Hi Lovelies!
Simon Says Stamp is having another Blog Hop for the Make Merry Release probably because this release is stuffed with too much crafty goodness to fit into just one Hop!
In addition to the festive Stickles Festive Glitter Glue promotion above, Simon is giving away a $25 coupon to every stop on the hop from the blog comment section. To ensure you are eligible to win, please leave me a comment below and let me know what you think of my cards.
I have three projects for you today, so let's jump right in to the festivities.
Card Set 1 - Slimline Rainbow Stenciling
Make Merry is primarily a holiday release, but I love that some of the supplies can be used throughout the year, like this stencil!
This pair of rainbow gradient cards feature the Simon Says Stamp Stencil Mega Deco which measure 6" x 9" and so it is perfectly sized to easily cover a slimline card (3.5" x 8.5") front.
For this set of cards I really wanted to make something quick and easy, so I consulted my personal favorite Distress Ink "warm" and "cool" color palettes to get this show on the road.
Best Day Ever Card - Featured Supplies
WARM Distress Ink Colors - Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed and Squeezed Lemonade (linked in Supplies below)
You Matter Card - Featured Supplies
COOL - Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Blueprint Sketch, Wilted Violet and Shaded Lilac (linked in Supplies below)
Simple stenciling takes the white cardstock from zero to hero (LOL) in minutes and the delicate, detailed diecuts finish the cards in a simple, striking manner.
I used my Ranger Mini Ink Blending Tools to gently apply the Distress Ink through the stencil. A light touch works best.
Seeing what this stencil can do, I hope you'll give it a whirl!
Card 2 - Believe
Can you "BELIEVE" that I have not done foiling on a card before? LOL.
When I got the Simon Says Stamp Believe Acetate Sheets, I was thrilled to have an excuse to try something new! At $5.99 USD, they will fit my budget perfectly and come in packs of 4.
Believe Card - Featured Supplies
I need to make another confession, I bought a Heidi Swapp Minc Foil Applicator a long time ago and have barely used it... I am terribly ashamed of myself, because I "discovered" that it works like a dream and I have missed out on making so many shiny things! Another great and attractively-priced foiling machine option is the Royal Sovereign Laminator.
I recently did a video on making Distress Ink Watercolor Backgrounds and I grabbed Tattered Rose one from my stash to make this shaker card. I often do very vibrantly colored cards but this soft pink background that reminds me of pink marble seemed to pair well with the elegant script of the "Believe" sentiment.
With the background selected, it was easy to choose some sequins from my stash. I found similar ones (noted above and in the Supplies) for you to consider from Simon Says Stamp.
I used two nesting rectangle dies to cut the frame, adhered the acetate to the it and then lined the underside edges of the frame/acetate with thin strips of foam tape.
A few sprigs of the Eucalyptus die-cuts tucked into the white cardstock frame on the card front and some gold sequins finish this simple, elegant card.
Card 3 - Thanks
I have no real talent for watercoloring, but I don't let that get in the way of me experimenting. Along the way, I may actually get better at it. LOL
When I saw the Simon Says Clear Stamps Autumn Leaves set, I was determined for better or worse to watercolor it. I'll let you decide if it worked out. :-)
Believe Card - Featured Supplies
I arranged the leaf stamps in a random pattern, stamped and heat embossed onto A2 Distress Watercolor Cardstock.
I misted the Mijello Watercolor Palette with water and started playing about with the colors. I painted each piece of foliage first with water and then dropped in the color and let it blend on its own.
I cannot overstate the importance of making yourself a color palette for your watercolors. A color may look different in the palette than it does on paper. Also, the transparency or opaqueness of colors may also impact which ones you select to "color" with.
I wasn't entirely sure that I liked how this looked once I colored all the leaves, but I stuck with it, let it dry and then used a very watered down Indigo to color the background.
For me, the beauty of watercolor is its unpredictability and when it was all dry we became BFFs. Since I'd gotten the hang of foiling, I heat-foiled a sentiment strip and then diecut my "Thanks" sentiment from purple and gold cardstock.
With my die-cuts layered and my sentiment popped up on foam tape, I adhered the watercolor panel to a dark grey card base and was all done!
Thank you for stopping by, I hope that something here inspired you. Be sure to leave a comment so that you can be eligible for the Giveaway and don't forget to use the special code below when shopping, see details below. Supply links are at the bottom of this post for your convenience.
Giveaway:
Simon Says Stamp is giving away a $25 coupon to every stop on the hop from your blog comment section!!!
Simon Says Stamp will choose winners over the weekend and post on theSimon Says Stamp blog on Wednesday, the 14th of October. Winners can email us to claim his/her prize!
Blog Hop Order:
Please go and check out what other Simon Says Stamp Design Family members are up to:
Photo Gallery:
The cards will be posted to the Make Merry Gallery, where you can also see other cards created the Design Family for this amazing release!
SUPPLIES:
I listed the products that I have used below. Please note that these are compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. I really appreciate your support. All products were personally purchased, except for the stencil, acetate and stamp set, which were received from Simon Says Stamp. I was not paid to do this post and love the products that I share. Click on the dog below each product picture to shop with Simon Says Stamp.