Spring Breeze Hello

I thought the Waffle Flower Spring Breeze stencils would be a fun addition to my collection, especially because of the butterflies.   I enjoyed bringing the design to life, and then gave it an overnight to decide how I wanted to proceed with my card.  

This morning I decided to try the eclipse/hidden message technique.

supplies: white and black cardstock, Waffle Flower Spring Breeze stencil set, Simon Saturated inks trios 3, 9, 12, 15 and 17, Winnie & Walter (retired) In a Word: Hello die, Wplus9 (retired) Hand Lettered Hello stamp

Can you see the hidden "hello"?  There are 6 layers of it, the topmost cut from my stencilled panel, then layed back into the design.  Here's another shot.

Hopefully this will brighten someone's day!  

Enjoy your weekend - it's turned chillier here again, after an 80 degree day recently.  That's too hot too soon for me, so I'll take this moderation. 

Peace On Earth

 Playing once again with the other big word in Tim Holtz's Big Tidings die set, I remembered THIS card that I made in 2015, and decided to try and redo it using this die.  Here's the result.

supplies: white and blue cardstock, Tim Holtz Big Tidings Noel die, Penny Black (retired) Peace and Joy doves from 2013, sentiment from Simon's Tiny Words Christmas set, broken china distress ink and a blending brush

I stamped the doves on a trimmed white card panel, then masked them and brushed some broken china distress ink around them to make them stand out.  Then I cut out the inner Noel word of the set.  I cut it out also from some blue cardstock to offset it, and twice more in white, then glued them all together and attached them back onto the card base. 

This is pretty understated, I kept wanting to add something glitzy, but in the end decided to leave it as is.

How are you coming on your cards for Christmas?  

Simon Says..........Favorite Technique

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

This week we want you to share your Favorite Technique with us!  The team is playing with My Favorite Things goodies!

One of my favorite techniques is the Eclipse, or Hidden Sentiment, technique.  Here's my card.

supplies: white, Audrey Blue, and Green Leaf cardstock, My Favorite Things Big Birthday Wishes die, and their (retired) Flashy Florals layered stamp set, Altenew mini inks, Doodlebug sprinkles

Starting with a panel of white A2 card, I first made some little pencil dots to guide me where the BIG sentiment would lie.  Then I stamped flowers and leaves in that general area, masking as needed. The centers of each flower were white embossed as the final step.  

Next I centered the large die on the panel and made my cut.  I saved the "BIG" letters and the details of the smaller words.  Next I attached 2 strips of blue and green cardstock under the lower words, then glued the panel to my card base.  I used those little pieces of the die-cut that I had saved to add details to the letters.

All that remained was to cut about 6 more layers of "BIG" and glue them to the stamped layers before adding them to the finished card, along with some matching sprinkles for the centers of each flower.  

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!

Birthdays in October

 Today I have 3 birthday cards using the same background stamp/stencil combo, just varying the colors and embellishments.

This unique set of a background stamp and 3 stencils for the leaves is really fun to work with!  And easy, just stamp the background, which is the leaf details and little dots, then line up each stencil for a different color of ink - I really enjoyed trying out different combinations of distress ink!

  

supplies: kraft, Burnt Orange, and ivory cardstock, Taylored Expressions Fall Foliage Background stamp and stencil combo, fossilized amber, rusty hinge, and fired brick distress inks, Lil Inker Boxed Up Birthday die

After making my panel for this card, I just cut out a square and inserted the sentiment die, then popped the panel up above a kraft base with a burnt orange square in the center.  

Next, a card for my girlfriend's birthday.  I used the eclipse technique for this one.

supplies: ivory, Audrey Blue, Green Apple, and a coral cardstock, Taylored Expressions Fall Foliage stamp and stencil combo, worn lipstick, twisted citron, and peacock feathers distress inks, Winnie & Walter Happy die, Lawn Fawn Stitched Leaves die

There are 5 layers of the happy die to make it stand out.

And lastly, back to fall colors.  

supplies: ivory, Sunshine, Orange Peel, Lipstick Red, and gold glitter cardstock, Taylored Expressions Fall Foliage stamp/stencil combo, crackling campfire, carved pumpkin, and mustard seed distress inks, Simon Stitched Rectangle dies,  Penny Black sentiment die, adhesive foam squares

I cut 3 stitched rectangles from my finished panel for this card, framed each in a different color, and popped up the top 2 layers, then added my die-cut sentiment cut from a dark gold glitter cardstock.

