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Saturday, April 04, 2020

Simon Says Stamp United We Craft PARTY!!



Welcome to the super-special and extra epic United We Craft Blog Party. Today we are celebrating our love of crafting with friends even though we can't be close. We have over 100 participants in this party. You can see the full list HERE.
What a wonderful community and thank you for joining me!! 

I am typically a very mellow person, and even in these times of turmoil, I still remain calm. I'm hoping to send these chill vibes on to you. The card I've created reflects this mood with soft tones of blues, creams, and grays. Does it remind you of a spa? 



I've used a stamp set that I designed called Be Kind. As some of you may know, I'm from California where beautiful Eucaliptus trees are prevalent. These leafy branches are designed from my memories of those majestic trees that I miss so much. I pulled out my pencils to color the leaves so I could softly blend shades together. 




I placed the branch on a die-cut tag that was stenciled using the Simon Says Stamp Tap Dance stencil and Cloudy Sky ink. To finish it up, I added the Bold Thanks die and backed the tag with a panel of Fog cardstock

Be sure to check out the Simon Says Stamp galleries for additional inspiration. Also, we invite you to use the hashtag #SSSUnitedWeCraft on Instagram to share your crafty quarantine sessions with family and to feel connected with this amazing community of makers. 

I truly hope you all are well and keeping safe. 

Supplies

Saturday, October 12, 2019

OOhhhh Gnomie!!

I've had a lot of questions about this card and what papers I've used. You know me, I love my grays!! The pattern papers are from Photoplay Kringle and Co.

This card is basically all die cutting and layering. I die cut the pattern papers to create the hat and body, then cut the beard and nose from white.


I pieced everything back together and layered him onto my card with snowflakes, reindeer and messages. 


I've added another paper pad from Honey Bee to the supplies below that I think would be cute to use.

Thanks for stopping by!!


Supplies

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Cheer and Joy release is here!!


Have you made your holiday cards yet? If not, you might want to take a peek at our latest release CHEER and JOY for some inspiration!

I've got a few cards to show that I really like how they turned out.

This first one is the Pinecone background. I stamped it with Simon Says Stamp Sparrow ink and colored it with Copic markers (Browns-E35, E43, E44, E47), (Greens-YG63, YG95, and G99).

The details of the stamp help with the shading. I started with E43 to color the cones, then went in with E44 to color under the lip of the seeds and a bit of shading on the tops. I used E47 to color the bases of the seeds then added a bit of E35 on the tops to add a hint of caramel color.

For the pine sprigs, I used the greens and started at the stem and pulled the color out. Using a mix of green markers really helps with a realistic look. 


Ok.. this one is just YUMMY! I colored watercolor paper with Distress inks (Seedless Preserves, Carved Pumpkin, Fossilized Amber, Peacock Feathers, and Peeled Paint). I did the "spread the ink on the craft mat, spritz with water and smush the paper in it" technique. I added some splats of diluted ink as well. Once the paper was dry, I die-cut the leaves.

The Background was stenciled using the left over die-cut paper and the same ink colors. 


I hope I've inspired you to add some color to your world for the holidays! Enjoy!


Monday, September 02, 2019

STAMPtember® 2019 PARTY!!!


Welcome everyone to the Simon Says Stamp Blog Party!!! Whahooooo!! What a special day it is today... this is a party, and a code hunt, and fun, fun, fun!!! EPIC in fact!!!

Before I give you a special code... I have a couple cards to share using some of the new products from this release. I had fun using some of the 6x6 Cling backgrounds.

Kicking it off is the Winter Floral Mixed Background... I LOVE this stamp!!


Watercoloring is always a favorite of mine, especially when I have a large area to cover. This next card is made with the Flora Background that I embossed with Antique Gold. I used different hues of blues and greens. Yummy!!


Finally I have a card created from one of Suzy Plantamura Watercolor Cards. Her designs are amazing and these fall cards are drop dead gorgeous!!!



Ready for my code?? It's for an exclusive 10 year anniversary STAMPtember® apron... what??? 
How fun is this???



Throughout STAMPtember® Simon Says Stamp will be celebrating every day posting exclusive collaborations, contests, prizes, special promotions, announcements, and more surprises! Visit Simon’s blog to see what is planned every day.

I hope you have a blast and thanks for coming by!!!

STAMPtember® Release




Wednesday, June 05, 2019

Simon Says Stamp Rest and Refresh Reveal!!!


Welcome everyone! We're gearing up for summer with relaxation, love, and lazy days with our latest release called Rest and Refresh! I've created a few cards to give you some inspiration using these new products. 

This first card is an example of how you can pull many items together to make a meaningful card. I've used the Filigree Wreath die along with the Ornate Alphabet stamps and an additional greeting from our Sentiment Strips


This next card used the Waves Background Cling stamp with a watercolored Anchor Tag die on top. The greeting comes from the Your Light stamp set


And finally, one of my favorite to play around with, Suzy Plantamura's Watercolor cards. I started out with watercolors and added details using some Comic markers. 


Be sure to check out my Instagram in the coming days for additional inspiration using our Rest and Refresh Release!!! Enjoy!





Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Celebrate You!! New Simon Says Stamp Release!


Welcome everyone!!! Thanks for stopping by. Simon Says Stamp has a new release NOW... Celebrate You! There are a bunch of fun stamp sets and dies that I think you're going to like.

I've made a couple cards to share now, I'll be sharing more on my Instagram as the week progresses.

This first card is from the Patriotic Service stamp and die set. I've always wanted a stamp set that can be used for all branches of military as well as police and firefighters to honor their service. So... I made a set!


Have you tried Suzy Plantamura's watercolor cards? The set for this release is all about Dad's. The guitar card caught my eye right away because my dad sang and played guitar. The designs also feel very retro, like the 70's... so I went with some colors that I felt would do the era some justice. 


I've used the Rounded Rectangle dies for this last card. They are nested dies to the corner match up when you layer them. I watercolored the stripe background and then placed the Cathy Zielske HBD (Happy Birthday) on top. The black background paper really makes the front panel pop!



DID YOU KNOW? As part of my job with Simon Says Stamp I design stamps, dies, and stencils, then make cards. Once I have the cards completed, I photograph the release layout. The final step is to create the graphics. The graphic above is all my stamping, some of my own designs, photography and graphics. It's such a pleasure to go from design concept to finished product, to graphics and finally to see what designers and artists like you do with my initial vision. 

I hope you've enjoyed a snippet of this release. Thanks for stopping by!!!

You can shop the entire Celebrate You release HERE.
or browse through the itms below. 

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Celebrate Women Blog Hop


Welcome to the Simon Says Stamp Celebrate Women Blog hop!!! If you're coming from the blog of my friend Cathy Zielske then you're in the right place!!!

I've create a card using Cathy's Good Job Mama stamp set and a bunch of washi tape designed by  some of my other incredible women artist friends. I angled the tape on a black tag and white embossed the main greeting above.

I cut a heart from the bottom portion and popped it up a little wonky from the die cut area. I added a small message in the open area and also another at the bottom where I've white embossed onto a strip of black cardstock.


This next card uses the Incredible Women stamp set where I've white embossed one of the greetings onto a piece of vellum. I cut strips of colored papers to place under each word, mounted everything to a pattern paper background.

To finish it up, I added cut strips of pattern paper to the top and bottom of the vellum piece and tied the card with blue twine.


These are the featured stamp sets used for these cards!!



GIVEAWAY!!

Did you catch the GIVEAWAY???  Use code WMN999 for a free 4 pack of the Mother's Sentiment strips (while supplies last!) with any purchase. This code will expire Sunday, 4/28 at 11:59 pm EDT. 

Keep on Hoppin!!!
Your next stop is to the amazing Laura Bassen!!


Thanks for stopping by!!!

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Blossoms and Butterflies Release from Simon Says Stamp!


