tone look to the background.

I was impressed by the watercolor pencils in this kit - the colors are lovely, they blend nicely, and they were easy to use with a damp brush.

The large stamp set in this kit is full of lovely leaves and florals; I know it will get pulled out often for the upcoming season!  That goes the same for the pretty patterned papers.

Here's the kit.

Hero Arts January Card Kit

I was one of the lucky ones to get Hero Arts MMH Card Kit for this month, and I'm besotted!  Here is my first play with it, and once I got started, it was hard to stop, so I have 3 cards using it today.

supplies: white, Audrey Blue, Surf Blue, Lavender, Green Leaf cardstock, Hero Arts (retired) Earth designer paper, January My Monthly Hero kit: (Sending Love Mail sentiment, Boutique Accessories and Envelope Accessories dies), wilted violet, blueprint sketch, and peacock feathers distress ink, a green marker, Sunny Studio Quilted Hearts embossing folder, twine

I used Jennifer McGuire's tip to cut the flowers from colored cardstock, and add details with ink, so I chose 3 colors and green, and cut out the flowers and leaves.  After inking the details and allowing the ink to dry, I popped up some of the details in the flowers, then arranged them in my paper cone, which was cut from some long retired Hero Arts text printed paper.

I haven't had any dies like these florals before, and they were fun to work with!  I love their dimension!  There's also a little envelope die in this set - here's another card using it, filled with sweet pink roses.  I think it's the perfect size!

supplies: white, black, cream,  Cotton Candy, and Green Leaf cardstock, January My Monthly Hero kit: (Sending Love Mail sentiment, Boutique Accessories and  Envelope Accessories dies),  worn lipstick, mustard seed, and mowed lawn distress inks, Lawn Fawn Quilted Backdrop die, pink satin ribbon from kit

The flowers were cut from Cotton Candy cardstock, then detailed with distress inks.  There's a nice variety of sentiments in the stamp set that covers almost any occasion, and I haven't even used the text and adorable little stamp images yet.  I'm so glad that Hero Arts gave us the fishtail banner in the dies, too - I know these will get used alot!

And one more, in more earthy colors, also bringing in one of the butterfly dies in the kit.

supplies: cream, Schoolhouse Red, Green Leaf, and Desert Storm cardstock, an unknown text dp, Hero Arts January Card Kit: (Sending Love Mail sentiment, Boutique Accessories and Envelope Accessories dies), MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangle die, twine

This time the flowers and leaves were left untouched after cutting them from colored cardstock, but I did use some mustard seed distress oxide ink on the butterfly, which I cut from white cardstock.  The sentiment is another one from the stamp set in the kit.

I hope Hero Arts continues with dies like these - once you get the hang of them, they make a fast card!  Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy your day.

Happy Winter

I really liked the snowflakes in this month's Simon Card Kit, (which  is now sold out), so I made another card, mixing in some other Simon products.

supplies: white and Audrey Blue cardstock, silver glitter paper, Silver Sparkle Yupo paper, Stonewashed alcohol and Tranquil alcohol pearl inks, Snowflake Builder, Lots of Snowflakes, and sentiment from (retired) An Arctic Christmas,  Mini Snowflake Mandala die, Ranger silver embossing powder

There was  a bottle of Stonewashed alcohol ink in my card kit, so I pulled out some Ranger silver Yupo paper and dropped it on, along with an alcohol pearl ink.  After drying I trimmed it, applied it to a white panel, and then overstamped and silver heat embossed various snowflakes, leaving space for the die-cut from the kit.  I didn't want a large sentiment, so this one fit the bill perfectly!

Thanks for stopping by!

Winter Greetings

I got my Simon Says Stamp January 2020 Card Kit last week - what beautiful contents!  Here's my first card, using one of the designer papers, the die, and a sentiment and banner from the stamp set.

supplies: Sea Glass cardstock, silver glitter paper, Kaisercraft paper, Snowflake Mandala die, Snowflake Builder sentiment and banner, Ranger Super Fine Detail silver embossing powder

I simply cut a panel of the designer paper, bordered it with a strip of silver glitter paper, and added 2 snowflake dies, one in white, one in silver glitter, and a greetings banner embossed in silver.

I had to take a closer photo to show the beautiful silver foiling on the paper.

And a final shot to show the glimmer.

I can't wait to play next with the Snowflake Builder stamp set - what a fun concept!

Be sure to visit our Gallery to see lots more card ideas using this kit!