Birthday, the Sail Way

 A quick post today...a simply done birthday card for a guy who LOVES sailing!!...

I don't know about you, but I struggle with "guy" birthday cards.  I try to think of the guy I'm making the birthday card for.  I decided a birthday card celebrating his love for sailing would be perfect.  Then...what to do with the sailboat.  I had gotten the Birch Press Big Birthday die a while back and inspiration struck.  I originally thought of making waves, but opted to use the birthday die as the water. I used 4 shades of blue textured cardstock and adhered, then die cut from the adhered strips.  I die cut the sailboat and adhered it to die cut foam, then adhered both the sentiment and boat to a piece of embossed cardstock.  I tried all different ways to put "wishes" on the card...wound up stamping with versamark and white embossing...the white sentiment kind of balanced the boat.  Here's a close up...

Such fun...as alway!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Triangles are Fun!

I made a couple cards using the new Simon Says Stamp Triangle Element die from Simon's latest release, Fresh Bloom...

 The first one is a die cut, layered and rainbow color filled.  I used the new Woot sentiment die by CZ Design and a sentiment below it from the new Sentiment strips...such fun!!  Here's a close up...

 The second one is a little different...

 I die cut and layered the die cut, but I had an idea given one of the new CZ Design sentiments from the You Got This stamp/die set!  I cut off one of the lines in the triangle die, and hung a die cut layered heart from the then enlarged triangle.  This fit the sentiment perfectly, and I just thought the curve and shape of the heart so FIT the triangle proportionately.  I  liked the curves of the heart vs straight lines of triangle.  I adhered the triangles, heart, and sentiment onto a watercolored piece of watercolor paper.  I added some Tonic Jewel drops.  Here's a close up... 

Very cool...very fun!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Spring Tulips

I made a couple cards with the beautiful new Simon Says Stamp Sketch Tulip Bouquet stamp/die set...

I love those artists who can color with such beautiful shading...I hope someday I can get there.  Until then, working with stamps that are beautiful no matter a solid color or shade are what I love to work with.  I DID use vellum for both card's stamped tulips.  I colored from below the vellum, but for the red, I colored ON TOP of the vellum, as well.  I loved he intensity of the red with a little extra red on top(and stamped and embossed in black was not affected so much by coloring on the embossed surface).  My Mom and Dad always had red tulips in their front garden bed...so red tulips hold a special place in my heart!  I layered the flowers, stamped a stitched rectangular panel with the new Pretty Peonies stamp stamped on it, and stamped and hand cut the sentiment.  Here's a close up...

The second card, I stamped on vellum with versamark and gold embossed...  

I, again, layered the flowers, and adhered them to a panel where I had stamped a partial background with the You Matter Background stamp.  I used another of the pretty sentiments from the Tulip Bouquet stamp set, hand cut and popped up over the flowers.  Here's a close up...

It's so cool...I can say nothing fancy(my coloring), but they LOOK fancy...simply done with a simply beautiful stamp!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Triangle Blast in Black

A quick post today, showing you a card I made with the new Simon Says Stamp Triangle Blast Stencil from the latest release, Fresh Bloom, and some black distress ink...

 I took some real liberties with this cool stencil, the triangles in the stencil are scattered,

but I filled all the triangles in by sponging with ink by moving the stencil around the card stock panel until the triangles filled the panel.  What was kind of cool, it that by the time I got done, it made some of the triangles dark, some of the newer inked ones, a bit lighter...shades of gray.  I paired the stenciled panel with a CZ Design/Simon sentiment die and one of the new Simon Sentiment Strips(these are VERY cool!).  Here's a close up...

I have to say....stepping out of the "triangles" is such fun!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Buttercup Flowers

 I have been having SO MUCH FUN with the new Simon Says Stamp CZ Design Buttercup collection of stamps and dies from the new Fresh Bloom release!!... 

I die cut and layered the stand alone flowers, using the leaf dies from the stamp/die set to make leaves for the die cut flowers.  What I love about these fun flowers is that all the petals are connected in the center of each flower...the pieces all stay together!!

I adhered the layered flowers together, added enamel dots in the centers of the flowers, a layered thanks die, also from CZ Design, then adhered them all to a card with the Deco Diamonds background stamp, stamped in Simon Says Stamp's Fog ink.  I also added some tonic jewel drops.  Here's a close up...

The second card, I used the same small sized flowers, and a sentiment from the stamp set to make a birthday card...

I layered each of the flowers and added an enamel dot in each center.  I love my tonic drops, but the enamel dots were so much easier with these flowers as they have movement.  Simply done, but a rainbow full of pretty flowers with a cute fonted sentiment...nothing more needed:)!!  

Here's a close up...

I could NOT resist the sentiment in the Buttercup stamp set, and made a "magic" card...

I had fun making a card like the one above, back in December, found HERE, so as soon as I saw the sentiment, I KNEW I had to make another!  This card and it's "magic" are made by using a piece of cardstock to separate a piece of stamped acetate in front of the cardstock, and the exact same image stamped in the exact position behind the cardstock.  All this is put into a frame, with layered 3D pop up dots separating the layers of paper, so they can slide.  Here's a little video showing me lifting the acetate and the colored image on cardstock from the frame...

                                             

I used all the flower and leaf images from the stamp set and stamped them all over the card panel.  Below a pic of the flower lifted up...

I had SO MUCH FUN with these pretty, unique, fun flowers!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Big Thanks

I made a couple thank you cards with a sentiment die from Birch Press and sentiment stamps from My Favorite Things and CZ Design...I LOVE sentiment dies:)...

I die cut and layered the "THANKS" with white and colored card stock.  I adhered the sentiment over a heart die cut panel.  I added a sentiment from My Favorite Things and used a Lawn Fawn sentiment  banner die.  I added some Tonic Crystal drops to finish.  Here's a close up...

The second one, simply done, the "THANKS" in gold and black...

 I die cut the sentiment from black card stock, then gold, and layered both.  I added a gold embossed stamped sentiment from CZ Design with Simon Says Stamp.  I adhered them both onto a piece of embossed cardstock I got at Michael's.  I used the same gold cardstock as the sentiment and adhered a strip on the top and bottom of the card.  The card is a 1/2" narrower than a standard card...the embossed cardstock was a scrap piece of paper, and it was a bit too narrow to make it standard.  Here's a close up...

I LOVE the sentiment dies from Birch Press...This one is strong enough in size and design to stand alone...loved having a little time to play with it and make a couple cards, but the possibilities are endless!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

An Egg-cellent Easter

I have used the new Simon Says Stamp Wavy Egg die from the new Fresh Bloom release to make a simple, pastel colored Easter card...

I loved the waves on this egg die!!  I expecially loved that there were six waves, as the simplest whole rainbows have six colors, so six colors, six waves...PERFECT!!  I die cut and layered the waves with white and patterned paper, some pastel polka dotted paper from My Favorite Things.  I DID emboss the egg onto the card panel, so I would perfectly place the waves in the right spots.  I adhered the colored waves onto the paper, having stamped a sentiment from the new Bunny Wishes stamp set and a adhering a layered, die cut "Easter" from the new Bunny Kisses sentiment die, die cut from the same patterned paper.  I added some Tonic jewel drops for some bling and to give the simple card a little added dimension and interest.  Here's a close up...

I LOVE simplicity...and this card has it...happiness!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Outline Floral Cross

 I used the beautiful new Simon Says Stamp Outline Floral Cross die from their latest release, Fresh Bloom,  to make a card for Easter...

I die cut and layered the outline, then filled it with three colors of die cut green paint chips, and three colors of die cut purple paint chips.  I used a piece of die cut wood veneer paper for the cross.  I adhered the layered cross and flowers to a piece of cardstock with a stamped sentiment.  I stamped the pretty new Pretty Peonies Background stamp on purple cardstock.  Here's a close up... 

This Outline Floral Cross speaks Easter to me...I LOVE this die!! 

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Simon Says Stamp Fresh Bloom Blog Hop!

I am so thrilled and  super excited to have been asked to be a part of today's Simon Says Stamp Blog Hop, celebrating Simon's latest release, Fresh Bloom!  If you're following the Hop, you should have reached here from the uber creative Suzy Plantamura's blog!

I don't know about you, but I am READY for Spring!!  I think that's why this release is SO wonderful and so much fun...it IS SPRING!!  I have used the three Filigree dies from the release, I'm calling them the Filigree collection!  These dies are beautiful, and are SO much fun to create with!!  I have combined these beautiful dies with my love of rainbows, and made three cards to usher in Spring, to share with you today!...

For the first one, I die cut the Filigree Egg die on  both ends of a card panel with one colored egg in the center!  I die cut the panel, then layered with one more die cut underneth the die cut panel.  I used strips of cardstock, adhered to a thin piece of cardstock, and die cut the egg from the strips. I hand cut the egg around the stitched outline of the egg, and  layered the egg once with a die cut/hand cut  black egg,  and then add added a black background.  I adhered it to the card that had a CZ Design sentiment stamped in the bottom corner(I thought this sentiement was perfect:):)!).  Just in case you're wondering...Resplendent means: attractive and impressive through being richly colorful, having a very bright or beautiful appearance, has great beauty, and is a pleasure to behold, lovely.   Here's a close up...

 For the second card, I used the Filigree Bunny die, with patterned paper to make my rainbow...

 I die cut the bunny and the stitched rectangle at the same time (that way, there is no flattened die cut look for either of the top die cuts), then layered a couple times with die cuts underneath.  A little tip, I LOVE to emboss the bottom layer, I just think it gives a subtle added touch of dimension.  This is what it looked like, before I adhered it underneath the die cut and layered panel...

One other tip...I just had to take a pic showing the difference between my hand stamped sentiment, and the same sentiment  stamped with my MISTI.  I AM a bit of a perfectionist, but I think, especially with a clean and simple card, it's all in the details. I had to stamp it over when, due to my heavy handedness,  it was darker on one side than the other.  The MISTI stamps evenly and makes a noticeable difference in the look of the sentiment...

I used the same patterned paper for the sentiment and layered the sentiment, as well.  Here's a close up... 

The third one, I used the Filigree Heart die...

I die cut and made this card similiarly to the first card. except I used colored card stock for my card panel, and watercolors for the rainbow heart.   I painted watercolor paints onto a piece of watercolor paper, then embossed and hand cut the piece of watercolor paper, I adhered it to a layered die cut and hand cut heart, then adhered to card.  The sentiment is from the new Tiny Words Faith set!  Sentiments are SO important to me...I thought Love and Hope...a heart and a rainbow...PERFECT!! Here's a close up...

 My fun is finished, but yours is just beginning!  

Simon Says Stamp will be generously giving a $25 coupon to one commenter from each and every blog on the hop, simply leave a comment for a chance to win!!  The winners will be chosen and be posted on the Simon Says Stamp Blog on Wednesday, March 13th, so make sure you check the blog on the 13th, to see if you're a winner!

The next stop on the hop is the amazing Amy Rysavy! 
   The list of participants of the hop are below.  If you get lost, you can head to the  Simon Says Stamp Blog...hope you will check out all the amazing artists' inspiration today!! 

Simon Says Stamp Blog 

Jennifer McGuire

Kristina Werner

Cathy Zielske

Nina-Marie Trapani

Nichol Spohr

Jessica Frost-Ballas

Suzy Plantamura

                                        Lisa Addesa<-----YOU ARE HERE

Amy Rysavy

Lea Lawson

And a reminder from the Blog Header...With ANY purchase from Simon, you will receive the "Lucky to know you" sentiment die(while supplies last!)...use the code FRBLM89 when you place your order, but don't forget, the offer ends 3/10!  How cool is that ??!!
ONE LAST THING...don't forget...DAY 2 of the Blog Hop is tomorrow...check back with Simon's Blog tomorrow, for MORE inspiration!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Filigree Bunnies

Simon Says Stamp has come out with a wonderful new release today, Fresh Bloom!  This release is amazing!!  There are some beautiful filigree dies in this release, I'm calling them the Filigree collection!  The Filigree Collection has a bunny, heart and egg.  I am using the bunny today(there's a blog hop tomorrow...hint, hint...), and had lots of fun with this guy!!...

This first one, I used watercolor paper, and brushed six watercolors on it.  I embossed it(I love the shaped images below the layered die cuts.  I think it gives some wonderful subtle definition).  I die cut the bunny and a rectangle die for the top panel, and two more die cut bunnies for layering below the top panel.  I added a sentiment from the cute new Bunny Wishes stamp set.  Here's a close up...

The second one, I was kind of thinking of a chocolate bunny...

I die cut the bunny from dark brown cardstock and hand cut him with scissors.  I used pastel colored cardstock and die cut the bunny in the three colors, and filled in the bunny with the pieces.  I added a stamped background, and covered it with vellum.  I believe less is more, and although I really like white backgrounds, I thouhgt this guy looked lost without a background.  When I stamped the background, I thought it looked  bit too loud(yeah, I know...it's me), so I covered the front of the card with a piece of vellum.  The vellum diffused the color and intensity of the background design just a bit...which made me happy:)!!  I added a die cut and layered brand new Spring Blessings die cut sentiment.  Here's a close up...

The third one was actually the first one I originally made, and just love his simplicity...

I die cut this guy from kraft paper.  I LOVED the look of him with all his pieces in, so I hand cut him out, and left all his pieces intact!  I layered him, amd added a piece of twine around his neck.  I added the Simon Quilted Hearts background stamp, stamped with Simon Rosie Cheeks.  I used the "Easter' from the Bunny Kisses sentiment die, along with the "happy" from the Bunny Wishes stamp set.  Here's a close up...

Ok...get ready, this is going to be a FUN month showing off this new release...Spring, Easter, beauty, fun, pretty, and for me...LOTS of rainbow colors...hey, rainbows speak to ALL of the above:)!!  

Don't forget, there are blog hops over at the Simon Blog tomorrow and Saturday showcasing this new release...hope you will check them out!! The blog hops are not only great to see what new products Simon is releasing, but to become inspired!!   I will be a part of tomorrow's hop...I hope to see you then!!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

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