I quite often spend a lot of time making complex cards with lots of watercolouring and layers. I enjoy the process, and it is therapeutic for me. But, not every card has to be like that. Sometimes it is great to make a simple card. However, just because something is simple doesn’t mean a lot of thought hasn’t gone into it. If you like clean and simple cards, check out the queen of great design, Cathy Zielske.

Before I get started on my 5 top tips to a simple card, I want to let you know that this blog post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the new Just For You release from Simon Says Stamp. You will find all the details of that, along with details of Simon Says Stamp’s Create event, at the bottom of this post. 

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

1. chose a strong design

So, here we go. I’m no expert, but these are my top tips. Tip number one is to choose a strong design. When there aren’t many elements in play, you want to make sure you carefully think about where you place them. I chose to use the Leaf Edges set going diagonally across the lower portion of the card with the sentiment placed in the lower third. If you imagine a grid with two lines going vertically and two horizontally, by placing elements where the lines intersect is supposed to be eye-catching.

2. chose a classic colour scheme

Tip number two; classic colour schemes are classic for a reason – they work time and time again! In my opinion, you can’t beat kraft and white. A neutral colour palette doesn’t compete with the stamps and dies you are trying to showcase.

3. keep it clean

Tip number three; keep it clean. Every element of a clean and simple card has a lot of attention to it. So make sure that edges are cut sharp, you get a good stamped impression (use a Misti or similar), there’s no glue peeking out etc. 

4. add just a few details

Tip number four: you don’t want to make things busy, but a little white splatter over the leaves gives them a more ethereal feel, supporting the theme without overwhelming the design.

The super skinny strip of matte gold card grounds the Sending Love die cuts. 

5. accent to strengthen and highlight the focal point

Tip number five; subtle accents draw the eye to the focal point. A trio of eggshell pearls set in a triangle formation complement the colour scheme and strengthens the position of the Sending Love die cuts.

I’d love to hear what your top tips are for a clean and simple card.

more inspiration

Here’s another card I made using the Just For You release. This one is definitely more on the complex watercolour cards that I often make. You can find the original post here. This card uses the Mushroom Stems dies, Leaf Edges cling stamp set and Reverse Friendship sentiments.

blog hop

As mentioned above, this post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the Just For You release from Simon Says Stamp. Hopefully, you’ve arrived here from Nichol Spohr’s blog, but if not, an excellent place to start is Simon’s blog. As with all good hops, there are offers and giveaways.

• Use code GREEN to get $7 off a purchse of $40 or more!  Offer valid while supplies last or until 19 March at 11.59 pm EST.
• Simon is giving away a $25 coupon from comments left on each hop stop. Winners will be announced on the Simon blog on Wednesday, 22 March. Perhaps you can tell me what your top tips are for a clean and simple card. 

Now it is time to hop on over to Amy’s blog. Here’s the complete hop list to keep you on track.

Simon Says Stamp Blog 

Laura Bassen

Caly Person

Nichol Spohr

Debby Hughes

Amy Rysavy

Sidnie Des Jardins

Mindy Eggen

Miriam Prantner

Anna-Karin Evaldsson

Dilay Nacar

Barb Engler

Kim Hamilton

Jessica Vasher

simon says stamp create

It’s almost time for Simon Says Stamp Create! Here’s all the information you need:

• Who: Crafty people (and even people who don’t think they are creative!)
• What: Create It Take Its from 25+ of your favorite vendors (including Simon Says Stamp)
• Where: Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center, Lewis Center, OH
• When: April 21 & 22
• On-site store with products right there for you to touch and buy.
• See lots of cards and projects on display in the store.
• Hobnob with some of the biggest names in the industry.
• More information.
• Video recap from 2019.

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

Hello, how are you all? I love this time of year with the changing seasons. The first warm days of spring or the first cool ones for those of you in the southern hemisphere. It makes me want to get out in nature and breathe. Take in the moment and all around me; look and wonder.

Inspired by nature for today’s card, I picked the Mushroom Stems die cuts from the new Just For You release from Simon Says Stamp.

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

simon just for you release

Before I jump into this card, please check out the new Just For You release from Simon Says Stamp. The Mushroom Stem dies, Leaf Edges stamp set, and Reverse Friendship sentiments are all part of the new release.

how to make free-standing die cuts spring to life with colour and texture

The great thing about free-standing dies like these Mushroom Stems dies is that they have so much detail already built in. The underneath of the cap of the mushroom has radiating lines, and the stems also have detail too.

I die cut the mushrooms from watercolour card and then set to with my Daniel Smith paints.

I used many colours from my stash of paints but included:

Stems:

• Buff Titanium
• Shadow Violet

Cap

• Piemontite Genuine
• Pyrrol Scarlet
• Sepia

Background

• Undersea Green

I lightly stamped the background with the Leaf Edges stamp set in Frayed Burlap ink and used wet paint to stamp the Ledger Script set in several places. I love just the hints of leaves and text this gives. I also stamped the Ledger Script in Black Soot ink over the caps of the mushrooms.

I paired the mushrooms with a sentiment from the Reverse Friendship sentiments and Nuvo Droplets.

Here’s a look at the texture I added using Icicle Crackle paste from Tim Holtz. I rubbed it onto the die cuts and left them to crackle. When dry, I shaped the caps of the mushrooms by pushing them into the palm of my hand and gently pressing down with my thumb to round them and give them dimension.

Just look at that crackle! Also, the glaze of the crackle seems to intensify the colours too.

Although it is hard to see, I also rubbed some crackle paste onto the background panel in places.

Well, that’s me for today. I will be back on the weekend, though, with more to share. See you then!

