Roses and Lavender

Just playing today; this one uses dies and lots of texture!

supplies: cream, black, Simon's Green Apple, Green Leaf, Sunshine, a pale gold and a medium lavender card stock, Tim Holtz Roses texture fade and Wildflower die, Altenew Layered Rose dies, sentiment from Simon's Beautiful Flowers

It's no secret if you visit here often that my favorite rose is a yellow one.  So I played a little with the yellow card stock in my stash until I found 2 colors that I liked together.  The roses and leaves are 3 layers, a solid back, a detail layer, and a framing one.  I thought adding something spikey would change things from the other cards I've done with this set of dies.

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy your weekend!

Another Anniversary card

......this one for my husband this year.

supplies: kraft, blue, Green Leaf and Green Apple card stock, (retired) MFT Spring Wreath die, (retired) Memory Box Perched Reed Bird, Simon's Happy clear stamps, heart punch, twine, faded jeans and abandoned coral distress oxide inks, Colorbox Frost White cat's eye ink pad, tea dye distress ink

This bird die has always been a favorite of mine - it fits into most wreaths or branches, so I first cut out 2 of him from desert storm kraft card and inked them to resemble bluebirds.  I cut 2 shades of green for my wreath, and, influenced by Pam's 2nd card in THIS post, sponged some tea dye distress ink around the wreath and the edges of my card.   

It's been 47 years for us - how about you?

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

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

Our theme this week is Anniversary/Wedding, and we're playing with Impression Obsession goodies.  And it just so happens that today is my own 47th wedding anniversary, too!

I have 2 cards using the same stamp set:

supplies: white, black, and Lavender card stock, Bristol paper, pink gingham dp,  Impression Obsession Floral Heart set, Simon's Happy sentiments, Daniel Smith watercolors (Shari Carroll palette), adhesive foam squares

I stamped and watercolored the flower sprigs on Bristol paper, and the heart on pink gingham, then cut them out and arranged them on my card.  The sentiment was added to finish.

Next up, I used one of the flower sprays, colored a little brighter, and the same sentiment set:

supplies: white card stock, Bristol paper, BoBunny dotted pattern paper, Impression Obsession Floral Heart, Simon's Happy sentiments, and (retired) large heart doily die, Pretty Pink Posh Scallop Borders 2 die, Zig markers to color 

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!

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

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

Our theme this week is our ever-popular Anything Goes, and my talented teamies and I are showcasing Doodlebug products!  Doodlebug makes fantastic 6" square paper pads, with small-scale patterns perfect for our cards, and I determined that I'd use ONLY Doodlebug papers for my cards today.

Here in the US we think of the beginning of summer as Memorial Day, so both of my cards today are summer-themed.

supplies: white card base, Doodlebug Sweet Summer 6" paper pad, Simon's Scallop Stitches die, natural twine and pink dotty button, adhesive foam squares

I found a sketch that I followed for this card.  Most of the latest Doodlebug paper pads have a couple of designs on the reverse that are little scenes or vignettes, and some that have various stripes, in this case the summertime stripe.  I chose this adorable beach scene and then pulled all papers from the same pad that coordinated with it. 

Here's a closer look at the little vignette - I love the rainbow spokes on the adirondack chair, and pulled them down into the lowest panel!

Summer means bike riding, so when I saw this bicycle in one of my many Doodlebug paper pads, I cut it out and put it against some strips of summery-colored Doodlebug patterned papers. 

supplies: white card base, various 6" Doodlebug paper pads, sentiment pieced from Simon's Beautiful Ride sentiments, zig-zag and scalloped rectangle die from (retired) MFT Blueprints 20 die set, adhesive foam strips and squares

I thought the wheels were the perfect place to add a sentiment!  And I love the effect the zig-zag stitch die gives between the paper strips - the one I used is retired, but MFT brought it out in another set HERE.

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!

Love & Hugs

I so enjoyed making my last card with the Fantasy Florals dies that I decided to do another.

supplies: white, rose, red, and Green Leaf card, MFT Plaid Patterns Merry & Bright dp, Fantasy Floral dies, sentiment from Simon's Beautiful Flowers, adhesive foam strips to separate layers

These colors approximate the colors of the peonies in our gardens, and I thought the background plaid worked well with them, giving a kind of trellis effect, too.  When I first got these dies, I envisioned them cut from 3 shades of the same color, but I'm happy to see they look just as pretty in one shade, with the layers popped above each other.

Back to reality, hope your week is a lovely one!

