Diecember is a month when die-cutting becomes the focus, and in celebration of this often overlooked supply, I used a Home For Christmas house die, a Fretwork Snowflake die, and a Snowflake Burst Pinpoint Plate die for my card today. To add detail and interest, I also used the Fanciful Flurries embossing folder and all the layers with different textures add together to create detail and interest.

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

simon diecember release

You can check out all the new supplies for Diecember by clicking here, where you will find the Home for Chrismas stamp and die set, Fretwork Snowflake die, Snowflake Burst Pinpoint Plate and Fanciful Snowflake embossing folder.

layers upon layers of texture and details

I started this card with the wee house focal point. I die-cut one of the houses from the Home For Christmas die set from a hot-pressed watercolour card. I stamped the Old Letter set over the top with clear embossing ink and then sprinkled with clear embossing powder before heat setting.

I then grabbed my craft mat, Distress Sprayer and a handful of mini Distress inks. I used Antique Linen for a little warmth and then Pumice Stone and Frayed Burlap. I rubbed a little of the inks onto the craft mat and spritzed them with water before pouncing the die-cut into the wet puddles. I used a heat gun to dry the house while I kept adding more ink. I love how the Pumice Stone ink adds a cool lilac colour once wet. I kept the Frayed Burlap to the roof area. Once dry I rubbed a little more Frayed Burlap over the roof with a blending brush.

Rather than leave it there, I then stitched a door shape similar to the one on the stamp set. I added glue along the roof line and chimney top and sprinkled Rock Candy Glitter and Distress Mica Flakes. I love how all the details take the simple die-cut up a notch.

I paired the house with a loop of twine and a die-cut heart from the Home For Christmas die set which I pounced in a puddle of Lumberjack Plaid ink.

Next, I worked on the background elements. I took the loose part of the Fretwork Snowflake die and cut from a hot-pressed watercolour card and pounced it lightly in Pumice Stone ink. Once dry, I rubbed Multi Medium Matte over the die and dunked it into Rock Candy glitter.

I die cut the Sunburst Pinpoint Plate die again from hot-pressed watercolour card and tore the edges before dipping into Antique Linen and Pumice Stone inks. I like how the exposed paper edge picked up more of the ink and that the inks seeped into the pinpoint details in places.

I ran a pice of Fog card through with the Fanciful Flurries embossing folder and then rubbed white ink over the embossed pattern before adding stitched deails in two corners.

I created the card for the sentiment strip by using the same inks but heavier on the Frayed Burlap and kept adding more and more depth to the card until I had a deep, dark colour. I then stamped and white heat embossed a sentiment from the Home For Christmas set. I paired this greeting with a wee Tim Holtz Ideaology sticker on the house.

I added foam adhesive to all the pieces and then built the card on an Ivory card base. I added pearls and a splatter of white goauche to finish.

Phew, that was a lot of small details and layer upon layer but each extra detail builds so much more interest.

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! A store or the manufacturer provides items marked with an asterisk (*). You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

As I’m writing this, Tim Holtz is over on the Simon Says Stamp YouTube channel to tell you about his Cyber Monday surprise! Please pop on over there to join in. 

I love everything Tim makes and as such I thought you’d like a heads up too. 

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

tim holtz cyber monday

Customers who purchase at least $25 of any Tim Holtz branded product will automatically receive this die set as a gift from Simon Says Stamp while supplies last throughout DieCember!

• Search 666505 in the store or follow this link
• Add Walter to your card
• Enter code WALTER at checkout to get Walter free with a TIm Holtz branded purchase of $25 or more!

This stunning Christmas poinsettia image had me reaching for my paints immediately! You can’t beat the classics. This blog post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the All The Joy release from Simon Says Stamp. You can find more on the blog hop below.

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

simple, classic, watercoloured poinsettia

Achieving the no-line look of my watercolours is a question I’m frequently asked. It can be quite challenging for my eyesight, but I usually opt for a neutral water-reactive ink such as Antique Linen Distress ink. However, if there are strong colour biases, like with this poinsettia, I choose light pink and light green to work with. I apply a minimal amount of ink to the image and then stamp it onto the watercolour card. I may stamp once or up to three times. The key is to have the image stamped as lightly as possible without affecting its clarity. Furthermore, I try to keep most of the ink in the centre of the image and leave the leaf edges and such barely visible. If there are areas where the ink hasn’t caught, I fill them in with a pencil.

I’m really enjoying my watercolor journey and I have some useful tips for anyone who is starting out. In my experience, investing in the best watercolour paper you can afford is more important than buying expensive paint or brushes. I recommend using Arches paper for its exceptional quality. So, if you want to start your watercolour journey on the right foot, make sure you invest in good quality paper.

For a long time, I have favoured Daniel Smith paints because of their highly concentrated pigment and their ability to wet easily. When I squeeze out the tubes of paint onto my palette and they dry, all I need to do is add a light spritz of water and they are ready to be used. The tubes might be small, but a little paint goes a long way.