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

Here in the UK, we are seeing the first signs of spring. A few bulbs have sprouted, the days are getting longer, and occasionally there’s a little warmth to the sunshine. However, it’s still that transition phase; we haven’t hit the full-on acid-greens of true spring yet. The colour palette is more muted with soft watery blues, warm greys and dusky pink-browns. It was those watery blues that inspired the colours for my card. Anyway, I digress; my card is part of a blog hop today to celebrate the new Be Creative release from Simon Says Stamp – scroll down to find out all the details. 

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

how to layer the soft colours of early spring

When you are working with soft, pale colours, I find that the best way to showcase them is with subtle textures and layers. I started this card using the Parallelogram background set. I stamped it in Versamark ink on Hot-Pressed Watercolour card, and white heat embossed it. I then used a combination of Speckled Egg and Antique Linen Distress inks on a mat and set to with lots of spritzing of water and dunking the card into puddles of ink, drying, dunking, drying, dunking etc. until I had a softly layered watercolour piece. I die cut the panel with a Nested Circle die and then trimmed one side slightly.

Next, I worked on a simple background panel for the card. I used the Fantastic Flowers Stencil and randomly swiped Ranger Opaque Matte Texture Paste across a piece of Ivory card. When dry I trimmed the panel and mounted on a Fog card base.

For the greeting, I used the Big Old Birthday set and stamped a sentiment in Versamark on Vellum, and white heat embossed it. I trimmed the vellum to a skinny banner, folded the top over the texture paste panel, and secured it on the back. I then attached the watery blue background circle with foam tape and laid the sentiment banner over the top. I added the tiniest slithers of foam tape behind the letters to attach it to the circle.

I did debate adding a die cut leaf over the circle but, in the end, decided I preferred the card with the blue background as the focal point rather than covering it up. I finished off with a sprinkling of Eggshell Pearls and Nuvo droplets. 

more inspiration

Here’s another card I made using the Be Creative release. You can find the original post here. This card uses the Fantastic Flowers set, the Fantastic Flowers Stencil, Greetings Trio Dies and Big Old Birthday set.

blog hop

As mentioned above, this post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the Be Creative from Simon Says Stamp. Hopefully, you’ve arrived here from Amy’s blog, but if not, an excellent place to start is Simon’s blog. As with all good hops, there are offers and giveaways.

• Use code ART4U to get the Handcrafted With Love set FREE with any purchase!  Offer valid while supplies last or until 19 February at 11.59 pm EST.
• Simon is giving away a $25 coupon from comments left on each hop stop. Winners will be announced on the Simon blog on Wednesday, 22 February.

Now it is time to hop on over to Amy’s blog. Here’s the complete hop list to keep you on track.

Simon Says Stamp Blog 

Nina-Marie Trapani

Caly Person

Suzy Plantamura

Amy Rysavy

Debby Hughes

Lisa Addesa

Sidnie Des Jardins

Miriam Prantner

Bobbi Lemanski

Kath Stewart

Barb Engler

Misty Elam

Jennifer Kotas

Allison Frazier

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

Hello there! I’m back today to share with you a card using products from the new Be Creative release from Simon Says Stamp; you can find more details of that below. The Fantastic Flowers set, despite its name, there are a couple of cracking leaf images. You know me, I do love a nice leaf and to be able to use my favourite greens. 

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

simon be creative release

Before I jump into this card, please check out the new Be Creative release from Simon Says Stamp. The Fantastic Flowers set I used for the leaf is from this release along with the Fantastic Flowers Stencil, Greetings Trio dies and Big Old Birthday set for the greeting add-on. . 

repetition makes for an interesting design

I started with that gorgeous frond from the Fantastic Flowers set and stamped it in a light, water-reactive ink. My favourites are Distress Inks which are super reactive with water and so blend out easily with the paint. Choose your ink colour from the Distress Inks range, depending on what you are painting. With a leaf, you could pick Bundled Sage, or for a flower, you could choose Tattered Rose.

The leaves in this set are solid images, so you have to be careful when stamping not to get too much ink down but just enough so you can see where to paint. It’s the perfect use of a stamping tool such as the Misti, where you can stamp very lightly for the first impression and then slowly build up until you have just enough. I had a lovely wee painting session with the frond using Daniel Smith watercolours – Undersea Green, Green-Gold, Cerullean Blue Chromium … Sepia for the stem etc.

Once dry, I used the matching Fantastic Flowers stencil to repeat the frond design twice. Once in the top left corner and once in the bottom right corner. Together with the watercoloured leaf, this gives a lovely trio of leaves, and, as we know, it’s always better to have things in odd numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. I swiped Ranger Opaque Matte Texture Paste through the stencil, and once dry, I stitched a loose stem through the leaves.

The subtle repetition of the frond element supports the focal image without detracting from it. I finished off the mixed media aspect of the panel with a good splatter of left-over paint, white gouache and gold watercolour. This also helps to tie the images together as a whole.

Moving on to the sentiment. I die cut the Thanks from the Greetings Trio dies from a Matte Gold card and attached it with tiny pieces of foam tape. I do love a gold sentiment in real life, but the shame is they are so hard to photograph unless you can get the light to hit them just right.

Tipping the card here and angling it, you can see the shine on the gold and the watercolour splatter.

I added a wee add-on greeting from the Big Old Birthday set stamped in Versamark ink on Slate card and white heat embossed before trimming to a skinny strip and adding with more foam tape.

To finish off the card, I wrapped the panel with twine and then attached it to a Neenah Desert Storm card base. I embellished it with a triangle of Eggshell Pearls and Enamel Dots to draw the eye to the focal point and greeting.

Well, that’s me for today. I will be back tomorrow, though, with more to share. See you then!

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

Firstly, thank you for all you kind comments on my previous post. This community always outdoes itself in supporting others. Thank you.

Ok, on to today. This post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the Kisses release which joins the Hugs release from last month, so please scroll down to the end of the post for all the details. I do love a versatile stamp and background stamps are right up there with being the most flexible design-wise. On my card I used the Lace Heart Kaleidoscope cling stamp in two ways for a totally different look!

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

one stamp two ways for a totally different look!

Working from the base up, I stamped the Lace Heart Kaleidoscope stamp in Versamark on Neenah Desert Storm card. This gives a tone on tone look – a great subtle background for the focal point to come.

For the next layer, I took a piece of hot-pressed watercolour card for it’s smooth surface to get a clean stamped image. Again, I used the Lace Heart Kaleidoscope stamp and stamped it in Versamark before white heat embossing. I used Distress Watercolour Pencils in Kitsch Flamingo and Candied Apple to scribble over the surface and added lots of water to blend out into a gorgeous soft watercolour with subtle patterning from the embossed design – a totally different look to the tone-on-tone one on the background panel and yet using the same stamp. I splattered with white gouache and then when dry tore a panel to fit on top of the kraft background. I used foam tape to attach the watercolour piece and then tied with Lawn Fawn twine.  I also die cut a Whinsome Branch from Ivory card and tucked that into the twine, attaching it in places with tiny pieces of foam tape.

For the next layer, I went with the translucent option of Vellum. I stamped a greeting from the From The Heart Messages set in Versamark ink and white heat embossed before die cutting with a Nested Rounded Heart die. 

I also added a second wee sentiment from the Hi There Greetings set stamped in Versamark ink on Black card, white heat embossed and then trimmed out and added with foam tape at the base of the watercoloured panel.

Finally, I finished off the card with a sprinkling of Eggshell Pearls. 

more inspiration

Here’s another card I made using the Hugs & Kisses releases. You can find the original post here. This card uses the Forever Yours set and the Hi There Greetings set. 

blog hop

As mentioned above, this post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the Kisses Release from Simon Says Stamp. Hopefully, you’ve arrived here from Caly’s blog, but if not, an excellent place to start is Simon’s blog. As with all good hops, there are offers and giveaways.

• Use code RBW23 to get the End Of The Rainbow set FREE with any purchase!  Offer valid while supplies last or until 22 January 11.59pm EST.
• Simon is giving away a $25 coupon from comments left on each hop stop. Winners will be announced on the Simon blog on Wednesday 25 January.

Now it is time to hop on over to Amy’s blog. Here’s the complete hop list to keep you on track.

Simon Says Stamp Blog

Nina-Marie Trapani

Caly Person

Debby Hughes

Amy Rysavy

Suzy Plantamura

Lisa Addesa

Bibi Cameron

Miriam Prantner

Yoonsun Hur

Barb Engler

Heather Hoffman

Dilay Nacar

Jean Doeringsfeld

Kim Hamilton

Lorraine Aquilina 

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

Hello again, and Happy New Year! I’m starting the year as I mean to go on by sticking to what I know and love. A beautiful botanical image and a set of paints make me so happy, and that is what 2023 will be about for me. Doing what is right for my family and me. 2022 was the worst year ever, and we are still dealing with the physical and mental backlash, so in 2023, I am choosing to concentrate on slow and steady progress. I am going to work on my well-being and that of my family. Rome wasn’t built in a day, as the old saying goes, but slowly and surely, we will drag ourselves out of the black hole that was 2022. Of course, for me, creativity is part of the healing process, and I don’t plan on putting down my paints anytime soon. However, I continue to take the pressure off myself to post on social media. Maybe what I will share will be me puddling around with paints with no plan or finished project in mind. Just enjoying playing, exploring and experimenting. That fills my soul. 

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

simon kisses release

Before I jump into this card, please check out the new Kisses release from Simon Says Stamp. The Forever Yours set I used for the rose is actually from the previous Hugs release, and the Hi There Greetings set is from the Kisses release. These two releases join forces to make Hugs & Kisses! 

sticking to what I know!

So here we go! I chose one of the lovely rose images from the Forever Yours set, a pad of watercolour paper and painted it with Daniel Smith watercolours. The key to this no-line look is to stamp the image so very lightly in water-reactive ink. I recommend a lightly coloured Distress Ink to match the colour palette you plan to use, making it easier to blend into the paint. If necessary, I fill in the gaps in the stamped image with a pencil. Once I have the outline in place, I start with a light layer of colour. Blocking in the areas – green for leaves and pink for the petals. I let that dry and then started with the next layer adding depth around the leaf veins and deepening the shadows where the petals meet. Slowly but surely, layer by layer, I eventually finish with a light splatter of left-over paint and white gouache.

I trimmed and mounted the panel onto a Neenah Desert Storm card base with foam tape to add a little dimension.

For the sentiment, I picked the ‘My Sweet Friend’ from the Hi There Greetings set and stamped it in Versamark ink on a Black card before white heat embossing. I trimmed the sentiment out to be a skinny banner and then mounted it over the flower with foam tape.

I accented the card with my favourite Eggshell Pearls. I feel that add that simple, classic touch to finish off the card.

Here’s a final look at that flower. It makes me so happy, which is what life is all about! I plan on improving my painting skills this year. I’ve been looking into courses that I can do to help me develop. I feel investing in myself is a form of self-care, and I look forward to that guided learning. 

Well, that’s me for today. I will be back on the weekend, though, with more to share. See you then!

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

I’m generally not a cute critter person. Well, I mean, who doesn’t love cute critters? But I don’t usually choose them for my cards, preferring to stick with botanicals. However, when I saw the artwork for the Wild Love set, I couldn’t resist! I have two cards to share with this set, so keep scrolling to see the second card.

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

simon hugs release

Before I jump into this card, please check out the new Hugs release from Simon Says Stamp. The Love You Greetings + dies, Wild Love + dies and Spun Glass embossing folder I used on this card are from the latest release.

i just couldn’t resist! How cute are these critters?

There are seven critters in the Wild Love set and I stamped each of them in a light ink on Hot Pressed watercolour card and die cut with their matching die. I chose Hot Pressed card because I wanted to paint these wee guys in gouache and you get the best results with gouache on a flat surface. 

There are a few options for gouache; you can find colourful gouache sets such as those from Prima and Altenew. Or, you can use a Permanent White Gouache tube and mix watercolours with it for a pastel palette of gouache. Gouache is an opaque watercolour, so you can layer lighter colours over darker ones and vice versa. Gouache is often used with an illustrative style of painting and so fit perfectly with these cute critters.

For my first card, I picked out the bunny because I have a soft spot for rabbits having had two as pets not so long ago. I ran the Spun Glass embossing folder through with an Ivory card and again with a piece of Neenah Desert Storm card. I cut a Nested Circle out of the Ivory card and mounted it over the Desert Storm panel. I cut another piece of Ivory card to cover the lower third of the panel. I painted three stripes across the top, embracing the slightly wobbly lines as fitting with the style. I tucked the wee rabbit into to top of this panel. I separated all the layers with foam adhesive to give lots of lovely dimension. 

For the sentiment, I chose a greeting from the Love You Greetings set, stamped it in Tattered Rose Distress Oxide ink to match the colour scheme and die cut with the matching die. I mounted this with foam adhesive and then accented it with Mini Hearts die cut from Hot Pressed card and painted with gouache along with my favourite Eggshell Pearls. 

For my second card, I used many of the same elements – the Spun Sugar embossing folder with Desert Storm card, the painted Mini Hearts, the stamped and the die-cut greeting from the Love You Greetings set, and, of course, critters from the Wild Love set. 

I painted the animals in a no-line style using light ink and then opaque gouache. However, I did struggle with the elephant’s trunk, so in the end, I drew that in with a black pen instead. I also used the same black pen on the critter’s eyes, noses and whiskers where appropriate. A pen is much easier to handle than trying to paint these elements. 

Which is your favourite? The bunny of the first card, the elephant, fox or cat? The Wild Love set also has a seal, bear and koala if those win your heart over. I will still spend most of my time creating with botanicals, but it has been fun to step out of my comfort zone for a wee while and indulge in some cute critter love!

Oh, and as a final note, I’m all up for these stamped and die-cut greetings. They make the placement of the sentiment so easy. No worrying about where is the best place to stamp a greeting and then messing up or wishing it was somewhere else instead. With a stamped and die-cut greeting you can move it around until you are happy with its placement and then attach it. Great for those of us with decision and commitment issues LOL.

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

The Layered Poinsettia stencil I used for this card creates a lovely crisp background. However, I’m all for the watery, more distressed, abstract look and so I took to this background with all the splatter until edges were lost and the sweet flowers became mere hints of their former selves.  To finish, I stamped a little text here and there and then stitched around the edges.

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

how to distress and change up a clean and simple design

I knew I was going to be using a lot of water with this card, and so I chose a watercolour card to handle it. I picked out a hot-pressed card because I wasn’t sure initially how distressed I wanted to go and the smoothness of the hot-pressed card would give a clearer impression for the stencil.

The key thing with this card was to use water-reactive inks and so I picked out a palette of Lumberjack Plaid, Tattered Rose, Bundled Sage, Speckled Egg and Fossilized Amber Distress Inks. I used Simon Says Stamp blender brushes and blended each colour through the various layers of the stencil until I had a clean, crisp and beautiful stencilled poinsettia background. But, clean and crisp aren’t for me so much these days. So, I started by splattering with water, then white ink, then a solution of perfect pearls, and then gold paint! It was a good job I started out with watercolour card because I was having so much fun and the inks were moving and blending in all the watery goodness.

Here you can see a little of the shine from the perfect pearls and the gold paint. Although I had used Fossilized Amber for the Poinsettia centres, all the splattering had moved the ink around so much that you couldn’t see that layer and so I used more of the gold paint to give a hint of where the centre of the flowers were.

You can also see here the hints of text; I used Tim Holtz Ledger Script and Walnut Stain Distress ink. I’ve been wanting to get some of Tim’s text stamps because I’m finding adding a hint of lettering here and there adds that extra layer of detail and interest to a background.

For the sentiment, I chose a greeting from the Holiday Florals set and stamped it in Versamark ink on Black card and white heat embossed before trimming out and attaching to the background panel.

I accented with a few gold sequins and Duck Egg droplets held in place with Gina K Connect Glue. I turned the left over piece of background into a wee bookmark with a velvet trim. I have a lot of books on my Christmas wish list and will need a few bookmarks to keep track of where I am.

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

Dry embossing is an easy technique, yet it produces the most fabulous results. I like to emphasise the gorgeous deep embossed designs you can get now with white pigment ink. Nowadays, you can also get embossing folders with matching dies to highlight the design further. Today’s blog post is part of a blog hop, and you can find all the details below.

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

how to highlight dry embossing to be the star of the show

First off, an excellent background for an embossing folder isn’t too fussy. I chose to use an ink blending combination, and the queen of colour combinations is Kristina Werner. So I hopped over to her blog, looked up Distress Oxide ink blending combinations, and picked this one with Evergreen Bough, Uncharted Mariner and Black Soot. I thoroughly blended the inks over a piece of Neenah Solar White card, and then while the ink was still damp, I ran it through my die cutting machine with the sandwich set to embossing, and I used the Gilded Ornamental Embossing Folder. I then brushed over the embossed design with white pigment ink. I kept the angle of the ink pad level with the card so that the ink only brushed over the raised bumps and not the whole background.

I created a second panel of ink-blended card, ran it through with the embossing folder again and then die cut with the matching die. I foam-mounted the pieces over the top of the first panel. I splattered everything liberally with Amsterdam Titanium White ink. 

This angled photo really shows the deeply embossed design and how the white pigment ink has lightened the colour of the raised bumps. The white does blend in with the Distress Oxide colour so you don’t have white bumps but rather light blue/green ones. Light enough to show the design while still being cohesive with the colour combination. 

For the sentiment, I die cut the Flourished Merry Christmas die from Ivory card and added tiny pieces of foam adhesive to the places that the greeting touched the foam mounted die cut areas.

This photo shows the deep embossing and that swiping the white pigment ink across the design can still leave marks on the background, but I’m OK with that. I think it adds to the softening of the card design with all the splatter. 

I added tiny diamond jewels to the flourishes on the die-cut frame to accent the design further. After all, it is Christmas, and you must have at least a little sparkle!

more inspiration

Here’s another card I made using the Flourish Merry Christmas die. Again another card using only dies for DieCember! I painted transparent layers of vellum and glassine paper and then die cut the Winsome Branch and Aidan Snowflake to collage together an ethereal winter scene. You can find the original post for this card here.

blog hop

As mentioned above, this post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the DieCember release from Simon Says Stamp. Hopefully, you’ve arrived here from Laura’s blog, but if not, an excellent place to start is Simon’s blog. As with all good hops, there are offers and giveaways.

• Use code MERRY to get the Merry on a Line die FREE with a purchase of $25 or more!  Offer valid while supplies last or until 04 December 11.59pm EST.
• Simon is giving away a $25 coupon from comments left on each hop stop. Winners will be announced on the Simon blog on Wednesday 07 December.

Now it is time to hop on over to Alberto’s blog. Here’s the complete hop list to keep you on track.

Simon Says Stamp Blog

Laura Bassen

Debby Hughes

Alberto Gava

Miriam Prantner

Anna-Karin Evaldsson

Amanda Korotkova

Mindy Eggen

Emma Williams

Cheiron Brandon

Heather Hoffman

Emily Midgett

Lea Lawson

Sandi MacIver

Kim Hamilton

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

Well, hello there! I’m sorry that circumstances mean that I’ve not been able to craft much recently. But I’m delighted to be able to share a card with you for the start of DieCember. DieCember is a month-long celebration of one of my most used supplies, in fact, my card today uses only dies, not a stamp set to be seen!

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

simon DieCember release

Before I jump into this card, please check out the new DieCember release from Simon Says Stamp. The Flourish Merry Christmas, Aidan Snowflake and Winsome Branch dies I used on this card are from the latest release.

how to collage painted transparent layers for an ethereal winter scene

I started this card by creating lots of collage papers; I dug around my stash and found vellum of different weights and glassine paper. In America, deli paper might be a good option, and even some tissue papers would work.

I took the thin transparent papers and painted them with Amsterdam Titanium White acrylic ink and Payne’s Grey acrylic ink. You could try using watercolours, watercolour pencils, or anything that adds colour but can be diluted and swooshed around on the paper. I then left these to dry overnight.

The following day I created a watery background with Payne’s Grey ink on Fabriano Artistico Extra White Cold Pressed watercolour card. I then tore pieces of paper with the Titanium White ink and I die cut the Winsome Branch from paper with Payne’s Grey ink and tucked it into the white layers. I glued them to the panel before sewing them in place.

To add detail, I sewed in a few sequins along the way. My stitching is far from perfect but I think that adds to the style. That’s what I’m telling myself at any rate!

I also die-cut an Aidan Snowflake from white painted paper and glued that onto the background too.

I cut the base piece of the Flourish Merry Christmas die from vellum and the lettering from Ivory card and glued them together. I then added tiny pieces of foam tape on the back of the vellum so that the lettering hid them. Finally, I added this sentiment piece over the collaged layers.

I accented the tree with more sequins and some Distress Mica flakes as the final touch to this wintery ethereal scene.

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

Do you like watercoloured, vintage-styled Christmas cards? It is a style I love this year. I think it stems from how much I am enjoying the Distress line from Tim Holtz, and the makers he employs to showcase the new products always inspire me. Did you see the recent YouTube Live where Tim showcased the new Lumberjack Plaid Distress colour? The gentle shabby chic of Stacy Hutchinson always inspires me, and did you see the gorgeous tags and whatnot that Zoe Hillman did? Before I jump into the details of this card, I wanted to let you know that this post is part of a blog hop; you can find all the details below.

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

watercoloured vintage styled christmas cards

I started this card with the Holly Branch stencil. It’s a layered stencil intended for ink blending, but I traced the elements with a pencil and then watercoloured the holly leaves and berries. Next, I partially stamped the Old Letter set in Walnut Stain ink around the edges. Then, I blended Antique Linen ink around the edges with a touch of Walnut Stain in the corners, followed by distressing them with scissors and sewing a random line of stitches in the corners. 

I then liberally splattered the panel. I used leftover paint, white gouache, and gold paint … but my favourite was the Fresh Balsam Mica Stain which added a lovely metallic shimmer. You’ll see that better in some of the detailed photos.

Here you can see a little of that Fresh Balsam metallic shimmer in places. However, the reason for this photo is to show you the sentiment tag I made after seeing Zoe’s. First, I stamped a label in Lumberjack Plaid ink and die cut with the matching die. Next, I stamped a sentiment from the Holiday Horizon set, again in Lumberjack Plaid ink. Finally, I lightly distressed it with Antique Linen around the edges.

Here’s another shot of the Fresh Balsam splatter catching the holly branches. Seeing this reminds me that I added Glossy Accents to the berries.

I’ve got to mention these wee Fir Branches that I tucked behind the label. I dunked them liberally in the watercolours I’d used to paint the holly and then splattered them with white gouache and Fresh Balsam. They added a nice finishing touch.

Talking of finishing touches, which make all the difference, I stamped an Ivory panel with the Christmas Star set in Antique Linen and rubbed a little more Antique Linen around the edges. Next, I matted the holly panel on top of this with foam tape, wrapped both panels together with twine, tucked the fir branches behind the label, added it with more foam tape, and then finished off with a wee bow to the side, kept in place with a glue dot. Finally, I added a few gold sequins around the label to draw the eye.

more inspiration

Here’s another stencil-based card I made. You can find the original post here. It uses the Tree Lot stencil and Tim Holtz watercolour pencils, and the sentiment is the Holiday Horizon set again.

blog hop

As mentioned above, this post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the Holiday Sparkle release from Simon Says Stamp. Hopefully, you’ve arrived here from Laura’s blog, but if not, an excellent place to start is Simon’s blog. As with all good hops, there are offers and giveaways.

• Use code CUTEBAG to get a free Zipper Pouch with any purchase of $50 or more. Offer valid while supplies last or until 13 November at 11.59 pm ET.
• Simon is giving away a $25 coupon from comments left on each hop stop. Winners will be announced on the Simon blog on Wednesday, 16 November.

Now it is time to hop on over to Alberto’s blog. Here’s the complete hop list to keep you on track.

Simon Says Stamp Blog 

Laura Bassen

Debby Hughes

Alberto Gava

Miriam Prantner

Anna-Karin Evaldsson

Amanda Korotkova

Mindy Eggen

Lorraine Aquilina

Heather Hoffman

Emily Midgett

Jennifer Kotas

Tina Smith

Jean Doeringsfeld

Misty Elam

Diane Morales

Maura Hibbitts

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

If you have been visiting here for a while, you know my love of watercolouring. However, it can be quite time-consuming, which is not ideal when you are planning on making Christmas cards. But, by paring back the design and keeping things clean, simple and modern, you can make watercolour Holiday cards without too much time investment.

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

simon holiday sparkle release

Before I jump into more about this card, please check out the new Holiday Sparkle Release Simon Says Stamp. The Tree Lot Stencil and Holiday Horizon stamp set I used on this card are from the latest release.

modern, clean and simple christmas watercolour

I recently spoke about the new Tim Holtz Distress Watercolour Pencils, and I had fun using them again for this card. I used the Tree Lot stencil to draw three trees in pencil. To create a clean, modern look, I made sure to space them equally and keep them straight. Of course, it becomes less critical later when all the splattering blurs the lines a bit, but a good base is essential when working with a simple design.

I chose a palette of Speckled Egg, Iced Spruce, Kitsch Flamingo, Crackling Campfire and Walnut Stain. For each block, I scribbled the pencil and blended it with a wet brush. I used the brush directly to the pencil and added that to one side of the block to create a gradient. My aim was for a brown tree trunk, then pale blue and pink sections with deeper coral and blue-green areas for contrast. The deep coral of Crackling Campfire and blue-green of Iced Spruce made a modern take on a traditional red and green Holiday colour scheme.

To create a snowy scene, I splattered liberally with white gouache and a mixture of Perfect Pearls and water. All of the Distress line from Tim Holtz are water-reactive, including the watercolour pencils, and so the splatter made the edges of the trees less distinct, and some sections of the tree blended together. This extra layer of paint on a one-dimensional design creates more interest.

For the sentiment, I chose a greeting from the Holiday Horizon set, stamped it in Versamark ink, and heat embossed it with Antique Gold Embossing Powder. Next, I trimmed the panel and foam-mounted it to a Neenah Desert Storm card base before accenting it with sequins and pearls.

Well, that’s me for today. I will be back on Saturday with more from the new release. In the meantime, have you checked out The Creative Bundle yet? If you fancy some watercolour Christmas cards, I see an e-book from Madeline Kerrii as part of the bundle.

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

I’ve spoken many times about being an eternal learner. I love to absorb new information, new techniques, and new tips and tricks. I spend a lot of time in person and online taking courses. I was just on a fabulous, very arty and messy in-person course last weekend. Driving through the atmospheric misty autumn moors and Scottish mountains set the scene for the day and a wander round an art gallery and book shop finished the day off beautifully. Good for the soul. However, I digress, what I’m here to talk about today is online courses. They are much more accessible; location, mobility, time … online courses tick the box for many people.

Every year, The Creative Bundle gathers together a bunch of creatives and their online content – videos, e-books, e-courses etc and provides a bundle that you can purchase at a significant discount. Well, I can’t believe how they’ve done this, but they have 56 creatives providing content, and together, the total cost of their online content would be $3328.86. However, they are selling the course for …

$75! That is a 97% discount!

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

the creative bundle 2022

The thing to remember about the bundle is that it only matters if you fancy a couple of courses. The value is there by only dabbling with a sample of what is on offer but what is on offer is wide and varied to cater for many tastes. There is a lot of painting and mixed-media content which of course appeals to me but there is so much more – ceramics, lettering, weaving, embroidery, cake decorations, paper flowers … I know many people don’t just like one particular art but are drawn to many creative fields.

I have the bundle and am now debating whether to start with Laly Mille’s Wild Roses course, or Denise Peter’s Beginner’s Guide To Gouache, or some up-cycling with Yeaca Young’s Caffeinated Botanicals … now my only issue is time! 

OK, that’s me for today. I will be back later in the week with a new little something to share from Simon Says Stamp!

The Distress Range from Tim Holtz is a crucial ingredient in my creative process. From Spray Stains to create gorgeous backgrounds to Distress Oxide Ink Pads for buttery blending, and not to mention, of course, the fact that they are water-reactive makes them ideal for someone like me who loves all watercolour media. So, I am always very excited when Tim releases a new colour to the Distress Line. Simon Says Stamp kindly gifted me the new colour to play with, and you can find all the new products there. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to Lumberjack Plaid!

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

tim holtz lumberjack plaid distress colour

Here’s a little peek at that rich, opulent red just perfect for the Holiday season ahead. Oh, and can I just mention the name, Tim comes up with the most wonderful names and Lumberjack Plaid inspires in me a feeling of warm fires, comfortable, soft, well-worn fabric and cozy times on a cold winter’s night. 

Of course, the new release includes all the usual Distress products from ink pads, to stains, paint and glazes, it’s all there.

Seriously, the Lumberjack Plaid Distress Embossing Glaze looks like red velvet! Well, that’s me for this month; I will be back in November (just a few days away) with more to share.

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

I must admit, I can be a bit of a watercolour snob! When trying new supplies, I am always a little sceptical that they will meet up to the standards of my current favourites. However, I greatly respect Tim Holtz and the products he puts his name on. The Distress line is key in my creative process, so I was intrigued and optimistic about the new Distress Watercolour Pencils.

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

tim holtz distress watercolor pencils

Simon Says Stamp kindly gifted the three sets of new watercolour pencils to me, and I quickly set up a swatch card to try them out. I have to say, I was very impressed! I scribbled the pencil onto the swatch card on the right side of each rectangle and then used a damp watercolour brush to pull the colour across to the left side of each rectangle, diluting the colour as I went. If need be, I used the damp brush directly to the pencil and added the intense pigment to the right side of the swatch area to deepen the colour. 

I was anticipating that the pencil, when scribbled onto the card, would not fully activate with the water and you would still see pencil lines. However, I need not worry because the pencils, on this card, Fabriano Artistico Extra White Watercolour Card, did fully disperse. I think the card you use is important, so I feel it is best to try the pencils on several options. I do this with every new supply I get. I try them in my sketchbooks, where the paper quality is lower. I try them on student-grade paper and artist-quality card too. Unsurprisingly, I often find the higher quality card gives the best results. 

The pigment, as you can see, is also very intense and bright. The paler colours were a little chalky, but that is the nature of the beast when trying to create pale or pastel colours. 

beautiful deep embossed snowflakes

Having swatched the pencils, I was keen to try them out in the real world. I was inspired by how, when I swatched the pencils, I touched the Seedless Preserves and Prize Ribbon together, and the colours blended beautifully.

I pulled these two pencils out of the Set 2 tin and scribbled them over a piece of watercolour card that I had embossed with the Glistening Snowflakes embossing folder. I have to say how lovely and deep the embossed image of the folder is. So elegant and truly Christmassy. I scribbled the pencils over the raised areas and then diluted the colour with a damp brush. To deepen the colour, I also scribbled the pencils onto the wet card to give a more intense lay down of pigment.

 To finish off, I splattered liberally with the pigment left over on my brush and also with Perfect Pearls solution for a little shimmer.

The Glistening Snowflakes embossing folder also comes with a matching die. I embossed a second piece of card and then used the die to cut the intricate snowflake from the middle. I attached it over the snowflake on the card but at an angle so that you could still see the snowflake underneath. For the greeting, I stamped and white heat embossed a sentiment from the Let It Snow set on a Navy card, trimmed out and foam mounted over the snowflake. I finished off with sequins, clear droplets and Honeysuckle drops.

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

Stencils are an under-utilised and inexpensive supply that we often overlook. For example, with these Acorns And Leaves stencils, when the outline is traced with a pencil, it gives a great starting point for clean and simple watercolouring. The pencil outline is just as good as a stamped outline, yet the cost of the stencils is significantly reduced compared to a stamp set. 

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

using stencil outlines for clean and simple watercolouring

I cut a piece of watercolour card to be as wide as an A2 card base in landscape mode but not quite as tall. I then used a ruler to measure the middle of the card and, using a pencil, drew around the edges of the stencil with the first leaf. I then drew two more leaves, one on either side and aligned them equidistant from the centre leaf. 

I Googled ‘autumn leaves’ and then based my painting on these images. I used a combination of Daniel Smith watercolours and white gouache for highlights.

I added light shadows around the laves, a splatter of paint and then mounted the panel on a Desert Storm card base.

For the sentiment, I used the Let’s Celebrate set and stamped the greeting in Versamark ink on Black Card before white heat embossing. I trimmed the sentiment and mounted it with foam tape. To finish, I accented it with enamel dots – I’m still working my way through my stash of dots!

stencils are under-utilised and inexpensive

I couldn’t resist creating a second card with the wee acorn in the stencil set. A great way to use a small image such as this acorn is to use repetition; I created a three-by-five grid and drew the acorn outline with a pencil. A good, accurate base is important when using repetition. You want all your lines perfectly straight.

Again, I painted using Daniel Smith watercolours and white gouache. I also used my favourite Dark Sepia Faber Castell Polychromo pencil to add more depth to the shadows.

I finished this card the same way as my first card:  a splatter of left-over paint, a greeting from the Let’s Celebrate set and a sprinkling of enamel dots.

Well, that’s me for today. I will be back soon because I have been playing with the Tim Holtz Distress Watercolour Pencils and can’t wait to share! Here’s a  little peek at the swatch I made for the three sets of pencils. 

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

Three years ago, I made a faux watercoloured birthday balloon card that I still like and decided to create a do-over using the new Birthday Greetings set from Simon Says Stamp’s Cozy Hugs release. This post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the Cozy Hugs release, and you will find more details below.

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

faux watercoloured birthday balloons

On a piece of Arches Hot Pressed watercolour card, I worked out the rough placement of the three balloons. I started with the balloon top right and inked it with Dried Marigold Distress Ink, then I ‘rocked & rolled’ Wild Honey and a touch of Spiced Marmalade around the edges. Next, I ‘huffed’ my breath onto the stamp to add a hint of moisture to activate the inks and stamped it onto the watercolour card. Immediately, I went in with a wet brush and moved and blended the inks.

Once dry, I repeated the process on the large balloon and the balloon lower right. On the large balloon I added Festive Berries for a pinky hue. Again, once dry, I went to town, splattering ink over the balloons. I also splattered with Perfect Pearls and sometimes with plain, clean water. All the splattering reactivates the inks and gives that lovely watercolour look.

I dried the panel thoroughly and brushed it with antistatic powder before stamping one of the fabulous sentiments from the Birthday Greetings set in Versmark ink and heat embossing with Antique Gold embossing powder.

I also stamped a few stars from the set too and then added the balloon strings with a permanent marker. Finally, I added a few Powder Puff sequins.

more inspiration

The Party Like A Puffin set is also part of the Cozy Hugs release, and I couldn’t resist their quirky style. You can find the original post for this card here. 

blog hop

As mentioned above, this post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the Cozy Hugs release from Simon Says Stamp. Hopefully, you’ve arrived here from Laura’s blog but if not, then a good place to start is Simon’s blog. As with all good hops, there are offers and giveaways.

• Use code COZY to get a free Giant Hugs Card Wrap die with any purchase of $75 or more. Offer valid while supplies last or until 09 October at 11.59pm ET.
• Simon is giving away a $25 coupon from comments left on each hop stop. Winners will be announced on the Simon blog on Wednesday 12 October.

Now it is time to hop on over to Amanda’s blog. Here’s the full hop list to keep you on track.

Simon Says Stamp Blog   

Laura Bassen

Debby Hughes

Amanda Korotkova

Barbara Tarayao

Mindy Eggen

Heather Hoffman

Alberto Gava

Lorraine Aquilina

Sandi MacIver

Jennifer Kotas

Kath Stewart

Jean Doeringsfeld

Misty Elam

Diane Morales

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

Critters aren’t always my favourite things to paint. However, these Puffins had me with their edgy, quirky style. I mean puffins with party hats and balloons? Definitely!

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

simon cozy hugs new release

Before I jump into more about this card, please check out the new Cozy Hugs release from Simon Says Stamp. There are such a lot of fun products for the season ahead.

critters with party hats & balloons? definitely!

I tucked the party hat Puffin just a little behind the balloons one and set about painting. I had such fun with these wee guys! I spent some time on google before getting started, looking at what puffins colouring is like, and I also googled ‘watercoloured puffins’ too so I could see how other artists had dealt with the black and white feathers. My conclusion was to go for blacks and blues for the dark areas and light greys for adding shading to the white areas.

Before starting to paint, I used a permanent marker for the puffins eyes and the balloon strings. Getting these in first meant they wouldn’t get lost when the paint layers went on. The key feature of Puffins are their beaks, and I went for a coral underlayer with brighter red stripes over the top. That, along with their brightly-hued legs, makes them so distinctive.

I always like a nice balloon to paint. I picked out blue to go with the hints of blue in the black plumage and green, well, because I love green, and it added a natural feel. I picked the violet for the party hat to keep with a colour scheme on the cool side of things. A light splatter with left over paint and Perfect Pearls finished it off.

I die cut the painting with a Basic Rectangle and then for the sentiment comes from the Balloon Greetings set simply stamped in Versamark ink on Black card and white heat embossed. Then I mounted the finished panel on Neenah Desert Storm card.

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

After my last post, I am glad I’m not the only one who loves all the flowers! As I had some time away from my craft desk over the summer, I went back to see what I had missed and came across this beautiful Magnolia & Apple Blossom set. I love that stunning large flower and the intricate leaves with all the sections.

Before I jump into the card, just a reminder that the last of the STAMPtember collaborations are selling out fast. You can check out the details of what is left at the bottom of this post.

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

watercoloured magnolia & apple blossom

White flowers can be hard to paint on white card, so I added in lots of different colours to add interest and make the flower stand out from the paper – purply greys in the shadows, warm pinks at the base of the petals and a glowing yellow for the flower centre.

Leaves, oh, I do love leaves! I built the leaves with lots of layers – a light layer as a base and then deeper and deeper colours to the sections.

For the greeting, I used the Jubilee Sentiments set stamped in Forest Moss Distress Oxide ink. 

STAMPtember summary

STAMPtember is a very busy time of the month with new releases virtually every day of the month. To help keep you informed of what is going on and what has sold out, I will finish my emails in September with a list detailing each day’s events. I hope this helps keep you up to date. It certainly helps to keep me on track!

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

Am I being staid and uninteresting by always looking for flowers to paint? To be honest, it is what makes me happy, and we could all do with some happiness in our lives!

I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

watercoloured black eyed susans

My aim with this Black Eyed Susans card was to get some deep, dark shadows at the base of the petals and where leaves intersected. The play of light and dark, otherwise known as ‘value’, is what I strive for. So with the darker value at the petal bases I looked to create light and airy edges to the petal tips. I started with a wash of light yellow over all the petals and then layer by layer built the shadows in. I used Daniel Smith watercolours and touches of white gouache for highlights and splatter. 

I let rip around the edges of the front panel and using a ruler to pull against, tore the card edges for a distressed look. I also added some lines of wonky stitching – two favourite techniques of mine currently.

I finished off with a Hello greeting die cut from gold mirror card and a few droplets and sequins. I mounted the finished card on a Neenah Desert Storm card base.

STAMPtember summary

STAMPtember is a very busy time of the month with new releases virtually every day of the month. To help keep you informed of what is going on and what has sold out, I will finish my emails in September with a list detailing each day’s events. I hope this helps keep you up to date. It certainly helps to keep me on track!

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.