Peony Prayers

My peonies are finally opening this weekend!  We have 3 colors, all old-fashioned varieties that were divisions of our neighbors, a white, a pale pink, and a rose pink.  The whites are generally the first to open.  Here's a card inspired by them - they have just a touch of dark pink color splashed inside.

supplies: white and Green Leaf card stock, grey grid from Sunny Studios Classic Gingham pad, Altenew Fantasy Floral dies, a touch of picked raspberry distress ink, Hero Arts Prayers die, adhesive strips to separate layers

My Mom puts these on our family's graves on Memorial Day, so I have always associated them with this holiday.  

My Heart

I have some cards today using some Tammy Tutterow cling stamps and dies, most from her Sew Sweet collection. 

supplies: white, Audrey Blue and Schoolhouse Red card, Tammy's Handmade (quilt) and Sentiments 2 cling stamps, markers to color, Stitched Mini Scallop Square die, Swiss Dot embossing folder

I was so tickled that Tammy drew this little quilt block, so I made it the star of this card.  And I love that she adds little hearts to her sentiment stamps!  

Continuing the heart theme:

supplies: white, Lipstick Red, and kraft card, Sunny Studio Classic Gingham dp, Tammy's From Heart and Hand tag and heart dies, Simon's Roses for You sentiment, scalloped rectangle dies, twine

I love the combination of red and kraft!  And I sneaked in a little gingham, too!

And finally, Tammy put out a really cute die set of edges/trims, and I used this scalloped ribbon threader for my last card:

supplies: white card, Sunny Studio Classic Gingham dp, Tammy's Sew Sweet Trims die, Simon's Birthday Bits sentiment and High Dive ink, aqua satin ribbon

Thanks so much for stopping by - hope your holiday weekend is the best!

Spring Flower Clusters

I received a few of my favorite dies from Simon Says Stamp's latest Sending Sunshine release, and couldn't wait to play with them!

supplies: white, rose, yellow, Lavender, and Green Apple card stock, Flower Cluster die, and Spring die from Four Seasons die set, Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes dp

The dies were all cut first from white card and doubled for strength, then I cut more in the colors to paper-piece in the details of the flowers and leaves.  It's close, detailed work, but I think the results are worth it.

Thank you for visiting me today!

Simon Says..........Use More Than One Stamp

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

Our theme this week is Use More Than One Stamp, and we are showcasing Honey Bee products.

I chose a wreath builder stamp set and made 2 cards.

supplies: white card stock, plank background from SN@P Wood & Notebook Basics pad, Honey Bee Stamps Country Wreath elements, Gina K Wreath Builder stencil, sentiment from Avery Elle Floral Frame, May Arts Natural Twine bow

I first used my wreath builder stencil to make a leafy grapevine wreath, colored in the details with markers, sponged on some mowed lawn distress ink, and then fussy cut it out.  Next I stamped a few groupings of flowers and did the same.  The wreath was then popped above my card base, and the flower sprigs popped above that, so there is lots of dimension on this card!

I used the stamp set again for a much simpler second card, using some different flowers and the wreath this time:

supplies: white and Doll Pink card, Honey Bee Country Wreath, sentiment from Simon's Hope Blooms, Zig markers to color, tiny punched butterflies 

I stamped the grapevine wreath on my card front, and separately stamped the 3 floral sprigs, masking as needed, then cut them out and glued them to the wreath.  Then I stamped the little blue dots here and there, and added some punched butterflies, along with my sentiment.

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!

Hummingbirds for Mom

My Mom loves hummingbirds, so when I saw Pretty Pink Posh's adorable set of them, it was a given that they would come home to live with me.  Here's my first stamping of them.

supplies: white and peacock glitter card stock, Bristol paper, PPP Hummingbird Thanks and Simon's Beautiful Day sentiment, MFT Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle die, Zig markers in greens and turquoises, glue pen and glitter

What I remember especially about the hummingbirds I've seen is the splash of iridescence on them, so I added a little glitter to their bodies with the help of a glue pen, and carried it outwards with the glitter card framing.

Next I used my Mom's favorite jewel colors and stamped all 3 of the hummers:

supplies: white, black, and Doll Pink card stock, Bristol paper, Hummingbird Thanks, Simon's Everything Together sentiment, Memory Box Pinpoint Rectangle die, Zig markers in pinks, violets, turquoise, glue pen and glitter

This time I covered the entire bird with glitter.

I've already seen these colored in some really beautiful combinations, so I'm going to have lots of fun with these!

