Stamptember, Simon Says Stamp and Lawn Fawn, Happy Howildays Exclusive Stamp set

Welcome to Stamptember with Simon Says Stamp and Lawn Fawn's exclusive stamp set, Happy Howlidays and coordinating dies! You can click here to be directed to the link where you can purchase this adorable stamp set. Lawn Fawn knocks every stamp set out of the park with it's cuteness and punny sentiments, what I love most about this set is all of the extra stamp elements you can use to create such an amazing scene. You have a variety of hats and beanies for each dog, along with a rain deer hat, nose, and a scarf--so cute!

The coordinating dies for this set make for easy card making--especially for winter cards when we are busy with Christmas and other things. I did use the new stamp set, Snow Cool, to create the snowy background along with the Lawn Fawn ink pad in, Manatee, but this Simon Says exclusive stamp set comes with a variety of snow flakes to create your own background as well; and, thats another reason to love this stamp set! All the elements for create your cards packed into one single set.
 
Not only did I use this amazing new stamp set and it's coordinating dies, I also used the new (and my favorite) paper collection, Perfectly Plaid Christmas 6x6 petite paper pack. Don't even get me started on how much I love these collection. I was working at HQ when I saw the samples of these collection spread out onto the tables and my jaw dropped (as it does with everything new that I see, by LF, hehe). This paper collection is pure magic and perfection! I'm sure going to be using this collection on many Christmas cards this year--as I used it on this card for the release.

This stamp set can only be purchased at the SSS website so if you would like to purchase your very own feel free to click, here. Don't forget to head on over to the Lawn Fawn blog as well, by clicking here, to view all of the DT samples, watch an intro video by Kelly Marie, and to get a chance to win this set as well! I hope you have enjoyed this post and please feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions!

Happy Crafting!

Cards For A Friend

Oh my! It’s been a few weeks since my last post. The holidays kept me away from my camera—then I sort of got used to not taking pictures for a while, and I think that’s where I went wrong. Well, perhaps I really need a small break from blogging, too. Not that I hate it, but it’s always nice to step away from the computer for a while and regroup. I had been feeling like I was running out of creativity anyway—so maybe it was all for the best.

During the holiday break one of my neighbors was moving away, but before she left she sent over a handmade jar of pickles from her garden. Isn't that so cool?! Not only did she can the pickles herself but she also grew them in her own backyard. Because of this kind gesture I thought I’d return the favor and send her something handmade by me (plus she is a huge ‘handmade’ admirer and she even has her very own jewelry line; and sells on Etsy too). You can find her work here.

Since she is moved away, I wanted to create some really cute new address cards. I have been waiting, and waiting for a moment to use the ‘we moved’ sentiment from the Lawn Fawn stamp set, Home Sweet Home; and, I've FINALLY got the chance. I’m so happy about that. I also purchased a really colorful/whimsical 6 x 6 paper bad by, American Crafts—that pad is named, Dear Lizzy Neapolitan Paper pad, and you can find it here. 

I used a variety of Copic art markers to color in all the images, and I’m really loving the way the panels turned out. 

Here is the collection of finished cards. I know she’ll love them; and, I feel that the images in this stamp set are perfect because in her family are her, her husband (the two love birds), and they have three young children (the eggs). Perfect, right? I really hope she doesn't see this post because I would like her to be surprised when she gets them—but she might see this—and if you do see this, Kimiko, SURPRISE! Haha. 

UPDATE: I purchased the die from Simon Says Stamp, it's the Notepad die, by My Favorite things. You can find it by clicking here. 

Christmas Card Crafternoon

Since Christmas is getting closer and closer I thought it would be fun to have a Christmas Crafternoon with my sisters, Angie, Melanie, and our friend Mabel. I’ve had a card making crafternoon with my sisters before but all three girls were still relatively new to creating cards. Since ‘handmade’ is still going strong—and pretty popular, they wanted make their gift giving a little more personal by making their own cards for friends and family, this year. So, what I did was come up with a few sample cards that I could teach them how to make but they were also free to use all the stamps, paper, and embellishments to create their very own designs. I’d say they had the most fun, getting messy and making their own cards—who wouldn’t have fun doing that?! Hehe. 

To set up, I covered the dining room table with Kraft wrapping paper, and simply organized by stamps, paper, makers, acrylic blocks, paper trimmers, ink, etc. on one edge of the table—so they could have everything within reach. 

Here are a few of the cards they created…

I love all of the cards they made, I’m happy that I was able to teach them a few new techniques but most of the designs they created came from their own minds. We’re already talking about having a Christmas Crafternoon part 2, where we will make Mason jar snow globes, treat bags, and tags. I’m definitely going to enjoy that one!

A Clean, Simple, and Easy to Reproduce Card

During the Holiday season when I’m making cards I always try to design clean and simple—yet still adorable—cards so that I can reproduce a bunch of them in a short amount of time. Therefore, when I’m shopping for stamps online I always have that in mind. When I saw this stamp set, Gnome for the holidays, I knew the images and sentiments in this set would make for perfect easy-to-reproduce card.

All I did for this design was cut an A2 card base, and I also cut a panel in white that would have the Rudolph image and “Merry Christmas Dear” sentiment on it. I used a simple masking technique for the banner using a post-it note (and I saved it, so I can could it again and again). Next I simply colored in the image using a variety of Copic markers, and stamped the sentiment in red ink. Lastly I simply adhered the panel to the card base and that was it.

I think this is the design that I’m going to be making for my Friends and Family this year—for sure. I hadn't decided on which one I was going to send them and I think this one is the winner. If you'd like to get your hands on this card, they are also available in my shop. Click here to view it. Have a great day! 

Sending you buckets of Love...

Today I’m working with my Simon Says Stamp, stamp set and I’m having such a great time with them. This is the first stamp set that I purchased, of theirs. I really love the quality of these stamps and I’ve also already placed a huge order with them for more! I love that this set, LoveThis, has a couple different sentiments, shapes, and patterns so that we can create a line of cards that differ from one another. For instance, you can create a birthday card, an I love You card, a just because card, and so much more. 

To create this card I started off with a A2 white card base, and I cut another piece with the scraps to create the panel that will go on top of the card. Once those two pieces were cut I took the heart stamp and also pulled a few different Hero Arts shadow inks and began stamping the heart image using the generation stamping technique. Next I used some of my circle dies to cut the circle on the panel. I simply ran it through my Cuttlebug.

Next I used three of the sentiments—I stamped the, ‘Love’, and ‘sending you buckets of love. Save some for a bad day’, in some black dye ink, and the ‘Nobody gets me like you’ sentiment in some, Hero Arts, pink dye ink. Once they were stamped I let them dry completely and then I turned the panel over and applied some foam adhesive squares on the back so that the panel would have a 3D look.

Next, I placed the panel onto my card base and soon realized that my ‘Love’ sentiment was a little too far to the right, so I fixed that by placing some sequence on the left of the sentiment—balancing it.   

I forgot to mention that I used my glitter pen to color in some of the hearts on the card base—to add some shine. I love how it turned out and you can really see it in the image above. Well, that’s it for today. I hope you enjoyed this card. Thank you!

Card of the Week--Mommy to Bee

Even though it’s so gray and cloudy today in Los Angeles County, I was still able get a little sunshine from this bright and colorful card I made using some of my Lawn Fawn stamps, and paper. Nothing makes me happier than using bright and happy card stock—plus Lawn Fawn stamps always manage to put a smile on my face all on their own anyway, hehe. When I was creating this card I was a little bit worried that I might be using too much black and yellow combos—but in the end I really like how it turned out. I think one of my favorite things on this card (texture wise) is this chevron screen printed clear overlay that I received in one of the Simon Says Stamp collection kits. If you’re interested in it you can find it in the SSS April 2012 collection kit (but it might be sold out). It was my first time using an overlay on a card and I think I've fallen in love with them. I’d really love to get my hands on more, in different patterns and colors.

 I always love ‘punny’ cards and I thought this bumble bee bear would make for a cute ‘Mommy to Bee’ card. To create the sentiment I used the stamp set, Milo’s ABC’s, by Lawn Fawn. This set is great! The other stamps sets I used for this card are: Critters in Costume, Home sweet home, and A birdietold me. I’m also using the beautiful yellow and white polka dot pattern paper from the LF, Pink Lemonade petite paper pack which I think goes perfect wit this theme—and matches great with the clear chevron overlay.

If you follow me on Instagram you already know that I purchased three new copic markers and I used them to color in the bear portion of the bee image. I’m still not that great at blending and shading but I’m workin’ on it, hehe.

Other elements I used when making this card are the super cool Lawn Fawn trimmings, Silver Sparkle single cord. I love the silver in this twine, I think it’s so pretty. I also purchased a ton of sequins lately because I want to start incorporating them into my cards, cupcake toppers, and other projects. So I have lots of it now. I hope you enjoyed this ‘Card of the Week’, and if you have any questions let me know in the comments. Have a great day!

A Congrats Card with the Simon Says Stamp Card Kit, and Lawn Fawn Stamps

I recently won a Simon Says Stamp collection from Aida’s blog, Love of Cards. I was super excited when I found out I won because I’ve never won a giveaway before; and, I’ve never used Simon Says Stamp products before—I’ve always wanted to give them a try. This April 2012 card kit comes with a variety of products by several manufactures’, and one of my favorite things about this kit was that it came with Lawn Fawn paper—paper that can’t be purchased anymore—so, actually that’s another reason why I was so happy to win this, hehe.

When I found out that one of my friends got engaged I thought it would be a great time to make her a card, using the Lawn Fawn, Bright Side paper, with a combination of other Lawn Fawn stamps and dies. I used the Lawn Fawn stamp set, Blissful Botanicals, to create this beautiful floral arrangement—and Blissful Botanicals has been a set that I’ve always wanted to buy but I always kept in wish list, until recently when I decided I just couldn’t’ wait any longer, and I ordered it! Now that I’ve used it I can’t imagine how I went so long without ordering it, hehe. It’s such a perfect set.

While I used Blissful Botanicals to create the floral background, I also used the stamp set, Home Sweet Home to create the banner and ‘congrats’ sentiment; and, since I know she loves owls I thought I’d grab my, Critters in the Forest, stamp set and add it in somehow, and I placed this little fella’ right on top of the banner—which I think came out so cute. Next, I thought it need just a little something more, so I used my, A birdie told me, stamp set to add the text bubble that reads: Woo-hoo. So cute right? I know she’ll love it, and I’m hoping she doesn't read this blog post because then the surprise will be ruined, hehe.