Don't Make a Scene!

Okay, I lied. That's actually EXACTLY what we want you to do for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge this week! Make a Scene! The Design Team is using Newton's Nook products in our scene inspired cards today. You don't have to use them if you don't want to, but we would love to see them if you've got 'em!



Okay, so, when I saw this Dreams of London stamp set I simply HAD to have it. And then we got super busy getting ready to move and I hadn't had the chance to play with it yet. I finally broke it open and oh, my goodness, I love it even more!!!! I stamped (masking the cat) the images and then colored them with Spectrum Noir pens. I added some distress inking to create the background in my little die cut circle.



And now it's YOUR turn! Create something awesome that incorporates a scene in some way on your project and link it up over on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog for your chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate to the Simon Says Stamp store! THAT, my friends, is an awesome prize!

I can't wait to see what you create! Scenes can be so much fun to put together! 

Have a Happy!

A Simon Says Stamp Treat!

It's ANYTHING GOES week! Yes, that means this week you get to create anything your heart desires and link it up to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog! Just make sure it is something new! The design team is featuring Art Impressions products this week. You don't have to use them, but if you have some, we'd love to see what you do with them! They have some pretty fun stuff! Both hilarious and adorable! And if you love to color there are SO many awesome options for you!



Naturally, I chose a puppy stamp set. Naturally. I also decided to challenge myself to a one layer design. I used the Cat and Dog mini Front and Back set for this card. I love that you can add the puppy butt to the inside of the card!!!! I de cut the clouds (Memory Box Puffy Clouds), being sure to only partially cut the one with the puppy in it so his little head would stick up!

Now it's YOUR turn! Create a super fun something or another and link it up for ANYTHING GOES week! One lucky participant will win a $50 Gift Certificate to the Simon Says Stamp store! WOOT!!!! That's an awesome prize, folks. For reals, though.

Have a Happy!

Hello There!

So, here's the deal. Hello is my One  Little Word for the year. You may recall THIS Hello card that I posted just the other day. My word for the year inspired that card AND that giveaway (which ends today, by the way, so be sure to enter if you haven't already!). I used a super awesome Neat & Tangled stamp for that card. And THEN... the latest Little Tangles challenge came out yesterday with what theme? Oh. Yes. Hello.

Wellllllllll.... I simply HAD to create something for it. I mean, FOR REALS. It's my WORD, yo. But, since I had just used Neat and Tangled stamps for that other one I was a bit torn. I decided to use the same stamp again. Because I like it. Nope. Because I LOVE it.



I did. I used the Neat & Tangled Origami Map stamp and the coordinating die for the background of my card. I then used the super cute On the Corner stamp set. I used Distress inks to ink the background, splashed some water drops on there for texture, and used Distress Markers to color my image. I don't use those for coloring often, but they seemed to be what I was looking for this time around. I actually hand lettered the sentiment to get exactly what I wanted and I was surprised by how much I liked the results!

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So, there it is! Something a little different with a potentially unlikely stamp combination, but I like it! It's fun!

Have a Happy, folks!

Something NEW!

Happy New Year! Our first Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge of the year is SOMETHING NEW! Yup! You can use something new as your theme or use brand new product on your project. The Design Team is featuring WPlus9 products this week. I LOVE WPlus9 so much! They have so many fun stamp set and dies! For my card, I decided to use NEW YOU as my inspiration! Many of our friends have likely made resolutions to better themselves in some way and it is always fun to encourage one another with handmade cards!



I used two of my favorite WPlus9 sets for this one, Unforgettable and Encouraging Words . With a little masking, I was able to combine and image and a sentiment that wouldn't necessarily be made to go together. I thought the little elephant looked a bit like he was doing push-ups, so I added some leg warmers and a headband to the image to make him a little work-out elephant! CUTENESS!!!



I used some super cute wood grain patterned paper from the Dear Lizzy Documentary 6x6 paper pad. It sort of reminded me of a gym floor and went with my theme, so I ran with it! I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers.

