Stencil Fun!

I have made a couple cards with two new stencil sets and two new sentiment dies from Simon Says Stamp's STAMPtember® release!...

I used the pretty and cool kklmSnowflake Stripes stencil set for my first card.  I used four different colors of blue for my stripes.  I also used Pixie spray on my stencils to get them to stick to my cardstock.  This is helpful, so that the stencil stays in place while you're brushing on the ink!  I love the way this card turned out, but I have to be honest with you...so that you can learn from my mistakes, and so that I can hopefully keep you from having to make the same ones I made, here are my first two attempts... 

Zoom in on the pictures, as you can see the mistakes better, closer up. Stencil sets were made with precision in mind...but this one, especially.  I was not so particular the first time, especially, and then even the second time, I was a bit off.  Bottom line, make sure that the strands of the snowflake are lined up precisely, before inking!  The third time was the charm and after inking, I cut it down, to fit on an A2 card.  I used a new Simon sentiment die, cut in white, and layered on a black border.  I used Nuvo drops for an accent, and done!  Here's a cloe up...

The second one, another of the pretty new stencils from the STAMPtember® release...

I looked up pictures of this leaf, and found alot of variegated leaves.  So...I chose to use two green inks and a white ink.  I then cut the leaf out, and popped up on a gray panel with embossed fronds on it.  I dotted the gray paper with some Nuvo green crystals, and added a silver die cut and layered sentiment.  This time, I used a vellum cut border for behind the sentiment.  Here's a close up...

I think stencils are soooooo much fun!!  Hope you are having a great start to your week!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Love and Joy at Christmas

My first Christmas card of the season!  I have made today's card with a new Simon Says Stamp sentiment stamp set and a new embossing folder/die set, both from their new STAMPtember® release!

I die cut the leaves/berries and then put the die cut into the embossing folder.  I ran it through on my Big Shot, and the leaves/berries then had beautiful definition!  I colored the leaves/berries with markers, and used glossy accent to dot the berries and give them some pretty shine!  I then put the die cut "inside" a popped up panel with a heart die cut window and two sentiments stamped in the space of the upper left hand curve of the die cut heart. Here's a closeup...

It will be October in a couple of days...less than three months until Christmas!  I am ready to get started getting ready!  Hope you have had a great weekend! 

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Simon Says Stamp October Card Kit

I have made a couple cards with the new Simon Says Stamp October Card Kit!...

I stamped the largest leave stamp in the set three times, and then used the stencil from the kit, to blend color(s) onto the leaves.  The card kit DOES NOT come with the coordinating dies, but can be make as a separate purchase.  I used the die for this leaf, and cut the leaves, then layered each of them with a second leaf.  I used all the sentiments from the stamp set, lined them up in my MISTI, and stamped them in a light gray.  I used the middle space to adhere a stamped and die cut "thank you"....stamping in black and layering makes the sentiment "stand out".  Here's a close up... 

The second card, I used two more of the stamps, along with two more of the dies...

I die cut, colored, and layered both of the images.  I used some old, but much loved, making it last, red enamel accents(not quite sure why Tim Holtz/Ranger stopped making this), and dotted the blooms.  I adhered the blooms over the leaves.  I used a sentiment from a Simon stamp set from the STAMPtember® release...just thought it fit on the card so perfectly and loved the sentiment!  Here's a close up...

You can subscribe to the monthlhy card kits at Simon Says Stamp...it's fun to get card making supplies, from stamps to paper, and all kinds of add ons, to make cards with from the minute you open the box!  I've added the link, below, for the monthly subscription!  Hope you're having a great weekend!  

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Sincere Thanks

I have made a thank you card with a beautiful new Simon Says Stamp sentiment die, from the STAMPtember® release, along with a new embossing folder, from the new Simon October card kit!...

I embossed the folder on a cream colored cardstock that came with the card kit.  I then took a Rainbow Splash Buttercream and then Simon Latte ink pads, and brushed them over the embossed images...giving the panel some color on the images.  I die cut the sentiment with silver matte cardstock, and layered with two white cardstock layers underneath.  I popped up the panel on the card.  Here's a close up...

Simple, but with two beautiful products and some ink...you can't go wrong!!  Hope you have a great weekend!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Elegant Blossom Branch

I have used two new Simon Says Stamp dies, one a beautiful flower die set, from their STAMPtember® release, to make a birthday card...

I die cut the flower and stem/leaves from white cardstock, and brushed on the colored inks.  I die cut the frames, and chose to spread the same ink from the flowers over the inside frame, and the outside panel of the card.  I used a sentiment stamp from a previous release, and adhered the flowers to the panel as the last step.  The white frame was the only frame layered.  Here's a close up...

In addition to this wonderful release, there are so many wonderful collaboratstive stamp/die sets being released daily over at the Simon website...I hope you're having fun with STAMPtember®...I know I am!!  Hope you have a fantastic week!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Just Because

I have made a card with the beautiful Simon Says Stamp Fancy Just Because die and Tiny Tufts embossing folder, from the new STAMPtember® release!...

This is a simply made card, but I think it's wonderful how a pretty die, embossing folder, and piece of patterned paper, can make for a pretty card!  I used a piece of vellum behind the die cut sentiment, to give it a bit of "separate" from the background.  I popped up the embossed panel on a piece of the patterned paper, and made an envelope for the card, as it wound up being a bit bigger than an A2...5 3/4"x4 1/2".  I could have made it standard size, but I just really liked the border of the patterned paper being a bit bigger.  Here's a pic with the envelope...

Here's a closeup...

Such great fun!!  Hope you're having fun with the first days of STAMPtember®!!  There will be something new every day, over at Simon, hope you will check it out!!  I'll have more tomorrow!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

STAMPtember® Party!

I am so thrilled and excited to be a part of today's Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember® Party, celebrating the wonderful STAMPtember® release!  STAMPtember® began 15 years ago, yes, this is YEAR 15 of STAMPtember®!!  STAMPtember® is a month long celebration of all things stamping!  There are amazing  new stamps, dies, stencils, embossing folders, and, well...all things stamping, in this release! There will also be daily releases from other amazing stamp companies, who have collaborated with Simon for this month long celebration!   I hope you will check out the Simon website and keep a lookout throughout the month of September, for new releases!!  

I have made a couple cards to share for this celebration, using a beautiful new flower die set, a background die, and background stamp...

I die cut the flowers from white cardstock and colored the petals and centers with markers.  I adhered them to a panel with the Just Because background stamped on it.  I thought the sentiment on the background was perfect, so I decided to tape off the words surrounding the "Just Because" and stamp that sentiment in black.  I took me retaping it a few times, to get the desired depth of black that I wanted, but I love how it turned out!  I then adhered the flowers to the panel and popped up the panel on the card,  Here's a close up...

I love the versatility of these flowers!  I chose to change the whole look of my flower for the second card...to a daisy!

For this card, I did use a little very light gray marker for the center of the white daisy, and used the stem from the die set, coloring it green.  I used the new Double Plaid Cover die for the background, die cut in two shades of gray cardstock, along with an older sentiment that I thought fit perfectly in the space between the flower and stem.  Here's a close up...

You can find a list party goers over at the Simon Blog...it's a big party, with lots of inspiration!  Don't forget about the offer in the banner... free Prism Pawsitively Dazzling Gems with any purchase!  PLEASE NOTE: the offer in my post is only one of many offers at today's party!  This part of the party is like a scavenger hunt, as you will have to visit other blogs to "find" other offers!  FUN!!   The offer is good until the end of the day on September 3rd, or until supplies last, so don't wait!  Simply follow the directions in the banner at the top of this post, to get your gems!

Thanks so much for being a part of today's party and stopping by my blog!!  Hugs!!  Lisa

STAMPtember® Release!

The Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember® release is OUT, today!! September 1st marks the first day of the annual month long celebration of all things stamping, over at Simon, and this is the 15th year!!

I have made a card to start of the celebration, with one of the beautiful new stamp/die sets...

I stamped, die cut, colored, layered, and adhered the pretty flowers to the gray panel that I embossed with a piece of burlap.  I added a couple of the sentiments from the set, and added some white dots for some finish. Because I had wanted to keep the total line of flowers on the card, the card is a bit longer than an A2, so I made an envelope for the card with my envelope maker.  Here's a close up...

There is going to be a HUGE party tomorrow, over at the Simon Blog, to get the month long celebration started, so be sure to check it out!  There will be lots of surprises, as well as some wonderful inspiration from some amazing artists!

Thanks for stopping by!! Hugs!! Lisa

Cosmos Duo

I have made a card using a beautiful Simon Says Stamp die, from their Cheering for You release...

I have used the Cosmos Duo die set, brushed on a couple purple inks on the flowers, and a couple greens on the stem.  I stamped the background stamp through a torn piece of paper, to give it a small oval stamp on the cardstock.  I stamped a sentiment  and adhered the flowers.  The drops are Nuvo in pale periwinkle, but not certain they are still available.  Here's a close up...

Tomorrow is the start of a new month, and the start of Simon Says Stamp's month long celebration of all things stamping...STAMPtember®...their 15TH YEAR of celebrating STAMPtember®!!  Hope you will join in the fun throughout the month, with exclusive new products, along with surprise stamp/die sets from lots of companies in the stamping community!  It is guaranteed to be ALOT of FUN!!  

Thank you so much for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Monstera Leaves

I have made a couple cards with the beautiful Simon Says Stamp Monstera stencil set, from their Cheering for You release...

I have two amazing, plant loving daughters, and when I saw this stencil set, I knew I had to try my hand at this beautiful leaf!  I used a bunch of different greens to make this leaf(listed below), then added a die cut and layered, stamped and embossed sentiment.  I also added a few glossy accent dots.  Here's a close up...

After showing it to my daughter, she challenged me to make a Monstera Albo...where half the leaf is white.  The one that I made on this card,  looked lighter and a bit different, as I used embossing paste to make the white side white...

The embossing paste DID make the greens look lighter(plus all that I accidentally wiped off while handling it while it was drying!), so I accordingly, used a lighter to darker shade of already blended cardstock, for the background.  I cut out the leaf, which I had originally put the paste onto gray cardstock, but got ink on, so I cut the leaf out and off the gray paper.  I am hoping that Simon comes out with a die for this beauty...I absolutely love this leaf!  Here's a close up of the second card,...

These may be two cards, but I'm pretty sure these will not be the last two that I make with these stencils...such great fun!!

Thank you for stopping by, today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Glittery Birthday!

Just a quick post, to show you a card that I made for my glitter-loving grandson, for his birthday!...

I used  Simon Says Stamp glitter cardstock adhered together on a piece of paper, then die cut with the Birthday Confetti die!  I embossed the panel with a fun embossing folder, and popped up the panel on the card.  Here's a close up...

Hope you are staying cool...super hot here, in Virginia!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Tuscan Olive Branch

I have made a card with the beautiful Simon Says Stamp Tuscan Olive Branch die set, from the Cheering for you release!...

I had finished, and photographed the card I had made, and when getting it ready to post last night, I decided I didn't like it...it needed something.  This was the original card...

I thought it was cool to emboss a frame on the card, and the vellum sentiment was layered with a gray die cut background, to match the card panel.  It just began to look, to me, kind of boring.  What I thought would look better, would be to put an ACTUAL white frame around the branch, AND put a white background behind the vellum die cut sentiment!  Ah....yes...happiness!  

Here's a close up...

It's just a note to you...you may like a card when you finish it, but then, later, change your mind.  What I so much love about cardmaking, though, is that you CAN change what you don't like about your card!  Two changes made me very happy...OLIVE IT!!  Hope you are having a great day!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Pointelle Rings

I have made a couple cards with the pretty Simon Says Stamp Pointelle Rings die set, from the Cheering for You release!...

I die cut the largest ring a couple times, and then, my thought was to use colored floss...20 different colors, and make different colored flowers all around the ring.  I then adhered a stamped circle to the back and then to a pink panel that I had used the die plate.  I die cut a circle out of the top white panel, and also used the tin die plate.  I popped the panel on the card.  Here's a close up...

The second card...simply three of the small rings, done as daisies...

I die cut, and removed all the dots from the rings.  I added layered the center pieces,  colored and popped up.  I used a black background for the "flowers", and popped up the panels on the top and bottom of the flowers, adding a sentiment from another Simon stamp set.  I added some enamel dots in between the flowers for some interest, and fill in so they didn't look lonely.   Here's a close up...

Okay...lots of fun!  Hope you are having a great weekend!  It's Simon Says Stamp's STAMPtember® one week from tomorrow, the FIFTEENTH STAMPtember®!!  I can't wait, and I hope you will check it out..a month long celebration over at Simon Says Stamp, for all things stamping!!  

Thank you, so much, for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa