Vintage Valentine | Bits & Bops

Hi friends!

As promised this will be my last Valentine's Day card for 2019.   Ooh that was difficult to say!  But if I'm going to get these cards out in time, I have to bring this theme to a close (she smiles).

I think we are all feeling the deep freeze to some degree (no pun intended) and it's no exception here in Charleston.  So on Sunday afternoon I decided to get cozy and craft!   I love, love, love 50's vintage Valentine's Day cards, do you?   And when I find vintage looking designer paper that I can cut apart - I do!   I also keep little file boxes of left over die cuts, ephemera, and little bits and bops!  It's so much fun to open these boxes of treasures and search around for something that strikes my fancy - do you do that?

Piling up affection for you, Valentine!

The boxes hold die cut frames, ovals, circles, rectangles, stripes, you name it...   I had enough goodies in the Valentine box I was able to create a card without a lot of fuss - something that sounded good on Sunday afternoon.   My focal point is a little girl building a sand castle on the beach - very vintage 50's looking.  I found a frame cut from designer paper with the words Love written across it - check!  I did cut the base frame from the Penny Black Stamps, Lovely Border #51-484 die in red card stock.  I also used Shades #51-055 to die cut a tag that I placed behind the frame.  All were placed on the Lovely Border frame.   I few sparkly hearts cut using, Rose for You, from Simon Says Stamp and I was done!   Did you notice the pretty "Love" postage stamp?  It's a nice finish if you have stamps to coordinate with your cards.  It's all in the presentation!

Are you piling up affection for anyone this Valentine's Day?

Try this easy peasy way of creating your next card!

Thank you as always for your sweet visits.

Sincerely,

Susie ~

Valentine's Day |LOVE U | Die Cutting

Hi friends!

I'm sharing another card today using those sweet blooms, Desert Bouquet, Mini Modern Blooms, K-01 Beautiful Blooms (I'm sorry I think these sets may have been discontinued), from MFTstamps.   Any small flower sets you may have will work.  I also used one of my favorite heart dies, Sketched Hearts, from Simon Says Stamp.  This is such a great die because it really is a three for one die.  Two hearts attached, plus a small heart all in one!  I cut the die twice, once from Raspberry Fizz card stock, and once from mirrored gold card stock to compliment the die cut letters, LOVE U from Papertrey Ink Block Alphabet Upper Die collection

My background panel dry embossed from Papertrey Ink Damask Designs Impression Plate provides texture, while the circle, cut from a basic nested circle die provides dimension and a place for your flower spray to sit.  The sweet sketched heart die sits perfectly at the bottom of the circle.

I have several more Valentine's Day cards for you next week.  I think that will be the last of them for this year.  Time to get them in the mail.  I hope you've enjoyed our time together.  And I'll see you back next time.   A special thank you to Michelle Leone from Papertrey Ink and all the inspiration she provided with her adorable card, Fiesta, Like There's No Manana!

Spellbinders I Poppies Pocket Card Etched Die + D-Lites Poppy & Lavender

Hello friends!

Happy mail never looked so good!  This past week I received a package from Spellbinders that contained beautiful Etched Dies, Poppies Pocket Card Etched Die S5-322  and Die D-Lites Poppy & Lavender Spray S3-322  These dies are both intricate in their designs, and perfect for springtime card crafting.   Beautiful steel dies really lend themselves to technique driven card crafting.  So let's get started and take a look!

Creating multiple cards to give as gift sets or keep in your card stash is always a value added in my book; when I can achieve that end I'm delighted!   The Spellbinders Poppy Pocket Die allowed me to do just that.   I die-cut two in white card stock and embossed them.  Using a beginner technique, I sponged on color to the raised area of the poppy in Hibiscus Burst and Harvest Gold Dye Inks.   The background patterned paper is from the Penny Black 6x6 paper pad, Beau Jardins, in pink and yellow.  Stamping a sentiment isn't always necessary when creating cards like this.   I used some chipboard ephemera with a short sentiment and strengthened it with Spellbinders Classic Circle die, and trimmed around the circle with a gold leaf pen.  Finally, some flat pearls, little gem stones, and repeated the gold leaf edging on both sides of the card.  Add a matching envelope and you've created a nice stationary set.

The next technique uses a Gel Printing Plate from GelliArts, a brayer, and paints.  Poppies come in all sorts of colors, but most people are more familiar with the red variety.   I spread some red paint on my Gel plate and pushed it around with my brayer until I was satisfied with the coverage.   Lay your card stock on top of the paint and burnish with your hand to lift the paint to the paper.   Then gently lift your paper and you've just created a background print that is different every time!  I let my print dry and then cut it with my Poppies Pocket die.  My background panel is a small floral print that is wet embossed using watermark ink and clear embossing powder on Spring Moss card stock from Papertrey Ink.   A sentiment is stamped in Lipstick Red from Simon Says Stamp on white card stock and cut using Spellbinders Labels Twenty-eight die.  As I did with the first two cards, I sponged on some ink for additional interest.   I also stamped on the matching envelope with an older poppy stamp from my collection and colored with Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils.