I have 1 other card using this fun new set, but I'll save that for a bit later to share with you.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you who are Moms!  I look forward to hearing from our sons today, and talking to my own Mom, who is 95 year old this year.  It's been a difficult year with the pandemic, and we've been staying away from her for her safety, relying on my sister, who lives closer than we do.

Since we can't be with my Mom this year, she's getting multiple cards.  Here's one of them.

supplies: white and black cardstock, (retired) My Favorite Things Flashy Florals stamps and Wonky Stitched Rectangle die,  Altenew mini ink pads, Pink Fresh Studio Adore Alpha dies, sentiment from Hero Arts (retired) January 2020 card kit, Hero Arts gems for large flower centers

I've seen some similar cards on Instagram, (one made by my Simon teamie, Kim),  and loved the big colorful flowers - I know Mom will, too.  

Here's another that I sent to my sister this year.  This sweet heart wreath full of flowers and butterflies is such a pleasing design!

supplies: white and black cardstock, Stampendous Laurel Burch Butterfly Heart cling, Nuvo Creative markers, sentiment from Simon (retired) Mom & Dad Icons set

I stamped the butterfly separately, cut it out and popped it above the heart with the wings pulled upward.

Will you be lucky enough to be with your Mom this year?   

Sunny Days Ahead Blog Hop, Day 1

Simon Says Stamp has released a new bevy of products, called Sunny Days Ahead!  I'm thrilled to be participating in the first of 2 days of blog hops to show off all the new goodies!

You should have arrived here from Bobby Lemanski's blog.  If you have just happened upon me today and want to start the hop from the beginning, go to the Simon Says Stamp blog to start.  We'll be giving away a $25.00 coupon at every stop on the hop, so don't forget to leave a comment!  The winners will be announced at the Simon Says Stamp Store Blog next Wednesday, April 29.

Today I have 4 cards, 3 of them featuring the new Stylized Tulips die and 1 card using the CZ Design Extra Large Congrats die.

One of the prettiest spring plantings I've seen prominently featured pale pink and yellow tulips.  This first card is inspired by that garden.

supplies: white, Surf Blue, Cotton Candy, Green Leaf and a pale yellow cardstock, Stylized Tulips and Thanks dies, adhesive foam strips

I popped the pink tulip up and paper-pieced the sentiment in the same colors that I used for my flowers.

Next up, I used some subtle prints to piece my tulip in brighter colors.

supplies: white and black cardstock, various Doodlebug patterned papers, Stylized Tulips die, 4 Seasons die and sentiment

And lastly, I added some shading with oxide inks and colored pencils before piecing them back together for this one full of warm sunshine.

supplies: white, yellow, and Green Leaf cardstock, MFT gingham dp, Stylized Tulips and Painted Hello dies, mustard seed and mowed lawn oxide inks with pencil shading

And finally, I have a card using the new  CZ Design Extra Large Congrats die; I decided to use it for a wedding card, using the colors from the invitation we received.

supplies: eggshell cardstock, Simon CZ Design Extra Large Congrats and Elegant Roses dies, stamped sentiment from Floral Bliss,  (retired) Modern Rose Blooms cling stamp, broken tumbled glass oxide ink, a off-white enamel dot, foam squares to lift up rose

This card started with a white-embossed panel of Modern Rose Blooms.  Next I sponged on some tumbled glass oxide ink.  I die-cut the big word from it, and 4 others from eggshell and glued them together, then attached them back into place.  Then I added an Elegant Rose to mimic the background, and a stamped sentiment.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for Day 2 of this Blog Hop.  Again, it will begin at the Simon Says Stamp blog.  Don't forget that each stop on both days will be offering a $25.00 coupon to the store for a random commenter, and if you buy anything on either of these 2 days, you can also get a free gift!  Use the code sssink to get a free Intense Black ink pad (see the banner at the top of this post to see it).

You'll be glad to know that the Simon Says Stamp store is shipping again!  For more information, you can watch this video.

Click HERE for all the new goodies, and for more inspiration, don't forget to visit our Sunny Days Ahead gallery.

Thanks so much for coming by today.  Here's today's Hop Order.

