Cyber Week Surprise - Joy to the World

Hi friends,

Cyber Week at Simon Says Stamp continues with a brand new stamp set.  Today I'm sharing a card with you from the set, Joy to the World.  The set includes a manger, Christ child, Mary and Joseph, a little donkey and lamb and of course the star and several sentiments.   I think it's an adorable set for creating cards for little ones who are beginning to understand the nativity story.   My first card focuses on the Christ child and uses one of the sentiments from the set, O' Come Let Us Adore Him.

One layer cards are so nice, especially at Christmas when you have so many to mail.  With that in mind I decided to do some masking.  I stamped the manger and Christ child images twice using my Tim Holtz Tonic Craft Stamp Platform.  Once on the card, and the second time on masking paper.  After covering the stamped images, I sponged the galaxy sky and sand dunes with Distress Inks.  I also spritzed water blotting afterward with a paper towel.  Distress ink reacts to water and lifts it - a technique which provides a soft look to the sky.  Next, I flicked some white gouache across the sky for a thousand stars.  Once everything was dry I stamped the star above the manger in Simon Says Stamp Clear Watercolor Ink and embossed with WOW Embossing Glitter Metallic Sliver Sparkle.

I removed the masking and colored the manger and Christ child with Copics and deepened the shadows with Polychromos Colored Pencils. 

The sentiment is embossed with Simon Says Stamp Antique Gold Ultra Fine Embossing Powder on Woodgrain vellum from Hero Arts.

I love the versatility of using other die cuts to give a different look.  I used Lawn Fawn Cuts Stitched Hillside Pop-up with this card.

Two cards, different looks.  I hope you've enjoyed my offering as we continue a week of surprises with the Simon Says Stamp Cyber Week celebration.   Simon Says Stamp will be promoting the new DieCember release on Friday, December 1st on Facebook.  So grab a hot beverage and join in the holiday fun!  I'll be back on Friday with another card using a brand new die from Simon Says Stamp. 

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 ~

Happy 4th of July

Sincerely, Susie ~

A Summer Place

Summer grass planted in ground sea glass and gravel gives way under crunching tires - then springs to life again.   Unrestrained shouts of summer laughter fill the air.  Car doors fly open as children scatter like sandpipers along the waters edge and gulls cry out a welcome.   The summer place sits as it always has, weathered and slightly salted; ready for a fresh coat of exhilarated joy!   Rustic window boxes filled to the brim with a kaleidoscope of wild and unruly color.  Aged lace curtains ripple gently in the breeze in need of a stitch or two.   And the sweet smell of summer's bounty fills the air as the door swings wide.  A summer place, safe and warm, rain or storm.    A place a family shares.    All their hopes.    All their dreams.    All their love.

Happy Fourth of July!
Sincerely,
Susie ~