Welcome everyone!!! We've just released the Blossom and Butterflies collection of stamps, dies, stencils, and more from Simon Says Stamp!! 

I've created a couple cards to spark some inspiration. This first card uses the stamp set Wake Up and Make Up designed by Kristina Werner. This set is so fun!!!I stamped and colored the images, cut them out and mounted them to a strip of color blocked paper. Quick and Easy!!!


Do you like to color on the go??? I love this new set of Watercolor cards from Suzy Platamura. There are 12 cards in the pack, many of them large flowers. This cactus card tickled my soul... I watercolored first, then went around the images with a light grey Topic marker. 


You can check out the entire release HERE, or check out the individual links below. Thanks for stopping by!!

Wednesday, March 06, 2019

Fresh Bloom Release from Simon Says Stamp!!!

Ok... I think I might get the worst blogger award... and I deserve it!! I've been hiding under blankets and taking a vacation to avoid the frigid cold of Illinois. It stinks!!!

But I'm here to day to introduce you to the FABULOUS release from Simon Says Stamp called Fresh Bloom!!!

You can see the entire release HERE!


I've created a couple cards from this release that i think you'll enjoy. This first card uses the 6x8" Blossoming stamp set which feature a large Cherry Blossom image. I've offset it to the left, colored it with watercolors and then die cut a portion of it with a rectangle die. 


This next card is super fun. I've used the Cathy Zielske "Build a Buttercup" die along with the Buttercup stamp set for the greeting. I've colored each petal of the flowers with a blending tool and Distress Inks. 


I hope you're enjoyed these samples. I promise to be back to show you more. I'm active on my Instagram if you'd like to see more daily updates. 

Thanks for hanging in there with me!!!

And here it is.....Fresh Bloom!!

Friday, November 16, 2018

Comfort and Joy Coming at You!!


Welcome everyone to the Simon Says Stamp celebrating the Limited Edition Comfort and Joy Card kit!! If you're coming from Nichol Spohr's Blog, then you're in the right place. 

This kit is pack full of amazing goodies to make cards and tags for Christmas. You can check out the details HERE. For the hop today, I've created two cards featuring stamps and ephemera.

First up is a card that is just layered elements from the kit. I've cut up some of the papers to add to the mix to create my arrangement all set upon a Kraft tag. 



For this next card, I gold embossed the Poinsettia background on a panel of Desert Storm cardstock and added layers of the Tim Holtz ephemera to create my layout. To finish it off, I added Gold Stickles to the tree. 



I just LOVE layering and creating arrangements on my cards!!!

Below is a list of all the blogs to visit today. 


Your next stop on the hop is to JESSICA FROST-BALLAS

Enjoy!!!


Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Ornate Ornaments Christmas Card

Hello everyone! Happy November!!!!! I can't believe how quickly this year is going by! Can you?

I've been asked a lot about this card as to how I made it. I'm so sorry I didn't shoot a video, I was in a card making frenzy and forgot. Sooooooo I'll give you some brief step by step instructions.

  1. I started off stamping the ornaments onto Tim Holtz Distress watercolor cardstock with Simon Says Stamp Clear ink and used Simon Says Stamp Silver embossing powder, then heat embossed. The ornament at the bottom is stamped onto Tonic Imperial Blue cardstock. 
  2. Then I used my Mijello Mission watercolors to paint in the areas, using blues, greens and purples.
  3. I die cut the ornaments out with the coordinating dies.  and strung white crochet thread through the holes of the ornaments.
  4. Next I cut a panel of Silver Tonic cardstock to 4x5.25 and mounted the ornaments to it with foam tape. I wrapped the string to the back or the cardstock and secured them down with tape.
  5. The Silver panel got mounted onto a Simon Says Stamp Top Folding notecard with some foam tape to lift it up a bit. 
  6. To finish the card off, I added some confetti using Simon Says Tacky Craft Glue. 
I've listed all the supplies below for your reference, I hope you enjoy and have a great day!!!

SUPPLIES: