Cozy Hugs Release!

There is a new release at Simon Says Stamp, today...Cozy Hugs!!  I can't think of a better time, with cooler weather upon most of us, for cozy hugs!  I havee made a couple cards with a beautiful new embossing folder/die set and one of the new sentiment dies, most aptly, Big Hugs...

I had such fun making both these cards...simple coloring, but such a beautiful effect with the embossing!  I embossed the cardstock, and colored with a light blue marker for the background, three yellows for the leaves and a light brown for the stems.  I was watching tv and coloring...such a wonderfully relaxing time!  I cut the panel down on the top and bottom, popped up on card, and added the die cut and layered Big Hugs sentiment, simply in white.  This card makes me happy!!  Here's a close up...

The second one, I used the die that comes with the embossing folder to make a very clean and simple card...

I love this folder, but think, if it's possible, I love the die even more!  The detail and dimension of the leaves that embossing gives them....I think it's striking!  I die cut, then colored before removing from the die cut paper, if possible, color, THEN embossed.  I really am in love!!  I used a much loved CZ Design sentiment die and a small Simon set for the sentiments.  I doubled my tape and popped it up a little more than usual.  Here's a close up...

I hope you will check out this new release, I have a link below...it's amazing! There will be two days of blog hops over at the Simon Blog tomorrow and Saturday...hope you will join in and find some wonderful inspiration!  Big and Cozy Hugs to you!!  Thank you for coming by!

 Lisa 

Pepperberry Bundles

Happy World Card Making Day!!  I couldn't resist celebrating this day, as I LOVE to make cards, so I pulled out the beautiful Simon Says Stamp Pepperberry Bundles Embossing Folder/die set, from the STAMPtember® release, and made a couple cards...

I have to say, from the moment I took this embossing folder/die out of it's packaging and started playing, I have been in love!!  The berry stems this set makes, die cut, colored and embossed, are so beautiful...solo like this first one, with simply a sentiment, or like the second, where I used the embossing folder and a die cut sentiment!  Either way...I think these berry stems are just lovely, and can be used for Christmas, or everyday!  I die cut the stems from white cardstock, colored with markers, then ran them through my Big Shot, in the embossing folder...LOVE!!  I used a new Simon Christmas sentiment in versamark and gold embossing, and popped up the panel on the card.  Here's a close up...

The second one, like the first, I die cut, colored and embossed the berry stems...

Then, after embossing, I adhered the stems to a panel with the embossing folder embossed on it! I find that coloring BEFORE you emboss gives the images a sharper and more defined look!   I used a sentiment from the new Simon Black Eyed Susans stamp/die set(another loved set!), stamped with versamark and black embossed.  I had tried silver and gold embossed sentiments, but found black to "go" best!  Here's a close up...

Hope all is well in your part of the world...I had clean up in my yard after Ian went through here in South East Virginia...some downed branches from my trees, that needed sawing and bagging...but nothing compared to Florida...thoughts and prayers!  Have a great rest of your weekend...hope you get to have some creative card time, to celebrate this day!

Thanks for coming by my blog today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Floral Blossom Birthday

Simon Says Stamp's STAMPtember®  officially ends after today...and can I just say...I have had a blast!!  I will still have a couple cards to share with you from this release into October, but wanted to post one more card on this last day of September, and the last official day of STAMPtember®...a simple birthday card made with the beautiful Intricate Floral Blossom and Leaves Hot Foil plate/die set...

I hot foiled the blossom, and die cut.  I colored the petals with colored markers, and layered. I adhered to card, and popped up a die cut and layered stamped sentiment, embossed with gold glitter embossing powder.  I told you it was simple...but it made me sooooooo happy just like that...no more!!  Here's a close up...

I hope you have enjoyed the STAMPtember® release and collaboratives....such wonderful fun! 

Thanks for stopping by today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Rainbow Merci

I couldn't resist a rainbow card using the new CZ Design Merci die from Simon Says Stamp's STAMPtember® release...

I had just gotten a new Sunny Studio 6x6 paper pack, and the 6 die cuts plus a sentiment strip fit perfectly on a standard A2 card, so a rainbow Merci card it was!  I die cut and layered each of the sentiments and adhered onto card, using a sentiment strip to bring them all together.  Super simple...the layering took the most time(2 layered of white cardstock under each colored die cut).  Here's a close up...

Hope for those of you in Ian's path, that you are safe, and will be safe.  I am in the southeast part of Virginia, rain and wind are expected, but nothing compared to today's damage from the hurricane.  Please stay safe...no matter the hurricane or wherever you may be!  

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Christmas Berry Wreath

Home Alone and Elf are on tv today...seems like a perfect day for a Christmas card!!  I have used the pretty new Simon Says Stamp Berry Wreath die set along with a sentiment stamp from the new Christmas Blessing stamp set, both from the STAMPtember® release, to do just that!...

I die cut the leaves from two colors of green paint chips, the wreath from dark brown cardstock and the berries from red cardstock.  I adhered the leaves and berries to the wreath, and dotted each of the red berries with Tonic drops.  I stamped the sentiment with versamark and gold embossed.  I popped the panel up over some red and gold cardstock...here's a close up...

Three months away, today...where has this year gone??!!  May your Christmads be Happy, when it gets here!

Thanks for stopping by!! Hugs!! Lisa

Fresh Cut Daisy Birthday

I have made a card with the Concord & 9th Fresh Cut Florals Edition 2 die set!...

I have had this set for A WHILE...I loved it from the moment I saw it...and have finally carved out some time to have some fun, and make a card with this pretty die!!  This was a simple die to work with, but I added a touch to the die cut flower, by using my embossing stylus to indent each of the petals of the flowers with a scored line, and bending the leaves just a bit for some added dimension!  I just think it adds some fun to the petals!  I adhered the flower/stem/leaves and sentiment to a stenciled background, and adhered to card.  Here'a a pic of the card flat(my embossing tool is very old, but I have linked below, to the newer versions of the stylus)...

And here's a close up...

I'm not sure how it is by you, but it's a high of 75º with 30% humidity...an all-windows-open day, it's absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!  Hope you're having a beautiful weekend!!

Always happy when you stop by!! Hugs!! Lisa

Buckeye Leaves

The new Simon Says Stamp Buckeye Leaf die is sooooo pretty!!  It is part of the Simon  STAMPtember® release, and I have opted to watercolor a couple die cut leaves to make a Fall kinda card...

I die cut the leaves from watercolor cardstock, and left them in the cardstock after die cutting to color, to keep them stable while painting.  The colors are faint, but I loved them that way!  one used yellow and an orange, the other a yellow and a green.  I used an older CZ Design die for the sentiment and stamped and handcut a sentiment from a Simon sentiment stamp set!  I adhered them to a panel that I had used a Simon embossing folder for some interest!  I bent the leaves at the centers to give them some dimension.   Popped it all up on the card...here's a closee up...

I am always so thankful for the kindness of others!!

Thankful for you, today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Black-Eyed Susans

I have made two cards with the beautiful Simon Says Stamp Black-Eyed Susans stamp/die set, from their STAMPtember® release!

This set is SO pretty!  I had used the sentiments and their dies on other cards from this release, but was excited to use the flower stamps/dies that the set was named for!  Those of you who know me, though, know that coloring is not my forte.  I had just purchased some Ohuhu markers, though...not the vast colors/shades like Copics, but "supposed" to be a set of markers "closer" to Copics.  The price(around$50 for 100 markers), well, I just couldn't resist!  I had fun!  I stamped with Memento Ink, die cut, then colored both the smaller and the larger flower images.  I layered them and for the first one, paired it with a scrap piece of stamped cardstock(stamped with an older Simon background stamp...Friendship Text)...love when that happens!  I added a die cut and layered sentiment from the new release, and adhered and popped up on card.  Here's a close up...

The second one, I used the larger set of flowers...

This time, much like the first, I stamped, die cut, colored and layered the flowers.  I adhered them to a panel with the new Bold Leaves background stamp from Simon's new release(LOVE this stamp!).  I stamped one of the sentiments from the set, die cut, layered and popped up over the flowers.  Here's a close up...

SO much FUN!!  I hope you are enjoying STAMPtember®....there's a new collaborative release every day...so cool when so many companies come together for a month long event like STAMPtember®!!