Now it's YOUR turn! Create something awesome inspired by the SOMETHING NEW theme and link it up over on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog for your chance to win a $50 Gift Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store! WHAT?! Yup! Happy New Year to YOU! For reals, though. 

You can find the supplies I used linked throughout my post. Thanks for reading!

Have a Happy!

Playing Favorites!

Before we get started I wanted to remind you to check out my CanvasPop Review, Discount, and GIVEAWAY! You don't want to miss this one! AWESOME product!

This week, for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge we have a fun one for you! We are PLAYING FAVORITES! Showcase YOUR favorite product and/or your favorite technique on your project! The design team is using Ranger products this week, which, obviously, we LOVE! Because they are AWESOME. For reals, though. You don't have to use Ranger products to play along, but if you have some we love seeing what you do with them!



When considering my favorite technique, the obvious came to mind first - CAS design. I like to keep it clean and simple. I, naturally, decided to use that, but I also pulled in another favorite technique that I don't use all that often - ink blending! As I worked on this card, I was reminded why I don't use it that often - I kind of suck at it. HA! I actually love how this turned out in the end, but I have to be honest... LAYERS! There are LOTS of layers of distress ink on that background. I had to work it and work it and then work it some more to get the blend correct. Worth it? Totally. A fun crafting time? For reals, you guys!



That awesome die? Yup, that's totally from the new Simon Says Stamp The Color of Fun release. And I love it. With all my heart.

Are you ready to be AWESOME? Create something fabulous showcasing YOUR favorite technique and or product and link it up to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog for your chance to win a $50 Gift Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store. Yup. It's that easy. Just make sure it is something new, as backlinked projects won't count.

ALSO...don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY for a FREE photo canvas from CanvasPop!

Have a Happy!

Supplies:

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Cone Building Clear Stamp Set
Die: Simon Says Stamp Rockin' Roller Coaster Die
Ink: Ranger Distress Inks
Embossing Powder: Stampendous
Heat Gun: Milwaukee Hero Arts Heat Gun (It really is the best ever.) 

Shake, Shake, Shake...

***This is my SECOND post of the day! Be sure to check out my CAS-ual Fridays Stamps release post below with a GIVEAWAY!!!***


Hello, friends! It's ANYTHING GOES week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog! Yup! It's your favorite! The Design Team is showcasing Prima products this week. I chose some fun beads to work with and I kind of love them!



I combined the beads with the GORGEOUS April Card Kit from Simon Says Stamp. You guys, for REALS, this kit is amazeballs! I love it! Gorgeous papers, perfect cardstock colors, and that gold heart? Totally a sticker. LOVE. IT.



I made the shaker double width (two layers of foam tape) to be sure the beads could move around freely, but I also put LOTS of beads in there. It's a happy shaker!

Now it's YOUR turn! One lucky participant is going to win a $50 Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store! Simple create something NEW and link it up for your chance to win! You can enter up to five times! Woot! Woot!

Wishing You...

It's our BIRTHDAY! That's right, we are celebrating SIX fabulous years on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge and we want you to party with us! Our theme for this week is BIRTHDAY, of course! We are featuring Simon Says Stamp exclusives and we would LOVE to see how you rock them if you have some, but they are not required to participate. We are, however, giving away SIX, yes, you read that correctly, SIX $50 Gift Certificates to Simon Says Stamp this week! WHAT?! Yup!



I created a quick grey scale floral card with some recent stamps, inks, and dies from Simon Says Stamp. I trimmed a short panel, stamped the flowers, and then cut them in half and adhered the panel in two pieces with foam tape, placing the sentiment in the gap. I have seen this look around a bit lately, and I love it!



You can enter up to five NEW creations based on the Birthday theme for your chance at one of the six $50 Gift Certificates we are giving away! No excuses, friends! Just do it! Head on over to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog for lots of fabulous inspiration!

Supplies:

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Artful Flowers, Simon Says Stamp Sending and Wishing 
Die: Simon Says Stamp Wishing
Ink: Simon Says Stamp Fossil and Slate

Anything Goes!

It's Anything Goes week over on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog this week! I know, I know, everyone's FAVORITE! YAY!!! The design team is using Lawn Fawn products this week. You don't have to use them to join in, but we love to see you use them with us if you have some! 

When I saw THIS adorable card by Tracey McNeely I was super inspired. I absolutely loved it and used it as the jumping off point for the two cards I created for today! One is HEAVILY inspired (read: copied) and the other came after that one because I was just plain old having fun with my Lawn Fawn stamps! YAY! I do so love it when that happens!

For this one I stamped my trees and colored them on my panel and then stamped, colored, and die cut the little trailer. SO fun and a clean and simple design that makes me smile!

(Confession: My Glossy Accents weren't quite dry when I took this shot. There's no minute like the last minute, right? HA!)

And then this one. Oh, white, glorious white. I do love white space. Tracey's card was definitely the driving force on this one, but it had to be made! I simply cut the white panel, rounded the corners, and stamped the sentiment. I then stamped and colored the Rx bottle and die cut it, adding it with foam tape. A bit of Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents adds sparkle and shine to the heart! LOVE IT!



Now it's YOUR turn! Anything Goes, so you have NO excuses! Make something new and link it up for your chance to win a $50 Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store! Woot! Woot!

Supplies:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Happy Camper, Lawn Fawn Get Well Soon, Lawn Fawn Into the Woods

Inks: Ranger Caribbean Coast and Black Tie, My Favorite Things Hybrid Black Licorice

Markers: Spectrum Noir

White Cardstock: Crafter's Companion Ultra Smooth White

Corner Rounder: We R Memory Keepers (1/8")

Other: Glossy Accents, Wink of Stella Clear, Wink of Stella Red

A Bit of Texture

Hello, folks! We have another fabulous new challenge for you today on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog! This week we are ADDING A LITTLE TEXTURE to our projects! Yes, that's right, we want to see you add texture in some way to your creations this week. The design team is showcasing Simon Says Stamp Exclusives on our projects this week. If you have some, we'd LOVE to see how you use them for the challenge, but they aren't required to enter.



I pulled out some favorites for this one! I used the Grid Background stamp along with the Dots and Lines stencil to create my physically AND visually textured background. I then added a bit more texture by gold embossing the flower from Friendly Florals and layering that over some gold thread. The sentiment is die cut from Bazzill Gold cardstock and layered a few times to give it depth and dimension. I super duper love how this card turned out.



As I was beginning the design work on this card, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go with the white grid background or something darker. Soooo...instead of actually MAKING a decision (who wants to do that, anyway), I just went ahead and made BOTH! Here is another take on this design.



For this one, the background is left a bit more plain, but the dark color fills that space beautifully. I used the same techniques for the rest of the design and even used the same colors. I love how they are both so pretty, and yet, pretty different.



You can find the complete list of products I used for my two cards below, along with links (they are affiliate links) to find the items in the Simon Says Stamp Store.

OH! And Speaking of the Simon Says Stamp store, one lucky participant in this week's challenge will win a $50 Gift Voucher to Simon Says Stamp! TOTALLY worth entering, you guys. For reals, though. Just do it. Go make something fabulous!

Supplies:

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Friendly Flowers, Simon Says Stamp Grid Background (love these SO MUCH!)

Stencil: Simon Says Stamp Dots & Lines

Gold Cardstock: Bazzill Gold Metallic (DUDE... you need it.)

Thread: DMC Metallic Trio

Embossing Paste: Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste

Ink: Simon Says Stamp Fossil, Slate and Versamark

White cardstock: Crafter's Companion Ultra Smooth White

Gold Sequins: Studio Calico

Embossing Powder: Stampendous (Gold detail)

Tools: Milwaukee Heat Gun, Fiskars Stamp Press, Teflon Bone Folder

Die Cut Machine: Spellbinders Artisan Explorer

Have a Happy!