Simon Says Stamp Blog   

Jennifer McGuire

Kristina Werner

Cathy Zielske

Nina-Marie Trapani

Nichol Spohr

Lisa Addesa

Heather Ruwe

Suzy Plantamura

Kathy Racoosin

Barb Engler

Cheiron Brandon

Lea Lawson

Betty Wright

Bobbi Lemanski

Lin Brandyberry

Easter Blessings

It's March, and another step closer to spring!  Easter is also on the horizon.  I recently received these lovely Easter letters as part of a stamp/stencil/die set from The Greetery, and wanted to stretch their use to something a little different.

supplies: white cardstock, The Greetery Easter Jubilee die and stamped sentiment, Simon's (retired) Friendly Flowers, Altenew mini ink cubes, Penny Black Stitched Stackers die

After stamping the flowers and leaves , I trimmed my panel with the Stackers die, then centered the Easter die (which is one piece) over the stamping and cut it out.  The sentiment was stamped at this point.  I also cut the word out from white cardstock 4 more times, stacked them, added the stamped letters on top, and then reinserted them.

I love how this turned out, and will be looking in my stamps for more solid flowers that will work with this idea.

Thanks for coming by!

Another Eclipse Card

......this time for Christmas!  I had such fun with my first eclipse card that I couldn't wait to try another one.

supplies: Schoolhouse Red cardstock, a music patterned paper, (retired) The Crafts Meow Hearth & Home clear holly stamp, Pink Fresh Studio Adore Alpha dies

I first trimmed out my music paper, then die-cut the letters from it, placed them back in, overstamped my holly sprigs, and colored in the details.  Then I cut multiples of the letters, stacked them together, and placed them back into place.  

These alpha dies cut a fat letter, and a small frame for around it so that it really helps make the letters stand out from the background - I'm so pleased with them and highly recommend them if you're looking for a good alphabet set!

Thanks, as always, for stopping by!

An Eclipse Birthday Card

Hello!  I have 4 birthdays this month, and nothing in my stash seems to fit for them, so I'd best get moving!  Here's an eclipse card in fall colors.

supplies: watercolor cardstock, kraft base, Sunshine and Burnt Orange cardstock, distress oxide inks (mustard seed, carved pumpkin, ripe persimmon, candy apple) and VersaFine Clair Pinecone ink, Simon's Leaves Background cling, Hero Arts Artistic Windows script and Essential Messages, both retired, Winnie & Walter Happy Cutaway, Impression Obsession leaf die

Starting with a piece of watercolor paper, I sponged on fall-colored distress oxide inks, then spritzed with water, and dried. Next I splattered some of the same inks across the surface (the only one that really shows up is vintage photo).  Then I inked the leaf background with candied apple and overstamped., then overstamped the script randomly.  After trimming my panel, I die-cut the happy from my inked panel, and also from kraft cardstock 4 more times, and layered them.  The sentiment was stamped before inserting the layered die-cut back into the inked panel, and I added a couple little maple leaves.

How goes your Monday?  Hope you'll have a wonderful week!

More Turnabouts!

I have a couple cards using another new-to-me Concord & 9th Turnabout stamp today.  For my first try, it was a no-brainer to stamp in fall colors.....

supplies: white and kraft card, Concord & 9th Wreath Turnabout stamp set, sentiment from Sugar Pea Designs Fall Fox, Altenew ink cubes and vintage photo distress ink

And one for a birthday  - I was truly playing with these colors, and I like the result.....probably a good candidate for a masculine card, which I am sadly lacking.  I used the disappearing sentiment technique, cutting it out of the stamped image and popping it up 4 layers deep.

supplies: white and peacock card, Concord & 9th Wreath Turnabout set, sentiment from Wplus9 Hand Lettered Hello, Winnie & Walter In a Word Hello cutaway

These turnabout stamps are addictive, and what a fun way to construct a wreath! Whoever designed them must have a degree in engineering!

More birds.....

.....this one's for my sister's birthday!

supplies: white and Surf Blue card stock, Sunny Studio Classic Gingham dps, front and back, Taylored Expressions Leafy Vine embossing folder, Winnie & Walter In a Word: Happy cutaway, My Favorite Things Birds of a Feather dies, Simon Happy sentiment and Stitched Rectangle die

Thanks for visiting!

Inspired by Shari

I needed a birthday card for our nephew, and Shari's post at the Simon Blog yesterday came just at the right time!   I was wowed by her technique, but I don't have all that many distress oxide inks yet, so I thought I'd try her idea with my regular distress inks.  Here's my result:

supplies: white, kraft Green Apple and Green Leaf card, distress inks: twisted citron, broken china, stormy sky, and vintage photo, rectangular blending foam and tool, retired Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder, Winnie & Walter In a Word: Happy cutaway, retired Hero Arts Essential Messages sentiment, Lawn Fawn Stitched Leaves die, twine, wood dot

Using my rectangular sponge and matching blending tool, I swiped colors vertically on my white card stock, then I embossed it with the woodgrain folder.  Next I lightly sponged some more vintage photo over the raised area to bring out more of the detail.  That panel was then trimmed to fit inside an A2 card, and I cut out my happy sentiment, along with 5 other kraft ones to layer with it for thickness.  I affixed it to my card base, added my sentiment strip, and then 2 leaves sponged with peeled paint distress ink at the top.

Edited to add:  Since I had so much fun with this, I wanted to try another version, this time substituting a woodgrain plank stamp for the embossing folder.  Instead of leaves as an embellishment, I used a wood veneer bird, stained a bit with vintage photo ink.  And since my card base is a darker brown, I used some copper embossing powder to make my stamped sentiment stand out.  This one turned out on the darker side, thanks to the darker card base and my adding of peeled paint to the palette.  I think I prefer my original version......

I'm so sorry so many of these supplies are retired or not linked, but I used what I had.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by.  

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

Welcome to another challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

This is your favorite week of the month - you can make anything you like! The team is using Carabelle Studio products this week, and if you have any, we'd love to see your creations, too, but that isn't necessary to play along.

If you're like me, you've had enough of winter, so I chose a big tropical leaf stencil and made a card that makes me feel warm and relaxed.

supplies: white cardstock, Carabelle Architecture de feuilles  stencil, twisted citron, mowed lawn, and lucky clover distress inks, ink blending tool, Winnie & Walter Hello cutaway, stamped sentiment from Hero Arts Hello stamp & cut, VersaFine Onyx Black ink, Tammy Tutterow Pinwheel Posies flower dies, My Mind's Eye brad

I started by securing my stencil to a piece of white cardstock, then colored in the leaves using the 3 distress inks.  That panel was then trimmed.  Next I die-cut the big Hello from the panel, along with 4 white ones, and glued them all together.  I stamped the little sentiment and then the stenciled panel was attached to my card base, adding my big hello.  To finish, I made a big Tammy Tutterow flower, holding the 4 layers together with a brad, and attached that to the upper part of the card.  

Now it's your turn - I can't wait to see what you create!  We have a  $50.00 gift voucher

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!

A birthday card

Just popping in today with a card that I made for my dil.

supplies: white, mint, Audrey Blue, and sky blue cardstock, various shades of ink from mint to blue, Avery Elle Brushed stamp set, Winnie & Walter In a Word: Happy  and Audrey Cutaways dies, and text stamp from Big,Bold, and Happy stamp set, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Pretty Pink Posh sparkling clear sequins

After stamping my brushstrokes and splatters, I die-cut the Happy from that panel, plus 3 more plain white ones, glued them all together, and inserted them back into place.

Thanks for stopping by!

CASology: Anniversary

When I saw the keyword this week for the CASology challenge, I decided to share the card I made for my hubby for our anniversary last week .  Forty-three years ago I went down the aisle bearing a bouquet of yellow roses - where has the time gone?!!  Little did I know what a great person I chose as my life's partner -lucky, lucky me!

supplies: white cardstock and a yellow card base, Wplus9 Seasonal Sentiments die, PTI roses from The Sweet Life, squeezed lemonade, mustard seed, and wild honey distress inks, Hero Arts Woodland Ferns, grass chalk ink, Winnie & Walter sentiments from The Big, the Bold, and the Happy

CASE-ing Betty: Inlaid Stamping

Last week, Betty posted a couple of cards that I fell in love with.  Here is one of them.  Like her, I had seen this stacked inlaid stamping technique done before, and had admired it, but it looked so difficult.  It is a bit fiddly at first, but like anything else, practice makes each attempt a bit easier.  Here's my card I'm sharing with you today:

I used PTI's The Sweet Life roses and Hero Arts ferns and stamped my arrangement on a piece of white cardstock.  Then I centered the love die from Wplus9's Seasonal Sentiments and also cut 4 other pieces from plain white cardstock.  Next I assembled the words from Winnie & Walter's The Big, the Bold, and You, and stamped them below my floral image.   The stamped panel had its bottom corners rounded and then affixed to a card base, and then I glued all of the die-cuts together and added that to the card front in its place.  Really simple, just takes a bit of care.

Now that I'm feeling more confident making this type of card, I need to get some "fatter" dies, like this one; most of my sentiment dies are pretty skinny and I think they'd get lost in the busy-ness of a stamped image like this one.  

Give this a try - it's lots of fun!