Bloom

Today I have 2 cards using the supplies in Simon's March Card Kit.  It has sadly sold out, but many of the elements are available.  I was so tickled to see the tiny gingham stamp in the Choose Joy stamp set, and that's the first thing I grabbed when I opened my box.

supplies: white, purple, Lemon Chiffon card stock, Simon's Choose Joy stamps, Wisteria ink cube, My Favorite Things Mini Stitched Scallop Square die, Zig markers, adhesive foam squares

I stamped the gingham square 4 times to make a larger background gingham, then cut it out with a scalloped die.  Separately, I stamped, colored and fussy-cut the darling pair of boots and made a sentiment banner.  Both of these are in the stamp set.  Since the background was square, I followed suit and made a square 4 1/4" card.

This next one uses a design paper and a sticker from the kit:

supplies: Green Apple card stock, Carta Bella Spring Market design paper and sticker from Spring Market sticker sheet

I fussy-cut the line of flowers and the awning from the pad of design papers, attached them to a scrap of white card stock, lifting the awning with foam, then affixed the whole thing to a Green Apple card.  Then I added the sentiment sticker.  

If you don't want to miss out on future kits, be sure to subscribe HERE and you'll save $5.00 each month.

Thanks for stopping by today.  

Simon Says.......Make Your Own Background

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

Our challenge this week is to make your own background, and we're showcasing Lawn Fawn products!  I chose their Fab Flowers set and made 2 cards, a warm version and a cool one.

supplies: white and Green Apple card stock, flowers and sentiment from Fab Flowers, Altenew inks from Pocketful of Sunshine, Warm & Cozy, Rose Petal, and Tropical Forest ink sets, Simon's Wavy Scallop Stitches die

supplies: white, black, and Cornflower Blue card stock, Lawn Fawn Fab Flowers, inks from Altenew's Glacier Caves, Sea Shore, Deep Blue Seas, and Tropical Forest sets, Simon's Stitched Rectangle and Painted Hugs dies, Winnie & Walter "sending" from Big, Bold Friends set, adhesive foam to lift center panel

As you can see, this set has 2 layers for each of the flowers and leaves.  I only used 2 of the 4 different flowers in this set, and there's a cute butterfly in it, too, in addition to more sentiments.

Now it's your turn!  Heidi has provided another $50.00 gift voucher

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

Peace Roses

Since my last card used some bright colors, I thought I'd make one in softer colors today.

This card is inspired by Peace Roses, which I remember in my paternal Grandfather's garden........It's said that a cutting was sent on the last available plane to the US from France before it was invaded during WWII.  

supplies: white, Cotton Candy, Lemon Chiffon, and Banana card stock, pink and green paint chips, Altenew Fantasy Floral dies and Painted Greetings sentiment, Charcoal and Picked Raspberry distress oxide inks, MFT Stitched Mini Scallop die, Pretty Pink Posh Sweet Pea sequins

I lightly edged the yellow pieces with picked raspberry distress oxide ink.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Just for You

Here's a card using a gorgeous floral stamp by Altenew, a Tammy Tutterow background, and some warm colors.

supplies: Bristol paper, black card stock, Altenew Bamboo Roses and Painted Greetings, Zig brush markers and water, mustard seed, abandoned coral, and picked raspberry distress inks, Tammy Tutterow Dear Ruby background cling, Simon Stitched Rectangle die, VersaFine Onyx Black ink, VersaMark ink and white embossing powder

AND Simon Says Stamp is celebrating 15 years with a sale!  It will work on anything on the site, now through Feb. 18 at midnight!  Use code HAPPY584.

Happy Weekend!

Simon Says......Add a Die Cut

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

This week our challenge is to "Add a Die Cut", and we are showcasing Penny Black products.  I chose a "love" die, since it's Valentine's Day today, to go along with this cute Penny Black stamp!

supplies: white, Surf Blue, and Audrey Blue card stock, My Favorite Things Plaid Patterns Merry & Bright, Penny Black Woodland Friends stamp, Zig markers, Stitched Rectangle and Stitched Circle dies, Hero Arts Love stamp & cut die, adhesive foam squares to pop up birdhouse

Now it's your turn!  Heidi has provided another $50.00 gift voucher

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

Lots of Hearts

Tomorrow is my favorite holiday, and since I'll have a Simon DT post for then, I'm posting my Valentine to you today.

supplies: white card stock, tiny heart dp from Doodlebug, Simon Really Like You sentiment, Your Next Stamp Mini Heart Ink Splatter, Altenew Puffy Heart ink, Hero Arts heart die to mask heart, Simon's Holiday Shapes hearts dies, Winnie & Walter Noelle Scalloped Rectangle die

I used a medium-sized heart die to cut out a mask which I placed in the center of the panel, and then repeatedly stamped the heart splatters all around.  After removing the mask, I added my sentiment, and then some extra hearts cut from the background paper, which is made up of lots of teensy hearts.

How many hearts are too many hearts on this special day?  

A Floral Thank You

I used a pretty design paper as my basis for today's card.

supplies: Cotton Candy, Doll Pink, Lipstick Red, Mint, and Dark Chocolate card stock, design paper from Pebbles Forever My Always paper pad,  Simon's Elegant Roses and Script Thanks dies

I tried to find card stock colors as close as possible to the colors used in the patterned paper, and then inlaid them into the rose die-cuts.

Thanks for stopping by - enjoy your Sunday!