I’ve been talking a lot about paper and paint, but let’s get back to the card! After I finished painting, I splattered some leftover paint and white gouache. Then I trimmed the panel to fit on a Neenah Desert Storm card base. I stamped a sentiment from the Holiday Blossoms set in Nocturne ink and die-cut it with the matching die. Finally, I adhered it to the card front with foam tape.

I added stitching in the corners, adhered the card front to the card base and then accented with sequins and pearls. 

more inspiration

Here’s another card I made with products from the new release. You can find the original blog post here. The card uses the Winter Wishes stamp set and Soft Snowfall embossing folder. Two poinsettia cards but two very different looks!

blog hop

As mentioned above, this post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the All The Joy release from Simon Says Stamp.  Hopefully, you’ve arrived here from Amy’s blog, but if not, Simon’s blog is an excellent place to start.

• Simon is giving away a $25 coupon from comments left on each hop stop. Winners will be announced on the Simon blog on Wednesday, 08 November.
• Free gift with purchase! Use code STAR at checkout to get the free Holy Stars stencil. Offer valid until 05 November at 11.59pm ET.

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

Simon Says Stamp Blog

Caly Person

Jennifer McGuire

Cathy Zielske

Barbara Tarayao

Amy Rysavy

Debby Hughes

Emily Midgett

Keisha Charles

Bibi Cameron

Emma Wiliams

Heather Hoffman

Heather Ruwe

Alberto Gava

Daniel West

supplies

As an artist, I have always had a soft spot for my paints. However, I have recently rediscovered the joy of inks! They give me the freedom to create beautiful cards in no time, and the new styles with intricate details make it so easy to create stunning designs. And to top it off, the matching dies eliminate the need for any tedious cutting – it’s a win-win situation! 

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

simon all the joy release

The All The Joy release from Simon Says Stamp is a fabulous mix for all the holidays. I used the Winter Wishes Stamp Set and Soft Snowfall Embossing Folder from the new release.

layering die-cuts makes for an easy christmas bouquet

To make this card, I started by arranging a variety of inks along with my trusty Misti. Using the Rosie Cheeks ink, I stamped the larger poinsettia images and added the Cherry ink for the details. Then, I used the same Cherry ink for the smaller poinsettia flower and berries and applied Mocha ink for the details and the stems. The leaves were given a lovely peachy hue with the Canteloupe ink, while the greenery was achieved with Sage and Pine inks. Finally, I die-cut all the elements of the bouquet using the matching dies, so that I had a ready-to-use selection of die cuts.

 For my project, I carefully measured and trimmed a panel of cardstock to be just slightly smaller than my Neenah Desert Storm card base. I then ran it through my trusty die-cutting machine using the Soft Snowfall embossing folder. The resulting texture and detail added a beautiful touch to my wintery theme without detracting from the focal point of the design.

I added foam adhesive to the back of my die-cut pieces and then arranged them over the white panel. Traingles of three items are pleasing to the eye, and so I used three poinsettia, three berry sprigs, three leaf branches, three peachy leaves and radiated them out from the central poinsettia. I then tucked in a few leaves here and there to finish it off. I accented the poinsettias with Nuvo droplets for the flower centres.

I appreciate it when the greetings in a set come with matching dies. This makes it easier to place the sentiment anywhere on the page without worrying about stamping on a flat surface. For this project, I selected one of the Winter Wishes greetings and stamped it in Pinecone ink. Then I used a die cut to cut it out before placing it over the bouquet. I secured it in place using foam tape.

To add some sparkle and extend the beauty of the bouquet, I decided to accent it with some sequins. It was the perfect finishing touch! Also, I wanted to let you know that I will be participating in a blog hop tomorrow. I would love for you to join me and check it out.

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! A store or the manufacturer provides items marked with an asterisk (*). You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

I love the ease and simplicity of die cuts, but I can’t resist fiddling with them to make them my style and add more interest. This post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the Season Of Wonder release from Simon Says Stamp. You can find out more about the hop if you scroll down. 

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

how to dress up die cuts for more interest

I had a very inky time with four pieces of watercolour card. I used Distress Ink minis on a craft mat and spritzed with water before plunging a piece of card into the puddle of inky droplets. Dry, dip, repeat, again and again until I had four pieces of inky card which I splattered with left over ink and white gouache. I used the following inks:

• Red for the Robin’s breast – Candied Apple, Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade and Carved Pumpkin.
• Brown for the head and wings – Frayed Burlap and Walnut Stain.
• Green for the foliage – Forest Moss and Iced Spruce.
• For the body, I used Pumice Stone.

I ran each piece of inky card through my die cutter with the Layered Berry Bird die and then rubbed a little Walnut Stain around the edges of each die cut. I connected the bird, keeping the pieces together with Gina K glue apart from the wing, which I cut twice and placed one over the other with foam tape.

For the eye, I coloured the tiny die-cut piece with a black marker and then once in place dotted Glossy Accents on top for the beady-eyed look of a robin. I also added Glossy Accents to the three berries. 

The background was created in a similar way to the pieces for the bird. I used a piece of watercolour card and dipped it in Speckled Egg and Weathered Wood Distress Inks on a craft mat. Dip, dry, repeat and eventually splatter with leftover ink and white gouache. 

