School Bus!

It's that "Back to School" time, and what a better time for a school bus!  I'm using the cute Simon Says Stamp School Bus die and sentiment strip, from their Happy Camper release to make a card for a very deserving bus driver!

I think bus drivers are very under appreciated.  Getting all the kiddos to and from school safely is a HUGE responsibility and very important job, and I think they deserve respect and thanks for that! I no longer have any school age children, as mine are all grown, but I DO have a school bus that stops to pick up children, right outside the front of my house, so this will be going to her!  I also collect trash in my city, and these drivers are soooo sweet, we wave to each other, and they even beep their horns when they pass by me...I just love them!!  So...this bus is super special to me.  I made the bus into a card, and followed the picture on the die package for the placement of all the pieces...I think it's wonderful!! I finished it with a cut out sentiment strip from the package of strips.   Here's a close up...

Hope you are having a great week...the end of the month is coming and STAMPtember® is almost here...can't wait...stay tuned...

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

ILYSM Hearts

I made a couple cards with the pretty ILYSM sentiment die set with coordinating stamps, from Simon Says Stamp's Happy Camper release!...`

ILYSM is an initialism for I Love You So Much...just in case you didn't know.  I didn't know, had never seen it, when I first saw the die and stamps, but figured it out. I chose to die cut the letters in kind of "love" colors.  I layered them and adhered them to a piece that I had die cut the letters in white, to have some official placement.  I originally had the embossed and die cut heart used for the second card, but didn't like the colored letters with the off white, so I changed this card to a white embossed heart.  I stamped the sentiment before embossing the hearts.  I made the heart into a card, and paired it with a pink Simon envelope.

Here's a close up...

Soooo....the second one, I used stripes of the same colors I had die cut the letters for the first card, and die cut the letters, heart,and made the card from off white cardstock  

And, this card is a square card. I also used the same sentiment stamp for this second card.  One thing I didn't know, until making links to this product used on theses cards, is that the heart die that I used for both cards, is sadly, no longer available.  There is another Simon heart die set, I just liked this very open feeling die for all those letters.   Here's a close up...

l hope your weekend has been a good one!!  STAMPtember® (Simon's 16th year of a month long celebration of all things stamping!) is right around the corner...hope you will join in the fun!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Rose Branch Redo...Kinda!

I'm posting my first post, but second attempt with this card, made with a beautiful Simon Says Stamp leaf die and sentiment, both from the Friend Like You release....

This was the first attempt...

Okay, maybe you're saying it's not that big a difference...and no, it's not.  But it IS enough of a difference to giving this beautiful die a bit more life, and the card a bit more interest with the color and depth of the leaves and the enamel dots, not to mention the background when photgraphing😉...needless to say, I changed it up a bit, in all regards!!  I die cut the top layer of leaves from a piece of green cardstock, then shaded with some brushed on ink...love how it gave the leaves some life and depth!  I adhered that layer and another plain green in between the two, and bent them to give them some interest.  The frame was layered and made with some textured cardstock for a bit of a breakup in paper textures.  The sentiment was the most challenging, as it was in a set of sentiment strip stamps on the same piece of acrylic.  I could have cut it apart, but thought of future uses, and  opted to keep it on the piece of acrylic with the others.  

Bottom line for me with this card:  The wonderful and sheer fun about cardmaking... You can make a card that you like, but don't love, put it aside for a bit, then give it a makeover that makes you love it, it a craft full of possibilities!!  AND...it doesn't take a lot to make a card with interest!!  Here's a close up...

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!!  Please take care!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Sunflower Birthday

    I have made a birthday card, using a Lawn Fawn sunflower die set, and Simon Says Stamp Happy Birthday die!...

Simply done, the sunflowers were die cut from yellow and brown cardstock.  The die is actually a row of sunflowers, which you "could" cut apart, but I kept them together, cutting one off of the row to fit the card.  I did put an extra layer on the row.  There are separate flowers that I used to top the rowed flowers, making the flower petals look full.  I die cut and layered the birthday sentiment, as well.  I popped up the panels on either side of the flowers.  Here's a close up...

Did you notice what I did with the "dot" for the "i"?  I cut down one of the centers ...kind of wanted to mimic a sunflower with the yellow flower and the brown center...the dot was in the center of the yellow wording...I had fun with this card!  Hope you're having a great week...almost another weekend, my the weeks are flying by!!  Please take care!!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Fantasy Bouquet Birthday

I have made a birthday card with a beautiful new Simon Says Stamp flower die from their Happy Camper release!...

I die cut the flowers and leaves from white carstock, and brushed on ink.  I layered both the leaves and flowers once, and adhered to a Bazzill panel and then card.  The sentiment is also Simon, and was die cut from silver matte cardstock and layered.  Here's a close up...

I hope you are having a great start to your week!  The weather has cooled significantly(at least for now) here in VA, so it is actually enjoyable to be outside...hoping the weather is treating you well, in your part of the world!!  Please take care!!  Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog, today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Beautiful Branch Birthday

I have used a couple of the wonderful new Simon Says Stamp dies, from their Happy Camper release, to make a thank you card...