My last two cards use the beautiful Die D-Lites Poppy & Lavender Spray Etched Die S3-291   This die is a wonderful addition to your floral die collection and is a combination of both lavender and poppies.  I chose to design the first card using a faux letterpress technique.  One of the best video tutorials I have seen on the technique is from Jennifer McGuire Ink here.   I decided to use Lipstick Red Dye Ink to cover the entire image before I laid it down on watercolor paper and ran it through my die-cutting machine.   You end up with a beautiful faux letter pressed image of the Lavender & Poppy die cut.   I stamped and embossed the background panel using the same older poppy stamp with Watermark Ink and Ultra-fine Antiqued Gold from Simon Says Stamp.   The sentiment is from the Simon Says Stamp set, Choose Joy and embossed with the same Antiqued Gold Ultra-fine powder.  Both the smaller panel and sentiment are raised using dimensional sticky tape.  A few gold sequins finish this classic design.

My last card uses the same beautiful Die D-Lites Lavender and Poppy die     I embossed the spray and now the intricate detail shows through.   I used the same layout as above, but matted the die-cut image on Soft Stone card stock backed by burnished gold and black mat.  The same sentiment is used, but stamped and embossed on black card stock.   I also used Nuvo Crystal Drops in Ebony Black instead of sequins.  The impact of the black and gold is elegant and classic.

Two dies plus techniques that range from beginner to more advanced.  The result?  Five cards any card maker would be happy to give to another.  I'd like to thank Spellbinders Creative Arts for the opportunity to create with their product.   I hope you enjoyed these cards too dear friends.   Now go create something that makes your heart sing!

Sincerely,

Susie ~

Simon Says Stamp | Grit Paste and Glitter

Hi Friends!
I'm back sharing another card with you using products from Simon Says Stamp.  You can find this card on both the Simon Says Stamp Blog Monday Challenge, and the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge.

It's countdown to Thanksgiving and it always seems to go to fast - yes?   I love November and all that it brings.  Is it my imagination or are people trying hard to be more patient with one another.  I hope so.   The goal each week at our house is being kind and thankful.   We can always use a second helping of each, how about you?

My card is simple but provides a punch by using the beautiful Birch Tree Window die from Simon Says Stamp, and one of the lovely papers from the November Simon Says Stamp Card Kit, Kind Flowers.    The frame around the Birch Tree is the lovely Die-namics Stitched Oval Scalloped die.

The Birch Tree Window was cut on white card stock and sponged with Distress Oxide Inks with a little bit of Copic on a few leaves. I also sponged a light halo around the trees to give the appearance of looking through a forest window and seeing the first rays of sun on the frosty branches.  I spread a little bit of Distress Grit Paste and sprinkled it with Distress Stickles Dry Glitter for that frosty look with just a wee bit of green still showing on a few leaves.

The frame around the Birch Tree Window is Die-namics Stitched Oval Scalloped from MFTs.  The sentiment, Thanks, is cut out of gold mirrored paper to match the mirror behind the trees.  I've cut the word die three (3) times from white card stock and once from gold and stacked them.  This technique grounds and provides dimension across the focal point of the card.

I love the beautiful patterned paper from the November Simon Says Stamp Card Kit, Kind Flowers.  The whisper soft print background and the raised gold autumnal elements all add to the lovely Birch Tree Window.

I'm thankful for the season, our family, friends, and the blessings so graciously bestowed upon us by our Heavenly Father.

Sincerely,

Susie ~

Simon Says Stamp Flicker Challenge

Hey everyone!
I'm Guest Designing today for the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge #83.  As we prepare for November our thoughts naturally turn to gratitude, so it is fitting that our Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge theme is Thankful. 

Expressing gratitude, through words and deeds, is something the paper crafting community takes to heart isn't it?  Handmade kindness from heart and hand, one to another.  Our cards brighten days, express love and sympathy, cheer success and triumphs, AND say Thank you.   The Thank you card has a two-fold blessing.  It allows the maker to express their gratitude in both word and deed, and the receiver is blessed by the sincerity of the effort.

I have two cards, both say Thank you, each have a different look, and use different techniques.  The first card uses a faux letterpress technique using die cuts as shown by Jennifer McGuire.  Jennifer provides examples of how easy it is to create those beautiful letterpress designs by stretching our dies.  Now that's what I call value added!  One of my favorite winter stamp and die sets is an older one that is now retired called, Winter Warmth, from Simon Says Stamp.  I chose the knit hat and scarf to use as my letterpress elements.

My sentiment is from Simon's Big Scripty Greetings.  The smaller sentiment is from Hero Arts, Prayers set.   There are a number of small add-on sentiments to choose from.   I might even add a little beverage card inside for extra yummy warmth (she smiles).  Below is a close up of the beautiful dimension you can achieve with this type of faux letterpress.

This is definitely a technique I'll try again - this Christmas!

My next card uses the 2 for 1 Edge Stamping Trick, another great technique example from Jennifer McGuire.  I chose the Simon Says Stamp, Roses For You set and stamped off two identical cards.  But that's where I departed.  I colored my roses with Copics and then cut them apart.  I mounted the corner pieces with 3M mounting tape to provide dimension.  My Thank you sentiment is from the same Big Scripty Greeting (as shown in the first card) and embossed with Rangers gold embossing powder.  Accents of Nuvo Crystal Drops are used in Ripened Pumpkin and English Mustard.

What are you thankful for?   Let us know and show us your card by playing along in the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge.  Guidelines for playing in the challenge are on the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Group site.  Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Susie ~

Simon Says Stamp | Embossing + Watercolor

Hello!  I was so inspired by all the beautiful cards and techniques from the Simon Says Stamp new release, Making Spirits Bright, that I just had to make another card today. 

I used several different stamp sets from previous releases to create a thank-you card for our grandson's teacher.  I have coupled the sets, One With Nature, Thank You Teacher (from the Encouraging Words release) and Lots of Dots to create a fall look to my card.  Perfect for this time of year, and with a fitting sentiment for the teacher.

This is one layer stamping with a lot of punch - embossing + watercoloring.  I stamped the leaves, sentiment and dots onto some Bristol Smooth card stock with a watermark ink, and embossed with Ranger gold embossing powder.  Some of the dots are open while some are solid.

Next, I used some colors from my Daniel Smith Fine Arts Watercolor palette for the leaves and background.   I used a wet on wet technique first, then let it dry, and came back in with wet on dry (glazing).  Once everything was dry I trimmed the piece down a little and mounted it on gold mirror card stock with 3M adhesive tape to provide dimension.  The card base is a top folding A2 in Dark Navy.

Now comes the fun part -- splatter time!  Now I know it's trendy, but honestly, for me, it's like patting your head and rubbing your belly.  I feel like Elaine from Seinfeld on the dance floor - how's that for a word picture (she laughs!)  All I can say is that I did my best (laughing).

Now here comes the serious part... I love that sentiment.  And it got me thinking.  Why wait for Thanksgiving to be that somebody.  Lets remind ourselves to season our speech and actions with the fruit of the spirit everyday.

Let's be that somebody!

Sincerely,

Susie ~

Simon Says Stamp | Center Cut Kaleidoscope Background | Holiday Release

Hi there!

Today Simon Says Stamp reveals their Making Spirits Bright release.  This chock-a-block fun and cheery release is filled with holiday stamp sets, dies, and stencils - something for everyone!

If you're like me, Christmas card designs are popping up like visions of sugar plums in your head.  And lets not forget my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving!

I have a card to share with you today that uses one of the new release 6x6 background stamps, Center Cut Kaleidoscope.   This unique background stamp has a removable center stamp.  Which means you can stamp with it in place, or remove it and use it singularly - so many options. 

When I looked at this stamp I saw so many things; just like looking through a real kaleidoscope.  And with just a turn I saw leaves in fall colors.

I stamped using a watermark ink and embossed with a platinum powder from Ranger.  Using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush from Kuretake I did some watercolor between the embossed lines.  Once dry, I applied some Tonic Crystal Glaze Nuvo which adds clear dimensional detail.   Then I did some "deconstructing" by way of fussy cutting (she smiles).

I stamped the center stamp using the same technique as described above and placed it on the leaves with adhesive dimensional squares.

Using a large stripped background stamp, I tapped on several colors of Ranger Distress Oxide Inks and spritzed with water before stamping off on a piece of 4 x 5 1/4 card stock.  I love the look - perfect for fall!

The sentiment is dear to me this month because yesterday was our 49th wedding anniversary.  I love the set from Simon Says Stamp Clear Stamps, Love.   What do you say after 49 years together?  I say, I love our life together!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Please be sure to stop by Simon Says Stamp to see the whole October Making Spirits Bright release.  I know you'll find something special to meet your holiday crafting needs. 

Sincerely,

Susie ~

Easter Prayers

Hello Friends!

I'm still playing with the wonderful sewing dies from Simon Says Stamp, and looking through my die collection for inspiration.  I just love embellishing these sweet felties.   This adorable Memory Box Plush Easter Egg is a pocket die!  Can you imagine all the little surprises you can tuck inside for that special someone?!

MFTstamps has some wonderful springtime 6x6 designer plaid paper packs that makes pairing your newest springtime stamp sets a breeze.   I had a card base with a panel and scalloped frame already finished, and used the color palette for my little felted egg.

The fun of designing with these dies is embellishing them.  I used some of my rolled Die-namics flower and roses dies.  I love the Flower and Leaves category - so many great choices!   And don't forget the bling!  Sew some seed pearls, or if you like, use some half pearls, tiny rhinestones, sequins. It's all in the eye of the beholder (she smiles).   Because I wanted to give some encouragement to the recipient,  I used a word die, Prayers, from Hero Arts created exclusively for Simon Says Stamp.

 A close up of the upper right and lower left show the details of those sweet felted flowers and rose buds.

I hope you'll find time this spring to create a keepsake for someone.  Whether you choose to tuck in a gift card, a coffee/tea card, or a little encouragement, the added element of felt to your card is sure to bring a smile.   My prayers are with you this Easter and always.

Sincerely,

Susie ~