A Valentine Shaker card

supplies: white cardstock, dps from My Favorite Things Lucky Prints and Tiny Checks Bright pads, heart dies from Hero Arts Jan 2016 My Monthly Hero card kit, My Favorite Things hugs die, Studio Katia Cupid's Kiss crystals, Darice adhesive foam strips, piece of acetate for window

The adhesive foam strips worked really well for containing the crystal elements, and for adhering the top panel to the heart background.  I inserted a square of gingham inside the heart.  Unfortunately, after assembling everything, and dumping in my confetti, I didn't get my panel centered perfectly, and the adhesive was impossible to budge to fix it.  

Simon Says........It Must Be Love!

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

Just in time for Valentine's Day, our theme this week is "It Must Be LOVE!" - can't wait to see what you do with this!  We are playing with our own Simon Says Stamp products.

Simon has some really lovely stamps for Valentine's Day, and since this is my favorite holiday, I have 3 cards for you this week!  My first card uses one of my favorites: Roses for You.

supplies: white and Doll Pink card stock, Bristol Paper, Roses for You and Really Like You stamp sets, Stitched Rectangle die, Tim Holtz Roses embossing folder, Zig Markers (Pink and Light Green) and water, adhesive foam squares

I stamped the heart of roses and 2 sets of single flowers and leaves on Bristol paper, watercolored them with Zig markers and water, then cut them out.  Next I stamped my sentiment onto a small die-cut panel before embossing it with the lovely rose pattern.  That was framed with some Doll Pink card stock, and then I popped my heart above and glued on the little roses.

For my next card, what better stamp for this challenge than the Love Is background?

supplies: white and Doll Pink card stock, Love Is background cling, VersaMark and white embossing powder, picked raspberry and candied apple distress inks and water, Tammy Tutterow's Prim Heart die, Small Love You die, Stitched Rectangle die, Doodlebug Rainbow Hearts sprinkles

I white embossed the text stamp, then washed the panel with a mix of distress inks before trimming it and attaching it to my card base.  I sponged the heart with picked raspberry distress ink and added some white enamel hearts, along with my die-cut sentiment.

And one more, which uses a pretty die.

supplies: white, Doll Pink, and Green Apple card stock, Heart of Roses, Painted Hugs, and Stitched Rectangle dies, (retired) MFT Blueprints 20 Scalloped die

Now it's your turn!  Heidi has provided another $50.00 gift voucher

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

Wishing You Joy

I decided to try out the watercolor samples that were in the current Simon Card Kit, and I'm really pleased with them!

supplies: white, black, and Surf Blue card stock, Studio Katia Floral Trimmings, Daniel Smith watercolors from kit, Simon's Wishing die and matching Sending & Wishing sentiment, Memory Box Calais Butterflies, trimmed

I stamped the flowers on watercolor paper, watercolored them, then fussy-cut the right edge, trimmed the left edge, and mounted on a Surf Blue card base, along with a skinny black strip.  Then I added my die-cut and stamped sentiment and the little butterflies.

These colors are perfect for spring, and I'm definitely planning to get more watercolor palettes!

It's the Little Things........

I have a card today made using mostly supplies from Simon's February Card Kit.

supplies: white and Green Leaf card stock, papers (Echo Park I'd Rather be Crafting) and sentiment (Simon Crafty Friend) from February Card Kit, Simon's Stitched Rectangle dies, Tammy Tutterow Bitty Posies dies, tiny gold buttons, double-sided adhesive strips to raise flowers

I thought this paper was so pretty, so I simply added a sentiment and some 3D posies (cut from more of the solid papers from the pad) to it for my card.

Here's the Kit; if you look closely it has some really fun additions from the norm: a water-brush pen and a sampling of Daniel Smith watercolors, wooden embellishments, some lovely metallic envelopes, and 2 Tim Holtz embossing folders!

If you have this kit already and have made some cards with it, don't forget to add them to the gallery HERE. 

Cosmos Thanks

More painting with my oxide inks.......

supplies: white card stock, Simon's Cosmos Background cling stamp, Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet distress oxides, tumbled glass and mustard seed distress ink, Simon's Stitched Rectangle die, My Favorite Things Thanks die

Short and sweet today!  Are you going to watch the Super Bowl tomorrow?  Not me, I'll be watching Victoria - wish it lasted as long as the game will!

Inspired by Gayatri and Kelly

When I saw Gayatri's recent card, I immediately pinned it because I thought it really was a beautiful showcase of the distress oxide inks.  Gayatri was in turn inspired by Kelly's idea, and it's a great example of how we card makers inspire each other.  Here's my version:

supplies: white card stock, Simon's Kind Flowers clear stamp set, embossed in clear powder, Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber, Lucky Clover, Peacock Feathers, Faded Jeans, and Wilted Violet distress oxide inks and water, MFT Wonky Rectangle die, white gel pen

I first stamped and heat embossed this big floral image, then did a wash of the distress inks in a kind of rainbow order, also splatting the inks around the edges.  Aren't the colors vibrant?  I had trouble deciding, but in the end I decided to make the letters white, and reinforced that decision by adding some white gel pen to most of the small dots in the design.

While I had everything out, I made a second card, this time using the distress oxides to color the floral design, then just framed it in black.

I like the first one better, because the colors appear more vivid.  This one has Twisted Citron distress oxide added to half of the leaves.  I added yellow and orange zig marker accents to brighten those 2 colors up.........

Hope your weekend is off to a great start - thanks for taking the time to visit me today!

Birthday Posies

Another Rose Flurries card.......I mixed the colors this time.

supplies: white, black, and lavender card stock, Altenew Rose Flurries dies, paint chips, PTI Mix & Mat Scallops dies, (retired) MFT Blueprints 20 scalloped rectangle die, Brush Strokes Messages sentiment, VersaMark and white embossing powder

I like this combination of elements and colors for a spring birthday!