I die cut the flowers, leaves, and sentiment, from white cardstock.  I brushed on color to the leaves and flowers' centers.  I adhered them to a panel that was cream colored and had some texture(a friend had given me a LOT of paper samples from invitations and such, which I sometimes use on my cards).  I popped it up on a card.  Here's a close up...

Simple fun...and love these new dies!!  I hope you have a great weekend!!  I also hope you find some time for creating...it's what keeps me going, thinking it might help you, too!!  Please take care!!

Thanks for stopping by, today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Happy Camper Blog Hop~Day 2!

I am so happy to be joining so many incredible artists, today, celebrating Simon Says Stamp's newest release, Happy Camper, by way of a blog hop over at the Simon Blog!  I have made three cards using one of the sweet new stamp/die sets from this release...

 

 My daughter is going to have my seven year old granddaughter  start gardening with her, so this card will be perfect, as she begins her future endeavors!  I stamped and die cut the dirt and the kitty, and colored and layered both.  I used a piece of patterned paper that I had found while searching my craftroom, that I have had for a very long time, but I liked for this card, for the background. The card is a bit smaller than a typical A2, to make the images fit a bit better(5 1/4 x 3 1/4), but still fits nicely in an A2 enverlope.  Here's a close up...

Then, I made two cards using one of the images from the set that I loved the minute I saw it...a single flower in a flower pot...

I discovered that the Trinity enamel dots, the largest one, fit PERFECTLY in the centers of these stamped/die cut flowers, so I got the idea to use a CZ Design sentiment, and used three of the flowers, but only give one of the flowers a sparkly center.  I thought it went perfectly with the "bright spot" in the sentiment!  Here's a close up...

the second card with the flowerpot...a late entry, as I redid it, last minute!...

Decided to end with some COLOR!!  I gave THIS flower in the pot a rainbow, colored the petals, then cut strips of cardstock as close to the colors of ink I used, and popped the panel up over the stripes and card.  Used an older Easter sentiment...thought it so fit!  Here's a close up...

Okay...I had SO much fun making my cards!!  As I always like to say...my fun was above, your fun is below!

Simon is generously giving a $25 coupon to every stop on the hop from our comment sections, so the more hop blogs you comment on, the more chances you will have to win!  Winners will be chosen and posted on the Simon Blog on Wednesday, August 6th, so make sure you check the Simon Blog on the 6th, to see if you are a winner!!  If you are a winner, you can email Simon to claim your prize!

The list of participants in today's hop are listed below...

Simon Says Stamp Blog 
Nina-Marie Trapani
Suzy Plantamura
Cathy Zielske
Laura Bassen
Debby Hughes
                                      Lisa Addesa<...You are Here😊
Emily Midgett
Heather Ruwe
Sandi MacIver
Tina Smith
Hanh Nguyen
Barb Engler
Anna-Karin Evaldsson
Karin Åkesdotter
Rosemary Dennis

Just to let you know...as you read in the title of this post, this is day 2 of 2 blog hops, celebrating this release!  SO...there was another blog hop yesterday...and that gives you not only more projects with wonderful inspiration, but also more chances to win one of the $25 coupons from Simon!  Hope you will hop along and join the fun and inspiration, today, and check out yesterday's hop at the Simon Blog! ALSO...don't forget the offer in the banner at the top of the post!  You will automatically receive the not yet released Sunflower Dance stamp set with any purchase of products from the Happy Camper release !   The offer is only good until the end of the day tomorrow, August 3rd, while supplies last.  Thank you so much for stopping by and "keep hopping"...hugs!  

  Lisa

Happy Camper Release!

There is a new release over at Simon Says Stamp...Happy Camper!  I have used one of the cool new dies,  and sentiment stamp/ die sets, to make  couple cards to start off this new release!...

I die cut this full card die three times and adhered them together.  I adhered them to a cool piece of patterned paper, then added a die cut and layered metallic gold sentiment, also from the new release!  Here's a close up...

The second card, I used some of the leftovers from the first card(I love recycling and I love when you can do this in card making!), along with a CZ Design sentiment/die from the new release.  I also used a stem for the flower, from a daisy die from the  Friend Like You release...

I used twelve of the die cut pointed ovals and a few of the circles from the first die cuts.  I colored the circle with yellow ink and a blender brush, then ran it under my big shot with a piece of burlap over it, giving it some texture.  I stamped and die cut the sentiment, layered it, and stamped another of the sentiments from the same set, on a piece of patterned paper.  I adhered the flower, and popped up the panel on the card.  Here's a close up...

There will be two blog hops at the Simon Blog, tomorrow and Saturday, to celebrate this new release...hope you will join in the fun and hop along with us!  

Thanks for stopping by, today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Beautiful Buttercup Birthday

I have used a beautiful Simon Says Stamp die and sentiment, to make a buttercup birthday card!