Sweet and Simple

I have a fondness for certain flowers, many of which I associate with my childhood or home.  Lilies of the valley are one of them.  So when I saw this sweet little stamp set, I had to get it.  Here's it's first stamping.

supplies: Cotton Candy and Green Apple card stock, Bristol paper, Newton's Nook Little Lilies stamp set, colored with markers, Winnie & Walter Noelle scalloped die, Taylored Expressions Garden Party embossing folder

It amazes me that these tiny blossoms can release such a sweet scent, but it's one of my favorites.  I associate this flower with Mother's Day, as they are usually in bloom by then for little hands to collect a sweet bouquet.  And there are pale pink ones, pretty rare, I think; I've only seen them once, on a grave in Erie, PA.  Because the stamped panel was so simple, I decided to emboss my card front for a little more interest.

Thank you for stopping by!

A Bouquet for You

I've only used this pretty Amuse bouquet once before - thought it was time to get it out and play again.

supplies: white card stock, amuse studio Southern Bouquet, alcohol markers, sentiment from Simon's Summer Garden, Lil' Inker Circles and Diamonds Stitched Pattern cover die, May Arts twine, adhesive foam squares

Since this card is pretty CAS, I decided to wrap the bouquet with real twine this time for a little more dimension.  I think this is a perfect card for so many occasions.

I made this card earlier this week, and after watching the Royal Wedding yesterday, I was inspired by Princess Meghan's sweet bouquet to use it again.  I first thought I'd leave the flowers all white and just color in the leaves, but I ended up using some pastels lightly to make the flowers stand out from each other.  I also coated them in some Wink of Stella.

supplies: white, black, and pale aqua card, Southern Bouquet, sentiment from Simon's Floral Bliss, Winnie & Walter Noelle cutaway scalloped rectangle die, markers and colored pencils

Hope you're enjoying your Sunday - thanks for coming by!

Beautiful Flowers

I received my Simon Says Stamp June Card Kit yesterday and couldn't wait to dive in and play!  I tried the gorgeous stamp set first.

supplies: white, black, and pink card stock, striped dp, Simon's Beautiful Flowers, markers to color

I stamped the floral on an A2 panel, colored it, then trimmed out the left side and layered it over the striped paper.  The sentiment is just one of many in this set - Simon has hit this one waaaaaay out of the ballpark!

One more, adding in the beautiful embossing folder in the kit:

supplies: white card stock, watercolor paper, vellum, Beautiful Flowers stamp set, Sizzix/Tim Holtz Botanical embossing folder, lemonade and worn lipstick distress inks and water, alcohol markers

I inked the "flat" side of the embossing folder with distress inks, then spritzed with water, and ran a piece of watercolorpaper through my cuttlebug.  (For anyone interested, my sandwich is the A plate, the loaded embossing folder, and the B plate.)  The sentiment was stamped on a strip of vellum and colored with the same markers I used for my flowers.  

I can't wait to try those dreamy design papers next!

Simon Says..........Stencil It!

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

Our theme this week is Stencil It! and we're playing with our own Simon Says Stamp products!  I've really grown to enjoy using stencils, so I can't wait to see what you do for this challenge!

supplies: white, turquoise, and Doll Pink card, Simon's Diamond Circles stencil, inked with picked raspberry, mermaid lagoon, and mowed lawn distress ink and finger daubers, one of the Stitching Butterflies dies, Simon's Stitched Rectangles dies to make turquoise inner frame, Sparkling Clear sequins

I got this stencil because I wanted to use it to make quilt cards like this one.  The first thing I did was affix my stencil to white card and emboss it for dimension, then mask off the center area and apply my distress inks.  To finish I cut my inner frame and at that point I saw the green as butterflies in the design, so I added a Stitched Butterfly in the center to mimic them.  

Since this is such a bright card, I decided to use the same stencil and make a much more soft design, but still with a butterfly theme.

supplies: white card,Simon's Diamond Circles stencil, tumbled glass distress ink, Simon's Beautiful Day stamp set, Audrey Blue ink and mowed lawn distress ink

After applying the stenciled background, I separately stamped and sponged the butterfly and leaf sprig, cut them out and added them to the card, and stamped some small butterflies, along with the sentiment.  

I said I really like stencils, didn't I?  Here's one more card using my newest Simon stencil which feature - big surprise - more butterflies!!

supplies: white card stock, dp from Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow pad, Simon's Butterflies stencil, distress oxide inks (picked raspberry, carved pumpkin, lemonade, cracked pistachio and peacock feathers) and Nuvo Moonstone glimmer paste, Simon's Painted Hello die and sentiment from Wplus9 Hand Lettered Hello

I applied my oxide inks through the stencil and while it was still in place, did the same with Moonstone glimmer paste.  Love the sparkly results.  Then I used the same inks to color my hello die, and framed everything with a rainbow stripe paper.

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!

And have you seen our newest release, Sending Sunshine?  Be sure to visit HERE to see the amazing goodies! If you click HERE you can see how I used a brand new cling stamp from this release.