I scraped Crackle Paste over two of the corners and left it for the crackle to develop. 

I placed foam adhesive on the back of the Robin and tucked in Ornamental Leaves die cut from 120lb white card. And attached the grouping to the card base.

For the sentiment, I stamped a greeting from the Deck The Halls set in Versafine Clair Nocture Ink, trimmed out and added to the grouping with more foam tape.

Just look at that crackle – love it!

Finally, I mounted the panel on a 120lb white card base and accented with sequins and pearls. 

more inspiration

Here’s another card I made with products from the new release. You can find the original blog post here. The card uses the Wheat Stems embossing folder, Boho Birthday die, Wood Plank die and Giving Thanks sentiment strips.

blog hop

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

• Simon is giving away a $25 coupon from comments left on each hop stop. Winners will be announced on the Simon blog on Wednesday, 11 October.
• Free gift with purchase of $25 or more! Use code HOLLY at checkout to get the free Graceful Holly embossing folder. Offer valid until 08 October at 11.59pm ET.

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

Simon Says Stamp Blog

Nina-Marie Trapani

Caly Person

Debby Hughes

Jennifer McGuire

Amy Rysavy

Suzy Plantamura

Emily Midgett

Lisa Addesa

Miriam Prantner

Yana Smakula

Tina Smith

Kath Stewart

Jean Doeringsfeld

Kim Hamilton

Seeka

supplies

Gosh, STAMPtember was so much fun! My favourite crafty month of the year. My favourite season of the crafty year is now as we prepare for autumn and winter and all the holidays we celebrate. Let’s kick off with the glowing colours of fall.

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

simon the season of wonder release

The Season Of Wonder release from Simon Says Stamp covers all the upcoming holidays and celebrations. I used the Wheat Stems embossing folder, Wood Plank die, Boho Birthday die and Giving Thanks Sentiment strips from the new release.

moody autumn vibes with deep embossing and buttery ink blending

I blended Walnut Stain, Crackling Campfire, and Fossilized Amber onto a 120lb white card. The ink blended like butter on this card, as Laura Bassen would say. While the ink was still dampening the card, I ran it through with the Wheat Stems embossing folder. This is a classic autumn image, and the embossing is deep and cleanly etched. Having damp paper helps to get this effect. Mine was damp from the ink blending, but a couple of spritzes of water does the same job on dry card. 

I splattered the panel with some inks squished onto a mat and picked up with a wet brush. I also splattered with white acrylic ink. I chose this over my usual white gouache because gouache tends to react with the inks and discolours, whereas acrylic ink keeps its brightness. 

I trimmed the panel and added a Wood Plank die down the side. I’d die cut this panel from a card that I’d ink blended with Antique Linen and Walnut Stain. Once die cut, I ran a white ink pad over the top to try and emphasise the grain details. I’m unsure if it entirely worked, but I still liked it to ground the main panel. 

For the sentiment, I die cut the Boho Birthday die from Champagne Matte card and foam mounted over the main panel. I added a small ‘Happy’ cut from the Giving Thanks Sentiments Strip set and then rubbed it with Antique Linen to match the warm tones of this autumn card. 

All the elements are mounted onto a cream card base and then I accented the main panel with enamel dots and sequins.

I will be back tomorrow to take part in a blog hop. I hope you will join me 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! A store or the manufacturer provides items marked with an asterisk (*). You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.

You know when you want to find that glow where light seems to filter through the flowers? White heat embossing the flowers is the best technique to bring that ethereal feel. I started watercolouring with this method many years ago, and I have always found it an easy way to paint that gives consistently great results. My card today uses the exclusive Altenew STAMPtember set, Rose Reverie.

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

Altenew 2023 STAMPtember Set

I have always loved Altenew’s flowers. They have a timeless elegance that makes me itch to paint them! The Rose Reverie set includes what I think of as a dogwood rose with its delicate petals, strong leaves, and growth pattern. 

great technique to bring an ethereal feel to flowers

I chose a smooth, hot-pressed watercolour card to get the best impression when heat embossing. I stamped the rose image in Versamark ink and white heat embossed.

The advantage of white heat embossing is that it gives you contained areas surrounded by the raised bumps of the lines. Each area is separate from the next, so you don’t need to worry about the green paint of the leaves spreading into the pink of the rose. It makes a speedy way to get the colour down. 

I like to use Daniel Smith watercolours and aim to get areas of deep shadow at the base of the leaves and barely there highlights on the petals. For interest, I like to add touches of colour other than green to the leaves, bringing them to life. So, for the leaves of this card, I used Undersea Green with hints of Cobalt Blue.

I used Quinacridone Coral for the petals and let the Quinacridone Gold of the flower centre spread into the wet petals. I finished off with Faber Castell coloured pencils to add details and depth. My last step is always a good splatter of white gouache and leftover paint.  

I picked a greeting from the Altenew set and stamped it in Versamark ink on Vellum before white heat embossing, trimming to a banner and then tucking around the painted panel. I kept it in place with teeny tiny strips of foam adhesive behind the lettering.

I attached the panel to a card base cut and scored from Neenah Desert Storm card. I finished with a scattering of sequins and pearls.

stamptember

In previous years I have found it helpful to put a summary of the STAMPtember events for reference. I will try to take part as much as possible, but I’m still not at full speed and so I will pop in during the month as best I can. Here’s the calendar of events as it stands so far:

• 01 September Simon Says Stamp Own Brand release
• 02 September treasure hunt blog party
• 03 September Heidi’s birthday!
• 04 September Lawn Fawn – sold out
• 05 September Picket Fence Studios – sold out
• 06 September Gina K stamp – sold out
• 07 September Art Impressions stamp set
• 08 September Rainbow Splash
• 09 September Alex Syberia  stamp set  and stamp and die set – sold out
• 10 September Pink And Main – sold out
• 11 September Concord and 9th – sold out
• 12 September Whimsy Stamps stamp set (sold out) and stamp and die set
• 13 September Clearly Besotted – sold out, plus Memory Box stamp set and stamp and die set
• 14 September Monthly Card Kit
• 15 September Mama Elephant stamp set and stamp and die set
• 16 September Riley And Company – sold out, Avery Elle stamp set and stamp and die set (sold out), The Greeting Farm stamp set and stamp and die set
• 17 September – Altenew stamp set and stamp set with matching dies

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 so focused on my watercolours that my ink pads often feel a bit neglected! However, when I saw the new, limited edition STAMPtember set from Concord & 9th, I knew I needed to dig them out and give them some love!

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

Concord & 9th 2023 STAMPtember Set

The Concord & 9th exclusive STAMPtember set is pure, classic Christmas. A wonderfully large poinsettia to ground a variety of winter foliage, and all of the stamps are multi-layered.

gorgeous, easy, multi-layered christmas set

For a perfectly smooth, sturdy card, I chose the 130lb white from Simon Says Stamp to get the best impressions when stamping. I started with the large poinsettia image and stamped the first layer in Pucker ink. I also stamped on masking paper and trimmed out the flower. For the detail, I used Schoolhouse Red ink. For the flower centre, I used Citrine, followed by Sprout. I then peeled off the back of the masking paper and placed it over the poinsettia while I stamped the surrounding foliage. 

I stamped the leaves next in Pearfection and Field. I masked these before continuing with Beanstalk Green and Olive for the mistletoe. For the pine sprigs, I picked out Laurel Green and Evergreen. I returned to Pucker and Schoolhouse Red for berries I dotted around.

I added a third layer to the poinsettia and leaves with coloured pencils. For the poinsettia, I chose a mid-value red and extended the darker areas of the second layer. I decided on a darker value for the greenery and added a few details, such as reinforcing stems and veins.

I splattered the panel with white gouache and gold watercolour and scattered around enamel dots and pearls. 

I took a sentiment from the Festive Flower set, prepped the card with an anti-static powder brush and then stamped in clear embossing ink before heat embossing with Antique Gold embossing powder. 

stamptember

Finally, I trimmed the panel and mounted it with foam tape on a Desert Storm card base. This card, well, the panel at least, is all one layer – a rarity for me!

In previous years I have found it helpful to put a summary of the STAMPtember events for reference. I will try to take part as much as possible, but I’m still not at full speed and so I will pop in during the month as best I can. Here’s the calendar of events as it stands so far:

• 01 September Simon Says Stamp Own Brand release
• 02 September treasure hunt blog party
• 03 September Heidi’s birthday!
• 04 September Lawn Fawn – sold out
• 05 September Picket Fence Studios stamp set and stamp set with matching dies
• 06 September Gina K stamp set and stamp set with matching dies
• 07 September Art Impressions stamp set
• 08 September
• 09 September Alex Syberia stamp set and stamp set with matching dies
• 10 September Pink And Main stamp set and stamp set with matching dies
• 11 September Concord and 9th stamp set and stamp set with matching dies

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 had such fun painting this card! I love images with space to get a bit creative. And when you have a person to colour, it’s a bit like dressing up when you were a child; you have total flexibility to choose colours and styles. 

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

Art Impressions 2023 STAMPtember Set

Today is the turn of Art Impressions for their limited edition STAMPtember 2023 set. It has such a gorgeous autumn theme but a fun style, too!

how to draw attention to a focal point

Here are a few suggestions to draw attention to a focal point.

• Stamp the image off-centre. The rule of thirds suggests that a focal point should be placed at the intersection of a grid – top right, top left, bottom right, bottom left. Effectively, off-centre is supposed to be more appealing to the eye. 
• When colouring, include some dark areas, particularly next to light areas. The eye is drawn to the contrast between shadows and highlights. 

• Include white space – these areas don’t have to be white. They have to be calming so that the focal point is the star of the show. I did keep the rest of the card panel white, though, except for the hint of blue to suggest a sky.
• Nestle accents around the image to demonstrate that the focal point is where we should be looking. I dotted sequins, pearls and the sentiment panel, making a pleasing triangle around the image. 

• I love colour, which may surprise you as I often go for a muted palette. However, colour plays a key part whether you like muted tones or rainbow brights. Complementary colours play well together. These are colours opposite each other on the colour wheel. In this case, I used a lot of green and red. The apples, naturally, but also her trousers and the stripes on her t-shirt. 

So, there you have it, my take on a few tips to draw attention to a focal point. Don’t forget to check out the Art Impressions set, once it’s gone, it’s gone!

stamptember

In previous years I have found it helpful to put a summary of the STAMPtember events for reference. I will try to take part as much as possible, but I’m still not at full speed and so I will pop in during the month as best I can. Here’s the calendar of events as it stands so far:

• 01 September Simon Says Stamp Own Brand release
• 02 September treasure hunt blog party
• 03 September Heidi’s birthday!
• 04 September Lawn Fawn – sold out
• 05 September Picket Fence Studios stamp set and stamp set with matching dies
• 06 September Gina K stamp set and stamp set with matching dies
• 07 September Art Impressions stamp set

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.

Let the craziness commence! If you’ve not experienced STAMPtember before, here’s a quick heads up on what is in store.

• On 01 September, the exclusive Simon Says Stamp’s brand release of new products was released.
• On 02 September, there was a fun treasure hunt-style blog party.

And now, on 03 September, we have the first collaboration set released, starting with Lawn Fawn. A new collaboration set is released almost every day of the month through September. There may be the odd day when a card kit is released instead, and sometimes, you get more than one collaboration set released on a set day. Once these collaboration sets sell out, that’s it; they aren’t restocked, and they aren’t rereleased ever. So, if you see one of these sets you like, I recommend buying it as soon as possible. Some sets sell out in a matter of hours. Some might be around for a week. You never know!

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

Lawn Fawn 2023 STAMPtember Set

With fan-favourites Lawn Fawn, you know you are in for a cuteness extravaganza! And the Home For The Pawlidays set does not disappoint! Are you a cat or a dog person? With my daughter’s Golden Retriever living at home with us often, we are more on the dog side of the debate. So I was very taken with this set’s cute Christmas dog images.

making an atmospheric scene

I stamped the images from the Home For The Pawlidays set in Versafine Clair Nocturne ink on a Hot-Pressed Watercolour Card for a clean impression. I then die-cut with the matching dies. Having individual images cut out sure makes arranging a scene easier. With my chosen pieces, I added watercolour and coloured pencils with the odd white gel pen highlight and glossy accents detail.

Now to create a scene for these wee guys. I started with a snowy bank cut with the Slimline Snowbanks dies. At this point everything was looking too clean and just not ‘me’! So I dug around in my stash of backgrounds and found this painterly one that I had made using a gel plate and acrylic paints – perfect for a wintery sky. I cut to size and then added detail with the Falling Snow stencil and Ranger Opaque Texture Paste.

I added the snow bank over the top with foam tape and then arranged my cute critters. I added foam tape to the back of these and in one or two places needed a double-layer to account for the raised snow bank.

For the greeting, I chose a sentiment from the Lawn Fawn set and stamped it in clear embossing ink on Schoolhouse Red card and white heat embossed. I then trimmed to a banner and added with foam tape.

stamptember

In previous years I have found it helpful to put a summary of the STAMPtember events for reference. I will try to take part as much as possible, but I’m still not at full speed and so I will pop in during the month as best I can. Here’s the calendar of events as it stands so far:

• 01 September Simon Says Stamp Own Brand release
• 02 September treasure hunt blog party
• 03 September
• 04 September Lawn Fawn stamp set and stamp and die set

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.

Coneflowers (Echinacea) bring such rich, opulent colours to late summer, and I couldn’t resist having a go at capturing them using an embossing folder from the new Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember release. This blog post is part of a blog party to celebrate STAMPtember; you’ll find all the details below.

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

how to use an embossing folder as an easy painting guide

The joy of using an embossing folder to guide watercolouring is that it is so easy and forgiving. The deeply embossed lines make it clear where to paint, and yet if you go over the raised areas, it doesn’t matter. The texture and depth of the design are there, with the watercolouring simply emphasising those details.

I embossed the Brilliant Coneflower embossing folder into a watercolour card and then used Daniel Smith watercolours to paint. I splattered liberally with white gouache and added Glossy Accent details to the coneflower centres.

For the sentiment, I took a greeting from the Artsy Pumpkins set, stamped it in Versafine Clair Nocturne ink on ivory card, and then die cut with the matching die and then attached it with foam tape.

I added the panel to a Neenah Desert Sotrm card base and then accented it with sequins and pearls.

more inspiration

Here’s another card I made with products from the new STAMPtember release. You can find the original blog post here. The card uses the Happy Haunting set.

blog party

As mentioned above, this post is part of a blog party to celebrate the STAMPtember release from Simon Says Stamp. So what is a blog party? Well, artists from all over the world have gathered together to celebrate the new release. The fun part is that it is almost like a treasure hunt. Each person taking part in the hop has been randomly assigned a code which gives great offers on a range of stamps, dies and other products.

If you would like this layering Autumn Cascade stencil set then add the stencils to your cart and enter code ACST at checkout to get them free with a $30 purchase.

You’ll find the list of all participants over at Simon Says Stamp – click away, pin, find the codes, and be inspired to create!

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.

Initially, summer’s end always saddens me as I cut back flower stems and prepare the garden for the seasonal changes. However, I remember the first early frost, pumpkins, oversized baggy sweaters while curled up in a chair reading a book, maybe with a blanket over my legs, pumpkins, the fiery display of changing leaf colours and did I mention pumpkins?! 

I have to admit that I don’t eat a lot of pumpkin, but I like to use them for autumnal displays more than anything and I love to paint them. Add a cute-as-can-be dragon, and I was so happy to get my paints out!

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

simon STAMPtember release

STAMPtember, what is STAMPtember? Well, officially, it is a month-long industry-wide celebration of stamping hosted by Simon Says Stamp. But it is so much more than that for me! For a start, it’s not just about stamping but all creativity. Artists, creatives, companies, hobbyists, and professionals gather together, united by their love of what we do. It’s the community of it for me, the heart and each year, this is my favourite time of the creative calendar. Add in the changing season and looking ahead to all the holidays with lots of new products to inspire, and I love it!

autumn and all the pumpkins!

OK, let’s get to this wee guy. I wanted to keep things simple with all the focus on one spotlight area. I stamped one of the dragons from the Happy Haunting set in Versafine Clair Nocturne ink on a watercolour card. Often, I like to use a no-line technique for colouring, but I didn’t want to lose all the fine details on this image, so stamping an outline was the best way to go.

I used Daniel Smith watercolours and Faber Castell Polychromos to colour this cutie. As always, I started with light layers of watercolour and then slowly built up areas of differing colour and depth. I finished with touches of coloured pencil and a white gel pen for details. I don’t colour many cute images, but I had a ball with this guy!

I mounted the watercolour panel on a card base cut and scored from Neenah Desert Storm card and I added a few sequins and pearls to draw attention to the focal point.

I chose a greeting from the Happy Haunting set, stamped it in clear embossing ink on a Black card and white heat embossed it before trimming it to a banner and adding to the card with foam tape.

Well, that’s me for today. However, I will be back tomorrow, so I hope you’ll join me here 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.

There’s something about a soft gradient of ink-blended colours, and when they are in a Neapolitan colour palette, well, you just can’t beat it as the perfect backdrop to some beautiful, detailed embossing. I’m excited to participate in a blog hop to celebrate the new Just A Note release, so check out all the details at the bottom of this post.

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

soft ink blending paired with beautiful detailed embossing

I keep a folder of background pieces I didn’t use from previous projects. I was rummaging through these to find the perfect piece to showcase the beautiful Darcy Bouquet embossing folder from the new release. As soon as I saw this panel, I knew it would fit the bill. The card is ink blended with Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks in Scattered Straw, Dried Marigold, Saltwater Taffy and Frayed Burlap. The panel was leftover from this card which shows that it also looks beautiful with a heat-embossed design. The moral of the story is to keep those leftovers!

I ran the Darcy Bouquet stencil through my die-cutting machine, and look at that beautiful detail! I highlighted the embossing by rubbing white pigment ink over the raised areas with my finger. It’s back to childhood for me and finger painting, but I find I can direct the ink more carefully with the dexterity of my fingertips than I can with a blender brush or similar. 

I wanted a subtle sentiment for this card. It’s always my preference, as I like the background to shine. I die cut the Just A Note die set from Ivory card and Vellum. I glued the Ivory letters to the Vellum background and added tiny pieces of foam tape behind the lettering before adhering it to the card. I paired the die-cut with a greeting from the So Swell set stamped in Versamark on Slate card and white heat embossed. I trimmed the sentiment to a skinny banner and used more foam adhesive to attach it.

I finished the card by mounting the panel on an Ivory card base and then sprinkling with sequins and pearls.

more inspiration

Here’s another card I made with products from the new release. You can find the original blog post here. The card uses the Summer Bouquet Stencil and the Plant Sentiments set. 

blog hop

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

• Simon is giving away a $25 coupon from comments left on each hop stop. Winners will be announced on the Simon blog on Wednesday, 02 August.
• Free gift with purchase! Use code ART at checkout to get the free Handcrafted With Love set. Offer valid until 30 July at 11.59pm ET.

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

Emily Midgett

Lisa Addesa

Heather Hoffman

Lea Lawson

Bobbi Lemanski

Jennifer Kotas

Sandi MacIver

Barb Engler

Allison Frazier

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.

Gosh, we are in full-on summer mode here! The weather is uncharacteristically kind for a Scottish summer, and I am enjoying as much time in my garden as possible – it is a beautiful inspiration when pulling out my paints. I fell in love with watercolours years ago; they are my go-to medium whenever I want to make a card. The new Just A Note release from Simon Says Stamp has this Summer Bouquet Stencil I was itching to use my paints with. 

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

simon just a note release

Before I jump into this card, please check out the new Just a Note release from Simon Says Stamp. The Summer Bouquet Stencil and Plant Sentiments set I used for this card are included in the release.

try a fun alternative way to use a stencil

The Summer Bouquet stencil has a lovely grouping of flowers. It was just a case of how to transfer them to a watercolour card. You could blend a light ink such as Antique Linen through the stencil, which would act as a light, water-reactive base and lay the design onto the card. However, I chose to use watercolour pencils and trace each area. I used a green pencil for the leaves and a light pink pencil for the flowers. Once I added the paint, I used Daniel Smith watercolours; the pencils would blend with the colour and disappear to give a no-line watercolour look.

I trimmed the watercolour panel to fit on a card base cut and scored from a Neenah Desert Storm card slightly larger than A2. I trimmed the panel to be half an inch shorter on one edge and added a piece of watercolour card I had painted in stripes. I glued this to the back of the main panel and then added stitching for detail.

I splattered the main panel with white gouache and left-over paint before sprinkling sequins and eggshell pearls.

I chose a greeting from the Plant Sentiments set, stamped it in Versamark ink on an Ivory card, and heat embossed it with Antique Gold embossing powder. I trimmed it to a skinny banner and adhered it over the panel with foam tape.

Well, that’s me for today. I hope you liked my summer garden-inspired use of a stencil. It certainly was fun, and it’s great to have as many ways as possible to use our supplies. 

I will be back this weekend to take part in a blog hop. I hope you will join me then. In the meantime, I hope you can squeeze in some creative time.

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 personally find die-cutting to be a relaxing activity that always yields beautiful results. To take it up a notch, I enjoy using watercoloured cardstock for my die cuts. I’m excited to be participating in a blog hop to celebrate the new Out Of This World release, so make sure to check out all the details at the bottom of this post.

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

die cut beautiful watercoloured flowers

I began by attaching multiple watercolour pieces to a board and started painting, focusing on the hues and values. I used green, yellow, brown, and off-white. This technique doesn’t require any pressure to produce a great result. Your watercolour skills don’t have to be exceptional because the paint itself will create small, artful pieces that are ready to be cut. I personally used watercolours to paint my panels, but other options such as Tim Holtz watercolour pencils or Tim Holtz Distress Inks would work equally well. I finished off with a light splatter of white gouache.

After allowing the colorful panels to dry, I proceeded with die cutting. I used the Windswept Leaves, Sunrise Stem, Bountiful Sunflower Blossom, and Little Sunflower Bloom dies.

I added foam tape to each layer of the flowers and then more foam tape to a background panel. To create texture, I had applied a layer of gesso to the panel and then added a light watercolour layer. I finished it off with a stitched border. Unfortunately, the photos don’t do it justice, but in person, it adds that extra touch.

Take a closer look at the intricate details on the dies, including the veins on the petals and leaves and the tiny semi-circles that depict the sunflower seeds. To emphasise these features, I applied a few droplets of Glossy Accents.

I included a Happy Icons sentiment on a black card by stamping it with Versamark Ink and white heat embossing it. Then, I cut it into a banner shape and attached it using foam tape.

more inspiration

Here’s another card I made with products from the new release. You can find the original blog post here. The card uses the Dogwood Bleeding Heart and Happy Icons sets.

blog hop

As mentioned above, this post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the Out Of This World release from Simon Says Stamp. Simon’s blog is an excellent place to start the hop, and you will find all the details there.

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’s a new Out Of This World release from Simon Says Stamp today, and when I got my parcel in the post, this Dogwood Bleeding Heart background set immediately jumped out at me. 

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

simon out of this world release

Before I jump into this card, please check out the new Out Of This World release from Simon Says Stamp. The Dogwood Bleeding Heart and Happy Icons sets I used for this card are included in the release.

watercoloured ethereal flowers with bold leaves

The wonderful thing about a background set is that they are made from red rubber, giving you a lovely fine detailed line to work with. Once I’d got the base impression down, I watercoloured with Daniel Smith paints. It doesn’t get old that watercolouring is a very mindful, relaxing process for me. My favourite place to start is the leaves on any floral image, and the leaves of this set were a delight to paint with such character. I concentrated on a light background layer of paint and then slowly built up the layers and sections of the leaves.

Before I started painting the flowers, I drew in the stamens with a black waterproof pen so that I didn’t lose the flower centre once I began painting and the outlines disappeared.

I went for the lightest of pinks over the whole flower and then added a touch of hot pink on the petal edges and green gold for the flower centres. Once dry I took a slightly darker pink to add details to the petals. 

I had to Google Bleeding Heart flowers to get an idea of what they looked like – hot pink in reality, but I toned the colour down to fit with my preferences for a more muted colourway. I used a strong pinky purple and layered over each of the hearts. I added white gouache details. I also used the gouache for a touch of splatter.

To maintain a clean and straightforward sentiment, I opted for a greeting from the Happy Icons set. Using Veramark ink, I stamped it onto a black card and trimmed it down to a slim banner. With the help of foam tape, I affixed the sentiment strip and adorned the panel with Eggshell Pearls and sequins.

I mounted the finished panel onto a Neenah Desert Storm card base. Well, that’s me for today but I will be back tomorrow with more to share from the new Out Of This World release.

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! Two posts in two days; it’s like buses where you can’t find one, and then two come along simultaneously. The new Dear Friend release from Simon Says Stamp has this gorgeous Peony Background set that I thought would look lovely white heat embossed as a resist to light and airy watercolour. This post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the Dear Friend release, so please scroll down to the bottom for all the details.

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

resist watercolour background

When using heat embossing, the best paper is smooth to get the cleanest impression. As I wanted to watercolour over the top of the heat embossing, I chose Arches Hot-Pressed watercolour card. I stamped the Peony Background in Versamark ink and then white heat embossed.

I washed watercolour over the top of the heat-embossed background, and the raised, shiny lines of the embossing resist the watercolour. I wanted to keep the painting light and airy, so I didn’t add lots of paint, but I did try and add a few areas with greater depth so that you could make out what you were seeing. Once dry, I trimmed the panel to fit on a card base cut and scored from an Ivory card. 

For the sentiment, I chose the Fancy Hello die set and cut the lettering from a Matte Gold card and the background piece from Vellum. I added strips of foam adhesive behind both layers and attached them to the top of the panel. I completed the greeting with a complementary saying from the Elegantly Modern Greetings set, which I embossed in Antique Gold powder, trimmed out and again added with foam tape.

I finished the card with a sprinkling of sequins and eggshell pearls.

more inspiration

Here’s another card I made with products from the new release. You can find the original blog post here. The card uses the Blissful Bouquet and Best Year Yet sets.

blog hop

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

• Simon is giving away a $25 coupon from comments left on each hop stop. Winners will be announced on the Simon blog on Wednesday, 24 May.

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

Simon Says Stamp Blog 

Nina-Marie Trapani

Caly Person

Suzy Plantamura

Debby Hughes

Sidnie Des Jardins

Amy Rysavy

Lisa Addesa

Emily Midgett

Tina Smith

Emma Williams

Lea Lawson

Bobbi Lemanski

Seeka

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, I’m popping in today to tell you about the new Dear Friend release from Simon Says Stamp. I was delighted to see this Blissful Bouquet set in the release to indulge my love of painting florals.

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

simon dear friend release

Before I jump into this card, please check out the new Dear Friend release from Simon Says Stamp. The Blissful Bouquet stamp and die set and the Best Year Yet stamp and die set that I used for this card are included in the release.

watercoloured bouquet with lots of dimension

When starting a card such as this, I stamp out the images in the lightest ink and with a delicate hand to get the barest impression but just enough to work with. Then I die cut the images, popped a bit of adhesive on the back, and stuck them to a piece of scratch paper so that they weren’t moving around and were fiddly to work with.

I like to paint with light layers of watercolour, slowly building up the depth and interest. However, I kept a light hand on the central flower because I didn’t want it to lose that soft, airy look.

I added lots of foam adhesive to the back of the elements, a single layer for most pieces but a double layer for the focal point flower, so it stood out. Next, I arranged the bouquet on a painted background panel, using a white gesso base to add texture. I then painted with gouache and watercolours to give a hazy effect with a couple of points of deeper colour for interest.

For the sentiment, I didn’t want to go with anything too heavy, so to fit the airy style, I used white heat embossing on vellum using the Best Year Yet stamp and die set.

Well. That’s me for today. I am back on the weekend with more to share. I hope you will join me 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 have a sister, and she means the world to me! I love that a stamp set in the new Beautiful Days release from Simon Says Stamp honours sisters. This post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the Beautiful Days release, so please scroll down to the bottom for all the details.

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

sister forever beautiful heart wreath

I started this card with the lovely Mother’s Day Dogwood set. I stamped it lightly on watercolour card and painted it with Daniel Smith paints before die cutting with the matching die. There are lots of lovely details in this heart wreath and I thoroughly enjoyed choosing colours and slowly painting my way around it.

I paired the wreath with a sentiment from the Sisters Forever set, stamped in Versamark ink on Ivory card, Antique Gold heat embossed and then die cut with the matching die.

For the background panel, I took a piece of Fog card and spread embossing paste through the Chunky Knit stencil. The pattern on the part of the stencil I used reminds me of leaves!

I mounted everything with foam tape on an Ivory card base and then accented with Eggshell Pearls, enamel dots and jewels.

more inspiration

Here’s another card I made with products from the new release. You can find the original blog post here. The card uses the Garden Fresh stamp set along with the Sisters Forever set again for the greeting.

blog hop

As mentioned above, this post is part of a blog hop to celebrate the Beautiful Days 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 BUD to get the Flower Garden emboss and cut folder FREE with a purchase of $30 or more! Offer valid while supplies last or until 9th April 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, 12th April.

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

Simon Says Stamp Blog

Nina-Marie Trapani

Caly Person

Debby Hughes

Suzy Plantamura

Bibi Cameron

Yana Smakula

Lisa Addesa

Amy Rysavy

Emily Midgett

Maura Hibbitts

Jean Doeringsfeld

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.