This is a buttercup die, and I don't know about you, but I used to put buttercups under my chin, as a child, if yellow showed on my chin, it meant I like butter.  Well...I could never see how yellow they showed on my chin, but I think the color must have been very DARK, because I LOVE butter!!  My grandma used to make me butter sandwiches!  Yes, and I have thus far, lived to tell about it!  So, these pretty yellow flowers were just calling me to make a card with them!  I used a yellow ink to color the flowers, and DID shade them a bit, although it doesn't show too much on the photos.   I layered the back part of the flower, adhered the stems onto the top flowers, and put a piece of foam in between the two pieces of flower, to give them some dimension.  I did have to put 3 glue dots around that foam, to adhere the edges of the top layer of flower to the bottom layer.  I am liking the textured bazzill paper that I have had FOR EV ER, so I used it to stamp the sentiment, which I die cut and layered, then adhered the flowers to a cut panel.  I added some enamel dots and voila!  Here's a close up...  

This card made me happy.  I had wanted a sentiment that expressed sunshine, but beautiful friend fit some beautiful buttercups...such happiness!  Hope you are having a great week!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Birthday Squares

I have made a birthday card, using a Simon Says Stamp sentiment die and some patterned paper...

While searching for some masculine birthday cards, needing one for a family friend, I found a picture of a card on Pinterest that I really liked!  It was made by the amazing Michelle Lupton and can be found HERE!  Her's was done with some actual alcohol inked paper, mine, simply patterned paper.  I layered each of the 1" squares with a piece of cardboard for height, and adhered to the card.  I adhered everything by eyeballing...then added a die cut and layered sentiment.  I DID layer the sentiment with more layers for the "ppy" and "day" parts of the sentiment, as they would have been a bit lower with the layered squares.  Layering those little pieces make it look level all the way across, and I think it gave it a nicer finished look.  Here's a close up...

There's inspiration everywhere...this time Pinterest and Michelle Lupton...thanks again, Michelle!

Hope you are having a great start to your weekend!  Please take care!

Thanks so much, for visiting my blog today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Birthday Leaf

I made a birthday card with a wonderful Simon Says Stamp stencil/die set and birthday sentiment strip, from an older release, the Rain or Shine release!...

I used a slightly off white piece of cardstock, and three shades of green ink for my leaf.  I die cut the leaf first, then slightly adhered it to a piece of paper, for stability.  I brushed on the color, then had to decide what kind of card to put it on.  I opted for a mini slimline, as the birthday gift was going to be solely money, and this size card is PERFECT for money!  I brushed the three inks onto the panel, then popped it up on the card, then the leaf onto the panel.  I cut out the sentiment from a page of printed sentiments.  Here's a  close up....

I loved the texture of the cardstock for this leaf...just adds the little jeuge!  Hope you are having a great week!!  Please take care!  Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Happy Birthday Daisies

I used a pretty new daisy die from Simon Says Stamp's newest release Friend Like You, to make a birthday card...

I die cut the daisies from white cardstock and colored the flowers' centers and stems with blending brushes and ink.  I adhered them to a background panel that I had in my stash, which was white, and I brushed some blue ink on it to give it some color.  I added a stamped and die cut sentiment, as well as some enamel dots.  Here's a close up...

It's so nice seeing some daisies, even though the ones in my own garden are struggling with all the heat and little rain, these days.  Hoping for some relief here in VA, soon!  Hope things are better in your part of the world!  Please take care!

Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Artic Flowers Christmas

It's July, and you know what that means...Christmas in July!  I have made simple Christmas card using a beautiful Simon Says Stamp flower die from their Friend Like You release!

I used two shades of red to color the die cut flowers and used a piece of foam in between the two pieces to give the flower some dimension.  I adhered the flowers to the panel that I had stamped the sentiment.  I popped the panel on the card...here's a close up...

The funny thing about the making of this card...when I received this die, I took it out of the package without reading the name of it on the envelope, like I do for all the dies I receive.  It wasn't until I finished the card and had to write the name of the die on a  post it note, to have it for posting later, like I do with all my cards, that I learned the name of the die was...Artic Poppies!  Very fitting for a Christmas card, right?!  

So much fun!!  I hope you are having a great start to your week...July is flying by!!  

Thanks for stopping by, today!! Hugs!! Lisa

Delicate Wildflowers

I have used a beautiful new floral die from Simon Says Stamp's newest release, Friend Like You, to make a thank you card...

I die cut the flowers and stems from white cardstock, then brushed on color and layered each piece.  I adhered them to a woodgrain panel that I had die cut a woodgrain frame from and layered.  I added a few  glittered enamel dots. I die cut a sentiment, brushed on ink in the two purple colors, and layerd them. 

Here's a close up...

I hope you are having a great weekend! I have had family visiting for the last week...life is good!!  Please take care!  Thanks for visiting me today!! Hugs!! Lisa