Thank you for taking time to read my post, today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Mini Blooms

I have used the pretty and sweet Spellbinders Mini Blooms Etched die set, to make a couple daisy/black-eyed susan cards...

I die cut the daisies, doubled the bottom set of petals, and adhered to a panel, along with marker colored leaves, with a Simon Says Stamp sentiment!  I stamped the sentiment with black ink, and after stamping, stamped again with versamark and used clear embossing powder, to give the sentiment shine!  I popped up the panel on the card.  Here's a close up...

The second card, I turned the daisies into black-eyed susans, plus a couple daisies...

I made them the same way as the first, this time adhering to a striped piece of cardstock.  I added a stamped Simon Says Stamp sentiment, and popped up on a card, like the first.  Here's a close up...

There are so many pretty flower, sprig, and berry dies in this little set...oh if I only had more time, I could make cards for a while with all these sweet mini dies!  Such FUN!!

Thanks for stopping by today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Single Morning Blossoms

I've made two different but similar cards with the beautiful new Simon Says Stamp Morning Blossom die set from the STAMPtember® release!...

This first one was actually the second one I made...it just made me a tiny bit happier, so I'm posting it first!    I die cut and colored the flower and stem with markers, then popped up the top petals from the bottom.  I thought I would try a background, and the beautiful new Bold Leaves background stamp was PERFECT!  I stamped it with Simon Fog ink, and used a sentiment from the wonderful new Black Eyed Susans stamp/die set ( I am absolutely in love with the sentiments and their dies from this set!)!  Simple, but I love it this way!!  Here's a close up...

 

The second one, much like the first...

I made the flower like the first card!  I used Simon Earl ink and a blender brush to make a "background" for the flower.  I used a sentiment that I cut apart, and stamped, from the Simon Magnolia Apple Blossom stamp set.  I added some Tonic Morning Dew drops.  Here's a close up...

A simple flower, a background, and a sentiment...simplicity in cards is my favorite!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Pencil Love for Teachers

I have used the fun new Simon Says Stamp You're Sharp stamp/die set, from Simon's new STAMPtember® release, to make a couple cards for our wonderful teachers!...

When I first saw this set, I saw a sunflower!  Not sure if that's what you get when you see my card, but that was my intent!  I stamped, die cut, and colored the pencils with markers.  I then stamped a sentiment from the new XL Teacher Greetings stamp set with versamark and white embossed!  I layered and popped up the pencils, added the brown center with sentiment, and used an old piece of patterned paper to cover the card.  Here's a close up...

The second one, I used the other pencil filled stamp from the set...

I made it much like the first one, except the sentiment I used from the same sentiment set, I used one of the coordinating dies!  I used an old MFT Stamps background stamp to stamp some fine lines on my red cardstock to mimic the lines in the pencils, and popped up the panel on the red striped paper.  Here's a close up...

What an incredibly fun set!!  I didn't even get to the pencil stamps/dies in this set....so much to create with!  STAMPtember® is filled with so much fun!!Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Intricate Hot Foil Daisies

I have used the beautiful new Simon Says Stamp Intricate Daisies Hot Foil plate/die set from Simon's new STAMPtember® release, to make two cards with the largest daisy...

I hot foiled the first one with black foil.  I die cut it, and then colored it with 14 different markers.  I dotted the center with a black marker.  I layered the flower and adhered it to a panel that I had stamped a sentiment from the new Extra Talkative stamp/die set!  I LOVE sentiments...the right sentiment on a card MAKES the card...and I LOVE these sentiments!!  I stamped with versamark and black embossed.  Here's a close up...

The second one, I used the same flower, but used gold hot foil...

After I hot foiled the daisy, I colored with two pink markers.  I then used a versamark pen, used the brush end and "colored" the center of the flower with versamark.  I then glitter gold embossed the center.  I also glitter gold embossed the sentiment, from another of the beautiful new stamp sets, Black Eyed Susans.  I layered the flower, adhered to the panel, and popped up the panel on the card.  

Here's a close up..,

Having SO much fun with this amazing new release...hope you're having a great week!!  

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa